African Safaris Guide

Blog

  • Privately Inspiration Journeys Across Uganda

    Uganda has been on my list for ages, in reality I may say, since my childhood.  It seems to be the perfect place for lost-in-nature and active holidays! It’s really a pace to have on your bucket list, its pretty interesting in terms of soft adventure vacations as well as lovely and friendly outdoor activities nature walks, hiking, white water rafting, chasing, and volcano watching, gorilla trekking in their natural habitat, walking in the footsteps of chimpanzees, and enjoying the African big game safaris in the African savanna .it simply has to be on every ones list!  If I know what this inspiration African road trip means.

    If you’re planning a self drive trip to Uganda on your own, this simple write up will help you to plan your Ugandan exclusive journey in more fashioned way and leisure friendly to navigate through Uganda as first time visitor, with  a simple signage follow up too will give you some handy information on driving around Uganda .Believe me or not , Uganda is the perfect dreamy destination for an epic self-drive holiday in Africa.

    Driving in Uganda/East Africa – A European perspective

    I have just got back from a trip starting Kampala and visiting western and eastern parts of the country, before returning via lake Mburo national park

    I thought I’d share a few thoughts on driving. Basically it was great. The roads were well maintained and signposted. First suggestion rent a 4×4 car for your journey as well as some few gadgets to ease your travel. Most 4×4 Uganda Rentals come with a Sat Nav (GPS) or Ugandan Road map. I don’t know how I would ever have found my way out without it! If you think of driving in Africa with the use of google map forget about it, roads in Africa are difficult to determine the driving time based on google maps, these steps would help you capturing the beauty of Uganda through my eyes.

    Freeways seem to vary between two lanes and 5+ lanes. Speed limits vary from 50 to 80 mph. Traffic seems to stick pretty close to the limit +/- 5mph in city centers or major capital Kampala. Quite often we saw cars pulled over by Highway Patrol I guess for speeding. I generally its possible to set your mind on the speedometer since  the cruise control don’t work, if you think of using google map in Africa forget about it since at or just keep the speedometer below the limit and this will allow you to have  a relaxing drive on the road. On two lane roads better you stay over on the right. On multi lane roads stayed in the second or third lane from the right unless you intend to come off at the next intersection. True traffic overtakes on both sides, but once you get used to it that isn’t a problem. Unlike some motorways there are no regular service stations. Occasionally you come across a rest area which will have a rest room (toilet) but probably nowhere to eat or buy petrol (gas). Generally the signs for each exit give details of nearby eateries and petrol stations which you need to leave the freeway to visit. In Uganda we are used to trucks limited to speed you keep clear of them. On the freeways although there are signs restricting them to 55, the big rigs seem to travel as fast or faster than the cars. It is pretty scary being overtaken by a big rig and trailer doing 80+. Finally if you see a police car or breakdown truck on the shoulder slow down and move over a lane as the locals seem to do.

    In town, the rule about turning right on a red light is quite sensible, only in big towns like Kampala and Kigali those are capital cities that’s the only places where you can find traffic lights just treat it like a give way sign. At night sometimes traffic lights are set to flashing red in all directions. This means stop and proceed with caution. Flashing yellow means slow down and proceed with caution.

    You will come across junctions with stop signs on each road Here the rule seems to be that all cars stop, then whichever car arrives first sets off. This can be confusing.

    Generally drivers in Uganda seem happy to follow a car which is sitting on the speed limit rather than overtake at the first opportunity as seems to happen back home and taxi drivers almost drive on bumper to bumper and its good to give them space.

    To get petrol you pay in according to fuel needed and payment is done in local currencies but only on big fuel stations they accept visa cards. I used cash rather than racking up charges on my cards so got. (Petrol was around)

    Most of my trip was on fairly quiet roads where other drivers seemed pretty laid back, but I did notice that the nearer I got to big cities the faster and more aggressive the driving seemed to become which pretty much fits in with my experiences back home.

    To sum up, take your time, do as the locals do and enjoy the African experience on your Road Trip. And consider the speed limit rules, drive slowly “Hakuna Matata”in Africa

  • 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.

