ALL ABOUT EAST AFRICAN SAFARIS

• The countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda in East Africa are home to some of the finest wildlife on our planet. Kenya is home to the famous Masai mara national reserve and Tanzania preserves the Serengeti national park and Ngorongoro conservation area. These three together form a contagious savannah ecosystem that is even larger than some countries like Belgium or Israel. This ecosystem provides the finest safari experience in the whole of Africa, and the amount of wildlife you will see here in 3-4 days cannot be compared with any other place in the world.
• The main attractions are the African big 5 which are lions, leopards, elephants, rhino, and buffalo. Other star attractions are Cheetahs, Giraffes, Zebras, Hippos, etc. Nature here is raw and wild, unlike some South African parks which have become over-commercialized.
• The parks of Masai Mara and Serengeti also feature the great migration, which is a year-long phenomenon of about 2 million wildebeests and zebras moving in an annual circular motion through these parks. Notably, from July to September, the herds have to cross a handful of deadly rivers like Mara, Grumeti, Sand, Talek, etc where they are preyed on by crocodiles in the water and big cats on land. These events come to be known colloquially as the great migration and it is a star attraction of these savannahs.

• If it is a wildlife-focused trip, then either Masai Mara or Serengeti should be on your itinerary, and occupy a good time-share. However, if your time is limited, say less than 8 days, you should only focus on one country. Provided you have 8 days, we will recommend either Masai Mara and Nakuru-Naivasha in Kenya or Serengeti- Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara in Tanzania. Depending on the number of days, you can keep adding more parks. Each has its own unique wildlife, terrain, and overall experience which are different from the flagship parks of Mara and Serengeti. Only if you have more than 10 days should you think of visiting Mara and Serengeti together.
• Mara and Serengeti ecosystem is famous for big cats like lions, leopards, cheetahs, and other signature mammals like Hippo, Rhino, Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra, Wildebeest, etc while also having over hundreds of bird species. The abundance of wildlife here is unmatched by any other African park.
• One of the other famous Kenyan parks is Lake Nakuru, which is prominent for its rhino and bird population. We also have Amboseli that is famous for sweeping views of Mt Kilimanjaro and huge bull elephants. Samburu is famous for its leopards and unique mammals, and Aberdare is popular for its salt licks and bushbuck population.
• After Serengeti, the most remarkable Tanzanian park is the Ngorongoro crater which is a 260 sq km depression inside the 9000 sq km Ngorongoro conservation area. It is famous for having the highest wildlife density in Africa. Lake Manyara is popular for tree-climbing lions and birdlife, Lake Arusha is famous for birdlife and canyoning and Tarangire is well-known for its baobab trees and elephants.
• If you have time, you may add a couple of days for beach relaxation at the end, with Mombasa/Diani in Kenya and Zanzibar in Tanzania as options. These are some of the finest white sand azure beaches you will ever see on this planet.
• Countries like Uganda and Rwanda provide more off-beat wildlife experiences like trekking for the endangered mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. Each trek takes about half a day and happens in a particular wildlife park, which does not have any predatory species otherwise.
• You can also complement your safari experience with some short hikes and treks. However, if trekking is your main to-do thing, then we recommend trying the Kilimanjaro or Mount Meru treks, which take 9 and 5 days respectively.
• Enhance your safari experience with the choicest experiential stays in the wild as well as many signature African experiences like bush breakfast, sundowners, village visits, balloon safari among others.
• To review sample itineraries, go to wildvoyager.com slash itinerary and select your desired country.

• Jeep safari is the most common, where a 4x4 land cruiser takes you through the uneven terrain of wildlife parks and brings you close to the splendid wildlife of this region. It is conducted by a trained safari guide, who often doubles up as the driver.
• A balloon safari is an amazing way to experience the wilderness from the skies. In a 45 minute to 1-hour morning ride, you gently glide over one of these natural heritage sites of our planet.
• Walking safari is a great way to experience the flora in particular, and is a notable interpretive idea to learn not only about the wildlife and nature but also local traditions and customs. Some treks including the gorilla and chimpanzee treks can be only experienced on foot.
• A Horseback safari is a great option if you are a trained horse rider. Not all parks offer this, but it is surely a lifetime experience to cherish the African wildlife from the back of your horse.

