Can
you arrange a trip for persons located
outside the United States?
Yes, we have an international clientele. We
can make all arrangements
in Africa including transportation,
accommodation and activities. However,
we can only arrange international flights
originating in the United
States and Europe.
When
is the best time to go on a safari?
It really depends on the type of animal you
wish to see. Certain reserves
have good game viewing all year round but
others will have particularly
good elephant sightings or other migratory
animals at different times
of the year. It is generally felt that the
African winter (June - August)
is the best time to go on safari, as the
grass is dry and vegetation
sparse making game viewing easier. It is
also the time when animals
are on the move looking for food and water.
In Kenya and Tanzania, you
have the memorable opportunity of witnessing
the migration of over two
million animals.
Temperatures
in winter are generally mild but can become
considerably cooler in the
evening, so pack multiple layers of clothing
to ensure you stay comfortable
on afternoon game drives and walks. It goes
without saying that the
standard safari gear must include a broad
brim hat, sunscreen and mosquito
repellent. In areas where malaria is
prevalent, summer is generally
a more risky time to travel. So, before you
go on safari, consult your
doctor for the necessary anti-malaria
medication.
Kenya: All year round. Great
Migration: June-September.
Tanzania: All year round. Best
climbing Mount Kilimanjaro: Aug-Oct
and Jan-March. Great migration: April-June
and Oct-Dec.
Uganda: All year round. Day
temperatures range between 77°
and 95° F. January is the hottest month.
In general there are two
main rainy seasons: March - May and October
- November.
What
are the special attractions of the countries
you operate in?
Kenya: Aberdare National Park,
Amboseli National Park, Masai
Mara National Reserve, Samburu National
Reserve, Meru National Park,
Tsavo National Park, The Rift Valley Lakes,
Mombasa, Malindi, south
and north coast.
Tanzania: Great Migration, Serengeti
National Park, Ngorongoro
Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National
Park, Arusha National Park,
Mikumi National Park, Ruaha National Park,
Tarangire National Park,
Kilimanjaro National Park and Selous Game
Reserve.
Uganda: Gorilla treks in Bwindi
National Park, Murchinson Falls,
Nile River, Kibale National Park, Ruwenzori
Mountains, and Queen Elizabeth
National Park.
Is
Africa a good family destination?
Africa offers outstanding value for
families. However, some destinations
and establishments cater more fully for the
enjoyment of children than
others. In Kenya, children five years old
and younger are generally
not allowed on game drives in the parks and
reserves. Travel to Tanzania
is not recommended for children younger than
eight years old. Most lodges
have swimming pools and baby-sitting
services. Please contact us for
more specific information.
How
do I get to Africa?
Africa can be reached by regular
international flights to its major
cites. South African Airways flies direct
daily to Johannesburg, South
Africa from Atlanta and New York. To reach
East Africa from the US,
you will have to fly through Europe and then
to Nairobi on a European
airline (e.g., British Airways, KLM, Sabena,
etc.). Discount Tours & Travel
can arrange international flights to Africa
that originate in the United
States or Europe. We can also arrange
flights within Africa. Trains
and self-drive are convenient options for
travel within Southern Africa.
What are the entry
requirements?
All visitors are required to carry a
passport that is valid for six
months beyond the intended length of stay.
Nationals of certain countries
do not require visas - this depends on the
country you are visiting.
It is advisable to check with the Consulate
of the country that you
intend visiting for the latest visa and
entry requirements. The list
below contains the current visa requirements
applicable to most North
American and European countries.
Tanzania: A visa is required and
costs $50. The visa must be
obtained in advance of your trip unless you
live in a country that does
not have a Tanzania embassy.
Uganda: A visa is required and costs
$50. The visa should be
obtained through a Uganda embassy in advance
of your trip.
What
types of accommodation are
available?
The accommodation type in Africa varies from
hotels and inns to luxury
lodges, B&Bs and tented camps.
Kenya: Advanced bookings recommended.