  • Interesting Tanzania Parks to Seek Wildlife Safaris

    Thinking of wildlife safari? Africa has got it all. Nearly a hundred percent of its reserves and wildlife sanctuaries feature wildlife of some sort. However, the coverage of wildlife species and the varieties that you may see differ as the region changes.

    We have created brief descriptions of the top five Tanzanians wildlife safaris that rank near the top of the list in all Africa. Whether you are looking to a guided safari or a self guided safari in Tanzania, you should not miss exploring these three amazing national parks that are located in Northern Tanzania.

    Ngorongoro Conservation Area
    The worse you can call Ngorongoro is amazing. That would be more than that, there is definitely not a word that can describe this conservation area.

    Ngorongoro is the home of the largest caldera on earth. With walls reaching to 2200 meters high, this is fairly equal to Mount Kilimanjaro before the eruption. Thus the consideration for it being one of the world’s natural wonders.

    The caldera itself is not a plain heap of land that stood on its place and make people amazed. No. In fact, once the caldera settled, it began to create pools of water that attract some 30,000 wildlife species at any given time. More like a Garden of Eden, Ngorongoro harbors the largest congregation of games in the entire earth.

    Tarangire National Park
    Elephants, elephants, elephants its obvious. When you want to see large herds of elephants with accompanying buffaloes, your best bet would be the Tarangire. The number of elephants concentrating here is almost 600 individuals during the peak season.

    However, less tourists visit here since they are attracted to neighboring national parks such as the magnificent Serengeti and the mighty Ngorongoro. The dry season harbors the largest population of elephants along with other enormous animals and plain beasts, which benefit from the vast water resources of the Tarangire River. They disperse during winter though.

    Lake Manyara National Park
    Ask anything about Lake Manyara and collect them all in one heap, tree climbing lions will emerge as the top answer. It is true. Climbing lions that prefer sleeping the day up on the tree branches than lying comfortably in the grasslands as all other lions do.

    While it gather its fame from the strangely dispositioned lions, it is also popular for its large congregation of lake birds such as the pelicans, Egyptian geese, storks, quelea, flamingos and cormorants.

    You may also find the usual wildlife species here complemented by the rare animals such as the lord of the forest- Sykes monkey and the Olive baboon.

    Getting There

    Wondering about how to experience these amazing national parks? You can book your guided safari with one of the tour operators listed here.

    For those looking at a self guided trip, you can rent a car in Tanzania from one of the local agencies based in Arusha.

  • 4×4 One Way Car Rentals in Uganda & Rwanda

    Hire 4×4 one way rental cars for all your self-drive tours and cross border travel in Uganda and Rwanda and have a trip of a lifetime in East Africa! We are the leading providers of excellent one way rental services in East Africa. We have the best 4×4 rental car suitable for all your one way travel desires.

    There is no better way to enjoy a Rwanda safari or Uganda holiday than embarking on a tour in our comfortable one way hire cars. We also have experienced guides, so passionate about nature. Travel with us and be rest assured of African holiday of a lifetime!

    Our full-size 4×4 rental cars are perfect for one way travel and remarkably, they are in their better mechanical conditions. This guarantees you a smooth road trip in Rwanda or Uganda.

    Our fleet of 4×4 one way rental cars

    Land Cruiser

    Get the best of your one way travel experience in Uganda or Rwanda using our comfortable 4×4 Land Cruisers. These are perfect for self-drive tours especially for solo travelers on one way or cross country tour in East Africa.

    4×4 Prado Land Cruiser

    Book our classic full-size 4 wheel Prado Land Cruiser and experience the different side of Uganda or Rwanda on your one way tour. You can hire one from Uganda and drive it to Rwanda for your vacation. This comes with pop-up roof to allow you enjoy excellent view of wildlife on game drive.

    Toyota Rav4

    Rent our full-size 4 wheel Toyota Rav4 for your self-drive tour. Our Rav4 rentals are ideal for one way travel and the best choice if you plan to drive from Uganda to Rwanda. They take up-to 4pax and equipped with comfortable seats, Air conditioners, carjack, FM Radio, Spare tyre and a lot more.

