African Safaris Guide

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  • Go Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Africa’s Rain Forests

    Of the most popular wildlife viewing experiences in the world, encountering the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat in Uganda and Rwanda is the best adventure i have ever experienced!

    Though i took my first gorilla safari in Rwanda in 2010, the memories of observing the mountain gorillas in their natural wild is still fresh within my head. A gorilla trek is great way to meet our distant, hairy relatives who share with us 99% of our DNA. When I first took a glance at the endangered mountain gorillas I felt like i was in a strange land! I took their photos in awe and i cant exactly tell the feeling of watching these amazing creatures! I cant imagine standing a mere feet from these powerful animals, the strongest of the ape family. What is surprising is the mountain gorillas are very calm, peaceful and care less about your existence as long as you don’t threaten them.

    Where to See the Mountain Gorillas

    Did you know that there are only a few mountain gorillas in the wild? There are about 880 individuals living in three countries in the world; Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Unlike the lowland gorillas, there is no mountain gorilla in captivity! I think this is one of the reasons as to why gorilla trekking is an amazing wildlife experience that top the list of the best adventures you can ever take in the wild.

    There are four parks where one can see the mountain gorillas;

    • Volcanoes National Park in Northern Rwanda. This is the most accessible of all gorilla parks. It is located within a distance of just 3 hours drive from the Kanombe Airport, Kigali.
    • Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park in South Western Uganda. Bwindi is the favorite for most hikers given that it hosts almost half of the world’s remaining population of the endangered gorillas. The park has 14 habituated opportunities thus it is easier to get the gorilla permits, an essential requirement to see the gorillas.
    • Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Located in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, this is the oldest national park in Africa. Established by the Belgian colonialists the Virunga is the most famous of Africa’s parks.

    Gorilla Trekking Experience

    If you have ever visited the gorillas in the zoo, a gorilla safari in Africa is totally a different experience. You will watch the gorillas in the natural wild and there are no glasses, no bars, no rumbling safari car engine, no squinting through binoculars but you will be just a meters away facing the giants face to face! You will be just humans and gorillas meeting in the forest.

    Planning a Gorilla Trek

    Anyone intending to take a gorilla trekking safari in Africa should consider planning early enough on a trip! Planning ahead for a trip is required given that there are always a few gorilla permits available for those who are to take the challenge. There are several tour operators and travel agents who offer fully inclusive trips to the gorillas. For those planning to travel independently, you will need to arrange booking your gorilla permits in time as well as booking your transportation and accommodation. Please note that public transportation is not available in some rural areas.

    Please remember that gorilla trekking requires more active participation than traditional safaris and there fore a considerable degree of fitness is required for hikers.

  • How to Choose A Tour Operator for Your Safari in Africa

    This question of how to choose the best safari company for your safari is a common one and frequent. However, this question is not so surprising since there are so many safari operators in the tourism market and all these make promises to give you the best tour once chosen most especially when you know nothing about them. There are ways of improving your chances of making the right choice and decision of which safari company to give you your dream African safari; this will help you in avoiding the ones that might turn your safari into disaster. There are mainly three simple steps to follow.

    Please never allow this to happen to you; by this, we mean that never chose a company due to the cheapest price since some of these operators are looking for a way of surviving not to give good service to the visitors. These are not tour operators but they just hide behind us the givers of genuine service. This means that whenever you want to travel, be ready to make a good choice of the operator who will value your money that you saved for decades to enjoy your African safari.

    There are also those people who pretend to know a lot about tourism but in the actual sense they can’t provide the service behind the industry and these have greatly destroyed the operator’s name of wanting to make money out of our tourists. These own websites about what they offer, have forged reviews on trip advisor, safari bookings and many different flat forms and you will trust them thinking that they will give you the best but you will end up being disappointed.

    There is also some good news about these scammers and since many of these have been shut down and closed, so the question is how do you avoid these fake tour operators when you are choosing a tour company for your vacation. Just apply these three steps and you will reduce on the risks of such operators.