Most safari lodges have
rondavel or banda type accommodations, with
a lounge, central dining
and bar in single unit hotels. Tented
accommodations vary from super
deluxe to standard tents.
Tanzania: Advanced bookings
recommended. Lodges tend to be of
rondavel or banda type with a lounge,
central dining and bar in single
unit hotels. Luxurious "tented
camps" pitched on concrete
bases are popular. National parks also offer
ordinary campsites. All
major towns have luxury hotels and at least
one good guesthouse.
Uganda: Advanced bookings
recommended. International hotels are
available in cities. In national parks,
there is camping, self-catering
huts or chalets and top end lodges with
luxury chalets or permanent
tents.
What
type of safaris do you offer?
Discount Tours & Travel offers the following types
of safaris: lodge, fly-in,
permanent tented camps, mobile camping,
serviced camping, limited participation
camping, full participation camping and self
drive. Please note that
not all of these safari types are available
in each country that we
operate in. Go to a specific country page on
our web site to see the
type of safaris available.
What
is a lodge safari?
On a lodge safari you travel from lodge to
lodge and do game drives
with one of our driver/guides. The lodges we
use are essentially hotels
in the bush. They accommodate between 100
and 200 people. They provide
most of the amenities found in a hotel
(e.g., restaurant, lounge, swimming
pool, etc.). This is a good choice when
traveling with children or if
you want certain creature comforts when you
return from game viewing.
What
is a permanent tented camp safari?
Permanent tented camp safaris are done
either by vehicle or light aircraft.
In the case of a fly-in safari you will fly
from one reserve to the
next. This reduces the amount of travel time
considerably and maximizes
game viewing opportunities. Permanent tented
camps provide accommodation
ranging from comfortable to luxurious. Most
consist of large walk-in
tents on elevated wooden platforms, with
beds, chairs, furniture and
an en-suite bathroom with hot and cold water
and flushing toilets. Permanent
camps accommodate a smaller size group
(20-30 people) than lodges allowing
a more personal interaction with the natural
habitat.
What
is a mobile camping safari?
In a mobile-tented safari the camp moves
each day while you are game
viewing. Usually the relocation is combined
with one or two nights at
a safari lodge before going back into the
camp at a new location. This
type of accommodation obviously does not
have the amenities of either
lodges or permanent tented camps but the
level of comfort and staff
attention is unsurpassed. The camps consist
of sleeping, dining, kitchen
and staff tents with toilet and hot water
shower annexes. The sleeping
tents are large walk-in tents completely
insect proof, with a high outer
fly and small shaded veranda. They are
furnished with comfortable beds,
bedside table and chairs. The camp cook
prepares meals on open charcoal
fires.
What
is a serviced camping safari?
A serviced camping safari features exclusive
wilderness campsites, comfortable
3X3 meter dome tents with GI beds, bedrolls
with crisp linen, bedside
tables with reading lamps, towels, mats and
hot water bottles for the
winter months. There is a shared bathing
enclosure with flushing toilet,
hot shower, hand basin and a luxury range of
shampoos and conditioners.
Guest areas include a bush dining area, bar,
small wildlife library
and board games. The staff erects and
dismantles camp, prepare excellent
meals of fresh produce and take care of all
camp chores. All luggage
and camp equipment is transported on a
support vehicle.
What
is a limited participation camping
safari?
A limited participation camping safari
requires that you put up and
take down your tent. The accommodation is in
2-person igloo style tents
with a foam mattress. All camping equipment
is provided with the exception
of sleeping bags, which you can bring
(recommended) or hire (approximately
$20). All meals are included while camping.
The safari leaders are full-time
employees and trained professional guides.
Detailed information on the
history of the area, fauna and flora is
given to the participants during
the safari. A camp assistant helps with
general camp chores and duties.
What
is a full participation camping
safari?
A full participation camping safari is
essentially the same as a limited
participation camping safari with the
exception that you are required
to assist in putting up and taking down the
camp including your tent,
preparing meals, etc.
What
is a self-drive safari?