• Game drives are the de facto way of experiencing wildlife in most of the parks if not all. Drives happen in extreme 4x4 (read as four by four) Landcruisers and are conducted by our expert safari guides.
• Sundowners are evening sessions set up in the park with cocktails and snacks during sunset. It is possibly the best way to enjoy and feel the majestic African sunset.
• During morning game drives, we can set up bush breakfasts in the savannahs. It is quite a different experience to have your breakfast in the company of Lions and Hyenas but also in the safety net of your guides.
• During one of the evenings, we can set up a bush dinner in a secluded area in the park or camp premises, with local tribes like Maasais’ singing and dancing over a bonfire & story-telling
• Walking safaris are a great way to explore the wilderness of Africa and appreciate the great flora and fauna.
• A balloon safari is a 45 minute to 1-hour early morning hot air balloon ride over a park starting around sunrise. Apart from the stunning vistas, you may see some wildlife as well. Post the ride there is a champagne bush breakfast laid out in the park.
• Village visits are a great way to interact with local tribes like Maasais. In these sessions, they explain their cultural history and traditions and you can participate in a tribal dance with them.
• Short treks or hiking is a great way to experience the natural heritage of some of these places. If you have an interest, our safari advisor should be able to add some.

• The Great Migration is one of the last mass terrestrial wildlife movements left on the planet and is the most impressive natural events in the world. The animals migrate from Serengeti to Masai Mara, across the Mara River in search of water and food. The hordes of animals that dot the landscape are estimated to be more than 2 million. The sheer number of wildlife that moves across the terrain is an experience to witness in a lifetime. While migration is a year-long process, colloquially it coincides with river crossings in Masai Mara and North Serengeti during July to October, mainly on Mara River, Sand River, and Talek River. Huge herds cross these rivers on some days and it is replete with big cats and crocodiles hunting several of them. For North Serengeti, the ideal months are June, July, and November for witnessing reverse migration.
• While the river crossings do not happen every day, there are days when 3 crossings may occur. Spending at least 4 days during the migration season gives you a reasonable shot at experiencing this spectacle more than once. A lot depends on your location of stay, usually, Maasai Mara is a safer bet and you should choose a property near the Mara River.
• Watch this 60s explainer video for more details. Migration explainer video

• On any given day, in a park-like Masai Mara or Serengeti, you are likely to see more than one pride of Lion, a Cheetah family, hordes of Elephants, Giraffes, Zebras, Hippos, etc. Although it is tougher in Serengeti, spotting a Leopard In Maasai Mara on any given day is a near certainty. Black rhino in these parks is relatively difficult and sightings happen once a week or fortnight. However, parks like Ngorongoro, Lake
• Nakuru, Ol Pejeta, etc have regular Rhino sightings, where few like Lake Nakuru also have the endangered white Rhinos. If you are interested in birds, each park has a unique avian diversity and our expert birding guides can certainly help you fulfill a part of your wishlist.

• These destinations are year-round evergreen destinations, and you will find the same wildlife irrespective of the month you choose to travel. The months of April-May and mid-November to mid-December can be occasionally rainy, but even that does not take away from your safari experience. Rather, it is called the green season when many antelopes give birth and the safari parks are full of big cat activity.
• If you are only focused on the great migration, then July to September in Maasai Mara or North Serengeti is the time and place for you. However, there are pros and cons of choosing the migration months. Usually, hotel costs are at their peak during this period, and sometimes you can encounter many vehicles at migration crossing points. In the remaining months, you are likely to have a much more relaxed wildlife experience and save some amount on hotels. Apart from migration, the rest of the wildlife sightings are the same all through the year, while the climate also remains consistent. The temperature at most of these places ranges between 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year.