    Safari Land Cruiser with pop-up

    Book a comfortable full-size 4 wheel extended Toyota Land Cruiser with pop-up roof and have an ultimate safari of a lifetime in Uganda or Rwanda. This comes with incredible amenities including mini fridge, air conditioners, radio, pop-up, capactity of 6pax, spare tyre and others. Our extended Land cruisers are ideal for all wildlife safaris whether you are on self-drive or guided safari.

    Mini Van

    Reserve Mini Van rental for your self-drive trips or one way travel in Uganda/Rwanda and you won’t be left in regrets. You can hire automatic Mini Van with capacity of 7pax. There is possibility to rent both a car and chauffeur for all your one way travel in Uganda or Rwanda.

    Land Cruiser with Hard Top

    Book Land Cruiser with hard top in Rwanda or Uganda. These are ideal for camping or tackling the rough roads while on one way trip. They are economical given their low fuel consumption rate.

    Land Cruiser LX/GX

    Hire our Land Cruiser LX/GX with roof top tent for all your camping tours while on one way trip in Rwanda or Uganda. Book one in Uganda, drive to Rwanda to explore the Akagera National Park or Volcanoes National Park.

  • 10 Things to Include in Your Gorilla Safari in Uganda

    Gorilla trekking is one of the most amazing tourism activities in Uganda. However, to experience the best of Uganda you must also rightly choose the activities to include in your Uganda gorilla safari. Below are the top ten places that should not miss on your self guided safari in Uganda;

    Boat Cruise To The Bottom Of Murchison Falls

    Murchison falls are the strongest waterfalls in Uganda. It is one of the must-visits for anyone visiting Uganda. The trip can be bundled with a game drive with in Murchison falls national park.

    Chimpanzee Tracking In Kibale Forest National Park

    Uganda is home to two great apes, gorillas and chimpanzees. Though gorilla trekking has overshadowed the primate tracking experience in Uganda, Chimpanzee tracking is another wilderness activity that should not be missed on your gorilla safari to Uganda.

    There are several other chimpanzee tracking locations in Uganda including but not limited to Semuliki national park, Budongo forest, Kyambura gorge but Kibale forest national park still remains an exception. In Kibale you always have 99% chances of spotting chimpanzees on any given day of the week.

    Game Drive in Ishasha Sector

    Great stories have been told and retold of the king of the Jungle. But when it comes to Ishasha sector of Queen Elisabeth national park, there is an exceptional kind of lions; the “tree climbing lions”

    It is believed that these lions developed this ability in quest to avoid scavengers who used to feast on their prey. Common of lions, sleeping whole day is part of their hard work.  Over time they learnt to rest in the same trees that used to be havens for feasting. Your tour in the Ishasha sector will grant you amazing views of the tree climbing lions.

    Fort Portal Crater Lakes

    Fort portal is Uganda’s tourism city. It is strategically located to access Rwenzori Mountains, Queen Elisabeth national park, Semuliki valley national park and Kibale forest national park.

    But besides being a gateway into all these other park, the city also has a number of crater lakes worth exploring for anyone visiting Uganda. It also offers a special cultural experience for the Toro tribe in Uganda.

    Lake Mburo Walking Tour

    The less known Lake Mburo national park is the nearest national park to Kampala the capital of Uganda. The park is mainly known for the diversity of antelopes including but not limited to waterbucks, zebras, bushbucks, Impalas, Kobs among several other wildlife species.

    The park is a very good destination for biking, boat cruise and game drives. Instead of spending your ten hours on a drive to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, it is often better to have Lake Mburo national park as your first stop before you proceeding to Bwindi.

    Semuliki Hotsprings

    Semuliki hot springs are found in Semuliki valley national park. Though this park as a diversity of wildlife, it is most popular for the Sempaya hot springs and the Bambuti cultural experience in the same park.

    Leaving alone all the other activities that can be carried out in the same park, we highly recommended the Sempaya hot springs tour since it incorporates not only amazing sceneries but also a long line customs and norms rooted in the same area.