On a self-drive safari you will be met at
the airport upon your arrival
and assisted with the formalities of picking
up a rental car. You will
be given a detailed itinerary, vouchers and
maps for your trip. You
would then proceed, unguided, on the tour
according to the set itinerary.
Accommodations are at hotels, lodges,
chalets and rest camps.
How
many people do you take on a safari?
Most of our safaris have guaranteed
departures with a minimum of two
people and are limited to a maximum of 10
people (if more than 7 people
are on a safari, we use two vehicles). Each
person is assured a window
seat. A few of the participation camping
safaris require a minimum of
4 people and allow a maximum of 12 people.
What
is a single supplement?
A single supplement is a fee imposed by
hotels, lodges and camps on
single travelers. Tour prices are quoted
based on two people sharing
accommodation. If someone takes a room by
themselves they have to pay
the per-person price plus the single
supplement fee.
Can
a single traveler share accommodation with
another single traveler?
Yes, providing there is another single
traveler of the same sex, on
the same safari, and the other person agrees
to the proposed arrangement.
How
far in advance should I book my
safari?
It is better to book as far in advance as
possible to ensure availability
at the time you wish to travel (4-6 months),
especially during the peak
seasons (July & August and Christmas/New
Years). This is especially
important for those wishing to travel on
private custom safaris and
those adding extensions to scheduled trips.
Can
I use a credit card to pay for my
safari?
We accept Visa, Mastercard and American
Express for your safari deposit.
The balance is due 60 days prior to
departure and is payable by check,
money order or wire transfer.
What
type of vehicles do you use on
safari?
Discount Tours & Travel uses mini buses in East
Africa. In Southern Africa
we use mini buses, open-roof vehicles and
4x4 vehicles on safari. The
specific vehicle used on a particular safari
depends on the country
and the reserves to be visited. All vehicles
are equipped with two-way
radios and are maintained to provide the
maximum level of comfort and
safety.
What
are the different cultures?
Kenya: There are over 70 tribal
groups in Kenya. Differences
between many of them are blurred - Western
cultural values are becoming
more deep-seated and traditional values are
disintegrating. Tribes include
Kikuyu, Luhia, Luo and Kikamba.
Tanzania: Tanzania's culture is a
result of African, Arab, European
and Indian influences. There are 120 African
tribal groups. The largest
group is of Bantu origin including Dukuma,
Nyamwezi, Makonde, Haya and
Chagga. The Maasai are of Nilotic origin, as
are the Arusha and the
Samburu.
Uganda: The population of Uganda is
made up of a complex and
diverse range of tribes the most prominent
of which are the Bugunda,
Lango, Acholi, Teso and Pygmies among many
others.
What
is the landscape like?
Kenya: Lies on Indian Ocean and on
the equator. Four geographical
regions: arid desert, savannah grassland,
fertile lowlands (coast) and
the highlands. There are extinct volcanoes
as well as lakes and rivers.
Tanzania: Lies on Indian Ocean.
Includes the island of Zanzibar.
Mainland has lush coast, savannah, and
semi-desert along with extinct
volcanoes, lakes and mountain ranges
including Mount Kilimanjaro.
Uganda: Although situated on the
equator, Uganda's relatively
high altitude tempers the heat and the
humidity is generally low. The
land varies from semi-desert in the
northeast, to the lush and fertile
shores of Lake Victoria, to the mountainous
south and west.
What
are the roads like?
Kenya: All major roads are tarred.
Surface of lesser roads vary.
Many roads are only navigable by 4x4 in
rainy season.
Tanzania: About 5% of highways are
tarred. Only key roads are
in good condition. Road conditions in
reserves and parks are rough.
Uganda: All major roads are tarred.
The quality of lesser roads
varies. Many roads are only :navigable by
4x4 in rainy season.
What
is the time difference in Africa?
Kenya: GMT +3 hours
Tanzania: GMT +3 hours
Uganda: GMT +3 hours
Is
English widely spoken?
