Safari Experience with Afrikan Wildlife Safaris

Wildlife viewing

The Afrikan Wildlife Safaris adventures specialize in viewing wildlife, every effort is made to plan Safaris where wildlife is known to exist. However, the animals we visit live wild and free, and we cannot fully predict or control their migratory patterns. In an attempt to locate wildlife, which may have deviated from its normal pattern, for the interest of traveler expectations, we book for experiential in countries where it exists. You are escorted by the ranger to locate the big cat and other wildlife. Where the experiential don’t exist, we do normal game viewing. It is very important for our guests to have realistic expectations for their wildlife encounters on our trips, so we try to portray accurate accounts of our wildlife viewing activities in our itineraries. 

Birding trips

Africa is the unmatched continent in terms of bird species, in fact, it’s a Birding Paradise. For any traveller who is enthusiastic about birds, look no further, plan your trip to Africa. I assure you, you will not be disappointed. Africa is the richest birding destination in the World. The bird habitant ranging from Forest birds, Savannah birds, water birds, birds in deserts and mountainous areas and we focus on the Albertine Rift Valley Endemics in combination with Mult-habitant birding. We organize birding trips for both the professional and amateurs throughout the entire continent. Just name the place, we will take you there.

Mountain climbing

Africa is beautiful continent with very attractive physical features like mountains, lakes, rivers and valleys. Mountains are the most outstanding physical feature and one of the major attraction for tourists from other parts of the World.

At Afrikan Wildlife Safaris, we do offer the Mountain climbing adventures in some countries with the famous and highest mountains in Africa. We extend our services to Mountain Kilimanjaro (5,895m) in Tanzania, Mountain Rwenzori (5109m) in Uganda, Mountain Elgon (4321m with largest intact Calderas of 40km) in Uganda and Kenya, Mountain Kenya (5,199m) in Kenya, Mountain Stanley (5109m) in DRC, Simien Mountain (4533m) in Ethiopia,, Atlas Mountains (4165m) in Morocco, The Drakensberg (3475m), Jabel Marra (3017m) in Sudan, Mountain Meru (3017m) in Tanzania, Mountain Oku (3011m) in Cameroun etc.

Cultural experience

Africa has the richest and unspoilt culture in the whole World. With great Kingdoms in Africa like Buganda Kingdom, Zulu Kingdom, Ashanti Kingdom and many others, you will experience the diverse and rich culture of Africans. Taste the local food, participate in the day today daily activities, home stay, traditional dances, traditional customs and ceremonies and any other core which may be assigned during the course of the day.

 Gorilla Trekking

Perhaps one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on this Planet. Gorilla tracking, you wake up early, get breakfast and get ready for Gorilla tracking. Then go to the briefing point before you set off in the interior of the forest. Do not forget to take your lunch boxes and all the necessary gear to track the rare Mountain Gorilla. There are now only 800 left in the world. The tracking may take between 3 and 6 hours but its well worth the effort. There are always park guides with you who interpret the flora and fauna and the lifestyle of the Gorillas. The rainforest is spectacular as it offers a dramatic, heavily forested and dense landscape crisscrossed by numerous animal trails, allowing access for tourists. 

Chimpanzee trekking

In the morning after your breakfast, you will go to the briefing point before you set off in the forest to trekk Chimpanzees. When tracking chimpanzees, you may come across other primates including phoestes, Red-Colobuses, Blues, Red-tailed and grey cheeked Mangabeys in the canopies of the dense forest and birds, butterflies and many small insects. The guides provide explanations about primates and other forest's fauna and flora, ensuring that your walk is both informative and enjoyable. You can also come across other primates like different monkey species.

Alternatively

You can decide to go for chimp habituation and be part of the habituation team that goes to study the behavior of the Chimps in order to make them get used to human beings. Being part of the team that observe the way Chimps nest, feed, climb trees, react to human presence, caring for the young ones is unforgettable experience. This activity starts very early at 6:00am to 6:00pm. You spend the whole day in the forest observing Chimps.

Hot Air Balloon Experience

A hot air balloon consists of a bag called the envelope that is capable of containing heated air, suspended beneath a wicker basket which carries passengers and (usually) a source of heat, in most cases an open flame. The heated air inside the envelope makes it buoyant since it has a lower density than the relatively cold air outside the envelope. This can be done during the wildebeest migration in Tanzania and Kenya and over Queen Elizabeth in Uganda for aerial view of wildlife. This is the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology but it cannot fly beyond the atmosphere.

Walking safaris and Zip lining

You get the chance of encountering African wildlife on foot escorted by the rangers of the park who will help explain for you the details of the flora and fauns. We do the zip lining in Mabira forest which has tall trees in Uganda. It’s a new activity which has just been introduced for the last two years.

