FAQ's

The best place for wildlife viewing in Africa depends on your interests, but top destinations include Serengeti National Park (Tanzania) and Masai Mara (Kenya) for the Great Migration, Okavango Delta (Botswana) for unique canoe safaris and diverse ecosystems, and Sabi Sand Game Reserve (South Africa) for excellent Big Five viewing and luxury. Other excellent choices are the Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania) for high wildlife density and Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park for walking safari

On safari, you will likely see iconic African wildlife, including the famous “Big Five”: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo. You can also expect to see a wide variety of other mammals like giraffes, zebras, hippos, and wildebeest, along with different bird species and smaller creatures such as warthogs and crocodiles. The specific animals you encounter depend on the location and time of year, but a diverse array of species is a hallmark of the safari experience

The vast majority of East African people are still living very close to their traditional lifestyles. Most of the people are subsistence farmers. The Maasai people, favoured by photographers for their strikingly colorful décor, live a pastoral existence following their herds of cattle to better grazing areas, still adhering to the traditions and ceremonies of their ancestors. Their “villages” are located throughout northern Tanzania & /South-Western Kenya. Other small tribes of hunter-gatherers, living according to their ancient customs and traditions can also be found in this area.

At Safari Africa Adventure we consider the cultural component of any safari to be subtle yet essential. All of our guides are East African born. They are an excellent resource to help you gain greater insight into the local culture. We don’t promote specially staged dances and tourist-oriented presentations. Instead, on most of our cultural trips, we begin with a visit to a traditional village where you are welcomed as friends of Safari Africa Adventure into their lives and invited to get to know them as they get to know you.

As we drive between parks, we pass many villages and Masai Bomas giving you further glimpses into the lives of the East African people. We also offer a special trip in which our guests travel well off the beaten path to spend time among the Wa Hadzabe people and observe their ancient hunter-gatherer ways.

Yes, you may be able to receive a refund for a safari, but it depends on the specific terms and conditions of the safari you booked with, as policies vary widely. Most refund policies are based on how far in advance you cancel your trip and the circumstances surrounding the cancellation, with more flexibility for early cancellations and stricter policies or no refunds for late cancellations or no-shows. 

Yes, many African safari lodges and activities have minimum age restrictions, with typical limits for open-vehicle game drives being around 6 years old, while more adventurous activities like walking safaris or gorilla trekking often require participants to be 8 years old. Other safaris, such as wildlife viewing from a vehicle, and for this type of safari we have no age restrictions at all, as we cater to families with young children, offering family-friendly accommodations and shorter, tailored activities. 

You’ll have WiFi connection on Safari only when your device is connected to a functional WiFi network that has internet access, as Safari relies on the underlying network connection. While in towns like Nairobi, you can expect good connectivity from hotels and lodges, your experience in national parks or camps will vary; many accommodations offer WiFi in common areas, but coverage can be spotty or non-existent elsewhere. To ensure you have a connection, you must connect to a WiFi network and verify it provides internet access, or you can purchase a local SIM card for mobile data.

To have a custom safari, you will  work with us in-order to create a personalized itinerary that aligns with your specific preferences for destinations, activities, accommodations, and pace. You can tailor your experience to focus on a particular animal, add cultural experiences, choose a luxury or budget-friendly camp, or combine a safari with a beach holiday. 

The “best” place for a safari depends on your interests, but Kenya and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park is highly recommended for its iconic wildlife and the Great Migration, while South Africa’s Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve and Kruger National Park are excellent for guaranteed Big Five sightings. Zambia offers unique walking safaris, Botswana features vast elephant populations, and Kenya is renowned for the Great Migration in the Masai Mara. For gorilla trekking, Rwanda is the primary destination. 

Our safari packages include all accommodation and meals while on safari, airport transfers, park fees and services of guides and drivers. It is customary to tip your guide and driver, as well as the cook or camp staff if you are camping during your safari. You will also need to pay for your own beverages and personal items like laundry service. and phone calls.

Before you go, you are responsible for any passport and visa fees. We also highly recommend you purchase travel protection insurance. And finally, if you know yourself to be a big souvenir shopper you’ll need to budget.

For medical advice it is always best to consult your doctor or travel clinic. The minimum requirements for entry into East Africa are a Yellow Fever vaccination and anti-malarial medication. Bear in mind that you will be staying in camps and lodges oriented to meet the needs of American and European guests.

Yes we  accept Visa or Master Card for your safari deposit. The balance is due 60 days prior to departure and is payable through our Bank in Arusha & Nairobi.

It is better to book as far in advance as possible to ensure availability at the time you wish to travel, especially during the peak seasons (July & August and Christmas time). This is especially important for those wishing to travel on private custom safaris and those adding extensions to the scheduled trips.

There are more bugs in many places in the USA than you will encounter on safari. Again, remember that most of the areas you’ll be visiting are arid (especially from July – November). The bugs you will see are fascinating, but certainly not anything to be concerned about.

We provide bottled water on game drives and in Campsites, and you can purchase good quality bottled water at all the lodges and camps.

Today’s modern safari is a far cry from the rugged safaris of the past. After a stimulating day of game viewing, you can relax at comfortable, attractive lodges, with amenities like swimming pools, full service restaurants and en-suite bathrooms.

Located right in the scenic settings of the wildlife reserves, the lodges are close to nature… but not too close for comfort. East Africa is one of Africa’s most stable countries, where you’ll receive a warm welcome from its gracious people. Every care is taken to ensure your health and safety on safari.

Special dietary requirements such as vegetarian or diabetic meals can easily be arranged with advanced notice. If you are vegetarian or vegan you may wish to bring along some alternative protein sources. If you have multiple food allergies, you’ll definitely want to bring along supplementary snacks. It is important we know of any possible dietary restrictions as soon as possible.

You will be pleasantly surprised by both the quality and the variety of the food available on safari. In most lodges, meals are served buffet-style so you can choose what you like. The food is prepared according to western tastes, with some curries and local cuisine included. If you choose a camping safari, fresh meat and produce is prepared by our expert chefs to the highest sanitary standards. Most returning guests rave about our camp food!

Safari dress is comfortable and casual – layers are recommended. Keep it simple and bring things you don’t mind getting dusty. After you have booked your safari, we send you pre-departure information through emails to help you prepare for your safari.

Located at an altitude of 5,000 to 7,600 feet, Northern Tanzania’s dry sunny climate is nothing like the steamy African jungle of Tarzan movies. The weather is spring-like year round, with day time temperatures in the 24°c and 27°c, evenings in the 20°c. From June until August, temperatures are slightly cooler, ranging from the 24°c and 30°c. The coastal and lowland areas tend to be more tropical in temperature 28°c and 36°c.

Small. Our daily departure and scheduled safaris vary in size depending on the nature of the safari, either a private safari or group joining safari. We keep our groups small (the very maximum is 15 people, minimum 1-5 people) to allow a more intimate connection with the African bush.

Our safaris offer a wide array of safari styles to suit your interests and budget. Please see our sections on Itineraries and Hotels/Lodges for a description of the different types of accommodation we use on our trips.

YES! Africa Nature Safari has a personal understanding and deep commitment to meeting the special needs of families. We have designed family safari programmes to allow you and your children to experience the wonders of Africa together. You’ll have a chance to deepen your understanding of cultural diversity, discover the many miracles of nature, and at the same time play, laugh, and enjoy the pleasure of one another’s company. Our trips are well suited for children.

We would be delighted to work with you to help you and your family, friends or organization plan the best possible safari to match your interests and budget. We organize custom safaris for professional photographers, honeymoon couples and families.