旅行信息

Entry rules differ by nationality and change often. Confirm yours with the destination’s official immigration site or your embassy before you book flights.

• Most safari countries require a passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, with two or more blank pages.

• Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Zambia all offer online visa applications. Apply two to four weeks ahead rather than relying on visa-on-arrival.

• The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda on a single multi-entry permit — worth it if your route crosses those borders.

• South Africa and Botswana are visa-free for many nationalities for short stays; always verify against the current list.

• Travelling with children under 18 can require a full birth certificate or a consent letter from a non-travelling parent. Check this early — it is the most common reason travellers are turned away.

See a travel-medicine clinic four to six weeks before departure. The notes below are general guidance, not medical advice.

• A yellow fever certificate is required for entry to some countries, and for onward travel if you are arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission. Carry the physical certificate.

• Routine vaccinations are usually reviewed alongside hepatitis A, typhoid and tetanus. Your clinic will advise what applies to your route.

• Malaria is present across most East African safari areas. Prophylaxis, repellent with DEET or Picaridin, treated nets and covered skin at dusk are the standard precautions.

• If you want to travel without antimalarials, malaria-free reserves in parts of South Africa and Namibia are the usual alternative.

• Travel insurance including emergency medical evacuation is strongly recommended — remote camps are hours from a hospital by road.

• Bring prescription medication in its original packaging with a copy of the prescription, packed in your carry-on.

Light aircraft transfers between camps typically cap luggage at 15kg (33lb) in a soft-sided bag. Pack less than you think you need.

• Neutral colours — khaki, olive, beige, brown. Avoid white (shows dust) and dark blue or black (attracts tsetse flies).

• Layers: mornings on a game drive are genuinely cold, afternoons are hot. A fleece and a windproof jacket earn their space.

• Long sleeves and trousers for dusk, a wide-brimmed hat, high-SPF sunscreen and good sunglasses.

• Binoculars (8x42 is the usual sweet spot), a camera with a zoom lens, spare batteries and more memory cards than you expect to use.

• Closed walking shoes for bush walks; sandals for camp.

• A small daypack, a reusable water bottle, and a headtorch for unlit camp paths.

• Most camps offer same-day laundry, so three or four outfits is plenty for a week.

The US dollar is widely accepted for park fees and tips across East and Southern Africa. Local currency is better for markets and small shops.

• Bring US dollar notes issued in 2013 or later — older notes are often refused. A mix of small denominations makes tipping much easier.

• Cards are accepted at lodges, hotels and larger restaurants; remote camps and rural areas are frequently cash-only.

• ATMs are reliable in cities and at major airports, and scarce once you are in the parks. Withdraw before you head out.

• Tipping is customary and appreciated. As a rough guide: US$10–20 per guest per day for your safari guide, and US$5–10 per day into the camp staff box.

• Tell your bank you are travelling so your card is not blocked mid-trip.

Most safaris combine one international flight with short domestic hops and road transfers. We arrange everything after your international arrival.

• Main gateways are Nairobi (NBO), Kilimanjaro (JRO), Entebbe (EBB), Kigali (KGL), Johannesburg (JNB) and Maun (MUB).

• Light aircraft link camps and reserves. Flights are short, scenic, and strict on luggage weight and shape.

• Road transfers can be long and rough. Where a drive costs a full day, we will usually recommend flying instead.

• Build a buffer of at least three hours between a domestic bush flight and an international departure.

• Game drives run in the early morning and late afternoon, when wildlife is most active.

Expect good coverage in cities and patchy-to-none in the parks. That is part of the appeal — plan around it rather than fighting it.

• Most lodges offer Wi-Fi in communal areas. Speeds suit messaging and email, not video calls or large uploads.

• A local SIM or eSIM bought at the airport is inexpensive and usually more reliable than international roaming.

• Plug types vary: Type G (UK-style) in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda; Type C and Type M in South Africa. A universal adapter covers all of them.

• Many camps run on solar with limited generator hours, so charge devices during the day. A power bank is worth carrying.

• Tell family at home that you may be unreachable for a day or two — it saves needless worry.

Safaris are safe when you follow your guide. Most incidents come from travellers ignoring straightforward rules.

• Stay in the vehicle unless your guide says otherwise, and keep arms and legs inside during sightings.

• Keep your voice down near wildlife and never use flash photography on animals.

• After dark, always let a camp escort walk you to and from your tent.

• Ask before photographing people. In some communities a small fee is expected, and a refusal should be respected.

• Dress modestly in towns and villages, and cover shoulders and knees when visiting religious sites.

• In cities, use the same street sense you would anywhere: registered taxis, no visible valuables, no unlit streets at night.

There is no bad time to go on safari — only trade-offs between wildlife density, scenery, crowds and price.

• June to October (dry season): thin vegetation and animals concentrated at waterholes make this the strongest game viewing. It is also the busiest and priciest window.

• The Great Migration river crossings between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara usually run from late July into October, peaking in August.

• January to March: calving season in the southern Serengeti, with predator action to match.

• March to May and November (green season): lush landscapes, migratory birds, far fewer vehicles and rates 30–40% lower. Expect afternoon rain.

• Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is year-round; the drier months of June to September and December to February make the trails easier.