• Step 1 – You reach out to us and share your plans, preferred destinations or simply express an interest to travel on an African safari
• Step 2 – One of our destination experts gets back and consults you as a friend and a guide to arrive at a final plan.
• Step 3 – Once the final plan is decided, we quote for the same. The instant you book, we arrange all your logistics.
• Step 4 – Your only worry is your packing, while we take care of everything else! Enjoy a hassle-free African vacation with the best in the business!

• We have handled over 5000 guests for African safaris in 2019, the pre-pandemic year. We are a multinational travel company with locally registered companies, employees, and offices in multiple countries like the USA, Kenya, and India.  We are certified with the tourism regulatory authority in Kenya, the American society of travel advisors in the USA, and the Ministry of tourism in India. We also own property inside Maasai Mara national reserve and have our own fleet of vehicles in Kenya.
• Our founding team consists of travel industry veterans and eminent wildlife photographers. They have also spent years in East Africa photographing the wildlife and participating in conservation activities. We have our own fleet of safari vehicles. Our operations team is based out of Nairobi, who are available 24x7 before and during your safari for any kind of assistance.

• An African safari can be relatively costly compared to a self-planned city tour for instance. A good part of what you pay goes to the local communities and also supports the cause of wildlife conservation, whether it is the government park fees, conservation levies, etc. For a group of 4, you can expect to pay about USD 400-800 per day per head all-inclusive for mid-range hotels, and about USD 1000-1500 per day per head for luxury hotels. These costs would include stay, all meals, park permits, private safaris, and land transfers, but not the cost of international flights.
• Budget options are possible, but we do not recommend them as those can completely kill your African safari experience. Typical cost-cutting measures could be staying outside the parks in budget hotels, or using a minivan instead of a Landcruiser for safaris, compromising on the quality of the guide, etc. Particularly, the quality of the guide is the single most important thing for your safari experience. By arranging your tour with a non-registered tour operator or freelancer for a deal, you may also end up compromising on your safety and may risk your trip money going to fraud hands.

• One usual tourist trap or mistake is to cover 4-5 parks in 6-7 days, leaving you about a half-day session for each park, where every day you are travelling for about 50% of the day. Your cost gets slashed as you save on park fees on many nights, and put in budget hotels far away from the parks. The aim of your trip must be to experience wildlife and other activities in East Africa, and not spending most of your time on roads travelling from point A to point B. If you have 5 days, we will recommend doing only a Mara or a Serengeti depending on the country, and visit about a maximum of 2 parks only if you have at least 7 days. By putting your trust in us, you will never get bored even if you stay for 7 days at a vast park-like Mara or Serengeti, as each day brings something new and showcases new wildlife experiences.
• Another cost-cutting trap is choosing a minivan over a Landcruiser. A minivan may be cheaper but it struggles to navigate the terrain at many parks, and you can suffer from movement restrictions. On the other hand, a Landcruiser offers a much better 360-degree view, is more spacious, and has much better ride comfort in such terrains. 
• Compromising with the quality of the guide is the single biggest mistake you can make on a safari trip. Usually, the minivans come with city drivers who are passed off as “guides”. Please understand that the top guides have over 10-20 years of experience and are usually locals of the land, and so, these people come at a cost. A good guide can completely transform your safari experience right from explaining the history, culture, and wildlife of the place, to spotting the most interesting wildlife events of the day for you, as well as calibrating the safari experience as per the timings and choice of pace you provide. We cannot emphasize enough the spotting skills of a good guide, wherein we had instances where a guide spotted part of a leopard tail on a tree from 500 meters away, and the guests had a chance to see the leopard as they closed in.
• Compromising on hotel location - Yet another cost-cutting measure is to stay outside the park in budget hotels, especially big parks like Mara or Serengeti. It may take you 1-2 hours to get to the main wildlife area every day and that is surely going to kill your wildlife experience. Further, staying in the wilderness in the middle of nowhere is an experience that cannot be described in words. Residing in a noisy little town, a shabby tent or hotel is one of the worst things you can do to your African safari experience.

