Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Safaris (What Uncle Fred Didn’t Tell You)

The following is information that anyone going on a safari should know.  Much is information that you will probably not see elsewhere and is based on our own personal experience living in Tanzania, planning and leading safaris for many years.

We have tried to make this web site reflect our personalities, since that is what you will be getting if you come on safari with us.  We have also cast aside the conventional wisdom that information on a web site should be pared down to a bare minimum.  Our philosophy is to provide you all the information you need to plan a safari, and to evaluate our ability and compatibility to provide you with the experience you deserve, no matter how many words it takes.  

It is our experience, in talking to hundreds of people prior to their safaris, that folks simply have a whole lot of questions and concerns, and they need to trust the people they are going on safari with.  Africa is intimidating enough by itself, without worrying if your safari providers really know their job.

We understand that when you come on safari with us that you are putting a great deal of trust in us.  We do not take that responsibility lightly, and that is one reason we try to personally lead most our group safaris.  That is also why we have made the effort to provide you with this information.

Don’t go to Africa to see a lion!

Is it dangerous?

Africa is dusty!

What is it like visiting a Maasai village?

How do I choose a safari company?

What is a luxury safari?

Kenya? Ya can, but don't

Does size make a difference?

Aren’t group safaris like a tour bus?

What are the health Issues?

How much do safaris cost?

What about money?

Is it possible to have a bad time on a safari?

It’s a long way to Africa from the U.S., and although viewing Africa’s amazing array of wildlife is a major attraction, there is so much more to experience.  If you just want to see a lion, you can do that in any zoo, but come to Africa if you want to experience what the world was like before Wal-Marts and super highways.  You will get a glimpse of timeless landscapes, such as the Serengeti plains - an area the size of a New England state, where predators outnumber humanoids, and millions of ungulates flow across the landscape according to the seasons undisturbed by the societies of man.  You will mingle with cultures of, so called, “primitive” societies that have endured thousands of years of history and still remain vibrant and flourishing.  And, you will share the experience with like minded companions, with whom you may develop lifelong friendships.  Perhaps because the people and the landscape here have remained so unchanged over time, few visitors remain unchanged after experiencing it, and yes, you will certainly see plenty of lions too.

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Africa is a huge continent, and although the news that arrives in America generally only shows disasters, the fact is, that Africa has millions of very healthy, happy and peaceful people living full rich lives.  It is interesting that Tanzanians often view America as a dangerous country, in which gun battles regularly occur in our streets and schools!  The truth is, the news we hear about far away places is often skewed towards negative events, and although there is good and bad everywhere, Tanzania is one of the most stable and peaceful countries in Africa.

In comparison to the US, Tanzania is a poor country in material wealth, but what they lack in material goods they generally make up in community and family values.  This social fabric provides a tangible safety net in Tanzania.  People look after each other, and guests are treated to a high level of respect and care that is virtually unheard of almost anywhere else. 

Although it is normal to be apprehensive about traveling to a new far away place, in my experience, the most difficult part of the safari journey, for most people, is getting back on the airplane to go home!

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What is it like visiting a Maasai village?

Imagine that your community decided to take part in a cultural exchange program, say for example, with Albania.  As part of that program, visitors from Albania would visit your community to see your “way of life”.  So, every week or so, while you are doing laundry or cooking lunch, a bus load of Albania tourists would arrive and file into your living room.  Being from Albania they, of course, speak no English, and you speak no Albanian.  But there they are, standing in your living room, watching you, taking pictures, and waiting for you to do something interesting.  Well, after a few times the program director decides that this is just too boring, and asks if you could, perhaps, do a little dance for them when ever they arrive.  So, being a good sport, you agree, and the next time the Albanian tour bus arrives, you quickly drop your housework, slip on your square dance outfit, and as the group files into your living room, you and your family commence square dancing around the house as they click away, capturing the real essence of the American way of life. 

That’s pretty much what a typical visit to a Maasai village is like.  So should that discourage you from going?  Absolutely not!  There’s nothing wrong with a little dancing, and everyone like to meet new people!  The fact that it is a bit contrived should not have to spoil the fun.  Just accept it for what it is.  However, although this may be a typical experience, it is not the only way to experience and interact with these local communities.