Yes. English is spoken throughout East and
Southern Africa, especially
by those involved in the tourist trade.
European and Middle Eastern
languages spoken in Africa include German
(Namibia) and Arabic (Tanzania).
Can
I use my credit card in Africa?
Kenya: Most major credit cards
(MasterCard, Visa and American
Express) are widely accepted. Diner's Card
is not generally accepted.
Tanzania: Most top hotels and lodges
around the country accept
Visa and MasterCard. In addition to credit
cards, clients should bring
US dollars and traveler's checks.
Uganda: Credit cards are accepted at
the major hotels. However,
there are few other places where
international credit cards are accepted.
Are
foods for special dietary needs
available?
Yes. Special
dietary requirements are catered for
throughout Africa. Please give
us advanced notice so that we can make
arrangements with the lodges
and camps you are scheduled to stay at. Most
restaurants offer selections
for vegetarians, depending on their forte.
Local specialties can be
surprisingly good! With the exception of a
few lodges, halaal and kosher
food is not available at most
camps/lodges.
What
do the letters B, L, and D refer to on your
itineraries?
The letters indicate the meals that are
included on a safari or tour.
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner.
B&B refers to Bed and Breakfast.
Is
the water safe to drink?
Kenya: While water in major towns is
chlorinated and relatively
safe to drink, it is safer to drink sealed
bottled water, available
from most hotels and lodges.
Tanzania: It is advisable to drink
boiled or bottled water. If
camping - bring drinking water and other
bottled drinks.
Uganda: It is advisable to drink
boiled or bottled water.
Are
there any medical precautions?
Vaccination requirements change from time to
time. Some countries require
advance inoculations for yellow fever (and
certificates thereof) that
are good for 10 years - Discount Tours & Travel
will advise you of these. Malaria
is present in many parts of Africa - we will
advise you if you will
be visiting a malaria area. We suggest you
consult your local doctor
or health department for information on
malaria prophylactics and the
latest health precautions. If you are on
prescription medication, please
ensure you have an adequate supply to last
the duration of your stay
and a copy of your prescription(s).
What
is meant by en-suite or private
facilities?
En-suite or private facilities are toilet
and bath/shower located within
your room or tent rather than facilities
designed for community use.
What
photography advice can you give?
A good camera will make the difference
between having photos of spectacular
wildlife and having vague, little dots of
animals to show family and
friends. The more common
"point-and-shoot" cameras are too
small. On safari, you won't always be able
to get up close to wildlife.
A SLR (single lens reflex) camera with a
200-300mm lens is recommended.
More serious photographers may choose
telephoto lenses of 400 or 500mm.
Larger lenses often require a tripod, which
cannot be used on a moving
vehicle. A 2x teleconverter is useful for
doubling the focal length
of your lens. A zoom lens, such as a 70 to
210 mm lens, is probably
the best option for shooting a moving
subject.
The
harsh African sun provides excellent
lighting, but using larger lenses
will require faster film, especially in
early morning or late afternoon
when the light is softer. In this case,
200-400 ASA film is recommended.
Film and batteries are usually available
along major tourist routes
and from lodges, but it is wise to bring
your own. A lens hood and ultra
violet filter are advisable. A good bag for
your equipment including
a dust cover (plastic bag) is essential.
Important
Note: Not all African cultures are
familiar with cameras. Rural
folk will often shy away from having their
picture taken. Please be
sensitive. Some locals may ask a fee for
having their photograph taken.
It is recommended you avoid photographing
anything relating to government
and military installations, including
personnel (soldiers and police)
and buildings (post offices, banks,
airports, border posts, railway
stations and bridges).
How
did the "big five" get their
name?
The "big five" are leopard, lion,
elephant, rhino and buffalo.
These animals constitute a wish list for
many people on safari. The
term is a reference from colonial trophy
hunting. Hunters ranked African
animals as to how dangerous they were to
hunt. This is why hippo and
giraffe - despite their stature - are not
among this elite, sought-after
group.
Don't
hesitate to contact us if you have any other
questions.
