For your cell phone to work internationally, you’ll most likely need a cell phone which uses a “GSM” network which is most widely used globally. In the U.S. AT&T and T-Mobile operate GSM networks while Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and several smaller carriers such as U.S. Cellular use the “CDMA” network which has less worldwide coverage than GSM. You’ll want to check with your service provider regarding international coverage and make sure you understand exactly what you’ll be charged for making calls and, if you have a smart phone, for using data (email/internet). Rates can be extremely expensive and we’ve heard horror stories of travelers returning home to find unexpectedly large bills for using their phone while traveling. Due to this, we generally recommend you unplug and don’t use your cell phone while traveling. Your guides will be able to give you the best options for calling home and loved ones can contact you using the local phone numbers we provide on your final itinerary or ENSI’s 24-hour emergency number.We recommend reviewing CNET’s World Phone Guide for more information on international cell phone coverage

There are usually two game drives per day, one in the morning lasting about 3-6 hours, and one in late afternoon which lasts about 3 hours. Our drivers are not limited by the amount of driving that they can do in a day and are experienced in studying best areasto place you in the most promising locations to wildlife close ups. In addition to seeing the wildlife, there are always opportunities for freedom in our tours in event that you are stopping to speak with a Masai herding their cattle, or part take in celebrations being held nearby villages we stop and enjoy whatever is happening at that time.

A great deal of a good selection of international cuisine, including vegetarian choices; Fresh fruits and vegetables, tasty desserts, and hot beverages are available. Breakfast portions are sufficient, with adequate of coffee and tea. At times when we are out for birding and game viewing or en-route, we will bring boxed lunches with us for a picnic. Depending on the lodge meals may be buffet or plated.

Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda (East Africa) features an amazing diversity of bird life with more than 1400 species recorded. A 10-28 days birding tour might yield more than 600 species. There are a large number of bird families that are endemic to East Africa, including broadbills, turacos, guinea-fowls, sunbirds, weavers, batises, apalises, shoebill and gonoleks. Many colorful species astound the eye likebush-shrikes, kingfishers, bee-eaters, flamingos, Rollers, Cranes, and Storks. Palearctic migrants from Europe and Asia spend their winter time in Africa, from July through April. Plovers like the crab-plover, is a much sought after migrant species, and can be readily found on the coastline areas of Kenya and Tanzania.

In addition to the famous “Big 5” (elephant, rhino, lion, forest and cape buffalo, and leopard), East Africa hosts a wide variety of animals in diverse habitats. Antelopes are notable with more than 40 different species, including elands, gerenuk, waterbuck, gerenuk, topis, hartebeest, impala, gazelles, and the tiny dik-dik. These along with herds of zebras and wildebeest, serve as the main prey for the carnivores such as lions, hyenas and cheetahs. It is always a treat to see the bands of mongoose and warthogs. East African Rivers are alive with hippopotamus and Nile crocodiles. Primates are well-represented with olive and yellow baboons, velvet, blue and red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, black-and-white colobus and Uganda’s rare great apes mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. The moistened wooded areas, forests; river line habitats host a wide array of butterflies. Reptiles like Leopard tortoise Nile monitor lizard and a handful of lizards are also encountered.

We have and use a combination of 4Wheel drive Land-cruisers, and safari minibuses to maximize our viewing opportunities in the field. In Tanzania and Uganda we use Land Cruisers and safari minibuses exclusively; in Kenya several of our itineraries are accommodated with Land-cruisers and safari minibuses. All our safari vehicleshave pop-top roof-tops for all around visibility, and open center aisles for easy maneuver when stopped. All of our vehicles adapted to safety regulations and are custom built to take the flexibility of the safaris. Our safari vehicles are driven by our experienced driver guides who are integral in explaining the details of the naturaland ecological aspects and or wildlife behaviors that you will be watching. Our vehicles provide maximum safety as well as ease of observations. Several of our safaris take place in national parks and reserves, whose regulations require us to stay inside our vehicles due to danger from wild animals and other safaris, would be outside national parks like forest reserves and wetlands.

The Great natural wildebeest Migration; Is one of the world’s greatest wildlife wonder is the ongoing migration of over 1 million wildebeest,Tomson’s gazelle and Zebra in the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem. When the dry season descends upon the plains in April, and water becomes scarcer, great herds of wildebeest,gazelle and zebra begin to move up from the Southern Serengeti, seeking the lush pastures of the northwestern section of the Serengeti National Park. During May and June, mating occurs as the animals continue on their journey northwards. Sometime in July they begin to cross into the Maasai Mara National Park. It usually takes about 6 weeks for all of the herds to cross into the Mara and disperse over the northern grasslands. Beginning in November they head south back into Tanzania and the southern Serengeti where the giving of calves occurs in January and February in Ndutu. In April the cycle begins once more.

National Parks and wildlife reserves are open from morning to sunset. We love to maximize our time in the field wildlife, so we usually take an early breakfast and head out at 6:30 for our morning game drive, returning late-morning for full breakfast. Early morning gives us a better chance of finding nocturnal species such as leopard or cats at a kill and wildlife is most active in the morning. Lunch normally begins at 12:30 and a short rest period for both participants and wildlife. At 3:00pm we head out for our afternoon game drive returning around 6:30. We have dinner at 7:00 and complete our checklist within that time. Prepare for a great deal of excitement!

