AFRICAN SAFARI TRAVEL TIPS
Buy your Flight Ticket
Before departure, you will be required to buy an
appropriate flight ticket to and you’re your tour
destination. Double check your flight departure and
arrival day, time and flight number and ensure that we
are supplied with these details well in advance. These
details will be very important to facilitate your
arrival meet and greet service.
Get reliable health and vaccination advice
All visitors to East Africa are required to produce
health records. It’s therefore very important for you to
get health advice before you depart. Malaria is endemic
to certain areas of Kenya, notably by the coastal region
and western Kenya. However, visitors to Nairobi and the
higher altitudes should also be taking prophylactic
treatment. Treatment should start one week before
entering the country and continue throughout the
duration of the visit and for six weeks thereafter. Anti
malaria tablets and any over the counter drugs can be
purchased in chemists and pharmacies in major centers.
Other medication should include panadol (or any other
effective pain reliever as headaches can be caused by
the glare of the sun and tiredness). Anti-diarrhea
medication such as Imodium (loperamide), throat
lozenges, band-aid, insect repellent and antibiotic
cream for cuts and scratches. The appropriate tanning or
sun-blocking lotion is also essential. Main towns have
good hospital care and Nairobi has excellent medical
facilities.
Before you leave
Double-check your airline reservation; make sure there
have been no changes.
Get vaccinations six weeks in advance if possible, a
Yellow Fever certificate is necessary when visiting
Zanzibar (you don't need the actual shot) - be sure to
ask for one at the travel clinic.
Some clinics prescribe malaria prophylactic pills (e.g.,
Lariam) however, you will have less risk of side effects
if you simply wear long sleeve shirts and pants at dusk
- and use an insect repellent containing DEET (e.g.,
Off, Deep Woods).
Fill personal prescriptions if necessary.
Buy trip insurance (for int’l medical/dental) from an
independent trip insurance agency; be sure to get trip
cancellation and medical evacuation coverage.
Make sure you have flight insurance coverage (for lost
luggage, delay, or cancellation) many credit card
companies offer flight insurance if you purchase your
ticket with the card.
Personal effects (clothes, camera, etc) are normally
covered on your renter's or home insurance - they will
not be covered by trip or flight insurance - be sure to
verify that you have coverage.
Get entry Visas at least one month in advance, ensure
passport is updated and will not expire while you are
overseas. US/UK/EU/Canadian citizens can purchase visas
at the border or airport of most African countries,
other nationalities should make sure they have their
visas in advance.
Make 2 copies of passports, visas, tickets &
immunization records (hide one copy in suitcase
somewhere and leave other copy with friend or relative
to hold in case of emergency).
Take about one hundred dollars in cash ($20 bills or
smaller) for driver, guide, and porter tips, visa fees,
airport tax, and mad money.
You may want to rent a powerful zoom lens for safari
photos – 300-500mm lens is standard when taking game
viewing photographs (1000mm and tripod needed for good
bird pictures), also a good pair of binoculars and/or
good zoom digital video camera if you wish.
Tipping guidelines
It is a common courtesy to tip your driver, guide, and
porter when on safari. The following list is a guide -
as always you should tip based on your satisfaction with
service. All amounts per person, per day (per event)
Mount Climbing rates: When climbing Mount Kenya and
Kilimanjaro there is at least one senior guide, a
cook/junior guide, and an average of two porters per
client. In a group of 8 it will be typical to have one
senior guide, one cook, and 16 porters. Therefore, on a
six-day ascent expect to pay $90 in tips per person - or
more if you feel a particular person went above and
beyond the call of duty. All amounts shared by group,
per day
Packing: carryon bag
At least one major credit card (ATM cards will work in
most cities - but it's easier if connect your VISA/MC to
your bank account for use in the automatic teller
machine
Money belt, or travel pouch (make sure the pouch
hangs/clips inside your pants or shirt), do NOT use a
fanny pack.
Tickets, itinerary
Immunization records (International Travel Immunization
Record – required for some countries)
Passports/visas, plus copies of everything
List of emergency contact numbers
Sun Hat or cap, sunglasses, clip-ons for regular glasses
Extra set of eyeglasses or contacts
Pick up many rolls of film before even getting to the
airport, the price of film increases dramatically at the
airports and overseas.
Bird or mammal field guides, Africa travel book
Reading material
Blow-up travel pillow (helps for sleeping during the
flight)
Earplugs & blinders (for sleeping on the overnight
flights or anti-snoring during camping)
Packing: medicines
Basic stuff (band aids, gauze, tape, first-aid cream,
Betadine, pick up a kit from EMS, LLBean, or wherever)
Swiss army knife (do not take in carryon, it will be
confiscated at airport security)
Antibacterial hand gel (very useful when water is
scarce)
Personal prescription medications (whatever you need)
Pepto-bismol tablets, chewable (important)
Imodium A-D or other diarrhoea medicine
If you wear contact lenses, bring eye medicine
(Neosporin eye drops)
Tylenol, aspirin, Advil or other painkiller
Benadryl pills or other antihistamine
Cold/flu medicine (important)
Mosquito repellent (DEET 35% concentration – DeetPlus,
Repel or Deep Woods, to spray on skin)
Sunscreen, aloe vera gel
Mount Climbing: Glucose tablets (critical for the final
summit push on Kilimanjaro and Kenya) and recommended
prescribed medicines: dysentery antibiotic pills (Cipro),
altitude pills for Kilimanjaro (Diamox)
Packing: toiletry bag
Manual shaver & extra blades
Deodorant stick (not aerosol)
Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss
Shampoo and hair conditioner (in small leak proof
bottles)
Bar soap with soap bag/container
Chapstick for dry lips
Disposable contact lenses
Vitamins
For camping and mount climbing - Toilet paper and
quick-drying camping towe
Packing: clothes
Clothing is a matter of taste, and laundry service is
provided at all hotels/lodges during the safari (not on
Kilimanjaro), Days are warm and nights are cool so dress
accordingly. If you wish to purchase some special
"safari" clothes, here is a recommended list:
Wear tan, beige or light sage green clothing (these
colours hide dust, don't look dirty).