Boat cruises

You take a small boat on lakes, rivers and channels where you get close to crocodiles, hippos, elephants, buffalos and other wildlife which come on the shore to take water. The banks of these water bodies are home to many animal species and birds which come down to drink from these water bodies.

Diving experience

Diving is one of the exciting experience. We organize diving trips in Mozambique and South Africa for both the experienced divers and the learners.  Our experts in diving will be giving you the diving instructions. You will leave as experienced diver. Trust me, they are good. The diving in these countries is world-renowned. The dives conducted at Sodwana Bay are drift dives and the dive experts will choose the best dive site depending on the weather conditions to ensure comfortable dive

White water Rafting

Take a ride on the wild side, this is fun in the wild waters of the River Nile in Uganda and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe/Zambia. There is a large variety and selection of trips suitable for almost all ages. In all the areas of rafting, there is an outstanding worldwide reputation for safety and excellence. For the last 30 years and a unique culture, these areas have produced some of the world's finest whitewater guides. You can explore your imagination on Victoria Falls and River Nile. When rafting, you bring T-shirt, swim suit, board shorts and water proof sunscreen for wear when rafting. For the end of the day, pack a towel, change of clothes and warm top.

Sport fishing

We will provide with you the experienced fishing guide to only area authorized for the sport fishing in your country of destination. The guide, from experience will determine the starting point depending on the weather. When you are successful, you quickly take the pictures and through the fish back in water, where it is accepted to eat it, make it part of your dinner.

Cycling

This is where a group goes out on safari cycling in the chosen areas of interest depending on the terrain. You will have the medical team, mechanics, spare parts and all the necessary equipment for the ride. The leader will determine the point of rest and refreshments depending on the health and fitness of the riders. This requires people who are physical fit and in good health conditions.

Desert experience

Just imagine life in the desert, get the feel of the desert wildlife, and ride on the sand dunes, climbing the big sand dunes, ride camels. Experience the desert life in Namibia in Namib and Kalahari deserts.

WE WISH YOU AN ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE

UGANDA

The Pearl of Africa. Sprawling across both sides of the equator, are a network of ten National Parks and several other protected areas offering wildlife enthusiasts a memorable opportunity to experience Uganda biodiversity. Unique to each park, a tourist gets to enjoy mesmerizing tracts, lush expanses of tropical rainforest, shimmering lakes and rivers heaving with aquatic life and glacial peaks of Africa’s tallest mountain range. Making Uganda the World’s number one tourist destination country of the year 2012 as ranked by the Lonely Planet. Welcome to the land of the rare Mountain Gorillas.

TANZANIA

The Origin of mankind. Tanzania never disappoints. How could it, with Africa’s greatest game reserve, the unforgettable Serengeti, the seeing-is-believing volcanic crater at Ngorongoro, and the Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro. But there is much more to Tanzania than even the wildlife. A long beach-strewn coastline, a largely undiscovered hinterland, the romantic spice islands, with their rich mixture of Arabic, Indian, African and European Cultures and the Great Lakes Victoria, Nyasa and Tanganyika with hundreds of fish species and glittering beaches. Few places in the World conjures up such rich images as the magnificent peaks, valleys and plains like Tanzania

KENYA

Kenya, the birth place of safari adventures and the land of discovery, whose unsurpassed attractions have over the years been accorded the seal of approval by royalty, presidents of nations, celebrities, and millions of other vacationists. Wildlife is the prime attraction of Kenya safaris, which take place in some of Africa’s most well-known national parks like Masai Mara, Samburu, Amboseli, Tsavo and Lake Manyara. This country offers some of the finest natural attractions with the diverse cultures and abundant wildlife. The coastline and tropical beaches are equally inviting. If you are coming to Africa to view wildlife, there is only one place that has it all, and that’s Kenya.

BOTSWANA

Botswana is one of Africa’s top wildlife viewing areas. The most famous attraction of them all is the Okavango Delta – a network of streams, rivers and watercourses in the northern part of the country, teaming with wildlife. The Moremi Game reserve, established to preserve much of the Okavango, is a home to a variety of animals like giraffes, large herds of Elephants and Buffalos, many species of Antelopes and many others as nature may provide. The Chobe and the Savuti areas are also famous for concentration of elephants. 