    Always get recommendations from others; the advice you will ever get about a tour company that you want to choose is from the real people who have used this same company on any safari. These can tell you exactly how that company performed for them and will also give you first-hand information without leaving anything untold. This will be a great way to shortlist all the companies that you have information about and then decide on which is good for you. More, in case you don’t know anyone who has been on a safari in a particular country, you don’t have to worry since there are many websites on the internet that shows a list of safari reviews as well as travel diaries that are written by the people who have previously gone on the trip. You can find these and learn from them. These have got many tips and recommendations that you can learn that are so helpful and valuable for your own trip.

    Try checking their credentials. As a tourist, you need to know about each and every bit of the operator that you will want to choose, you can also try checking their credentials of the safari company you are planning to use in order to make sure they are very reputable. As a tourist, you need to know about every bit of the operator that you want to choose, you can check so that to know that the company is reputable.

    Also make sure that even the guide you are to use is listed. The associations in East Africa include; KATO which is Kenya Association of Tour operator, TATO which is Tanzania Association of Tour Operators, TASA is Tours and safari Association of Namibia, SATSA is Southern Africa Tourism Services Association, ATTA is African Travel and Tourism Association and ASTA which is American Society of Travel Agents. In case they are not members, it doesn’t mean that they are not reputable but being a member, can afford any peace of mind to the traveller.

    Always ask the right questions; you now have got a tour company in mind and you have carried out some research to find out more about it, it’s now time to get into contact. What are the questions do you need to ask to make sure you get best value for your money. Always find out how many other people that will join the trip? Ask about the policies of payment as well as the cancellation policy; get to know about their location and address of the company offices. There are also many other questions that you can ask but the above question will establish a quick feedback about the company knowledge. You can follow the above three steps in finding the best tour company for your trip with accuracy.

  • Guide to Finding Cheaper African Safaris in 2018

    Africa is a place where you can find large herds of impalas and cheetahs that move over the savannah. There are large elephants and giraffes that are found in the acacia trees which make it a beautiful place for wildlife encounters. The Nature tourists have an opportunity of enjoying the adventurous stories that are told around the campfires under the clear sky dotted with stars before enjoying sleep at the known selected accommodation.

    Getting an affordable African safari is not so easy and sometimes it feels like an elusive dream for the many low budget tourists. Many safari lodges as well as camps are mostly considered restricted accommodation facilities all over the world and these cover $1000 that is per person per night. The cost includes; meals tour activities within the itinerary. And the luxury safari is so expensive for a distinctive traveler since it includes costly flights. The tourists are encouraged not to give up on visiting Africa. This is mainly because there are many safari options that can be taken by different travelers and this depends on the type of Accommodation being selected. Below are some of the main strategies to be put into account as you trey searching for a very affordable safari to suit your budget.

    Traveling off season; Africa has got two main seasons and these include; the high and low season, these resolve around the rainfall patterns and the dry season that is known to be the most popular time of visiting since many animals assemble around different water sources and this makes it easier to spot them when the vegetation is so sparse. The low season is mostly known as the green season and has got many benefits since its prices are mostly lower and very affordable to many interested travelers. Though the weather is wetter, the rains are irregular and brief which helps at keeping the dust down as well as the grass green. Many wild animals mostly give birth during this season and the clouds with in the sky offer great stunning sunsets that are a bonus for the photographers. Masai Mara of Kenya offers great wildlife viewing opportunities all year round.

    The low season of East Africa; there are two rainy seasons with East Africa, i.e. March and April and May and June and the other from October, November and December. Choosing to safari in these periods bring good season conditions as well as the lower prices. Touring in early December is so familiar since the crowds are few before holiday seasons. In January to March, the rains are high and can be an ideal time to visit both Kenya and Tanzania since it’s less expensive and dry. Many of the tourists like moving to both Serengeti and Masai Mara between June and September where the annual migration of the wildebeests’ cross the plains of these parks and these find it so interesting, and also the rates are higher. However, the tourists can get more for their money and view many wildlife species when they travel in the low season months. The travelers can as well consider a few days within the Serengeti Migration Camp were you get to enjoy herds in February followed by a camp found in the northern Serengeti away from the Migration and full of the tour experience which includes both the resident animals and the migratory herds. Uganda is visited mostly in the months of June to September and December to February where the rains are so low and the weather is also favorable for gorilla trekking and many other activities.