When we have the time and interest from our group to visit a traditional tribal village, we try to go and meet in advance with the tribal elders.  Sometimes we invite their warriors to participate with us in some simple games or athletic events, such as foot races, tug-of-war or spear throwing.  Once, our camp manager made a stuffed lion out of burlap bags, wires and straw, which we brought to the village and used it for a spear throwing contest.  Warriors and guests all had a chance to demonstrate their skill at faux lion hunting.  We usually bring a goat for a traditional Maasai barbeque, and we bring along a soccer ball or Frisbee to break the ice.  The idea is to replace cultural voyeurism with cultural exchange.  On our visits, we may not get to see a lot of dancing, but we definitely get to know each other.  If you ever have the chance to visit a Maasai village or the  bushmen in Yaida Valley, and find a group of them doing the “Hokey Pokey”, you will know that they have participated in one of our cultural exchange’s…and that’s what it’s all about! 

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A quick internet search for Tanzanian safaris will result in thousands of “hits” of companies providing safari services. However, there are only a relative handful of safaris companies actually registered to operate in Tanzania.  The others are commonly foreign marketing agencies who must contract with one of the actual safari providers in Tanzania.  Many of these companies offer trips to dozens of different countries, and generally do not have an office in any of these them.

Therefore, you should know that most safaris are set-up by foreign agencies who simply request the contracting safari company to provide a standard safari for their clients.  There is nothing particularly wrong with this, except for the fact that there is so much more to offer... if you know what is possible!  But a foreign marketing agency can’t provide a unique safari program if they don’t have an intimate knowledge of the country. 

These foreign agencies, however, do provide a valuable service in that they provide a convenient means for a client to get information on and book a safari, without having to locate and communicate with a local provider in Africa.  Folks about to go off to Africa on a safari are just more comfortable dealing with an office in the U.S., where they can get their questions answered in English, pay with a credit card, and know where to go if there is a problem.  However, the drawback is that the person answering your questions may have little or no personal experience on safari in Africa, and the safaris they provide may be just the simplest and the easiest to arrange and market. 

We try to combine the best of both worlds.  We try to personally lead most of our group safaris, and we are available in the U.S. to assist you and answer your questions before and after your trip. That knowledge has been gained from many years living and working in Tanzania leading safari expeditions for U.S. students and visitors.

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Safaris in Africa can indeed be luxurious, however if one’s primary goal is to experience luxury and pampering, it may be best to consider a European vacation instead.  Our safaris are designed to be comfortable, and although they may perhaps at times be “luxurious”, our primary goal is to maximize the quality of the safari experience, as these goals can be conflicting.  Most visitors to Africa enjoy the cultural interaction with Africans as major aspect of their trip, however too much focus on luxury will generally preclude significant interaction with any of the local people, except your waiter and driver.  This is because in contrast to Paris where you can surround yourself in luxury and still easily interact with the locals, this is much more difficult to do in Africa.  So if this is important to you, make sure your safari itinerary is not just a series of daily excursions from luxury lodges.

Tanzania is a land full of adventure.  It is wild untamed land with many exciting things to do and see.  It is a place that has changed many visitor’s lives, and for many people, the attraction of getting off the beaten path and seeing the real Africa is well worth the effort.

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Kenya?  Ya can… but don’t!

By law, Kenyan safari companies are not allowed to operate in Tanzania. They must contract with a registered Tanzanian company to provide services for their clients inside Tanzania.

Therefore, no matter how well they may know their own country, it is difficult for a Kenyan safari company to plan a unique safari in a county it is not even allowed to operate in. Since each country requires its own registered operators, it is far more advisable to work with a safari outfitter that runs its own trips rather than to subcontract to another provider in another county.

Yes, you can book a Tanzania safari from a Kenyan provider, and vice versus, but don’t – you will save money and have a much better experience!  

We often get requests to book safaris for our clients in other countries.  We are happy to do so, but aside from sending a guide from our company, if requested, we are required to go through local operators as well.  The service we provide, in this case, is to provide an itinerary and a local provider that meets our standards for quality and service.

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If a client is only interested in visiting the big game parks and staying at the big lodges, they will have an excellent trip with just about any reputable provider. However, if a client is interested in a more in-depth, unique safari experience, they should seek out a provider that has the flexibility and experience to provide these services. 

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Although we provide safaris for all size groups, we like group safaris of 8-15 people, simply because they are the most fun and we can offer so much more. Traditionally, African safaris have always been group safaris. Since the first explorers arrived on the continent, their safari expeditions have been characterized by large expeditions of people and equipment spending weeks or months camping in the bush. Today, it is not necessary to hire 100 porters and spend months in the bush to have a true safari adventure, but it is still wonderful and satisfying to share the experience with a group of friends, family or like minded adventurers.

Our safaris are designed to appeal to those who enjoy personal space, as well as the camaraderie of a group.  Although we travel together, once in a particular location, guests are generally free to coordinate their own schedules. You can leave at dawn with a guide for early morning game viewing; stick close to camp for quiet time and bird watching; or even plan a midnight game drive, when possible. 