RWANDA

The land of a thousand hills - the unforgettable beauty of Rwanda’s rolling mountainous landscape earned it the sobriquet “Land of a Thousand Hills.”  After independence, Rwanda leaped to fame as the Land of “Gorillas in the Mist”, adopted home of Dian Fossey and the most important refuge for the rare mountain gorilla. In the 1980s, Rwanda established itself as a popular holiday destination with a bustling tourist circuit. Today, gorilla trekking in the Virunga is the premier attraction, supplemented by the mesmerizing savannah and plains wildlife of Akagera National Park, the incredible biodiversity of the extensive Nyungwe rainforest, and a range of montane and lakeshore habitants around the expansively beautiful Lake Kivu.

NAMIBIA

Namibia is a country of fascinating scenic beauty, the big part of the country is dominated by the Kalahari and Namib Deserts. It encompasses the massive dunes of the Sossusvlei area, the desolate stretches of beach along the Skeleton Coast and Damaraland, with a dramatic contrast of desert, deep canyons and high mountain range. And the Etosha National Park which offers the superb game viewing.

ZAMBIA

Zambia is a thrilling destination in its own right, with abundant wildlife and many other beautiful attractions. Of particular appeal is Zambia’s vast unspoiled wilderness and plains filled with wildlife, not to mention Victoria Falls. Visitors become enchanted with the rustic ambience of this country, where a network of rural villages ensures that man wildlife survive together through recognition of their interdependence. 

SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa claims as “Having the whole World in one Country” is certainly justified. This enchanting country offers the visitors an endless range of excellent travel opportunities from wildlife preserves and scenic landscapes to modern cities

MOZAMBIQUE

Mozambique is a southern African nation whose long Indian Ocean coastline is dotted with popular beaches like Tofo, as well as offshore marine parks. In the Quirimbas Archipelago, a 250km stretch of coral islands, mangrove-covered Ibo Island has colonial-era ruins. It's also a diving and snorkeling destination, as is Bazaruto Archipelago farther south, with reefs protecting rare marine life including dugongs. 

ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwe is one of the African countries known for dramatic landscape and diverse wildlife, much of it within parks, reserves and safari areas. On the Zambezi River, Victoria Falls make a thundering 108m drop into narrow Batoka Gorge, where there’s white-water rafting and bungee-jumping. Downstream are Matusadona and Mana Pools national parks, home to hippos, rhinos and birdlife.

 CONGO

The home of Bonobos, Mountain and Lowland Gorillas, Nyiragongo the only active Volcanic Mountain in Africa. Congo is the land of steamy jungles hiding half of the world's lowland gorillas, masses of forest elephants, and hooting, swinging troops of chimpanzees, the Congo (not to be confused with the Democratic Republic of Congo across the Congo River) is on the cusp of becoming one of the finest ecotourism destinations in Africa. Parc National Nouabalé-Ndoki and Parc National d'Odzala are two of the most pristine forest reserves on the continent and between them they are arguably the highlight of the whole of Central Africa.

Despite this impressive resume the Congo remains an unknown quantity to most outsiders and currently receives very few visitors. But for those ready to heed the call of the wild, and not afraid of adventure, the Congo awaits.

MALAWI

 “The warm heart of Africa” obtained from the friendly people. Malawi will offer you the fabulous mountain walking opportunities, together with lack of lions in lowlands reserve, make the ideal Nature walk destination, allowing the visitor to enjoy Africa’s wildlife on foot. With this experience, you will discover many treats that are not easily encountered elsewhere. Amongst these are the Malawi’s rare antelopes – the Sable antelope, Roan and Nyala, the Unique aquarium of brilliant colored tropical fish that is Lake Malawi, and the flower filled uplands and montane forests that are home to some of Africa’s rarest birds.

Planning your Safari

To succeed in everything, you must be well prepared. And chances favors prepared mind. Planning an exciting and memorable safari, Holiday or vacation depends on the a professional and experienced Tour company who takes into consideration all the client’s needs and expectations. This is why we feel there are some things you should know before when planning your trip more especially to Africa. We point out some of the things you need to look at when planning your trip.

For how long do you want to go on safari?

How many people are traveling with you? Indicate the number of adults and children.

What are your desired expectations and interests?

Set aside the projected total budget.

Consider the people you are travelling with if they have any special dietary requirement, Special Medical attention just in case, or physical disabilities.

About Children on Safari

The National parks and Game Reserves in East Africa have no age restrictions on children to enter the park. But there some activities which they cannot go for which has age limit as you will see below. In the line of accommodation, most of the hotels/lodges charge the same rate for children above seven years. Below that age, there is a special rate for the children. Most hotels/lodges do not charge children under 2 years sharing room with parents.

