Checklist

We want your African safari to be safe for everyone, so we have put together a safari checklist to follow. Look it over and you should feel more comfortable when you depart.

Health: First, be sure to take precautions against malaria. Check your doctor or public health service for the right prophylaxis. Start taking your tablets before you depart. Yellow fever, hepatitis, and tetanus vaccinations are also recommended. Again, check with your doctor. We have taken the above regimen for years with excellent results.

Health insurance: Check with your insurance agent to determine if you are covered in foreign countries. If not, it may be wise to purchase a special policy to cover you through this trip or purchase travel insurance.

Travel Insurance: This type insurance covers trip cancellation or interruption, medical coverage while traveling, emergency medical evacuation and protection against baggage loss, theft or damage.

Flying Doctors: These famed doctors perform emergency treatment and evacuation in the unlikely event this may occur. Nairobi has excellent medical facilities. Most camps have professionals on site.

Passports: Valid passports are needed for all countries. Kenya requires your passport be valid at least 6 months after departing the country.

Visas: Required for Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and, if you are visiting Victoria Falls, Zambia and Zimbabwe and South Africa. For Kenya, please see http://www.kenyaembassy.com. All information and applications are located at this site. For a Tanzanian visa, call 202-939-6125 at their Washington, DC embassy, or 212-972-9160, their permanent mission to the UN in New York.For Uganda, go to Uganda.com. Additional information may be obtained at http://www.zimbabwe-embassy.us/ , http://www.zambiaembassy.org, or http://www.saembassy.org.

What to Bring: Travel Light! Some safaris/air charters limit baggage to 33 lbs per person. Baggage space in vehicles is limited so it is advisable that you use soft bags or soft suitcases. If you are on an extended African safari you can check extra luggage at your hotel while you are in the bush.

Clothing: Summer clothing is worn throughout the year although, at times, a light jacket or raincoat may be necessary on dawn or dusk safaris. A sweater also comes in handy. On safari, wear neutral clothes, grey, beige or khaki—bright colors may alarm the animals.

Highlight this one on your safari checklist. Sensible walking shoes or sneakers are highly recommended. Casual wear is the norm during your African safari. If you sun burn, easily, we suggest you wear long sleeves and, of course, a hat. In some hotels and restaurants, particularly in the cities, men may be required to wear a jacket and tie (very rare). Sunglasses and that hat plus swimsuits and sandals should be packed for the pool or beach. Laundry service is available at most lodges so you don’t have to bring large amounts of clothing.

Other: Here are some extras on our safari checklist to really help you out: Don’t forget the camera, camcorder and a plentiful supply of film and spare batteries. Sunburn lotion, mosquito repellent, lip balm, a small flashlight, anti-diarrhea medicine, general antibiotics, aspirin, anti-histamine tablets and antibiotics, aspirin, anti-histamine tablets and band-aids are also suggested. If you are taking prescribed medicines, please ensure that you have an adequate supply for the duration of your trip. Books, pencils, crayons and candy are very welcome as gifts to the children of the local villages that you may pass or visit while on safari.

Once You Have Arrived: After you have passed through customs and retrieved your luggage at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, you will be met by our representative and escorted to your hotel where you will be briefed on your safari. Here are some additional bits of information you may find helpful.

Climate: To accommodate your African safari is fantastic weather! With the equator located near Mt Kenya and the high altitude of both countries, you will be comfortable all year round. Kenya’s average daily high is in the 70s with the lows in the high 50s. Tanzania has a dry comfortable daily average in the 80s and lows in the 60s. Both countries have moderate rainfall with April and parts of May considered the rainy season.

Uganda, Botswana and Namibia all have temperate climates. We will be more specific with temperatures and rainfall when we have the exact dates of your stay.

Accommodations: No matter what type safari you select you will stay in luxurious lodges and tented camps, all with private bathrooms and showers. You’ll “rough it” on certain treks or mountain climbs but there will be private toilet tents available.

Singles: If there is a single person in your party who occupies a room, he or she will be charged a single supplement for the use of that room.

Dining: You will be amazed at the cuisine, which is included in your tour cost! Fresh vegetables, fruit and fish are delivered daily. Meats from nearby farms are in abundant supply. Wild game is available for those that want to try something new. Our chefs could work in the finest restaurants of Europe and America.

Electricity: 220/240 volts AC. Plugs are the UK type, round 2-pin or flat 3 pin.

Local time: GMT +3 - Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda--GMT +2 -Botswana, Rwanda, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe

Currency: Tanzania shilling / Kenya shilling / Uganda shilling/ Rwanda franc/Botswana pula /Zambia kwacha/ Zimbabwe dollar/Namibia dollar/

Tipping: Tipping is customary. While the actual amount of money to tip is left to your discretion, we would like to offer some guidelines:

Porter per bag: .35 US$
Server in restaurant: .50 per person
Naturalist/Guide: per day, per person $3
Tour Coordinator: per day per person $1.50

Airport Departure Tax: Each country has an airport departure tax, however some airlines include it in your ticket charge.

Communications: Phone service available. Internet could be sporadic.

Warning: Do not drink tap water!

Shopping: Remember one of our safari checklist items mentioning that you should travel light? Well, here's one reason why. There are plenty of souvenirs to take home! Among the best buys are: wood carvings, art and batiks, ethnic and modern jewelry, semi-precious stones (such as malachite and tanzanite), tie-dye cotton clothes, safari outfits, soapstone carvings and basket ware. US Dollars and credit cards are accepted. Many souvenir shops and kiosks are ideal for bargaining and buying. It’s lots of fun! That completes our safari checklist, you should now be ready to go on an African safari!