African Safaris Guide

Category: Blog

  • Long Safari Vs Short Safari

    Long safaris make a traveler spend more days on a trip. He or she can take a month or more months on a trip. On the other hand, some travelers spend few days on a trip hence enjoying short trips. Short trips can take a single day or 3-4 days.

    Depending on some one’s budget, interest and schedule, some one can decide whether to go for a long safari or short trip.  However, its advantageous to discuss merits and demerits of having long tours and short trips.

    Merits of long trips:

    Long trips enable a traveler (s) explore more places of his or her interest. Its advantageous to plan a long trip to be able to visit many places hence getting deep meaning of adventure.

    The traveler (s) is enriched with more knowledge about different location, tourist attractions, people and business among other things. As you stay long on the trip, you get time to concentrate on perceiving knowledge from different sources.

    You can get enough time to relax – since the trip is long, there is no need of rushing from one point to another. Get time to relax after activities to be able to refresh or get guts that will enable you participate in other activities.

    Long trips enable tourists make more discoveries – since there is no rushing, a traveler get to new different destinations, makes analysis about them. For example, long trips enable tourists’ study more about primate trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo among other countries. Gorilla trekking is the key activity in primates.

    Its healthier to enjoy long trips – among the activities enjoyed on long trips include hiking, mountain climbing and so on. Such activities enable tourist gain physical fitness hence improving health of the participants.

    Travelling becomes way cheaper in terms of accommodation and cheaper sources of basic needs. Staying in one place for long enables you discover areas where cheap items are sold, discount on accommodation and food staffs among others.

    While on a long trip, you will find it inevitable to learn local languages spoken in that location. Since you will be interacting with locals for longer period of time, you will slowly gain the interest of learning more about the local people around. Also expect to learn their culture and so on.

    Freedom of choosing your best travel season. Since you are a long-time traveler, you can decide the best travel period with no rain/ worst time.  In other words, you can a void winter season and utilize summer season.

    Building strong relationship – travelling enable us meet new people and building a relation ship is inevitable.  Staying long with new people strengthen the relationship that can last for long. For example, you can hire local guides and the more you stay with them, the more you build strong bond with them.

    Short coming of long trips:

    Long times may turn expensive if not well budgeted for. That is why we always recommend the assistance of your financial managers and travel agents to see how you can spend less on long trips. The more days you spend on trips, the more expenditures incurred and the reverse is true. You will spend on more days and nights in terms of tourist activities, shelter, food and basic needs among others.

    If not well planned, long trips bores – its therefore advisable to use experienced and knowledgeable guides. Staying in one area for long and monotonizing activities may call for boredom but when guided by knowledgeable persons, they can revise the demerit to merit.

    Long trips are tiresome especially when it involves activities which requires serious physical fitness like hiking, mountaineering, primate trekking and nature walks among others.

    On the other hand, short trips take few days like 1, 2, 3 or one week. Just like long trips, short trips are also advantageous as discussed below:

    Short trips are so convenient in terms of saving time – for travelers on tight schedule, booking a short trip is important. One day Gorilla trip in Rwanda is among the short tours tourists to tight schedule can enjoy.

    Short trips save money – you can spend few days and nights on a trip to save money. Short trips are suitable for travelers on budget.

    You can break your trips to visit different countries. For example, you can do 1 day Gorilla trip on Rwanda, 3 days in Uganda, 5 days in Kenya and 4 days in Tanzania. It will help you reach many places for exploration.

    Demerits of short trips:

    The trip is full of rushing to catch time. Rushing on the trip may cause accidents on road and you can also miss the views of some interesting places and moments.  It’s important to make proper planning under the guidance of well knowledgeable local guides.

    Travelers can also miss out some important moments and views while on short trips. You can miss out taking photos of particular places, attractions among others.

    There is less time for relaxation as you try to finish up activities in time. For example, travelers on 1 day Gorilla tour in Rwanda, wake up early for Gorilla trekking and after the trek, they are driven direct to Kigali Airport to depart.

    Less discovery – in most cases, short trips are just a summery of activities to be done in few hours or days. For that case, you will not go deep in discovering different places and activities.

