We try to answer some of the most commonly asked questions on safari operations and bookings
Q: What is included in your safari offers?
Generally, safari package quotations include the following:
- Transport and guiding fee in safari van either mini bus or 4×4
- Entrance fees to all parks and reserves or conservancies where applicable
- Full board accommodation on safari
There are extra activities such as balloon safaris, night game drives, cultural visits etc, which are charged separately
Q: How do we book for safari?
If you haven’t made a previous inquiry, you can just submit your Book Here her. This merely registers your interest and gives a rough idea of your requirements. We shall than promptly submit a safari proposal that captures your needs, and then ask you to review against your time, destinations and cost. After we are mutually in agreement, its then we inquire vacancies in the hotels and place reservations for you.
That is what amounts to booking a safari. This is however incomplete until we get to the next stage of securing the safari through an agreed deposit.
Q: What are the costs of safari?
Safari costs depend on your requirement especially with respect to accommodation standard, room arrangement in hotels, number of people and number of days.
Ideally all these parameters are requested for before we are able to submit a full and accurate quotation.
For most safari itineraries on our website we give an indicative budget only just to give a rough idea.
Q: What is the best time to go on a safari?
Ideally, all year round! Climatic changes in East Africa are not significant enough to influence animal distribution. Hence majority of the parks afford good animal visibility throughout the year.
The most famous animal movement is the annual migration of thousands of animals between Kenya and Tanzania which takes place between July and September though no one can be very precise about the timings. Other consideration may be weather where by May – July tends to be wet with July being the coolest month though not necessarily wet. Short rains fall between October and November while December – February is generally a dry and dusty period.
This is a general pattern, which keeps changing due to climate change. One can make specific inquiries when arranging a safari.
Q: Which are the best places to see the big five?
Maasai Mara and Samburu tend to offer best lion sighting chances, almost guaranteed always. Samburu and Amboseli gives perhaps best elephant sighting chances and in spectacular ways – like crossing the river and marshes etc. Lake Nakuru has best chances of seeing rhinos and very high chances of spotting a leopard, not to mention the buffaloes which aggregate here in large herds. Tsavo East and West also give great chances for large elephant herds, the black rhinos and also large cats. Amboseli, Mara and Samburu have almost equal chances for buffaloes, lions and leopards.
This is just a general statement; remember we have other parks like Meru, Nairobi, Hell’s Gate and many more.
We also have private conservancies in Laikipia, Maasai Mara and Amboseli, all with very high chances of seeing all the big five and in more exclusive settings.
Q: Which parks have scheduled flights?
There are regular and scheduled flights to and from Nairobi for the following parks:
- Samburu;
- Maasai Mara;
- Amboseli
There are also flights between Naivasha and Mara on certain seasons. Conservancies in Laikipia are served by flights to Nanyuki
Q: How many other people do we share safari with?
There are cases where, due to budgetary constraints, some customers choose to combine their safari with others in order to share cost of transport and entrance fees for vehicles and drivers etc.
The only advantage here is that sharing safari with others can bring the cost down not to mention the chance of shared experience with other people from a different background.
However this also has its own limitations including:
- It takes long to get other people with same timings as you;
- Its also harder to get people with exactly similar amount of time and hence with whom you can share exactly the same itinerary;
- More often than not different people have different interests and a shared safari often bring disagreements and hence dilute the experience. We have even found friendly families that come together for safari bitterly conflicting over small details due to differences in interests and expectations
- Hence shared safaris best befit a homogenous group and we often discourage
them for optimum convenience and experience. Unless otherwise indicated, our
offers are always for individual groups and we never consider shared safari unless requested.
Q: Can we walk and do off road driving on safari?
Generally walking in Kenya national parks is strictly at designated places only while off road driving is disallowed.
Walking safaris are best arranged outside mainstream national parks such as conservancies which are not under very stringent management controls. The best thing is to make a specific inquiry if you need activities outside wildlife viewing.
Q: What is your tipping policy?
Unlike many other countries, tipping is not mandatory in Kenya but the recipients appreciate it. It is purely at your discretion and as an appreciation of services.
At your request, we give specific recommendations on how much to tip at any given time and place depending on the nature of your safari
Q: What are the entry requirements?
All visitors are required to carry a passport that is valid for six months beyond the intended length of stay. Nationals of certain countries do not require visas – this depends on the country you are visiting. See Visa requirements for more details
Q: What should I pack?
For camping safari, always remember to carry sleeping bags and personal effects like toiletries. For all safaris, its important to have sun caps, goggles and mosquito repellent. Its important also to have open shoes and skin lotions that protect against excessive heat.