    The low season of South Africa; in South Africa, the best season off deals are the cold and drizzly with in Cape Town and the coast during the southern winter, this also includes the months of May to September. The dry and sunny areas within the north involve; Kruger, Madikwe as well as the Sabi sand. This also means that the tourists can find low season quotes when the weather and wildlife viewing are the best. For Namibia and Botswana, the best months are May to November. In Botswana, tourism numbers are kept high so as to promote environmental impact. The large part of the land in Botswana is to the wilderness that harbours large numbers of animal species.

    About choosing the safari camps; there are many safari lodges and camps in Africa, these are rated based from Luxury, moderate and budget. There are well furnished tents at a comfort level for any stay in any African forest. The camps offer a cost mindful trend to the low income travelers and these are quality experience on their safaris in Africa. The up market camps give comfortable accommodations with the extra personalized service and good meals that are filled with many safari activities. The best solution to finding the best and affordable African safari is by the safari online tool. This tool is easy to use with the data base that provides vital and detailed information to over nine safari African countries.

    Deciding to go mobile; this also means that you will need a safari at a cheaper price. There are many ways of finding a high quality safari at relatively low price. One of them is by engaging in mobile camping, where travelers move with their camping items to cut costs. This also means that you can find luxury mobile camping offers at high end permanent camps. The same offers can be got with simpler set ups which provide equal services with good chances to view wildlife depending on the choice of a tour operator.

    The full serviced camping tours; the budget mobile tours can be participatory or fully serviced, in case one needs to have assistance with the tents and cooking, you will need to contact a trusted operator in any of the country that you wish to visit. These offer both scheduled and custom safaris in different countries in Africa. Many of the travelers enjoy different camping facilities that have tents and individual canvas wash basins, a shared toilet tent with a flush toilet, raised cots, hot water bucket showers, camp fire and the dinning tent.

    The participatory camping safaris in Africa; here the travelers spend less since they engage in organizing the tour themselves. This includes setting up the camp, and preparing the meals. These tours are more economical and mostly referred to as over landing. This type of safari is mostly carried out in large open sided truck and switched to a min buses or the 4x4s in the national parks. The safaris are mostly led by two guides including a driver and a cook and these are not sanctioned in the region visited.

    The Self-drive safaris; though many travelers wouldn’t want to take up an independent safari, it’s possible in though in South Africa and Namibia since these countries are well organized for many safari activities. These mostly go to Kruger National Park to participate in such activities. Self-drive tours are advantageous since you set your own pace and pursuing the individual interests. But it’s vital to hire a guide who will help at some point in spotting some wildlife and learning more while on a safari than going alone on the safari.

  • 10 Amazing Affordable Safaris in Africa

    Africa is an amazing place. Its nature looks almost intact, and full of wonderful animals we all wish to see in person. But, traveling to Africa isn’t cheap. Some of us would love to go to a safari, but just don’t have enough money. Well, all of that is about to change, as we bring you a list of 10 amazing safaris that are
    affordable to you.

    Off-season trip to South Africa
    The perfect time for traveling to South Africa is between May and September, when the season is low. It may rain near the oceans, but the interior of the country is dry, which means that you will see more animals. You can get a full package for just $165 a day per person.

    Owner-run camps in Zambia

    Remote Luangwa Valley in Zambia is a home to John and Carol Coppinger, who offer walking safaris and a full package stay at the lodge for just $300 per week, which comes in cheaper $300 a day than a corporate safari camp.

    Self-drive through Botswana, Namibia and South Africa

    These safaris are not so complicated, and could help you save money on air travels. National parks in South Africa are close to big cities, so you could drive there. Parks are a bit further away in Namibia and Botswana. The roadsare rougher there too, so a SUV is recommended.This type of safari costs around $3,600 per 13 days, and you will be provided with free equipment.

    Guided driving safari in Tanzania

    This 12-day safari in Tanzania offers SUV drives with experienced guides who know all about the roads and the animals. You’ll visit top reserves in this country, and at the end, the total cost of this travel will amount to about $7,000 per person.