  • 7 Tips for Great Self Guided Safari in East Africa

    With covid-19 pandemic still at hand, travel in the world has greatly changed. Today, self-drive tours have become one of the preferred ways to explore East Africa, a popular region in Africa with exceptional safari destinations. As everyone looks to get back to wild to reconnect with nature, we have come up with 7 amazing tips for a successful self-drive tour in East Africa.

    Know the car’s mechanical conditions

    The mechanical condition of the rental car is essential determinant of successful self-drive tour in East Africa. Most safaris in East Africa and Africa at large are conducted in the remotely located destinations these include national parks, reserves. These are found far away from city centres or towns. Your car should be in stable mechanical conditions if you to get there smoothly.

    In Uganda, you will need 8-9 hours to drive up-to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for gorilla trekking, about 5 hours to drive from Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve to witness wildebeest migration.

    Some of the essentials you should check if your rental car has include spare tyre, wheel spanners, jerks and you also have some basic knowledge on repair where breakdown may occur.

    What to carry

    For successful self-drive tour or any trip to be realized, you should consider packing essentials first. You need the right clothing, equipment and boots. Some items may cut across but for visitors traveling for gorilla trekking or chimp trek, you need long trousers, waterproof hiking boots, camera without flashlight, extra batteries, sunscreen, sweater, first aid kit, gardening gloves and others.

    Book your accommodation early

    What makes East Africa self-drive tour complete is when there is availability of accommodation. Yes, there are many accommodation options for visitors to have overnight stay before or after their thrilling experiences in East Africa’s magnificent wilderness areas. Available accommodation choices in most protected areas range from budget, mid-range to luxury.

    Forecast the weather

    The weather pattern in East Africa is usually unpredictable. It can rain at anytime of day and this requires you to be well-prepared with your rain gear. This in most cases affects safari activities and that is why you need to understand the best time to travel to East Africa and what activities to engage in on particular season. Gorilla trekking, chimpanzee safaris, wildebeest migration experience, mountaineering and many others are ideal during the dry season.

    Get updated maps

    Self-drive tours largely mean you are manager of your trip. Maps are essential in guiding you especially when finding directions to your safari destination. This is why you need up-to-date maps to avoid you getting lost en-route.

    Have a properly planned itinerary

    A well-planned itinerary comes with the list of activities you are to do them, when to do them and when you should be at the destination among other things. It helps you maximize every available time to explore and experience what East Africa has to offer the world. You should prepare your itinerary before actual date of travel.

    Go along with important contacts

    Self-drive tours come with some challenges and that is why you need emergency contacts with you. You can have contacts of the accommodation facility you plan to spend a night, park warden’s contact for direction or car rental agency. Prior hitting the road to your self-drive tour, have adequate time to research and get to know whom to make a call just in case you have an emergency. Our experts are available 24/7 for any road assistance.

    Book your self-drive rental car with us and be guaranteed of a memorable road trip in East Africa.

  • Save on Uganda Car Rental: Here is How to Do it

    Can I save on my next car rental? The answer is yes. Most safaris conducted in either Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)  and Tanzania can guarantee you assurance to save money. You have to be careful about your booking option, make comparison before you reserve, bargain before you make the final payment, ask for car rental discounts and also take cars which fuel are saving. After you have done this peaceful,  you will be in position to save money on your tour or safari in East Africa. The money saved can be used to buy some the best souvenirs within the country which can be taken back to your country of origin.

    Booking in advance will make you have good time of talking and negotiating on the price between the car owner and you who is renting the car. This means that after serious negotiation, you will get a discount from the owners. Make consultations before you book the car from the car rental company. You may be caught un aware about the car rental prices. Gather information first before you finally make payments. Go online and search to get a good deal on Uganda Car rental for you. In such cases, you will avoid being over charged thus saving money on your safari or trip.

    Comparisons should be made before you finally rent a car for yourself. Visit the various car rental companies before you finally pay for the best car which will suit you travel needs and guarantee you savings in the long run. You are advised to test the car and find out whether it is a perfect condition. In case you take the car when it is not in good condition, you will have to pay for the damages and this means that you will not save any money for yourself. Looking for car rental discounts is considered as the best option you can save money. Different car rental companies do put special offers online on their websites thus, it is up to  choose the best option  after selecting from  the net. Also consider the option of booking for example, when you book online, you will save money than when you visit the offices. With online booking, what you need to do is accessing internet and regardless of where you are be it in your bedroom or sitting room, you can book the car.

