Africa Travel » Safari Company

Kenya Travel safari Information | Tips on Kenya holidays Tanzania Travel packages

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:00:09 +0000

Africa has outstanding natural beauty and it is exceptionally different. It is vital to be equipped for your tour in Africa long prior to your travel. Planning a safari to Africa is hard and it is impossible not to overlook important issues however thorough you are. This human nature should not stop you from making sure every detail has been taken care of. Find complete Travel tips applicable by everyday Africa Safari traveler. Add this to the holiday-check-list that you already have. Africa is mostly warm, but nights can be chilly. There are areas with seasonal sub-zero degrees especially mountain tops.

Public transport is unreliable in terms of time keeping however some run scheduled trips. Traffic rule enforcement can be lax, drive as if you are the only sane person on the road. It false that people are savages who don’t value human life-just because you watch violent clashes on TV. The continent has its own share of thugs and zealots.

It is not true that those women selling handicraft through the windows of the safari van are vagabonds that is the propaganda from the van drivers who receive commission for directing you to more established handicraft dealers. You will be doing them a great favour to purchase from them rather than buy from the rich vendors owners strategically placed in convenient locations.

Always keep your valuables like jewelry out of sight. Some street criminals snatch these items for sale. Travel light and keep your bags close at hand if possible. Keep contact numbers for the Africa tour operator of Safari Company i.e. your family, your safari hotel or lodge accommodation, your tour agent, the foreign office and the local police. On buses and trains, try sitting near other people in a busy carriage.

Keep within the Central Business District of all major cities such as Nairobi and Kenya. Rural villages and towns are very safe because everybody is known to each other. If you lose something, the local leaders will apprehend the culprit. Telephones are costly and rare; it might wise to carry your mobile phone and buy a local network the moment you arrive as it’s .Once you acquire a local network text your family informing them you new number.

Your travel agent or safari operator will advice in cases was certain areas have any travel advisories. Your Foreign Office may issue travel advisories that don’t indicate the actual position, e.g. Safari operators and hotels might be doing their normal even when there is a political issue like the recent election outcome and the Foreign Office will only lift the advisory only after the whole scenario has been sorted in the street and in parliament.

A traveler could take advantage to travel as hotel occupancy is low and there fore discounts. Foreign Offices are slow to list travel advisories as they fear repercussion if something happened. African Safaris and Adventures website offers current news, exchange rate, language, types of food. The Website will assist you to locate the best price deals on safari, lodge hotel accommodation or a complete safari holidays package. Instead of spending time searching for an Africa holiday, users can use the web to get the perfect safari holiday deal sent to them.

Most banks and tour travel agents in Africa offer currency services and you can expect to pay around five percent of the total amount. When choosing a safari travel destination, think about whether you want hot or cold weather, something relaxed or active. If you are web savvy, keep a diary or a travel safari blog of your holiday travels. Keep the family informed where you are.

Lastly, always check your overseas medical insurance coverage and ensure it is adequate. If you have money, there are world-class medical facilities available including the flying doctor. I am not proud of this but I must say that, contrary to myths, these facilities do exist although poor locals can not afford them

By: Esther Muthoni

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Kenya Travel safari Information | Tips on Kenya holidays Tanzania Travel packages

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:02:45 +0000

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Kenya Tanzania Uganda Tour operators & Travel Agents

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:45:43 +0000

Selecting a tour agent or safari operator in Kenya Uganda Tanzania out of the many is very difficult let alone where to travel and which travel package is budget friendly luckily you can profit from specialized information of previous Africa safari travelers and the feedback they have given. By using the procedure below you can select the best safari company and tour agency for your travel needs in East Africa.

The knowledge by travelers through African safari trip reports, safari articles, forums, blogs as well as Kenya tourism board, Tanzania safari board, Uganda safari association helps narrow the vast number of Africa safari companies and travel agents to a list of dependable tour operators in Africa.

Selecting A Trustworthy Safari Company and Tour Operator

Thinking of a Kenya Tanzania Uganda Zanzibar Safari, these guiding principles should assist travelers judge a genuine travel agent or con travel

Travelers should know that the Tour operator and travel agent have different roles in planning an African safari; however both have an influence in the success of your planning your safari in Africa.

If you have chosen a safari itinerary from a travel agent that you have dealt with and trust, always ask the travel agent who the safari ground handler operator is for the tour. This is because most travel agencies in Africa don’t operate safari vehicles of their own and only sell tickets.

Both the safari operator and travel agent should have a good reputation, come highly recommended and have driver guides with fine character

Ask the travel agent or tour operator for details of one or two of their previous travelers and ask the travelers directly what are their thoughts of the said tour operator or travel agents.

Do their recommendations march up? Safari association membership isn’t a fool-proof gauge of finding top safari companies us most tour and safari association membership is based on annual subscription as opposed to merits.

