Selecting the right Safari for you:

The Top Five Kenya parks

1. Maasai Mara Game Reserve
2. Amboseli National Park
3. Samburu Game Reserve
4. Lake Nakuru National Park
5. Aberdares National Park

The Top Five Tanzania Parks

1. Serengeti National Park
2. Ngorongoro Crater Conservancy
3. Lake Manyara National Park
4. Tarangire National Park
5. Mt Kilimanjaro National Park

Top Five Kenya Safaris

7 Day Discover Kenya
8 Day Kenya Explorer
9 Day Sarova Kenya with Beach Extension
10 Day Kenya Classic Safari
12 Day Best of Kenya & Tanzania

Top Five Tanzania Safaris

5 Day Discover Tanzania Safari (Sopa)
6 Day Karibu Tanzania
7 Day Tanzania Explorer Safari
9 Day Out of Africa
12 Day Best of Kenya & Tanzania

a) Choosing a travel date

Q1) Do the safaris start on specific days and dates?
A1) Kenya Public safaris start on a prescheduled departure date while private safaris programs with a minimum of two (2) travelers can start any day you wish.

Q2. Are departure dates guaranteed?
A2. Yes all our public safaris have a guaranteed departure date.

b) Best time to go

Q1. When is the best time of year to go on safari?
A1. Kenya and Tanzania are great year-round destinations. July through August and the month of December are the busiest times in Kenya and Tanzania. Lodges and parks can be crowded with tourists and reservations often must be made six, eight, even nine months in advance. July and August also happen to be the best time to catch the wildebeest in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. Click here for more details on the migration:

Seasonal rains hit hardest from March to May (with lighter rains falling October to December). During these months things are much quieter – lodges and camps generally have rooms available and prices may decrease. The rains generally don’t affect travelers’ ability to get around, though the tracks within the parks, particularly Amboseli, can become muddy and rutted.

January and February are wonderful months to visit East Africa since the hot, dry weather is considered by many to be East Africa’s most pleasant. It’s also the time of year when bird life flocks to the Rift Valley lakes in the greatest numbers, attracting bird-watchers from around the globe.

Q2. Why are the rates lower between April 1 & May31?
A2. Seasonal rains hit hardest between April and May. During these months things are much quieter – lodges and camps generally have more rooms available and therefore prices decrease. The rains generally don’t affect travelers’ ability to get around, though the tracks within the parks, particularly Amboseli, can become muddy and rutted.

Q3. When and where can I see the great migration?
A3. Always; the annual wildebeest great migration never ends. The herds roam the grasslands and rolling hills of Tanzania and Kenya in a great counter-clockwise loop. Their travels carry them from their breeding grounds in the southern reaches of Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to their summer foraging grounds in Kenya’s Maasai Mara Reserve and back again, over and over. The massive herds, nearly two million wildebeest, zebras, antelopes, and gazelles, generally begin crossing the Mara River into Kenya and the Mara Triangle in late July and begin the return March in late September. During the rest of the year, the herd can be seen in different parts of the massive Serengeti National Park.

Detailed information on the great migration is available here:
http://kenya.com/great_migration_overview.asp

c) Number of days

Q1. How many days would you recommend for a safari?
A1. It largely depends on budget and available travel time. The shortest programs we arrange are 4 days / 3 nights. Anything shorter is a blur. Our most popular programs last 7/8 days they include:
7 Day Discover Kenya
8 Day Kenya Explorer

d) Budget:

For budgetary guideline purposes a good number to work with is between: $300 to $400 per person per night for an all inclusive safari in a party of 2 to 4 people traveling together sharing 2 per room. This will include your accommodation in a 3 or 4 star property. 3 meals comprised of Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Transport in your own private vehicle with your own private guide. Game park entrance fees. Up to 3 game drives per day. Items not included are alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks as well as tips for your driver/guide. These typically average between $8 and $10 per person per day. These are paid directly to the driver/guide. Other items to consider are medical shots and entry visas.

e) Number of people in group

Q1) Does the cost per person in a group decrease as the number of participants increases?
A1) Yes, the cost per person in a group decreases up to a maximum of 6 people traveling together. Although our vehicles are designed to comfortably carry 8 passengers, we never seat more than 6 in a vehicle. When the number is larger the six we try and work out a special price. For groups larger than 15 a free trip (land only – sharing) is provided for the group leader only.