    Look for ways of saving money during your safari. Try to look for all the possibilities of how this can be done before you finally make payments to the car rental company. However what you should put in mind is that there no credits offered by companies renting out cars

    Some companies have looked at which type of travel you are undertaking as the means of pricing. Be straight and clear about the type of travel you are undertaking this be it business, leisure or a holiday, and then you first need to decide on which type of car you are going to use during your holiday, business or adventure travel in the country. After you have identified the car properly, then it will be easy for you to negotiate the price.

    Though it is a culture to tip in Uganda, in case you feel that you do not have enough funds, then you should not committee yourself on tipping. You can opt to give some other time you come in back as this will never be a crime to you. However to people who help you to carry luggage, you should be in position to pay them since they would have finished offering you a service.

  • Self Drive Safari In Uganda – What To Pack?

    Usually, tourist travelling from abroad, you need to pack well for your self drive safari. After you have hired a car which is fully equipped 4×4 you need to embark on things to use during yourself drive safari. Questions you should ask include; what do I need to pack for my self drive safari in Uganda? Well, first and foremost, travel light space in the vehicle will be at a premium! Always remember, if you intend explore some of the more remote areas of the country, you will carry your food supplies alongside a large array of camping equipment. You should bring a suitcase for your stepping out gear in case you plan to spend time in Kampala, one of the most beautiful cities in Africa, before or after your safari. However, the smart thing to do would be to have a smaller bag for your trip to the bush.

    The clothing need to be very comfortable and of a fabric that breathes easily so that you will not sweat excessively. In case your clothing are composed of dark colors you are likely to feel the heat, bright colors will stand out in the bush and white will show the dirt very quickly. Thus you are advised to go with something neutral. With a particular climate, lightweight shirts/blouses and shorts are normally recommended. Usually, a pair of long trousers and a long sleeved shirt/blouse or two should be included. In most cases, Uganda can get quite cold at night and in the early mornings so make sure to also pack a sweater and a windbreaker. For you to sleep well, we recommend that you bring a pair of long-johns and some woolly socks. Today, buff wear is becoming increasingly popular so you might want to get a Buff scarf for your trip. Well, you are most likely to find many places where it is possible to swim, so throw in your swimsuit. A pair of Jungle shoes is a must but you will be more comfortable if you also pack a decent pair of sandals for everyday wear.

    You need to carry medicine. Away from any regular prescription medicines, we suggest that you always travel with a very small emergency pack that includes items sometimes not found in a normal first aid kit. In most cases, these may include blister plasters, soothing ointment for itches and scratches and something for aches, pains and headaches. Most importantly, you may have difficulty in finding medication for vomiting, stomach cramps or diarrhea when you’re out in the bush, so travel prepared. In Uganda, there is a problem of, malaria. Therefore, you should not forget your malaria prophylactics and some mosquito repellent.

    Come along with your travel documents most especially your passport. You will also be required to carry a valid driver’s license and proof that you have had the appropriate vaccinations and also make sure to have one or two photocopies of your travel documents, passports, and driver’s licenses, among the others. Store each set in a different place in your vehicle. Usually, there is nothing worse than being stranded in a foreign country without any paperwork. Also make sure that your digital camera and zoom lens are packed. Our cars are equipped with a variety of safari vehicles with a variety of power points and a USB interface so that you can charge your camera and any other electronic devices that you need to bring along. Also carry Binoculars. It is highly recommend that you pack a good pair of Binoculars.

    There are sundry items which you need to carry. Usually these small items make life on safari easier. Also you may wish to throw in a small torch, a pocketknife, and perhaps even spare batteries for the devices that cannot be charged. As a tourist, you should, do not forget to pack your toiletries and feminine hygiene products; a towel or two and any other small items of a personal nature that you cannot afford to leave behind.

  • 10 Fascinating Facts About Mountain Gorillas

    Many people love the gorillas!  There are two species of gorillas – the eastern gorilla and the western gorilla. Each of these is divided into two subspecies – eastern lowland and western lowland gorillas. The two species live in central Africa, separated by a vast swathe of rain forest.