    Rwenzori Mountains Hike

    Rwenzori Mountains hosts over 4 of the top ten summits on the African continent. It is mainly known for its rare wildlife species and vegetation. The good news; you do not have to pay a 5-7 days package to experience the Rwenzoris.

    It is very possible to go for short hikes in the same mountains without worrying about making your gorilla trekking itinerary too hard to execute. Unless you are the kind that wishes to experience snow at the Equator, you would really have to reach the summit during your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda.

    Batwa Cultural Experience

    A lot has been said about gorilla trekking. But in an attempt to preserve the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, the human inhabitants of the same forest have to be shifted from the forest. However much they were, they never lost their culture till now.

    After gorilla trekking, it very possible to bundle up your experience with a Batwa cultural encounter in the Bwindi impenetrable forest national park; there are a number of amazing activities that you will witness including but not limited to honey harvesting, hunting among several other activities.

    Lake Bunyonyi/Lake Mutanda

    There are two gorilla trekking locations in Uganda; Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park. Depending on where you go gorilla trekking, you can choose any of the above two lakes to include of your gorilla trekking itinerary in Uganda.

    Both lakes offering boat trips, nature walks and community biking experience that a worth every beat of your time.

    Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

    Ziwa Rhino sanctuary may seem too farfetched for most of the people but if you have been inspired by conservation of the environment to go gorilla trekking, then in the same spirit, you should spare some time to visit Ziwa Rhino sanctuary.

    Rhinos are some of the animals that had gone extinct in Uganda, and in effort to reintroduce them into the wild in Uganda, Ziwa Rhino sanctuary is breeding rhinos with hope of reintroducing them in the wild.

  • Things to Consider When Going on a Self Drive in Uganda

    Self-drive is regarded as one of the best option while on a safari, driving yourself on a safari has a lot of advantages in that, you have a lot of freedom in your car and you are free to drive at your own pace at your convenient time.

    You are free to book the type of car you desire depending on your destination. The method of hiring cabs and taxis has faded up so, many travelers are interested in driving themselves.  Many car hire companies are available to offer you the best service; however it’s advised to book with a genuine car hire company to get the best service.

    There are very many Uganda car rentals on streets offering the same services, but if you are not steady you may end up booking with wrong people and hence ending up having a bad experience on your safari. In order to get the best companies offering the best service, it’s advised to search on the internet and choose with a genuine one after reading more information and profile of a company. Once you have got the car hire company to hire a car from, you must keep safe on the road; remember you are driving in a strange country.

    The following dos and don’ts should be put into consideration in order to have a successful and a wonderful self-drive safari.

    • You should not forget the following items during your self-drive safari such as a first aid kid, spare parts at list you should talk to the car hire agency and reserve some for you, Don’t forget also, a spare petrol to last at least 300km allowing for gear driving on rough roads, water of filtered quality and for refilling the engines cooling system if it bursts among many other things that you thing are of importance.
    • On bumpy roads, you should avoid over speeding, the most relaxed driving speed is about 60km/h. you should be very conscious on the road and abstain from sudden navigation movements and breaking at the same time both of which can result in sliding. Reducing down the speed early and gentle breaking irregular with carefully dosed accelerator application , will prevent the car from going out of control
    • Once you see the fire ahead of bush/ road Stop, this may affect the car remember the fire’s front 500m in length and the fire doesn’t always move in a straight line as you may assume. it’s always very difficult to judge the course and progress from a moving vehicle with bends, slopes, trees, anthill and other obstacles, so you may be confused and hence losing the view ahead
    • Before navigating the flooded stretches of the road, or rivers that aren’t too deep for the car, first remove the fan belt water from spraying around which could upset the electrical systems of the engine.
    • Keep the speed limit while on the road for the good of your safety, the general speed limit on Uganda roads are 100km/h, don’t overtake unless overtaking. On many roads you will find many traffic offers smartly dressed to ensure that the road users obey the rules of the road. If you’re caught over speeding, not having a valid insurance sticker or driving permit, having an working windscreen wipers, you will be presented with a charge sheet to clear at a bank within 28days; so always be careful while driving on the road.
    • Once you have experienced a flat tyre during the road trip, you are advised to park on the left side of the road and vice versa. Most of African roads are rarely level and are most likely to slope down towards the shoulders leaving inadequate allowance for the jack if the pierced tyre is on the road verge.
    • Avoid parking in savannah or patches especially during dry seasons, this may put your car at risk of catching fire in that the exhaust pipe or other hot engine part will burn the perched vegetation and trigger off a fire possibly damaging or destroying the car.
    • Petrol from remote filling stations or dubious pumps, drums or jerry cans might be dirty. To protect the engine, it may be careful to use nylon stockings or some similar materials to filter the petrol while filling up.
    • Before starting your road tip, you are advised to check the vehicle carefully and ask to take it for a test drive. Even if you’re not well conversant about the working of the engines, a few minutes on the road should be adequate to establish whether it has any serious upsetting creaks, rattles or other noises, you don’t understand, check well also the condition of tyres, this is very vital. Don’t forget to carry the driving permit, photocopy of the vehicle registration book, and the vehicle certificate of insurance.