• The East African countries can be great for solo travellers on a safari holiday. Most small safari camps and lodges are very sociable and friendly places. The guests will often dine together, and usually, go out on safari activities at the same time, so you won't be alone while on your holiday - unless you desire. If you don’t want to interact with other guests at all, you can book your private guide and vehicle. However, on safaris, small tented camps are probably better suited to single travellers than larger lodges, since they tend to offer a more hands-on personalised service.

• We have had infants travelling with us, from over 1 year of age. There is no official restriction on children travelling, except in Gorilla treks where children below 15 years are not allowed. However, the safaris can get dusty and bumpy sometimes, so you should ensure the necessary precautions for your child.
• To put in numbers, our oldest guest to East Africa has been a 95-year-old gentleman. As long as you are physically fit to endure international travel, sit in a vehicle for 4-6 hours and withstand somewhat uneven terrain, you are suited to undertake an African safari. Overall it is a smooth experience as it does not include any physical exertions, like trekking or even walking. We regularly have 70-75-year-olds travelling with us. However, do consult your physician before signing up if you have any medical conditions which can potentially escalate during the safari.

• East Africa is as safe in terms of health-wise as any other place on the planet, You just need to be aware of the following –
  • Yellow fever –Although yellow fever is practically non-existent, it is mandatory to take yellow fever vaccination to enter most countries of Africa and even South America. It is a simple vaccination which you can take in your home country.
    • USA
    • UK
    • India
    For other countries, you can contact us for assistance to find your nearest center.
  • Malaria – Chances of contracting malaria at our recommended stays or destinations are very minimal. Yet, for your precaution, you may consult your doctor and carry malaria tablets before the trip.
  • Mosquitos and bugs – If you stay inside a forest, there might be mosquitoes or bugs on the campus. As a precaution, keep your door or tent closed after dark, and use a mosquito net when sleeping, which are provided by most accommodations.
  • Tsetse flies can be present sometimes, though it is not usually the case. They may be found more in the bushy regions. Since they get attracted to bright colors. try to wear neutral-colored clothing during the day and carry an insect repellent cream as an additional precaution though it is not mandatory.

• All the 4 East African countries are very safe for tourists, as safe as any American and European country as long as you follow the basic precautions.  These include basic precautions like not walking alone in deserted streets at night and taking care of your wallet, mobile, etc while walking on the street. The only tourist crimes reported are rare pick-pockets or theft incidences from vehicles when in the cities. However, our crew is always vigilant on those and they will brief you adequately on the precautions. You will never have any cause of concern at our recommended hotels, and our guide/driver will accompany you whenever you are on the road, so practically there is no reason to worry. We can proudly declare that so far none of our guests encountered any kind of such issues in these countries.

• The 4 countries of East Africa are well in control of the Covid situation, as they have done a great job of containing the pandemic. Kenya, in fact, was the first country post-covid to be declared tourism safe by the world tourism council in the year 2020. Practically, even when you are in the wilderness, you are in your own vehicle and room and secluded from other people by design. In a global survey, wilderness areas are rated as the safest place to travel as the world recovers from Covid. Other people travelling with you on an international flight to these countries have been tested covid negative before boarding the flight and so, international flights and airports are nearly risk-free. These countries need you to carry a negative RT-PCR Covid report less than 72 hours before your departure from your home country as of April 2021. There is no quarantine required. To travel from one of these countries to another, you will need an RT-PCR test again, carried within 72 hours of departure.

• Safaris are not physically demanding as there is no walk or trek required unless it is a trekking tour. However the terrains in the wildlife parks are not paved, the safari tracks are mud tracks and sometimes you may drive on the grass. It can occasionally get bumpy, though our Landcruisers are very comfortable and are built to smoothly glide over this terrain. It can also get dusty from time to time if more vehicles are driving near you, but dust storms are very rare.