    Places with weak currencies
    The beautiful country of Namibia has a currency that is weaker than the US dollar. That means that the prices will be cheaper, which means that one night could cost mere $260 per person, with food and animal tracking included. This 10-day safari will cost about $5,900 in the low season, including the flight back to Johannesburg.

    Smaller sibling camps of the big companies in Botswana
    Many big safari companies are opening sister camps, in which you could stay for just around $600 a night. Those are old, rustic properties, with six tents on an island near Okavango floodplains.

    Newer camps in Tanzania
    New camps usually have problems with attracting guests, so most of them are lowering prices for that exact reason. You could find a place for just $445 per person per night in deluxe colonial-style tents beneath the trees.

    Less obvious reserves in Zambia, Kenya and South Africa
    Look for some lesser known reserves in these countries. They are less visited by international guests, and usually offer better deals. They offer comfort, electricity, experienced guides and superb meals for mere $230 per day per person!

    National park lodges in South Africa

    Most Africans stay in government-owned national parks when they go to safari. It is less luxurious than the private lodge, but it costs mere $70 a night! That price includes self-catering, two-bedroom bungalows. You could also hire rangers who could organize a drive to see the wildlife.

    Find the right people in Kenya
    There are 10-day safaris in Kenya that offer great deals, if they are booked through the right people. That way, you could find a perfect safari for just $300 per day.

  • How to Prepare Yourself for the Perfect East African Safari

    There’s no better continent to view wildlife in their natural habitats than Africa. After all, where else in the world can you come to face with mountain gorillas than Uganda, Rwanda and DRC or witness the wildebeest migration in Kenya and Tanzania.

    For most travelers the decision to visit your favorite premier safari destinations, there’s a lot to plan for your trip.

    There are varied habitats ranging from tropical forests, classic open savannahs, swamps, rivers and lakes, high altitude mountains like Kilimanjaro and Rwenzori as well as semi-arid and desert dunes. Whether the most part of your safari is to be doing daily excursions, or visit cities and local communities for cultural encounters, you need to prepare yourself.

    Get travel insurance

    You are visiting a secure and safe destination but you’re not sure of the uncertainties that come with adventure safaris. Whether you want to relax on beach or undertake adventures like gorilla trekking and mountaineering. You need an all-inclusive travel insurance to cover up whatever activity you shall do as well as emergency situations like accidents.

    Most tour operators highly recommend travel insurance for the entire trip days. When traveling to Africa come along with your credit cards. Make currency exchanges since you may be required to make payments in local currency or US dollars.

    Choose an organized tour

    Planning African safari with a tour operator is flexible way to get everything you desire. Before you travel, there’s need to inquire about the destination activities, transportation, meals, lodgings and availability of wildlife viewing permits. You can base from your home country pre-book and confirm your African safari including air tickets. By the time you arrive on time, everything would be already arranged as you wish to relax after a flight and begin comfortable trip the next day.

    For travelers who don’t enjoy being in a company of others, consider having solo trips. You may travel with a group during transfers but for the sake of your special interests.

    Book in advance

    When you book early you get enough time to arrange essential items of your safari such as visa, passport, permits, accommodation and things to pack. For instance a visa must be applied for at least 3 months ahead of date you are visiting a particular country. During peak seasons, many tourists are traveling which make prices high as well lead to low availability of space in lodges. But when you book in advance, budget choices are still many and you won’t pay highly.

    If you’re traveling with children, mind so much about accommodation that runs special programs for kids. While few areas in East African safari places such as Uganda and Kenya have high risk of malaria than in South Africa, they have bright setups for kids. On that note, there are activities like gorilla trekking where children below 15 years are not allowed.

    What to pack

    Understanding what to pack for a long day drive or trekking through tropical rainforest is the strength of your trip. It creates a difference between a disappointing and successful safari.