  • Going on a Self Drive Safari in Nigeria

    Driving a rental car or private car in a new destination like Nigeria can really challenging as you have a lot to observe or get yourself familiar with. Renting a car in Nigeria necessarily given the unreliable public transportation. But here some of the essentials you should know about driving in Nigeria.

    Driver’s license in Nigeria

    Nigeria doesn’t recognize foreign licenses, meaning in order for you to drive you must have a valid Nigeria driver’s license to drive a rental car/ride motorcycle. It is easier and faster to obtain a Nigerian driver’s license by simply enrolling into any of the accredited driving school. You can attend the prescribed program prior presenting yourself to the vehicle inspection office for driving test.

    After you have got the vehicle inspection office driving certificate of proficiency, you can visit the closest Driver’s License Centre to fill a registration form then you will need to pay some money about NGN 6000. Once you are done with this tedious process, you can be offered a temporary driver’s license that is valid at least 2 months then later, you will have a permanent Nigerian driver’s license.

    State of roads in Nigeria

    Generally, most parts of Nigeria’s roads are in poor conditions and not up to the international standard and you need to be keen when driving a rental car. There are road signs/traffic control police officers to ensure driving rules are observed to minimize road accidents.

    Highway code in Nigeria

    As per Nigeria’s Federal Highway Code, motor vehicles drive on the right-hand side and a speed limit of 40kms per hour should be maintained within towns then 80kms per hr while in intercity roads. 120kms per hr speed limit should be maintained while on expressways. Ensure relevant license, registration documents and insurance are with you.

    Finding a rental car in Nigeria

    Finding a car in Nigeria can be tedious! But car rental Nigeria makes it easier for you to find your dream car to navigate to your dream destination. We have wide selection of rental cars including 4×4 safari vehicles best suited for travel in the rural areas of Nigeria.

  • Rwanda’s Positioning As A High-End Tourist Market

    With the sprouting of new luxury Safari Lodges within the Volcanoes National Park and the increment of Rwanda gorilla permits from US$750 to $1500 per person (with the effect of 7th May 2017), it’s obvious and clear that this country, also known as the land of a thousand Hills is positioning itself as a High-end tourist market.

    Gorilla trekking is a one in a lifetime opportunity that allows tourists to meet face to face with the critically endangered mountain gorillas. This activity is possible in only three countries that include Uganda (within Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks), Rwanda (within Volcanoes National Park) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (within Virunga National Park). This explains the reason why these three countries always appear on the bucket list of places for Safaris in Uganda.

    However, Rwanda has positioned herself as an exceptional destination targeting the wealthy tourists hence the high-end tourist strategy. This is a drawback for the budget tourists because only the elite will be able to track the country’s mountain gorillas.

    This tourism strategy is expected to increase revenues from tourism while at the same time boosting conservation efforts of the country’s attractions since fewer will afford safaris hence reducing their numbers. Mass tourism as it is in Kenya and Tanzania has negative effects on tourist resources, especially fragile environments like where the mountain gorillas are found.