• In wildlife parks like Mara and Serengeti, you can choose to stay inside or outside the park. Properties inside the park are usually more premium and give you an authentic experience of African wilderness and position you closest to the wildlife. The stay options can be tented camp or lodges, and both are equally comfortable with en-suite bathrooms, providing all the amenities you expect from a city resort. These places only provide full board accommodation.
• On beaches like Mombasa and Zanzibar, you have choices of hotels and resorts, varying by budget and luxury quotient. Similarly, in cities like Nairobi and Arusha, you have 3 to 5-star business hotels and some luxury villas available.

• At all good hotels, particularly those we recommend, there are choices of Non-vegetarian, Vegetarian, and Vegan meal options available across multiple global cuisines. Even special dietary requirements like gluten-free, salt-free, diabetic, etc can be accommodated in addition to religious stipulations like kosher meals, Jain meals, moslem meals, etc. However, all such preferences and restrictions must be notified to us before your travel so that we can make the necessary arrangements.
• Even if one or more of your group members have an allergy to anything, you can consult us in advance so that we can avoid such foods throughout your trip.

• This can be a surprising fact but, East Africa’s weather is extremely comfortable. Most of these places range between 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (or 16 to 27 degrees Celsius) all through the year. In the mornings and evenings, you will require a rather small light woolen to keep you warm. Daytime temperatures are balanced, not being too hot nor cold. Even the top luxury wildlife hotels do not have air conditioners in East Africa as they are not necessary. Although there are exceptions to city and beach hotels, it is more for pollution reasons than temperature. However, the beaches can get humid and occasionally warm.

• Kenya has 4 major International Airports: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Mombasa International Airport in Mombasa, Kisumu International Airport in Kisumu, and Moi International Airport in Eldoret. Out of these 4 airports, the first two observe most tourists arriving from outside Kenya. For Kenya safari choose Nairobi airport as your port of arrival
• Tanzania has three major Airports: Julius Nyerere Airport in Dar Es Salaam, Kilimanjaro Airport near Arusha, and Abeid Karume International Airport of Zanzibar. For Serengeti & Ngorongoro safari, choose Kilimanjaro as your port of arrival.
• Uganda has one International Airport: Entebbe International Airport. For Gorilla trekking (whether in Uganda or Rwanda), Kigali airport of Rwanda works better and East African tourist visa allows you free movement between the two countries. Otherwise for Uganda, Entebbe airport is default option.
• Rwanda also has one airport: Kigali International Airport

• Nairobi airport is the biggest international air hub in East Africa and the main hub for Kenya. Kilimanjaro airport is the air hub for Tanzania’s north wildlife circuit. Zanzibar in Tanzania has its own international airport and can be only reached by flight. Kigali in Rwanda and Kampala in Uganda are the respective air hubs of those countries. Out of these airports, Nairobi is the most well-connected and has direct flights from many European and Asian cities, including New York in the USA. Even Kilimanjaro has direct flights from Dubai and Qatar, connecting to the Emirates and Qatar airways network. For Uganda and Rwanda, you are best off taking a local flight from Nairobi or Kilimanjaro, though they have direct connections from Dubai.
• Direct flight duration to Nairobi from New York is 15 hours, London, Frankfurt, and Paris is about 8 hours, Dubai is 4.5 hours, Mumbai is 6 hours and Johannesburg is 4.5 hours.

• For all the 4 East African countries, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda, a single entry visa costs USD 32 for Kenya, and USD 50 for remaining 3 countries. The visa can be valid upto 90 days. The visas can be applied online. Exact validity is decided on arrival depending on your itinerary but it can be for a maximum of 90 days at a time. Visas are usually processed within a week and do not need original passports to be submitted. 
• There is also an East Africa tourist visa available for USD 100 which gives multiple entries to Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. Please note that Tanzania is not included in this list.
• Click on the below country names to open the official visa application websites. Please be sure to apply ONLY through one of these websites depending on your country of visit. There are many counterfeit websites for visa applications, do not use them:
  • Kenya
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
  • Rwanda

• The local time in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda is 3 hours ahead of London, 8 hours ahead of New York, and 11 hours ahead of San Francisco. Whereas Singapore is 5 hours ahead, Mumbai is 2.5 hours ahead and Dubai is 1 hour ahead of the East African time zone.