    Not all safaris are similar, depending on the place you’re visiting. The idea is to be weather ready and pack light, flexible clothing and equipment. For most active wildlife viewing adventures, you wake up before sunrise or you are still in the bush during afternoon and late evening drives. The weather is still cold or winds and hot sun tend to alternate whether it is a wet or dry season. Thus make sure to have a backpack that you can access anything you want while on a trip. You’ll quickly get extra layers, rain jackets when it showers or feels cold or a sun hat when the sun is too hot. It is also important to have hiking boots, socks, and a pair of long pants, long sleeved shirts so that your body is covered up.

    Take useful accessories including camera and extra batteries, lenses, memory cards and binoculars. Game drives and boat cruises offer closer views of animals for your greater shots. But binoculars will also help you to spot animals that keep away from the safari vehicles and more importantly for any bird watching trip. Take a notebook or dairy as well to write about your experiences and create lasting memories.

    If you wish to visit the beach, bring a swimming costume, short pants and sandals.

    Sun protection

    Most Africa safari destinations experience intense hot sun even during rainy season. Take sunscreen, hat along with lip balm. Traveling long distances tend to cause heat and dust to make you feel dry. Even if you happen to use air conditioned vehicles, you’ll still use jeep or land lovers while in the bush which does not have.

    Prepare for your health

    When your safari is fully booked, check with a doctor to get any immunizations you may need.

    Mostly every travel visiting any destination in East and Central Africa must have a yellow fever vaccination card. So come with proof. You may also vaccinate against hepatitis B and tetanus.

    Most destinations in Africa have a risk of malaria infection. To avoid mosquito bites carry anti-malarial tabs and mosquito repellants while on a safari.

    Even though lodges are comfortable places with fresh food, you may be exposed to harmful bacteria and suffer from stomach upsets. So it is important to have a first Aid kit. It should include healthy packs of medications as well as anti-bacterial wipes. Toiletries can help you when you want to ease yourself off in the bush.

    Note, however, preparing for health depends on the disease and epidemic outbreaks. You must check with embassies and consultants to know the situation in the country you’re visiting.

    Be security cautious

    Africa is known to have friendly people including locals, safari guides, rangers and staff at the lodges. These try to give their best for a memorable visitor experience. However, be aware of the theft and crime issues in most cities. Though not directed at tourists, sometimes showing off valuables or moving at night in isolated places can attract thugs.

    Also be aware of the gender issues especially same sex couples. Many African countries are fighting homosexuality, so keep your acts out of public. Local people as well as laws are still traditional and will be harsh at any awkward act by foreigners. The same applies to ways of dressing. Unlike in cities where women can dress short clothes but in rural villages, it is still moderate and decent.

    You may not see all the animals

    The truth about safaris, you’re not guaranteed to see every animal as expected. Some animals are active during morning or evening while others at night. Guides and rangers understand that much and tell you to take optional or do as many activities as you can. Viewing wildlife is popular with day game drive safaris from where you can see elephants, lions, buffalos. During day, you might miss to see nocturnal animals like leopards, bush babies or night jars, you can opt for night game drives.

  • Guide to Best Time to Go Birding in Africa

    What is the Best time for birding Safaris in Africa

    There are many great bird watching countries in Africa but a wide number of Birdwatchers have failed to know the right time to feed eyes and camera lenses with superb feathered creatures. It’s a rewarding experience to watch birds in their natural habitats and happiness takes over the floor when you spot your favorite. Among the numerous birding destinations in the world, birders believe that every birding spot is perfect as long as it has your favorite species and other birds of your interest.

    Do you want to explore great birding spots and countries across the world but wondering when to visit and spot your favorite? Here the guide on the best time to go for birding safari tours in Africa.

    Birding in East Africa

    Talking about East Africa, I mean birding safaris in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania. The right time to enjoy excellent birding in East Africa from January – March and November to March. Above 1000 bird species can spotted during any birding trip in the region. According to bird researchers, the East African rift covering parts of Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo has the most impressive bird species that will make you explore the region the entire region. Common birds species include Yellow-Throated Nicator, Blue-Billed Malimbe, Red-Rumped Tinker Bird, Orange-Cheeked Waxbill, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, and many other fascinating flying friends. , Red-Throated Alethe, and African Green Broadbill. There is also an abundance of the White-Crested Hornbill, Blue-Headed Sunbird, Strange Weaver, Dusky Crimson wing, Ruwenzori Nightjar, Yellow-Eyed Black Flycatcher, and the shoebill stock.