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Northern Tanzania has a very pleasant climate.  You should not expect to find the steamy jungles, hordes of crawly insects and quicksand that you have seen in Tarzan movies.  The climate and much of the flora around the Kilimanjaro and Arusha regions is reminiscent of Hawaii.  In the lower elevations, such as the Serengeti, you will find open savannah grasslands and acacia woodlands.   Temperatures are moderate, and except for high elevations where it can be chilly in the evening and early morning, are typically in the 80’s.  On the coast it can be hot and humid, according to season, however the ocean is always close by.

Travelers should check with their physician to see that their normal vaccinations are up to date.  Visitors might also consider taking malaria pills during their visit.  Although malaria exists in most areas of sub-Saharan Africa, there is effective malaria medication available as a preventative and as a curative.  Virtually none of the many long-term U.S. or European residents of Tanzania take any malaria preventative.  However, visitors should consult with their physician for specific recommendations.

Tanzania has a good number of hospitals and clinics, many with western doctors.  Patients requiring specialized treatment are taken to Nairobi, which has excellent modern medical facilities.  A wide variety of western medicines and pharmaceuticals are available at numerous drug stores in towns, however guests should bring their own supplies of prescription drugs.

Food and water served to guests while on safari is both healthy and safe.  All water is either bottled or boiled, and meals include a wide variety of fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, grains, meat and fish. 

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    A wildlife safari in Africa has to be one of the best deals around, considering that prices generally include everything - park fees, camping fees, food, fuel, crew, guides, transport, equipment, etc.  Camping safaris are the most economical (and lots of fun) but many visitors also enjoy safaris with lodge accommodations.

Safaris range in price from $150 to over $400/person/day.  The cost of your safari is depends upon what sort of accommodations you choose, how many days are spent inside national parks, and how many people are in your group.  

Coming from the U.S. requires a considerable expense in airfare however, (about $1100 – 1500 r/t) and it often makes more sense to stay a while and/or make a stopover in Europe along the way.

Although safaris booked through providers with several layers of middlemen can be expensive, you can save money on safari by booking directly with a provider that specializes in the location you are visiting, since they have less overhead, more knowledge of the country, and more flexibility. 

Visitors should know, however that the Tanzanian Park Service (in contrast to other countries)  has made a specific policy decision a few years ago to siginficantly increase the cost of safaris in Tanzania.  The decision was made to try to reduce the number of visitors to its parks, and hence the ecologolical impact of large numbers of visitors and vehicle in its wildlive areas, by significantly raising park fees.  It is good ecological policy, because it does reduce the impacts on wildlife, however it also makes it more difficult for regular folks to afford.  With its focus on preserving its pristine wildlife areas, however Tanzania does offer a level of quality and unspoiled natural beauty in its parks that is unsurpassed.  It can be a tough check to write, but for our clients at least we have never had any regrets...and we try our best to make things affordable.

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In contrast to the western world, Tanzania is still very much a cash economy. The currency in Tanzania is the Tanzanian Shilling, however dollars are regularly accepted in many locations. Most Tanzanian businesses do not accept credit card payments, and in some places it can be difficult to pay for services with traveler’s checks.  Cashing traveler’s checks however, is generally not a problem in cities, but you will need copies of your receipts and your passport.

Safaris generally include all major expenses however, and guests will only need cash for personal purchases, tips, visas, etc.  Therefore, it is not necessary to bring a lot of money on safari, unless you plan to make specific purchases.

Tanzania is an excellent place to buy inexpensive handicrafts, carvings and art, as well as gemstones and gold, both of which can be purchased at a fraction of the cost in the U.S. 

Most traveler’s bring a few hundred dollars extra in cash for ready availability, as well some additional funds in traveler’s checks. 

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One would think that it would be hard to have a bad day when you had nothing to do for days on end, but to travel through some of the most beautiful, and even mythical, landscape in the world, having an exotic adventure while a hard working cheerful crew cooks all your meals, makes your bed and waits your beck and call… but you would be wrong. 

We bring our own personal world with us where ever we go, and no matter how new and beautiful we find our new environment, it is filtered through our own reality.  The interplay of the two worlds is what can make things so interesting, and it's one reason we do these kinds of journeys – to experience this difference.  We look to find difference in a lot of things we do, and it’s a good thing.  But there is also such thing as too much of a good thing, and too much difference feels as bad in your head as too much ice cream feels in your stomach. 

A safari, like any true journey is not only about the physical adventure, but also about the distance we cover in our own minds to bridge the gap between what we know when we begin, and what we have discovered along the way.  So, people do get bad days on safari, but just consider them another bump along the scenic road. 

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