Gorilla Tracking: No children under 14 years

Chimp Tracking: No children under 14 years

Balloon Safari: No children under 7 years

Visa requirements and Payments

The visa fees for entry to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and DRC is usually about US$ 50.00 per person paid on arrival at the airport. But you must however counter check with the respective country’s embassy, high commission or consulate nearest to you for the correct rates and visa requirements applicable to your nationality because it keeps on fluctuating depending on the situation in the country and the international relations with the your home country.  

Clothing for Gorilla and ChimpTrekking

When you go for gorillas tracking, we advise to wear long pants/trousers, long sleeved shirt and hiking boots, a hat, raincoat, Rucksack for your camera equipment, insect repellant, packed lunch when tracking in Uganda.

Clothing for Game Drives

You need casual, light and comfortable clothes on game drives and in the lodges. The climate is warm when sunny and cold when rainy. Which can also be bought in any of the East African Countries either in the cities or hotels/lodges. 

Currency:
East African Countries have different currencies with different value. ATM’s issue only local currencies and you can use Visa card to draw money from any outlet with visa services. You can also exchange foreign currency at the bank, Forex bureau, hotels, or safari lodge. For the local markets, have with you the local currencies or US$ in small denominations. Uganda shilling (Ushs) is the Uganda currency, Rwanda Francs (Fr) is the currency for Rwanda, Kenya shilling (Kshs) is the Kenya currency, Tanzania shilling (Tshs) is the Tanzania currency, and Congolese Francs (Fr) is the local currency for DRC.

Payment of goods and services:

Credit cards: widely accepted throughout all Resorts, hotels and Safari lodges in East African countries. Many city restaurants, clubs, shops and other businesses accept them too.
Cash: Best to carry some local currencies for shopping in the various stops outside the cities (up country). US$ are also widely accepted though you need to check the prevailing exchange rates so as not to be cheated. Ensure also is in small denominations 1$ - 5$ as change might be challenging.

Baggage:
We advice that where possible travel light and pack most items of necessity only. Baggage space on safari is limited to medium suitcase or hold all per person plus reasonable amount of hand luggage. There is 15 Kilogram per person limit on all flights to the wildlife sanctuaries. Excess luggage must be stored in your arrival hotel.

Water: 
Although the water provided by most hotels and lodges is safe and of good quality, we recommend for peace of mind, to drink local bottled mineral water. This is available in virtually every shop, kiosk or store throughout the East Africa. Prices range from half a $ to a dollar for a 500 ml bottle depending on the brand.   

Health and Medications: 

Yellow fever vaccine is required to enter Africa, some countries also require that you have a vaccination certificate when departing from either of these countries in Africa. Remember to take your Malaria medication. Most of these medications can be obtained on arrival in chemists within the city centers. We recommend that you consult your physician for these medical advice or subscriptions. And remember to carry a Safari hat and sunscreen to protect yourself from sun. 

Most hotels and lodges provide mosquito nets in the rooms while others go further to provide mosquito repellant and burn Mossi chip in the rooms to ward off the insects.

Electricity Voltage and Plug

In Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, the voltage is 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are UK-type square three-pin. Remember to bring a converter in the event that these specifications are different from those of your country. 

Time Zone:

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania: GMT +3

Internet access:

Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Congo: Internet service is available in all major cities, towns, lodges, hotels, tented camps and cyber cafes; it is also available from the local cell phone companies

ATM Machines

ATM machines are available 24 hrs at all major banks, and you can use your ATM debit card on Kenya's ATM machines. However, you will incur a small international transaction fee when you use your ATM debit/credit card.

Climate and weather patterns: (Uganda) 

Generally has two rainy seasons: the short rains of November to December and the long rains of April to early July, the driest months are February and March.

Most days are warm and sunny with cool nights, during the rainy season the evenings and nights are chilly as well as early morning

   
Climate and weather patterns: (Tanzania)

Generally has two rainy seasons: the short rains of October to December and the long rains of April to early June, the driest months are February and March.

Most days are warm and sunny with cool nights, during the rainy season the evenings and nights are chilly as well as early morning.

Coastal Areas –hot and humid, average 30°C day time temperatures,

Highland countryside –cool most of the days, chilly during the rainy season

Hottest months are from October to February while the long rains are from March to Late May

Climate and weather patterns: (Kenya) 

Generally has two rainy seasons: the short rains of October to December and the long rains of April to early June, the driest months are February and March.

Most days are warm and sunny with cool nights, during the rainy season the evenings and nights are chilly as well as early morning.

Climate and weather patterns: (Rwanda) 

Generally has two rainy seasons: the short rains of October to December and the long rains of April to early Jne, the driest months are February and March.

Most days are warm and sunny with cool nights, during the rainy season the evenings and nights are chilly as well as early morning