Q2. Can I go on Safari alone?
A2. We have special rates for people traveling solo. See the specific safari for details and contact us at safaris@kenya.com for more information or call 1.866.359.8623 to speak to a safari professional.

Q3. Will there be other travelers in the vehicle?
A3. Private programs only include members of your party – in your own private vehicle with your own private guide. Public programs are open to other travelers up to a maximum of 6.

f) Getting from park to park:

Travel from one park to next is in your designated safari vehicle. This could be our purpose built safari minivan or 4x4 land cruiser. We also offer the option of flying from park to park. On average we budget about $250 per person per flight segment.

Driving distances (distance calculator)
Domestic flight options (domestic/internal fares)
Nairobi to Maasai Mara
Maasai Mara to Nairobi
Nairobi to Amboseli
Amboseli to Nairobi
Nairobi to Samburu
Samburu to Nairobi
Samburu to Maasai Mara
Nairobi to Mombasa
Mombasa to Nairobi
Nairobi to Zanzibar
Nairobi to Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro to Serengeti
Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar
Zanzibar to Kilimanjaro

Q2. What are the travel times between the places on the safari programs?
A1. Sample distances:
Nairobi > Maasai Mara - 4  1/2 hrs
Nairobi > Samburu - 4  1/2  hrs,
Nairobi > Lake Nakuru - 2  1/2 hrs
Nairobi > Amboseli - 3 hrs

ADD DISTANCE CALCULATOR

g) Unique circumstances/factors

Q1. We are going to celebrate a special occasion – honeymoon, birthday, anniversary etc. Do you make any special arrangements in such cases?
A1. Our safari experts would be happy to discuss any special requests that you may have to make this occasion memorable for you.

h) Accommodation on safari

Q1. How does staying in a tented camp compare to a lodge?
A1. Tented camps are often small and often privately owned, so their attention to detail and level of service is generally much better than the large lodges.

A2. In a tented camp the feeling of proximity to the wild is far more exciting. Unlike in a large lodge, you're not sealed off from the African soundscape - the chirp of owls at night, or the roaring of lions.

However, they do tend to be more expensive than lodges and fill up quicker since they are smaller.

Q2. How many people can share a room?
A2. Most rooms can comfortably accommodate up to three people (3) each.

Q3. Can I select a different hotel or lodge from the one suggested on your program?
A3. All private programs can be customized to suit your requirements.

Q4. What are the accommodations like?
A4. The best way to learn more about our camps and lodges is to review the detailed day-to-day itineraries. Each day on the itinerary includes a link to a detailed description of the lodge or camp – just click on the link to learn more. Lodges and camps range from simple and clean to elegant and refined.

i) Vehicles

Q1. What kind of vehicle will we be traveling in?
A1. Our classic safari vehicle is a purpose built six-seat minivan specially designed for the terrain. It comes complete with a pop-up roof for easy game viewing and plenty of windows for unobstructed views of the landscape. Click here for more details

Four-wheel drive vehicles are also available at an additional cost.

j) Customizing a tour – Excursions, Nairobi hotel, extensions

Q1) Can I customize a safari to Kenya/Tanzania i.e. parks to visit, lodging to use etc?
A1) Yes you can. Please call or e-mail us and let us help you plan your dream safari.

Q2) Can we go out on night game drives?
A2) Night game drives are only available in private parks and reserves such as the Sweetwaters Sanctuary and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.

Q3. What activities are available in Nairobi at the beginning or end of our trip?
A3. There is plenty to do in Nairobi including visits to the Giraffe Center, Karen Blixen Museum, Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, Bomas of Kenya Cultural Center, The Nairobi Museum and Snake Park, a city tour, Mrs. Mitchells Tea farm etc. Each excursion averages about $80 per person.