In Tanzania the local currency is the shilling (TSH) and the exchange rate to the U.S. dollar is around 1,500:1. Kenya’s currency is the Kenyan shilling (KSH) and the exchange rate to the U.S. dollar is around 80:1. Rwanda’s currency is the Rwandan franc (RWF) and the exchange rate to the U.S. dollar is around 600:1. Uganda’s currency is the Ugandan shilling (UGX) and the exchange rate to the U.S. dollar is around 3,500:1. Ethiopia’s currency is the Ethiopian birr (ETB) and the exchange rate to the U.S. dollar is around 17:1. U.S. dollars and credit cards are accepted at many of the hotels and lodges however the exchange rate is generally not as favorable compared to an exchange bureau. How much cash you will need on hand depends largely upon where you are going and how much time you will be in country. For a typical 10-14 day safari we recommend brining at least $300-600 USD total per person and exchanging $100-300 USD per person into local currency at the airport or at an exchange bureau in one of the major cities.

Electricity is supplied at all lodges and at most permanent tented camps, however it is not available at mobile camps. Generators are run during the day to recharge video or digital camera batteries. In lodges and hotels (where it is available) electrical current is 220 or 240 volts and the outlet is a type-G British three-pin rectangular pronged plug. You will need a plug adapter and a converter may be required for some American devices, while others like computer, camera, cell phone are usually can handle up to 240 volts. Make sure to double check the voltage requirements of your device and bring a converter if necessary.

National Parks and wildlife reserves are open from morning to sunset. We love to maximize our time in the field wildlife, so we usually take an early breakfast and head out at 6:30 for our morning game drive, returning late-morning for full breakfast. Early morning gives us a better chance of finding nocturnal species such as leopard or cats at a kill and wildlife is most active in the morning. Lunch normally begins at 12:30 and a short rest period for both participants and wildlife. At 3:00pm we head out for our afternoon game drive returning around 6:30. We have dinner at 7:00 and complete our checklist within that time. Prepare for a great deal of excitement!

Many of the roads in East Africa are hard packed gravel and sometimes bumpy. (Bumpy Africa)! There are very good paved roads (from Nairobi to Lake Nakuru, Arusha to the Ngorongoro Highlands, Entebbe to Kibale National Park, Entebbe to Murchison falls National Park and other reserves in Uganda) you will encounter rough gravel roads in most parts of East Africa. If you have back problems we recommend that you use domestic flights in between national parks.

Most National Parks do not allow anyone to be out after sunset, the official closing time is usually 6:30pm, at which time you’re expected to be back in camp or at least on your way back. However there are some parks in Uganda offer night game drives like Lake Mburo, Kibale National Park, Kabwoya wildlife reserve and Semliki wildlife reserve.But also, there are a few lodges that run night game drives outside National Parks and we include these as part of our itinerary whenever possible. Night game drives usually last for 2 hours beginning just after sunset or after dinner. These give us an opportunity to see a variety of nocturnal creatures such at honey badgers, reptiles, bush-babies, porcupines, genets, nightjars and owls.

For major cities (Arusha, Nairobi, Entebbe, Kigali) some lodges or major hotels do have internet access but it is slow and not reliable. Outside of major cities you may find an internet connection but its speed will likely be extremely slow and frustrating. Plan to unplug while on an East Africa safari!

Yes, it can be relatively difficult. Tracking gorillas can be a hike of 30 minutes to hours, depending on where the gorillas are last seen. Mountain Gorilla habitat is from is above 1500 m asl, and you will be basically hiking through forest rather and also to some extent on maintained trails but these trails may not last for long before you divert to where there’s no maintained trail. If you’re planning on tracking mountain gorillas we recommend that you be relatively fit. Consider hiring a porter at the site to carry your gear and bags, bringing leather gloves so that if you slip and reach out for a branch it won’t matter if it’s thorny.

Yes, travel to East Africa can be incredibly rewarding for families. We provide excellent kid friendly guides and try to limit the amount of time spent in a vehicle on all of our family safaris in East Africa. There are always opportunities for stops along the way to interact in local communities and visit markets or schools. For families with children 7 years and up, Tanzania and Kenya are excellent introductions into East African culture and wildlife while Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia are recommended for children 10 years and older.

If we are able to pair you up with another single traveler willing to share accommodation then there will be no additional single supplement. However, if we are unable to find a suitable match prior to your trip departure then the single supplement fee will apply.

Our safari Land-cruisers accommodate a maximum of 6 persons, plus a guide/driver. Our maximum group size is 10, with a maximum of 12 on our Tanzania’s Northern circuit, which uses extended Land-cruisers. It is also common to have group sizes smaller than 10, which will give you more exclusive time in the vehicle with your driver/guide.

International airfare is not included in our prices for East Africa safaris. If you are going on safari in Tanzania, KLM is the best carrier as they are the only carrier who has non-stop flights into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) outside of Arusha where most of our safari tours commence. If you are flying to Nairobi, Kenya there are many options including KLM and British. For flights to Kigali, Rwanda KLM has daily non-stop flights from Amsterdam, many other airlines connect through Nairobi. To Entebbe, Uganda, Brussels Airlines has non-stop flights from Europe and many other airlines connect through Nairobi. Most of these airlines are partner airlines with U.S. carriers so you may be able to use airline miles or book your entire flight itinerary through a U.S. airline.

You can use a credit card to pay for extra hotel charges in Nairobi, Entebbe, Kigali and Arusha, but it’s difficult to use a credit card outside of major cities. Remember that charges will be in local currency so your credit card company may charge you a fee in addition to a poor exchange rate. Local currency of USD is the easiest form of payment in East Africa followed by a Euro and a British pound.

Tap water is generally unsafe in East Africa and it’s recommended that you drink only bottled water which is widely available and relatively inexpensive. Bottled water is provided in the safari vehicles for all of our game drives and in the bathrooms at the lodges for brushing your teeth.

Positively, our safaris can be customized to focus on birding, photography, wildlife, gorilla and chimpanzee tracking or other general interests of the participants. Actually nearly all itineraries are developed based on the desires of our clients. Our safaris provide the perfect safari for individuals, families, couples and we are happy to cater to special interests and requests.