    Just like Botswana and Bhutan, Rwanda’s tourism is a high-value and low impact strategy and is expected to work and prosper. As earlier mentioned, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda are the other two countries in the whole World where you can actually go to encounter the only population of Mountain gorillas.

    Gorilla permits cost $600 and $400 for Uganda and DRC respectively, which are more than two times cheaper than it is with Rwanda yet the Rwanda Development Board officials were not worried that the country would lose visitors to the neighboring countries because the land of a thousand Hills offers an exceptional gorilla trekking experience that is incomparable to the other mentioned places.

    After the time of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide where more than 800,000 people lost their lives, the country is now a comeback kid and is praised for the drastic economic turnaround. Even now when you visit the country, you will be amazed by the cleanliness of the Cities, the level of organization, safety and zero tolerance of Corruption and Injustice.

    With the introduction of Lions and Rhinos (that were previously extinct) into Akagera National Park, Rwanda became a Big five destination which in turn doubled tourist numbers. Nonetheless, the mountain gorillas are the main reason tourists visit the country, thus the industry players became concerned about the impact the increase in gorilla permits would cause to the tourism industry.

    Surprisingly, bookings have increased by 22% more than were recorded during the same period (May) in 2016. Interestingly, the revenue from gorilla trekking safaris substantially increased by 39% in the same period despite the cancellations resulting from the price increase. Last year (2016) in May, the Rwanda Development Board collected about $4618 whereas this year the same period, about $6.2 million was collected. Therefore, the country expects to generate $444 from the tourism industry from $404 million collected in 2016.

    Accommodation

    Therefore, Rwanda has positioned herself as a high-end destination, which has yielded positive results regardless of the fact that tourism players had predicted otherwise.

    Today more high end luxury safari lodges have opened up in Rwanda to offer the ultimate comfort that luxury travelers seek for on an African Safari. Examples of such lodges include renowned chains like Singita, One and Only Resorts, Wilderness lodges, Governors Camp etc. You can easily choose to stay in chain lodges across East Africa. A perfect safari sold by Rwandan Tour Operators include the 10 Day Luxury Tanzania Rwanda Safari sold by Ecotours Rwanda with exclusive stays at the Singita’s Collection of Lodges and Camps in both Rwanda and Tanzania.

    You can undertake a luxury gorilla safari within the land of a thousand Hills and will have the most exciting moment of a lifetime.

  • Planning a Safari to East Africa

    Visit a destination where others have had great memories & you will definitely have same though sometimes it doesn’t matter where you go on vacation so long as you get what you really looking for on your travel holiday. You can discover all the four East Africa countries in a single African tour depending on your budget and interest.

    Get a Successful African tour from your safari expert full of memorable moments to cherish and remember. Plan as early as possible and free your mind to enjoy your Rwanda safari just in line with your interest be it mountain climbing, game viewing, primate trekking to any of the best parks in Africa. wildlife, primates, hills, plains, green environment, weather are the main reasons as to why many chose East Africa as a place for their vacation holidays at any time of the year and countries have all options for travel.

    Kenya the land of magical wildlife

    Imagine viewing the Great wildlife migration in Masai Mara an activity which attracts many into the country to view the concentration of wildlife in the Masai Mara game reserve. This takes place every year from July-October though it’s very easy to spot cats during the dry season of December –February every year. Other months of the year are also good if your interest is just wildlife viewing but not to view over1.8 million Wildebeest come every year on the sand river and move to both Kenya and Tanzania making travel to these areas the talk of the day.

    The Masai Mara reserve is found in south west Kenya where it neighbor Serengeti national park in Tanzania. The Scenic drive from Nairobi is 5-6 hours drive and 45 minutes by air travel. There is lots of lodge; camps of all budgets but need advance booking during the peak season. Don’t miss pink flamingoes of Lake Nakuru, elephants in Amboseli, the traditional people of Masai Mara etc.