Women will want to have at least one long casual skirt
(cotton/canvas/khaki or whatever is easy-care in hot
weather) to wear during day-tour trips, out of respect
for local culture.
Teva sandals are all around great footwear, or tennis
shoes are okay for beach and bush, however you just
don’t want them to be brand new white.
Use packing plastic smush bags to store sweaters/fleece,
bulky clothing (these seal out the extra air and make
sweaters more compact).
3 pairs of pants (2 for the field, 1 for evening) pants
can be the kind that zipper off into shorts (such as
Expeditio), or blue jeans.
Long casual khaki button-down dress or skirt (okay for
day wear & evening in the bush or lodge, can be brought
in lieu of the 1 or 2 pairs of pants mentioned above).
3 shirts (stone/light moss/sage-colored, not white
colored) (2 for the field, 1 for evening)
2 under T-shirts, 7 pairs underwear, 7 pairs khaki-color
cotton socks (enough for about 1-3 weeks in the field,
can wash these out).
Shoes (brown color to match evening dress or casual
khaki dress)
Fleece jacket for early morning/sunset game drives
Bathing suit, bikini, swim goggles (white water rafting,
swim at hotel/resort)
Packing: mountain climbing
Hiking boots (required), should be waterproof and
reasonably warm (Kili has snow at the summit – but
crampons or specialized boots are not necessary)
Warm hat, gloves, for freezing temperature
Rainproof shell (top and bottom) - wear over fleece
jacket at top of mountain for extra warmth
Long underwear, sock liners (4 pair)
Sub-zero weather sleeping bag, camp pillow
Flashlight (or head lamp)
Playing cards
Granola or energy bars for snacking on the trail
Safety
Remove your watch and jewellery in big cities to avoid
being a target. Never wear an external money pouch or
use a wallet in your pocket or have a loose backpack.
Keep things inside your clothing and out of sight.
Nairobi is like any major city in the world be it New
York, London or Paris. Take care of your valuables
concealing jewellery and watches and hold handbags
tightly when walking on streets. Gold neck chains can be
snatched with ease and it’s not advisable to wear them.
Keep valuables in the hotels safe. Do not leave money,
passport, jewellery or watches in the rooms or tent; you
carry them with you at all times. Be careful late at
night in town or whilst on a lonely beach. Africa is a
wonderful place, but as in any poor economy, there are
those hungry enough to steal for their dinner.
Currency and banking
The amount of money in any currency brought into the
country is not limited. Only change your money at the
hotels, in official banks and bureau de change.
Travelers’ checks, US Dollars, and major credit cards
are widely acceptable. However, you should change some
small amount into local currency to use for tipping and
buying curios. The currency in Kenya is the Kenya
shillings and is divided into 100 cents.
Nairobi, Mombasa and other principal towns have banks
with a bureau de change. Banking hours are 0900am to
3.00p.m, Monday to Friday and 9.00a.m to 11.00am on the
first and last Saturday of the month. Banks at the Jomo
Kenyatta international airport are open 24hours.
Food and water
Standards of hygiene in hotels and lodges are high.
Salads are safe at international hotels and lodges;
Fruits you can peel are the safest to eat. Tap water in
Nairobi is safe to drink, as it has been purified and
filtered. Ice too is safe in Nairobi. However, outside
Nairobi purchase mineral water or use filtered water
found in carriers in most hotels and lodges. The local
Kenyan beer is an ideal thirst quencher too.
Shopping and bargaining.
Shop hours are from 8.30am to 12.30pm and from 2.00pm to
5.00pm Mondays to Fridays and 8.30am to 12.30pm on
Saturdays. Tourist shops usually remain open beyond
these hours and through lunch hour. Bargaining is
particularly used in markets and curio shops. Requesting
for the final best price is almost expected and starts
off knowing you are being charged tourist prices and end
up paying what you think the item is worth to you. Do
not purchase game skins, trophies or elephant hair
bracelets. These items are prohibited as hunting was
banned in 1976.
Photography
Ask for permission before photographing local people.
Your driver/guide will assist you in this and will
possibly help you agree on modeling fee. Do not take
photographs of any official buildings such as airports;
military installations, border posts or roadblocks.
Wildlife can easily be photographed you just ask the
driver to stop and ask any questions you may have about
the animals, terrain, people and their culture. It is
advisable to carry your cameras in dust-proof bags on
safaris, especially in the dry season. Films are
available in hotels and lodges but it is advisable to
stock up in Nairobi as there is variety and are cheap.
Communications
Phones and fax facilities are available in Nairobi,
Mombasa, Mount Kenya Safari Club, most lodges/Tented
Camps and major towns. E-mail services can also be found
from lodges and also hotel (ask at the reception).
Other important points
Please be punctual for all departures, game drive and
schedules so as to make maximum use of your holiday
time. Departure transfers for international flights are
usually two and half-hours prior to flight times. Day
rooms are reserved till 6.00pm.
For further information of Kenya Tanzania travel
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