• Language is not a problem at all and English is widely spoken in East Africa. We can also arrange French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese-speaking tour coordinators on demand.

• Most cities and beaches have uninterrupted 4G connections. Except for Tanzania, you can buy a local sim easily at the airport on arrival, In Tanzania, we can arrange for you a wifi device for rent. Most Kenyan parks have better connectivity than Tanzania. Parks like Nakuru and Maasai Mara have 3G/4G networks throughout.  At Serengeti and Ngorongoro, it will be 2G at best in most places. The hotels you book will have WiFi available, but mostly in common areas.

• Towns like Nairobi, Arusha, Entebbe, Kigali, etc. have large multi-specialty hospitals as you would expect in any global metropolis. Even smaller towns have primary health care centers for basic treatments.
• We advise you to carry your regular prescription medicines as these medicines may not be available at all since you will be staying inside a national park. Any last-minute medicine shopping must be done in the towns before entering the national park.

• All international travel insurance policies that cover these countries would be accepted at any major hospital for treatment in an emergency.
• For a small fee, one can utilize the flying doctors’ air evacuation insurance, which can help airlift someone from any wildlife park in case of an emergency. These small single prop planes act as air ambulances that have all the emergency equipment and a doctor to attend to the patient. They will airlift to a big hospital in the nearest town. It can be bought by clicking here

• Each country has its own currency, but USD works universally. You can buy souvenirs using USD and also pay tips using the same. Even for visas on arrival, you can carry USD cash. When you book with us, usually all your land costs are covered and you do not have to pay separately for meals or other amenities which are included in the cost. Credit Cards work at most shops and departmental stores. You can also change USD to local currency at the airports and many money-changing outlets in the towns. For your extra billings at hotels, like laundry, drinks, etc, you can pay by credit card or USD cash. Of the places which accept credit or debit cards, usually visa and mastercards are most widely accepted, amex and discover cards maybe accepted at a much lesser number of places.

• The coastal areas are predominantly Muslim. Although there are no strict dress codes, you should dress conservatively away from the tourist resorts and hotels. This is especially prevalent in Mombasa or Zanzibar, during the holy month of Ramadan, or if you intend to visit religious areas. Otherwise, there is no dress code as such, and you can wear what is comfortable for you. Usually, during safaris, we recommend wearing earthy colors to blend with the environment, as opposed to very bright colors However that is just a suggestion and not a rule. A hat and a wind-proof jacket always helps as also mentioned in the packing suggestions.

• For detailed packing guideline, click here
• Pack some light woolens or wind jackets and hats for morning safaris, as it can get cold and windy.
• Carry your usual tropical clothing for the rest of the time, like light t-shirts, pants, etc, and earthy colours are recommended, though not mandatory, during safaris.
• Unless it is a trekking trip, you do not need any special shoes or footwear as you can carry your usual pair. You will be barely walking on a safari trip.
• Even during the dry season, it can rain anytime, so carry a small umbrella or rain poncho.
• African Sun can be a bit harsh on the skin so it is best to carry some sunscreen lotion and moisturising cream. Sunglasses are also recommended.
• Carry your prescription medicines to last you for the trip. If you are allergic to dust, you should carry a few dust allergy medicines, as it can get dusty occasionally (not always). You can also carry mosquito repellant creams etc, though it is not a necessity.
• Do carry an Africa electricity adapter or a global travel adapter for your electrical gadgets to work in Africa.
• Your personal entertainment gadgets and reading materials as per your preferences.
• Camera to capture the wonderful wildlife of Africa, though the mobile camera can also do the basic work. Binoculars are optional, as wildlife will be usually close. If you are on a photography tour or photography is a major activity on your trip, do consult us separately for the camera gear requirements.
• Sufficient cash (USD works) and credit cards to cover your expenses.
• Your passports, vaccination cards, air tickets, hotel booking vouchers, and the required visas.
• All hotels will provide toiletries and towels etc, so you need not carry those.