    South Africa Birding Safaris

    Birding safaris in south Africa are best done in the month of November- March. Remember south Africa has famed to the world as one of the pleasurable birding countries sin the world offering world class birding experience to all birdwatchers across the globe. Besides it being a great wildlife safari destination the country attracts thousands year round including birders. On your trip to cape town, spend some time exploring the breathtaking cape peninsular and offshore pelagic waters and catch up with feathered friends like African Penguin, Black Harrier, Southern Black Korhaan, the glittering Orange-breasted Sunbird, gaudy Cape Sugarbird and Cape Rock Jumper.

    Other great birding countries in Africa include Gambia, Ethiopia, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Zimbabwe among others. We believe now you know when and where to go for birding safaris in Africa soon.

  • 6 Common Questions Safari Planners Ask About Uganda

    Many travelers planning to take an African safari ask questions about the destinations they are intending to visit. Are you planning to take a safari in Uganda? Here are 6 practical questions to help you plan a perfect holiday in Uganda.

    Where do guests stay while on a safari to Uganda?

    Many of the tourists who travel to Uganda ask about which type of accommodation they will sleep in , this happens because they don’t know that Uganda offers variety of accommodation facilities that include; Hotels, guest houses, inns, resorts, camps and hostels. All these are rated based on luxury, mid-range and budget. This also depends on the choice of the quest since they differ in prices. Most of the national parks offer lodges as well as tented camps which are both inside and outside the park. For Bwindi impenetrable National park, each of the sector in this park has got variety of different lodges as well as camps that facilitate the tourists interested in gorilla tracking. The accommodation facilities can be booked through a tour operator or can be reserved directly at the facility websites.

    When to go for a trip in Uganda?

    This is one of the many questions asked regarding any tour in Uganda. The answer to this question is that you can visit Uganda at any time of the year! Even though the difference may vary in price since there are two different seasons; this includes; the peak season of June to September and December to February, in this season, the price of both the lodges and the permits is so high and it’s called a high season. In the low season of March to May and September to November, the prices of the gorilla permits are low as well as the lodges.

    Even though the guests are encouraged to visit at any time of the year and the rains shouldn’t stop you from coming to Uganda for a safari. You will also need the right tour wear for gorilla trekking like the rain jacket, long sleeved trousers, boots and the long sleeved shirts. During the low season of April, May and November, Uganda Wildlife Authority reduces the cost of the gorilla permits so as to attract more tourists to go gorilla tours in the low season.

    It’s also recommended that the tourists should visit the country during the dry season which is from January to February and then from June to September, it is because game viewing is best done during this season when the animals gather to drink water. Bird watching is done throughout the year, and from November to April, when there are migrant species in the country.

    How much does an African safari cost?

    The safari costing mainly depends on the type of accommodation that is chosen, the gorilla permits costs $ 600 and the accommodation costs are from $150 to $900 and this mainly depends in which facility you will decide to stay in.one of the most cheapest gorilla trekking safari is $1200 per person and a wildlife safari to Murchison or to Queen Elizabeth National park is roughly $1000 per person for the budget travellers. Those tourists who are willing to travel in groups, the price becomes low and you will end up saving money in case you are traveling two people.

    Are the people of Uganda Hospitable?

    Uganda is known for being the friendliest country for the tourists. The people will welcome all the visitors from any park of the world to come to this lovely so as to explore the beauty of Uganda. Even though any country has its own negatives, Uganda has remained friendly to all who have got a chance of visiting this country. This country is gifted with nature and friendly kind people with unique and rich cultural Heritage. Many of the visitors have tipped many Ugandans due to their simplicity, Kindness and open handedness. The country welcomes everyone including the guy people.

    What’s the weather like on any Ugandan safari?

