Frequently Asked Questions
It is
advisable to carry your belongings
in soft-sided, sturdy duffle bags as
per the below picture especially
for flight safaris as most local airlines have a strict baggage
allowance of 15kgs per passenger including hand luggage. Any added baggage weight is chargeable.
For a
complete road safari in Kenya, you
can carry a luggage weight of up
to 23 kgs per person.
If you are doing fly-in safaris carry an extra
small-sided bag weight of up to 15 kgs per person
Please note Plastic bags are banned in Kenya!
As you’ll be spending hours in your safari vehicle, we recommend you pack loose-fitting, comfortable clothing. The below list will guide you on suitable clothing:
Clothing
List:
✓
Short-sleeve shirts or T-shirts
✓
Pairs of shorts
✓
Long-sleeve shirts for evening times (for protection
from sun and mosquitoes)
✓
Pairs of cotton trousers or light pants/skirts -
Pick neutral colour tones like khaki, stone and brown
✓
1 light weight warm jacket or fleece (Morning
and nights can get chilly)
✓
1 wide-brim hat with an under-chin tie (to stop
it from being blown off in open-top vehicles)
✓
Comfortable walking shoes - closed walking field
shoes/boots
✓
Lightweight sandals or flip flops (for wearing
around the camp)
✓
Cotton socks and underwear
✓
Buff, scarf or bandana (good for dust)
✓ Sunglasses
✓ Sports bra for women. Some of the roads in the reserve are not well maintained and can be quite bumpy
You will definitely need your own personal items as well such as:
Personal list:
✓
Passport + a copy (keep in separate bags)
✓
Camera, battery,
extra battery and plenty of memory cards –You will need this for the photos of all
your precious memories!
✓
Chargers (for camera
and phone) and a power adaptor
✓
Sunscreen (get unscented
to avoid attracting insects)
✓
Lip balm
✓
Mosquito repellent
✓
Toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrush etc.)
✓
Cash for tips (including driver guide and camp
staff) and for souvenirs (Pls DO NOT
purchase any
items made from ivory).
Located on the Equator, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda & Rwanda have no definitive seasons like the Northern and Southern hemispheres. East Africa has a pleasant climate all year round and is perfect for safaris & game viewing during any season.
We have two rainy seasons:
- The short rains which occur from late October through November
- The long rains which occur from late March to the end of May
April & May are GREEN season months which are our “quiet time” where you
simply get the “best deal”! Even though more rain is anticipated than usual,
one experiences fantastic game viewing, mostly exclusive with very few vehicles
in the vicinity as the parks are less frequented.
The famous annual Great Migration usually starts in the Southern Serengeti
popularly known as Ndutu with the Wildebeest calving during the end of January to
March and moving onto Western / Northern Serengeti in May / June. The larger
herds cross over into the Maasai Mara from July to October. This is considered
to be the peak season for East Africa as will as Christmas season.
Both the Serengeti & Maasai Mara offer excellent game viewing all year
round. A good time to travel is January to March and particularly late October
/ November. Rates are more reasonable too during these months than the peak
season.
Uganda & Rwanda are famous for their Gorilla Trekking which can be done all
year round. Rates for permits are the same without any low/high season
period.
Safaris can range from 1 to 14 days on average depending on your time & budget and are generally quite expensive. However, you get to see the most varied ecosystems and wildlife species in Africa that you won’t be able to view anywhere else in the world! East Africa is one of the LAST & BEST locations for game viewing! We recommend a minimum of 6 nights / 7 days in three different locations but can extend and custom makes the itinerary to suit your interest and budget. A pleasant way to end your Safari is with a beach holiday to the Kenyan Coast!
Once you send us an inquiry, we shall assign one of our experienced Tour Consultants to help design the Safari of your dreams! With our extensive knowledge, we’re able to give you the best advice and recommendations to suit your interest.