    Of all the gorilla species, it is a luxury to see the mountain gorillas. This is due to the fact that the mountain gorillas are only found in three countries in the world; Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Going on a mountain gorilla trek in the impenetrable jungles of Bwindi or the Virunga is one of the best wildlife experiences you can ever take in Africa.

    1. Gorillas share human DNA. 

    Gorillas are special primates sharing over 98% of their DNA with humans.

    1. Mountain gorillas are as shy though strong.

    Locals living near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park know this for a fact! A mountain gorilla will never chase you when you are facing it and looking directly into its eyes. However, you should know that when threatened they can be aggressive. They beat their chests and let out angry grunts and roars, something they learn from an early stage. It is a responsibility of the makes to protect the individuals in the group. In serious times of “wars” group leaders often silver backs or black backs will charge at the threat and mothers will fight to the death to protect their young ones.

    1. Gorilla size

    Amongst all the apes, the gorillas are the world’s largest. It is also the largest among primates in the world. They are closely related to humans, with 98% of their DNA identical to that of Homo sapiens.

    1. Intelligent apes

    Gorillas are highly intelligent. They use tools and have various methods of communication, including some 25 different sounds. One famous captive-born individual, Koko, has been taught sign language since she was a year old. By the age of 40, she had a library of about 1,000 signs and could understand some 2,000 words of English.

    1. Feeding

    Gorillas are mainly herbivores. They spend most of their day foraging for bamboo, fruit and leafy plants, though western lowlands also eat small insects. Adult gorillas can eat up to 30kg of food each day.

    1. Gorillas have nesting instincts

    Gorillas build nests in which to sleep, both on the ground and in trees, made of leaves and branches. Counting abandoned nests is an effective way for scientists to estimate population size.

    1. Female productivity

    Females usually produce just one baby every four to six years. In total, a female will only give birth three or four times. Such a low reproduction rate makes it difficult for populations to bounce back following a decline.

    1. Mountain gorillas live in groups of up to 30.

    The largest gorilla group or family ever studied is in Rwanda and is led by Cants bee now 38 years old! A gorilla family is led by a silverback. These troops also include several younger males, adult and juvenile females, and infants.

    1. Aged male gorillas are called silverbacks.

    This name originates from the silver stripe they develop on their backs when they mature. The silver hair can be compared to the grey hair that humans develop.

    1. The silverback gorillas ensure protection of the group.

    In addition to providing protection to group members, silverbacks maintain order and decide all activities within their troop. They schedule feeding trips, resting time, and travel. They also father the majority of the young in the group.

  • Top 3 South Africa Romantic Vacation Ideas

    Our Top 3 Romantic Vacations, Ideas & Honey Moon Safaris In South Africa

    • The Outpost – This was one of our favorites. Romance, scenic splendor, great wildlife & great food …we could have stayed here a week or more. Perched on a cliff where the eagles soar below you – that’s right the eagles soar below you – this lodge is located in the extreme northern edge of Kruger National Park. Stunning vistas of mountains in the distance, a river valley below, very good game viewing and excellent food. We can’t wait to go back! The problem is that there are so many wonderful places to put on your list of South Africa tours to do. Though in early 2007 it had a change of ownership.
    • Illyria House – A very small luxury hotel with fine art, classical music, and exceptional food and service. This place is ideal for a romantic getaway or a prelude to your safari – the perfect place to recover from the international flight into South Africa. So this is a great place to start or end South Africa tours that include Pretoria. Also a very strong recommendation if you are going on either of South Africa’s world class luxury trains, The Blue Train or The Rovos Rail. Both luxury trains arrive in or depart from Pretoria.Though this is a Pretoria hotel but it is the same traveling distance from Johannesburg International Airport as are the best Johannesburg hotel.
    • The Blue Train – this is an exceptional experience. We’ve been on South Africa tours that included the Blue Train three times and never tire of it. You have five star luxury as you roll through some of South Africa’s most beautiful areas. You have a 24 hour private butler, exquisite meals and some wonderful excursions when the train stops. Even if you don’t think you like train travel, this is an unparalleled experience you should try. I am a very active person – I like to work out, run, etc, but I really liked this experience.