• Smoking in all public areas (except designated areas) is prohibited in general. This applies to areas like hotel grounds, lounge areas, and entrances. Smoking outdoors on any public street or the beach is not banned, but you should check first and avoid lighting up, if in doubt.
• The use and trafficking of illegal Class A drugs carry heavy fines and jail sentences.
• Taking Photographs of official buildings, including Embassies, can lead to detention. If in doubt, don’t photograph or film around them. Photography is also prohibited at airports.
• You must obtain permission to carry any kind of firearm before you enter the country.
• Plastic bags have been banned for environmental reasons.
• It is illegal to destroy local currency in these countries.
• Homosexual activity is illegal in these countries. Public displays of homosexuality like holding hands or kissing in public places could lead to arrest and imprisonment.
• You must carry a form of ID with you at all times. A copy of your passport is normally acceptable, but recently some police officers have been insisting on original documents.
• It is illegal to buy, sell or capture any protected wild animal or trade any of its parts without a license. Do not carry any leaves, plants, or anything from the national reserves back with you. Be particularly careful not to carry or wear any ivory (Elephant tusks) based jewellery, as carrying ivory is illegal in these countries and attracts stringent prosecution.

• Tipping is an expected, though not compulsory, component of your tour program. The gesture serves as an expression of appreciation for exceptional service, and the amounts given are up to your discretion.
• Tipping is one of the most direct ways that you can have a positive economic impact within the African community. Although it may not be customary for you, it is an important source of income for those in the tourism industry. Giving a tip should be seen as a formal ‘thank you’, and the action should, in no way, be awkward.

You may use the following as a guideline, all given in a per person format:

• Safari Driver cum guide: USD 5-10 per day per guest
• The staff of your hotel : USD 5-10 per day per guest.
• Restaurant/Café servers: 10% of cost of bill, especially when in a large group
• Usually no envelope required for tips.

• You can buy authentic local souvenirs which are bead works, masks, paintings, spears, and other decorative items made by the local Maasai tribes. Some examples of bead works can be ethnic jewellery, ladies handbags, belts and other accessories. We recommend you buy them from your hotel’s souvenir shop or directly from the Maasai villages when you visit them.
• Apart from these local handicrafts, we do not recommend you to buy any electronic item, clothing or any gadget from East Africa except for emergency replacement or repair. The only exception is local ethnic clothing.

• Every visitor aged 18 and older may bring 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or no more than 250g of tobacco, and 1 litre of liquor (whiskey, rum, vodka etc) or 2 litre of wine into these countries, duty-free. This means from the duty-free shop of your home country airport, or the duty-free shop in your destination airport. Your total purchase per person should not be more than this limit.
• At all the hotels of your stay, alcohol shall be abundantly available. Some hotels have house spirits included (which is a limited variety usually) with the stay package, but in many hotels, you have to pay for all the alcohol you consume. Do check your booking vouchers for such inclusions. You can also buy alcohol and cigarettes from public shops in the towns, provided you get the opportunity. In many fly-in tours, you will fly straight into the national parks, where you may not get such opportunities. Once inside the national park, there will be no public shops, and the only place to purchase these would be from your hotel.

• All hotels we recommend will have electricity. You need to carry the Africa electricity adapter or the global electricity adapter. Some tented camps in the wildlife parks may have limited timeslots when electricity works. The staff will inform you during check-in and make adequate arrangements to ensure that your electrical equipment can be sufficiently charged. Also, most safari vehicles have 3 pin charging points which can be used to charge mobile phones and cameras when on the move.