    Rwanda the land of 1000 Hills

    A small rich wealth tourist country in Africa and a home to the legendary mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes national park. The country welcomes many year round with different reasons though the large percentage comes to Track the Mountain Gorillas. Other tourist attractions include the lakes, (kivu, Iheme, Burera etc) National parks (Volcanoes, Nyungwe and Akagera), hills, Islands, Museums, Genocide memorials, market centers among others. Rwanda can easily accessed either by road or Air transport means and if you want to do a safari tour in two countries, this is very flexible .Most trips done in Rwanda include Uganda safari adventures since it’s easy to connect between the two countries and you free to start from either sides.

    Uganda the Pearl of Africa

    Uganda one of the travel best destinations in Africa and the best country to connect with in the East Africa region. The country has ten national parks which are worthy visiting year round since activities are not seasonal. Best things to do on a Uganda safari include Mountain Climbing, Bungee Jumping, Gorillas & Chimpanzee tracking Bird watching, Game viewing and drives, Boat trips and other.

    If you are looking for interesting attractions in different spots check out what Uganda has for you.The most visited country’s national parks include Bwindi impenetrable national park, Murchison falls, Queen Elizabeth National park, and Rwenzori national park. The parks have the finest activities which make your trip thrilling adventurous and enjoyful.In most cases every visitor to Uganda does Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Forest a decade understanding which involves taking jungle forest guided tours with park rangers, photography of primates, and being awarded with a certificate. Others prefer combining it with chimpanzee Trekking where you observe exciting chimps play and climb trees. The other activities include Boat rides, Birding in Uganda an activity for watching birds in there habitat, spot fishing on the falls and lakes, Mountain hiking and climbing a challenging offer in mountain Rwenzori and Elgon,among others. Travel experts can help you make your holiday the very best and accommodation is plenty all over the country lodges, hotels, tents, camps.

    Always start your trip search as early as possible for a perfect trip, check out different travel posts, tips, websites and magazines of different destinations and gather enough information about the tour package. Contact destination safari agents and guides in case of any assistance.

  • Best Places to See Gorillas in Africa

    Gorilla trekking is one of the best wildlife adventures that one can ever take in Africa. There are a few destinations where travelers can go gorilla trekking! There are only three countries that host the endangered mountain gorillas; Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite the existence of just three countries, many travelers face a problem of selecting which country they should visit to enjoy gorilla trekking. Here is a quick comparison between these countries.

    There are a multitude of questions that need to be thoroughly stripped before choosing which country to visit and enjoy a gorilla safari in Africa. Under normal circumstances, gorilla trekking go on differing from country to country and experience differs as well. Some of the rampant questions under the spot light here include; which is the best place to do a gorilla trek in Uganda or Rwanda? Which is more viable and cheaper: Bwindi Forest or Volcanoes national park? Is tracking Rwanda better than Uganda? So such questions are some of the many that we are going to digest under this article.

    Gorilla trekking or tracking whatever you may call it is one of those thrilling moments that one should always vie to do before one dies. The excitement that comes with setting the eyes on a wild mountain gorilla is really enticing. Yet in the same intellect, that magical one hour spent with the gorillas does not come cheaply considering that a permit goes for US$750 in Rwanda and $600 in Uganda – but it is unusual to find someone who regretted the financial outlay due to the fact that the experience is far reaching than the amount paid for the permit.

    Only 8 persons can visit a given gorilla family per day. In Uganda, eighteen families have been habituated in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and one gorilla family has been habituated in Mgahinga National Park. Therefore Uganda can host 144 persons tracking the mountain gorillas on any day.

    Rwanda can also permit 96 persons per day. All else being equal, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park has a slight edge over the rest because its gorillas are the most wholly habituated, and they are often found in bamboo than the dense forest which makes photographing easier.

    The major challenge with tracking gorillas in Rwanda is certainly the price of the gorilla permit at US$1500 compared to Uganda’s US$700 per permit. However, Rwanda’s pride is in the ability for one to do the gorilla trek even in one day and fly back home which is impossible for Uganda. Volcanoes National Park is located 116 km from Kigali and can be driven in just 2 hours. On the other hand, Bwindi is located 500 km from Kampala/ Entebbe Airport and a drive can take 8 hours plus. In that sense, you will spend at least 3 days for your gorilla trek tour. If a tour operator is making you a tour package, they shall definitely have to consider this cost and include it in your tour cost.