    Click here to learn more about the Blue Train

    Click here to learn more about Rovos Rail, the other great South African luxury train

  • Top 5 Destinations for Golfing in South Africa

    The Best South Africa Golfing Accommodation – Our Top 5

    • Sun City – With major golf courses like Gary Player’s The Lost City Golf Course, Sun City offers 3, 4 and 5 star accommodation. The neighboring Pilanesberg National Park also offers wonderful game lodge accommodation, so you can grab a round or two of golf while on a malaria free safari. This is one of the top South Africa tours spots.
    • Fancourt – If you love playing golf on a diversity of exceptional courses, this is a winner. It also has the advantage of being able to be a base from which to explore the famous Garden Route. You also have a splendid spa here too. Another benefit is that you can experience Fancourt and enjoy the splendors of South Africa tours along the Garden Route.
    • Steenberg – A wonderful wine estate, splendid golf course and excellent hotel all in one. It is just outside of Cape Town – in the Cape’s Constantia Winelands (a highlight of many South Africa tours)- and has a good spa as well. Located on the beautiful Cape Peninsula, the course is exposed to the changeable Cape Town South Africa weather.

    Learn more about the best South Africa golf courses & the best South Africa golfing accommodation

  • Recommended Tours & Activities in Uganda

    Discover Uganda’s amazing attractions and scenery including the ultimate gorilla trekking experience that turn dreams into memories year round no matter when you visit. Enjoy variety of wildlife, cultural fun, primates, birds, landscape by heading out on your favorite Uganda safari adventure cutting across all your favorite attractions and national parks. Uganda has many tour options in different corners of the country including backpacking, budget tours, midrange tours and luxury tours though the choice depends on the budget and type of experience that one has always opt for. Take a look at all the top attractions and explore the famous beautiful parks and areas of the country full of interesting moments.

    Gorillas and wildlife Tours

    Gorillas and Wildlife Tours are the best selling tours in Uganda including a visit to Bwindi forest national Park to see mountain gorillas, a guided morning chimpanzee trek in Queen Elizabeth, morning and evening game drive, afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga channel without leaving out the exciting game en-route of tree climbing lions in ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national Park and more. Enjoy a day of history with primates, wildlife, birds, and crocodiles, hippos on a Uganda gorilla trek & wildlife safari. This excellent Uganda tour includes a visit to Bwindi forest national park and Queen Elizabeth National Park one of Uganda most visited parks full of life, fun and excitement. You will explore both parks in the service of professional English guides who will take care of you all through. The Tour starts in Entebbe or Kampala and ends at your preferred destination either hotel or Airport.

    2 nights Murchison Falls Trip

    A 3 days wildlife trip to Murchison Falls another best tour option for seeing the big five and other park habitants on budget year round. Tours to Murchison falls depart daily in groups, and private arrangements depending on one’s preference. Get a great experience with friends and family while exploring Murchison falls National Park especially the top of the falls, wildlife, birds, chimpanzees and the Ziwa sanctuary found on the way to the park. It’s a fun way to meet and hangout with new friends, backpackers, and world travelers who love exploring the Pearl wildlife. Usually the tour price includes park entrance fees, all tour activities, accommodation, meals and transport. You will also view a lot of beautiful landscape, natural beauty such as the Murchison falls, chimpanzees, wildlife, crocodiles, green vegetation, impressive views at the top of the falls keeping your camera handy all through. Wildlife and nature lovers, don’t miss out a chance to explore Murchison falls national Park.

    Full day Gorilla Trekking Uganda

    Take three days for the “must see “ highlights of Uganda the mountain gorillas and enjoy a full day Uganda gorilla trekking in the wild jungle forest of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. You will also enjoy leisure relaxation in Lake Bunyonyi enjoying the fresh lake winds as you explore the twenty nine lovely islands and of course much more. This 3 day 2 nights Uganda gorilla trekking tour is once in a life time and the memories and moments are worthy each minute and penny spent. Just be sure of seeing the sliver back giant gorilla as well as his family members in just a day. However, you can decide to go for a all day gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi and spend the all the day with the mountain gorillas. However, seeing the gorillas are certaininly enough to make this tour a great choice for your Uganda gorilla trekking holiday. Please remember to book your permits in time due to high demand in Uganda ever since Rwanda revised its gorilla permit prices to $1500.