In some areas there is a wide temperature variation and weather can be extremely cold in the evenings and early morning. Hence always park some warm clothing just in case.
In areas where malaria is prevalent, like coast and western Kenya, its necessary to have trousers instead of shorts in the evening but much more advisable to take necessary anti-malaria medication. Please consult your doctor.
Q: Do I need to know the local languages?
No. English is spoken throughout East and Southern Africa, especially by those involved in the tourist trade. Besides we offer guides and staff who understand mainstream languages like French, Spanish, German and French.
It’s, of course, exciting to learn some basic Swahili to ease and spice your interaction with local people.
Q: How is the local food?
Great! International cuisine is available at all the hotels you will be staying. Special dietary requirements are catered for throughout Africa if you need.
Please give us advanced notice so that we can make arrangements with the lodges and camps you are scheduled to stay at. Most restaurants offer selections for vegetarians, depending on their forte. Local specialties can be surprisingly good!
Q: Do mobile phones work on safari?
Yes. The signal coverage across Kenya is generally quite good and even inside many national parks.
Your phone company will be able to tell you what service is provided in countries overseas. If you use your phone during your safari please respect other guests and do not use the phone during game drives or speak loudly on your phone while in camp.
Your charger must be 220v or you will need to bring a transformer – though most electronic equipment now automatically converts from 110v to 220v. The required adaptor plugs are included in most international travel adaptor kits. For Kenya it is plug type G (the British- style 3 rectangular pin plug).
Q: Can I charge a camera and such devices on safari?
Yes, the camps and lodges have power which may be controlled depending on the source. At small camps and lodges, you may not be able to use a hairdryer or electric shaver but batteries can be charged either in your room or designated communal areas.
Q: Is there Wi-Fi or internet access at the lodges?
Some lodges and camps have Wi-Fi for guests though download speeds may be low and a little frustrating. Others deliberately limit internet availability to keep themselves practically wild. But can make special arrangements in case of anurgent need to use the internet.
However, almost all hotels in Nairobi and other towns have reliable internet and Wi-Fi.
Q: Suppose there is a medical emergency on safari?
There are high-quality medical facilities in Nairobi, Mombasa, and some of the larger towns, in case you require medical attention while on your trip. Some of the big lodges also have resident medical staff to attend to general ailments. In case of a serious medical emergency on safari, an aircraft from Kenya’s Flying Doctor service in Nairobi can be sent to lodges or camps to provide medical care.
Medical travel insurance is a necessity and we recommend that you purchase a policy that includes emergency medical evacuation which will cover the Flying Doctor service.
Our main safari itineraries include emergency evacuation cover.
Q: Which airlines fly to Kenya?
Many of the major world airlines including Kenya Airways, British Airways, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, and Swissair fly several times a week from Europe to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi.
From North America, airlines including American Airlines and Delta offer services that connect via Europe. Delta has regular direct flights to Nairobi these days. Other airlines include Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Egypt Air, Ethiopian Airlines, South African Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Air India.
With such a wide choice of airlines, the airfares to Kenya are often very competitive and usually lower than of other countries in Africa.
Q: When is the wildebeest migration; Will I see it?
The migration is a mass movement of hundreds of thousands of wildebeests in huge herds that move around the Serengeti in Tanzania and into the Mara in Kenya. They are accompanied by zebras feed on the long tough grasses on the plains, while the wildebeests feed on the shorter grasses. This relationship is called mutualism.
The zebras and wildebeests open up feeding opportunities for smaller antelopes such as Thomson’s gazelles which also follow the migration. The latter also attract predators including lions, jackals, and hyenas making the migration a truly momentous exodus of wildlife.
The annual calving of the wildebeest takes place in the southern Serengeti plains in late February and early March each year and then they start moving north, arriving in the Maasai Mara Reserve in Kenya around late June or early July before heading back to Tanzania around late September or early October. As there are so many animals, they are spread out over a vast area and do not all arrive at the same time.
To get into the Mara they have to cross the river and this scene has featured in numerous TV documentaries. As a result, many people are under the impression that the migration is the crossing of the river and are very keen to see this happen!
The crossings attract a large number of tourist vehicles in the Mara Reserve waiting all along the river in the hope of seeing a “crossing.”
River crossings are not confined to a specific location and are very unpredictable. But even without seeing the wildebeests cross a river, it is still an impressive sight to see thousands of animals covering the plains.
Q: Are there any medical precautions?
Yes. See health measures
Q: Do you have references we can contact?
Yes, we have many friends and customers across the world who can bear testimony to our professionalism and business integrity.
We are always happy to share their contacts on request.