What are their payment policies? Genuine Safari companies operate on a 30% deposit and balance on arrival. Genuine Africa travel agents and tour operators should be open with their cancellation policy. Travel agents and the safari operators should be superb, not only during the email correspondences and planning stages of your safari, but also during the tour

Do the tour operators or travel agents members of staff come highly qualified? Do they run an actual office with a physical address? As it is with the increase in tourism, there are many tour operators who only have a website with no offices and only operate from cyber cafes

Well maintained safari vehicles are important as well is the number of travelers reserved per vehicle. Ideally each passenger should have a window seat and a normal safari vehicle is licensed to carry between seven to eight. Emergency equipment should be kept on the vehicle, for example a fire extinguisher and spare wheels

By: Esther Muthoni

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Our Travels to Marakele and Welgevonden Private Game Reserves, South Africa

admin — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:31:36 +0000

A little more about the reserves before we knock on their front door. Exclusivity is assured through the banning of private vehicles within both reserves. Guests arrive at a peripheral welcoming area and are met by their lodge hosts. This is an excellent idea and affords excellent management of the Reserves. Another distinct advantage is the malaria free environment. In today’s world, many of our clients are requesting wildlife experiences in malaria free facilities. For the wilderness and African safari purest, the diversity of their topography had Claire & me held in raptures, endless vistas, slow, winding rivers meandering across hard bedrock combined with a strong influence of various habitats.

Our first port of call promised to be exciting and a revelation. Marataba Safari Company in the Marakele Private Game Reserve is billed as one of the finest lodges within the Waterberg region. We expected a mercurial combination of a bygone era blended with the demands of today’s modern, discerning safari client. We were not let down. The entrance to Marataba combines elements of water, flora and earth in an enchanting and yet purposeful manner. Part of the Hunters Hotels portfolio with an awesome pedigree to match, their management team gave Claire & me a glimpse of what a well-run, team-orientated lodge should feel like. It would be remise of me to forget to talk about their tented accommodation. These units were amongst the very best I have experienced in ten years of African travels. Spacious, well appointed and offering the little touches only the very best properties do, it was an absolute pleasure to spend the little time we had ensconced within our room.

Unfortunately we have to share with you one aspect of a technical nature. A successful African wildlife or safari experience is based not so much on the appointments of your accommodation, or in the prowess of the team at base, no, it is found in the experience and knowledge of your ranger. You will spend in the region of eight to ten hours a day in his/her company and because of this, their ability to transfer their knowledge to you at the level you request is paramount. We did not find this to be the case at Marataba. We have taken this up with both camp management & their company directors and have received a favourable response from them in this regard.

Both dinner & breakfast were superb! Beautifully prepared and presented by not only very amiable and competent staff but also by the management team, a strong showing of team work. Marataba is ideal for those wishing to get away to a five star lodge where pampering, consummate hospitality and hugely knowledgeable staff abound.

Our second port of call was at the recommendation of a colleague of ours. Clearwater Lodges have two intimate, separate and very private lodges within the Welgevonden Private Game Reserve and we stayed at Tshetshepi Lodge. Five suites is the extent here supplying ten guests with the traditional Relais & Chateaux five C’s – Care, Calm, Charm, Cuisine & Character. Nestled against a towering mountain and with the sound of a gentle brook nearby, our hosts welcomed us into their “home“ with great pride and obvious concern for our welfare. Our aim at Africa Tamed is to bring you, our clients, friends and African Tamed family our evaluation of properties we feel warrant this in the endeavour to stimulate your “ thirst for Our Africa “. We put great credence in integrity, well grounded knowledge and in the case of wildlife experiences, the ranger responsible to introduce you to Mother nature.

Dave did us all proud! He exuded confidence, anecdotes abounded, and his knowledge of both flora & fauna was substantial. Over the eight hours in Dave’s hands (two game drives), his sense of purpose, transfer of knowledge and inter guest rapport was exceptional. As we would expect at a Relais & Chateaux property, the accommodation was excellent, spacious and in tune with the environment. We met for pre dinner drinks with the other guests in front of a roaring fireplace. Another special time of the day on an African safari, when stories are shared, the conversation is light and the enticing fragrances waft through from the kitchen. Debbie (Dave’s wife and co host) had ensured our meal requests we well looked after. Gathered around a large table in the company of interesting co guests and in the very capable hands of Dave & Debbie, the evening was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Our last port of call was to be Makweti Safari Lodge. Whether this was arranged as our last port of call deliberately or not, it certainly was a great one with which to end our trip. Makweti Safari Lodge, in the same vein as Tshetshepi is in the hands of a management couple. It is obviously key to have the right couple at the right properties. This young, effusive and energetic couple fit Makweti like a glove. On our afternoon and early morning game drives, we witnessed a number of interesting mammals big & small. We were well informed as to the balance between man & Mother Nature and how at Makweti, a number of in house projects were underway to ensure the correct management of their area of responsibility.

You will appreciate that we have witnessed and sighted a large number of the wildlife on offer in Africa. Here though we spotted the illusive bush pig and caught a fleeting glance of brown hyena. As the only guests in house, Claire & I were afforded our own rooms (a luxury we seldom expect) and had dinner in the company of our two attentive hosts. We dined on creative cuisine, drank a bottle of the best South African sparkling wine and celebrated the first anniversary of Africa Tamed Tours & Travel! Claire’s dream of creating a very different travel company instilled with her own ideas, experiences and keen sense of integrity came of age tonight. In true modesty found within Claire, she graciously blew out the candle poised in her grandiose Pavlova pudding, thanked our hosts for recognising the special occasion and uttered the inimitable words “we have only just begun… “

Welgevonden Private Game reserve has a number of alternative properties, some privately owned, some open for commercial use. Our evaluation would indicate this an ideal Reserve to visit to initiate you to an authentic wildlife and safari experience but found the density of the Big 5 to be a little disappointing but this should be weighted up against the exemplary level of accommodation and that key element of passionate bushwhackers looking after you!

By: Claire Dinnie

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