  • Is An African Safari Really Expensive

    Any safari holiday will be among the most expensive trips you take in Africa, but we can guarantee it will also be among the most amazing adventures.

    Africa is considered expensive for reasons like lack of infrastructure, complicated logistics and high staff to guest ratios.

    The biggest reason that safari camps have high rates is precisely the reason why people want to go on safari – being in the middle of pristine bush. In general, safari areas in Africa have little to no infrastructure in place so it is expensive to build and operate a camp with even the most basic requirements such as electricity, food preparation, running water, and waste management and staff to safari camps can be difficult and costly. Everything guests use and consume while at a safari camp has had to be brought in .

    Keeping a lodge or hotel running properly takes careful logistical planning because they are so isolated and even basic food may be difficult to obtain. And let’s not forget the maintenance and fuel costs of powerful 4×4 safari vehicles used all day, every day.

    Another vital but expensive aspect of the safari experience is the high numbers of staff in the camp. Safari camps and hotels have several times the number of staff as guests, and generally all of the staff live at the camps and hotels due to their remote locations so accommodation, meals, uniforms, transport, and toiletries have to be provided in addition to their salaries. Many guests may not realise that aside from the managers, guides, and waiters/barmen which they see every day, there are also many people behind the scenes taking care of the kitchen, housekeeping, laundry, building & vehicle maintenance, gardening, security, and anti-poaching patrols.

    the price of your safari includes park and conservation fees which are critical in the protection of these beautiful natural areas and their often endangered wildlife. Many camps sites and hotels also donate large portion of their profit to the local communities, supporting local schools, hospitals, and community projects that would not be there otherwise. As part of their conservation efforts most safari camps practice “high quality-low density” tourism, so rather than lots of guests paying lower rates they prefer to have a few guests pay higher rates which protects fragile ecosystems from mass human traffic.

    Africa may be expensive compared to other destinations in the world, but we know you will appreciate your money worth.

    To reduce some of the safari expenses, Travel with friends, Do a self drive, ask safari experts. Africa is a Wonderful continent to visit.

  • 5 Costly Mistakes to Avoid When booking an African Safari

    How To Avoid Costly Mistakes When Buying A South African Safari & Holiday

    Our Top 3 Questions To Ask

    • 1. Do they have the big five? Most people want to go on safari so that they can see lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard. These are called the big five since they were the most dangerous animals for hunters to hunt.There are many other intriguing animals and plant life to discover but you need to make sure you know if the park or private reserve has animals you want to see.
    • 2. Is the safari in a private reserve that is fenced in or is in part of a national park? Many excellent safaris can be had in a private reserve – privately owned land that may also own the animals that you see. The private reserves can be
      entirely fenced incan be adjacent to other private reserves where animals move freely between reservesadjacent to national parks where the animals can move freely between the national park and the private reserve.This is a key question since with the boom in the number of game lodges especially in South Africa, you may go to a game poor reserve. Either they don’t have a lot of certain types of animals – lion for example, or they are in an area that can’t support a large number of animals. They might not have many lions for example because they would eat too many other valuable animals.Even though some private reserves are very large, some people want more of a wilderness experience where animals are roaming freely over a more vast area. But there are advantages to a private reserve also (like night drives and walking safaris).
    • 3. Are the game drive vehicles permitted to go off road to follow animals? Even in private reserves the animals are wild. Sometimes just as you get close enough to see them they decide to run off. If you are really keen to get as close to the animals as possible, you may want to consider going to a lodge on a private reserve. Since these reserves permit their rangers to drive off road if necessary to get you really close to the animals.Many national parks forbid off road. The reasons are to protect delicate flora and to give the animals a break as well. Private lodges that are within some national parks compensate for this by enabling you to walk off road. This is a stunning opportunity. It is a very different experience and is a welcome break after riding in a game vehicle for a few days. We have taken our 11 year old daughter Maya on plenty of these and you should do it if you get a chance. (Most lodges won’t let children this young do this, Maya has been on so many safaris though that sometimes she was allowed.) We have taken Maya on African hiking safaris as well.