Q4. Could you assist with finding accommodation in Nairobi or Arusha?
A4. We're a full service Safaris and Travel agency. Our services include making all your hotel arrangements, airport transfers, safaris, international and domestic air travel within Kenya and Tanzania.

Q5. Where can I go on a hot air balloon ride and how much is it?
A5. A hot air balloon ride can be arranged for you at the Maasai Mara Game Reserve or Serengeti National Park. The cost averages about $450 per person.

Q6. Do we have to book our hot air balloon ride in advance?
A6. During the high season, it is recommended that you book for the hot air balloon rides in advance to guarantee availability. In the low season, you can make arrangements on the ground.

Q7. Are there activities that can allow us to experience some of the local culture?
A7. Yes. Visits to Maasai or Samburu villages are quite popular and can be included in your program on request.

k) Meals on safari

Q1. What types of meals are included on safari?
A1. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided each day on safari. It is primarily European style buffets with African influences.

The food served is of the highest quality. Gourmet cooks bake fresh breads, and produce soups, salads, and entrees that could easily grace tables at top restaurants around the world.

Meals are international in flavor with soups, salads, cold meats, pasta dishes, meat and fish dishes, and breads. Your day normally starts with tea and biscuits before your morning activity. Returning to your lodge or camp late morning, brunch is enjoyed - cereals, fruit, bacon, eggs, sausage, and toast. Buffet lunches are typical with a warm dish such as stew served with salads, quiches and cold meats. Dinner consists of an appetizer followed by meat, fish and pasta dishes served with assorted vegetables and sauces. Dinner is followed by coffee (or tea), cheeses, and gorgeous desserts.

Q2. Do you cater for special meal requests such as vegetarian, diabetic, low sodium etc?
A2. Special diets are not a problem as long we know your needs in advance.

l) What is included and not included in the price?

Q1. Are airport transfers included in the price?
A1. All safaris including an overnight stay in Nairobi or Arusha at the beginning of your safari include your arrival and departure transfers. For all other safaris, arrival and departure transfers are extra.

Q2. How much do airport transfers cost if not included in my program?
A2. Airport transfers cost $50 per person each way.

Q3. Are there usually other additional costs - taxes, tips, incidental charges not included in your safari programs?
A3. Domestic and international airfares and departures taxes.

Personal communications charges for telephone calls, faxes, email, etc.

Tips and gratuities for hotel, lodge and camp staff and for your driver/guide.

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. (Bottled mineral water is provided in the minivan while on game drives.)

Laundry services.

Airport transfers if not included in your program.

m)Security situation in Kenya

Q1. What is the security situation in Kenya?
A1. Kenya has long been one of the most popular tourist destinations. It’s the safari capital of the world in part due to extra ordinary lengths the Kenya Government takes to ensure absolute safety of each and every tourist. There is no record in recent history of any safety related issue pertaining to a tourist in Kenya. It remains a African safari destination hosting over a million visitors a year in safety and comfort.

As with all international travel, visitors should remain aware of their surroundings. This is true of East Africa, particularly outside the parks and away from the safari minivan. Kenya and Tanzania are developing countries, each with pockets of poverty and desperation, and western tourists can be attractive targets. Travelers are advised to follow common sense security practices while in the cities and on the roads (do not carry lots of cash; refrain from ostentation in dress; keep jewelry and valuables in the hotel safe; do not roam city streets alone at night).

The US State department offers travelers extensive personal security advice while abroad (click here), including tips on what to pack, what to leave behind, what to do in case of an emergency, and how to contact the local embassy or consular office.

Direct information can be obtained directly from your respective embassy in Nairobi:

n) Request for more information

Q1. Could you send us more information on your tours?
A1. Click here for a complete and detailed list of all Kenya.com Safaris and tours:

If you have specific questions not answered on the website, please e-mail us at safaris@kenya.com or call us at 1.866.359.8623.