We are dedicated to making your trip a memorable experience in every aspect! We
would need to know the number of persons traveling, if there are any children in
the group and their ages, the number of days you have available, travel dates
if known, and your budget/interest.
We accept payments via bank transfer, online transaction, or credit card payment. Pls. note that all credit card payments incur a surcharge of 5%.
Cash payments are acceptable, however, we do not encourage carrying cash.
We plan/tailor most safaris to suit your needs! The itineraries outlined on our website are examples and any of these packages can be booked or simply modified to suit your interest/budget & time availability. Our packages are completely flexible and can start on ANY day as long as there is room availability (except for group tours with fixed departure dates). Destination like Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, and Lake Naivasha is available for group tours daily.
Most of our Safaris are “Private Safaris” whereby you have your own designated 4 wheel drive vehicle with an allocated guide and you may choose to do a combination of “road & air travel” between game parks &reserves. The vehicle is not shared with other travelers and you can determine the “length” of each game drive as well as frequency. Many guests prefer to go out for long game drives without a time limitation and a packed meal (breakfast or lunch). Various other activities of your choice can be added on to enhance your safari experience e.g. “guided walks”, balloon safaris, bush dinners & breakfasts, private sundowners & cocktails, visits to local villages, horse riding, hiking, charity work, etc.
We offer group safaris all year round which includes Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, and Lake Naivasha. As a single traveler, it’s often daunting to travel alone but if choose to travel alone you will be safe in our hands.
You need to:
1. Click
register on www.ecitizen.go.ke.
https://dis.ecitizen.go.ke/services/3/apply/3
2. Select
Register as a Visitor.
3. Once
Logged in, Select Deparment of Immigration services.
4. Select
submit Application.
5. Select
Kenyan Visa.
6. Select
the type of Visa and read the Instructions Carefully.
7. Fill in
the application form.
8. Pay
Using visa card, Mastercard and other debit cards.
9. Await
approval via email, then download and print the eVisa from your eCitizen
account.
10. Present
your printed eVisa to the immigration officer at the port of entry.
DISCLAIMER
1. Visa
processing fee is nonrefundable.
2. Incomplete
applications will be rejected.
3. The
possession of an eVisa is not the final authority to enter The Republic of
Kenya.
4. Engaging
in any form of business or employment without a requisite permit or pass is an
offense.
5. A visa
is required prior to entry into The Republic of Kenya.
6. The
e-Visa printout must be presented at the port of entry.
7. It should
take atleast 2 working days to get your eVisa.
8. Each
adult visitor to the Republic of Kenya is required to submit evisa applications
in their personal ecitizen account. Parents can apply for their children in the
parents account.
Visiting Uganda: https://visas.immigration.go.ug/
Visiting Rwanda: https://irembo.gov.rw/rolportal/en/web/dgie/newhome
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda require specific nationalities to hold a
valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. Depending on your country of
origin, additional vaccination certificates may be required. Please make sure
you discuss this with your tours consultant prior to travel.
When entirely on a “road safari” you will have the same guide throughout your trip. If you fly between locations, we may need to allocate different guides to you. Also if you are traveling to different East African countries you will have different guides; eg Kenya - Tanzania - Uganda - Rwanda
The local electricity supply is 220/240 volts AC, 50HZ. Plugs are 3 point square. If you are planning to bring a video camera charger or any other electrical device, please bring voltage and plug adaptors where appropriate. Major hotels usually provide hairdryers, irons, and other electrical amenities upon request.
The type of accommodation is either basic camping, luxury tented camps, or lodges depending on your budget.
The meals are primarily European-style buffets with African influences.
Our classic safari vehicle is a 4x4 safari patrol/Landcruiser. We also have Economy 7 Seater seater minibus specially designed for easy photographing for tight budget guests. It comes complete with a pop-up roof for easy game viewing.
We strongly recommend that you take out all of the necessary Travel Insurance before commencing your journey.