    However, the long drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is quite enchanting with great scenery all through like the Equator, Lake Mburo National Park (for some Queen Elizabeth National Park with abundant wildlife), terraced mountains with flowing rivers, and a lot of rural Africa. This is not so really the case for the drive from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park.

    Therefore you will certainly need to spend more on transport and time to track the mountain gorillas in Uganda than it is for Rwanda although this cost is compensated for by a cheaper gorilla permit.

    Besides, some sections of the roads to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are not so comfortable to drive on yet in the case of Rwanda; you drive on smooth tarmac at least up to the Volcanoes National Park head office. Not to mention though, the roads leading from Volcanoes park office to the gorilla trek trail-heads can only be accessed with a raised 4×4 vehicle.

    Comparison of the Addons to the Gorilla trekking experience

    On a gorilla safari in Rwanda, tourists enjoy a traditional dance perfomance by the SACOLA before taking a gorilla trek in the Volcanoes national park. In general, the experience can only be different due to the way a particular gorilla family behaves in front of the trackers, how long and tough one has to track before reaching the gorillas and the way the park staff conduct the exercise. Personally, I found the Rwanda gorilla tracking package more charming than the Ugandan one on the tracking day. Should we say that this’ because of the gorilla permit price difference? Anyways, on your gorilla tracking day in Rwanda, you will definitely get more than that. At about 7:00 AM, tea/ coffee dispensers with cups are laid for visitors going for the trek. You are free to take as much as you wish. As visitors are enjoying the tea/ coffee, they are entertained by the lively traditional dance troupe (SACOLA Traditional Dancers) who bring on a wholesome Rwanda traditional cultural experience that all visitors enjoy.

    However, you can get this in Uganda in evenings (at a fee) from the various traditional cultural groups that are near the park. In addition the drive from Kampala to Bwindi is a very fabulous one traversing at least another national park (either Kibale or Queen Elizabeth National Park famous for tree climbing lions and many other big mammals, or Lake Mburo National Park) and not to miss- the Equator. In a way, even before you arrive Bwindi you have had a bit of the ‘Pearl of Africa’ as is fondly known. To many, driving along paved eucalyptus avenues to the gorillas in not the best deal. Indeed many to purchase tour packages combining both Rwanda and Uganda, first doing Gorillas in Rwanda and then crossing to Uganda to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park for the BIG 5 safaris and chimpanzee tracking among other tours.

    Let’s compare the tour costs in general

    Because of the long drive one endures from Kampala to Bwindi, the general cost is increased (even when you travel by public buses). It even increases more because you have to travel 2 days (to and from Bwindi). However, the increased cost is countered by the low cost gorilla permit of US$600 ($350 in April and May 2014). A low budget 3 days gorilla trek tour in Uganda goes for about $1250 (with gorilla permit, accommodation, and transport). The two days Rwanda gorilla trek costs about $1220 ( with gorilla permit, accommodation, and transport) and a three days Rwanda gorilla tracking tour costs is about $1280 (with gorilla permit, accommodation, and transport) . Costs samples got from Gorilla expeditions website effective Jan 2014.

    Lastly, if you are not travelling just to see the mountain gorilla, and you want to include other activities in your visit, Rwanda may not be the best choice. Many tourists have continually had to cross to Uganda after their Rwanda gorilla trek to tour other reserves like Queen Elizabeth National Parks so endowed with abundant wildlife one cannot see in Rwanda. This is why probably folks continue enduring the long drives to Bwindi yet there is an easy way out.

    At the end of the day – the ultimate jury are those who are looking as to which country to visit in order to track Gorillas – it is not Rwanda, not Uganda, not the Democratic Republic of Congo but where their pockets and hearts choose. If you precisely want the mountain gorillas and nothing else, go for a one-day gorilla trek especially in Rwanda but if you are a one who wants it and all of it, go for the long drive in Uganda – you won’t regret.