    Weather is one if the main reasons why the people have come to Uganda. This perfect weather has made Uganda one of the leading tourist destination in Africa. Uganda experiences a temperature type of climate which makes it easy for the tourists to enjoy the different tourist activities all throughout the year. The activities include; gorilla trekking, bird watching, wildlife viewing, chimpanzee trekking and many more. Uganda’s perfect weather mainly depends on many factors including; the strategic location of the country on the Equator as well as the geographical altitude which provides the country with an ever green attribute features. This country is also famous to be endowed with Mother Nature and also having very friendly happy people with rich culture hence being named the pearl of Africa.

    What safari company to choose?

    Uganda as a country has many safari companies and most of these offer tours in both Uganda and Rwanda, these offer wildlife tours as well as gorilla trekking. Some of these companies offer tours in Kenya and Tanzania. When choosing a good and an effective tour company in Uganda, it’s so important to note that these companies belong to any of the reputable associations like Tourism Uganda, Association of Uganda’s tour operators, Africa Operators and many more.

  • 4 Alternatives to Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

    Gorilla trekking is one of the leading and most thought after experiences in the travel market. No wonder millions of travelers flock into Rwanda for this dramatic experience of a life time. Tracking mountain gorillas in the wild is the most exciting and inspiring experience in life especially exploring the daily behavior of these magnificent primates that share about 98% of their DNA with humans. In the world, mountain gorillas are estimated to be less than 900 and very few destinations offer visitors a golden opportunity to sight at them in their natural habitat. Many tourists have been taking gorilla safaris in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park, the favorite place for short gorilla tours.

    Historically, Rwanda has been and still one of the famous destinations for gorilla trekking. It is true that gorilla trekking is a life changing experience; but have you ever thought about other or alternative areas to visit to see mountain gorillas besides Rwanda? In most cases, we run of options when it comes to gorilla experiences and what to add on our safaris some thing which leaves us stranded in life. Because our travel interests in most cases are affected by various factors like the cost of enjoying an attraction for instance gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda cost $1500, we then opt to avoid such areas or even get no option at all and yet there are also best alternatives that can make you achieve your dreams

    Below is a list of alternatives for gorilla trekking in Rwanda; we hope this will be of a great help as you prepare to pay a visit to Africa.

    Uganda gorillas:

    Uganda is one of the few countries in the world that you must visit for gorilla trekking. It is the most famous and perfect alternative for gorilla trekkers. Uganda is proud to be a home to more than 480 mountain gorillas, out of 900 that are estimated to be still living in the world.

    Visiting Uganda for gorilla trekking is the most rewarding travel experience. Visitors have higher chances to achieve their dreams given the fact that the country has a total of about twelve habituated gorilla groups that are ready for visitors to track mountain gorillas in the wild. Besides, visitors have two alternative choices to track mountain gorillas, if they fail to track in one at least they can visit the other and at the end of day they achieve their dreams.

    Gorilla trekking in Uganda is specifically done in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Both national parks are situated in South Western Uganda and they are a little bit close to each other. If you are not hurry and you wish to extend your stay, you can also take up Mountain Gorilla Habituation Experience.

    The gorilla habituation experience is only done in Uganda and no where else in the world but in the two habituated gorilla groups that are found within Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The habituation experience is one way that visitors can enhance their travel experiences on mountain gorillas where they spend all the 4 hours with these giant apes in the wild unlike gorilla trekking where you can spend only one hour! This is fascinating!

    The experience is indeed unforgettable although it comes at a cost! Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda cost $600 per visitor during the peak season and $450 per visitor during the low season.

    Gorilla viewing in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC):

    The DR Congo is a renowned war zone country and it is still recovering from the insecurity. For interested travelers, it is advisable that you first check the security alerts concerning DR Congo before you travel. However, visitors who get into this country will appreciate the astonishing hidden gem that for long has never been exploited by many travelers. Visitors have higher chances to track mountain gorillas in the Virunga national park that boosts of over 200 mountain gorillas. Tracking mountain gorillas in the Virunga national park is possible in any of its eight habituated gorilla groups.

    Unlike other destinations, gorilla permits in DRC are relatively affordable and they cost $450 per visitor. Alternatively, visitors can also visit Kahuzi Biega National Park where they can get opportunity to track the Eastern Lowland gorillas. The park is composed of four habituated gorilla groups but only two of them are utilized for gorilla trekking. The permits also cost $450 per visitor.

    Monkey tracking at Nyungwe Forest Lodge:

    Nyungwe Forest Lodge is located in Rwanda and it is composed of various types of primates of which monkey trekking is one of the perfect tourist activity that is provided to visitors. Travelers have wide choice of trekking options right from chimpanzee tracking, grey cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys and golden monkeys. Nyungwe forest is one of the largest tropical rain forests in Africa and it offers refuge to more than 13 various primate species. Despite tracking monkeys in the Nyungwe forest, you can as well visit Kibale national park a renowned primate capital that also boosts of over 13 different primates, and most importantly there are over 1500 chimpanzees that live in the jungles of Kibale.

    Chimpanzee trekking at Greystoke Mahale:

    Greystoke Mahale lies on Lake Tanganyika in Western Tanzania. It is a renowned area for up close encounter with chimpanzees. There are more than 1700 chimpanzees that are inhabited in the Mahale Mountains National Park and tourists have higher chances to sight at the 60 strong Mimikere group that are fully habituated for visitors to track.

    In conclusion, there are many alternatives for gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Visitors can choose to track mountain gorillas not only in Rwanda but also across Uganda and DRC. Visitors are free to combine their gorilla safaris with numerous primate experiences in any destination. Don’t burry your dreams, come and explore the hidden treasures in East Africa!

  • 5 Best South African Resorts

    Here are the Best Beaches, The Best Golf Courses & The Best South Africa Golfing Accommodation

    Our Top 5 South Africa Resorts

    • Sun City – an African fantasy land with a huge wave pool, inland beach, casinos, two exceptional golf courses and a nearby national park, great for families since it borders the malaria free Pilanesberg National Park. South Africa tours that include this spot can appeal to many interests.
    • Umngazi River Bungalows – on the Wild Coast – one of South Africa’s most spectacular and least touristy regions – this is an exquisite gem that is almost exclusively frequented by South Africans. Wonderful, long sandy beaches, rock pools and a beautiful river and gorge nearby. One of our favorite places for our South Africa tours.
    • Durban – Umhlanga Rocks North Of Durban — a string of family and luxury hotels on a protected beach on the Indian Ocean. Safe boardwalk, good beach with a coastal forest reserve on its northern boundary. You can walk through it and run on the boardwalk. And along the balmy Indian Ocean coast this is one of the top destinations for locals taking South Africa tours.

  • Planning a Self Drive Trip in Africa

    Many travelers to Africa today are planning their adventures and taking self guided adventures! It has indeed become so famous around the world that one can rent a car for a self guided vacation whether within the same country or on a foreign vacation. The African continent has many attractive destinations that cannot be accessed by the public means but only by the rental car. In addition as more innovations are coming to Africa, in some countries it is easy to take a self guided trips. Furthermore the vacationers always want something stress free and hassle free on their holidays and thus hiring a car as a transport means can fulfill their interests.

    However for first time travelers, I advise against traveling using self drive and therefore you should consider taking a guided trip or hire a car with a driver. This is due to some reasons;

    1. Driving in Africa is quite different from Europe or America. Drivers have to hassle through traffic jam in cities and the behavior of African drivers is quite different!
    2. Within some countries the roads are poorly maintained and therefore need an experienced driver who is used to such road conditions.
    3. Within most countries, you do not need to rely on GPS like you do in Europe or USA. Many important places including hotels, safari lodges and even some roads are missing on both Garmin and Tom Tom maps, the most common East African maps!

    How to Choose a Rental Car

    Use a Known Car Rental Agency

    Car rental is a very benefiting travel means to travelers most especially those looking to budget travel. However your safety depends on the best choice of a rental car! Therefore when choosing a rental car, one has to be careful and here are some useful things to consider!

    There are several car rental companies in some countries but some of them are not competent to offer a trouble free service. There fore to have a memorable voyage you should consider hiring a car from a recommended car hire agency that can benefit you with  convenience and safety throughout your trip!