Frequently Asked Questions

Kenya and Tanzania give you the classic savanna safari, with big herds and the Big Five, and they combine easily. Uganda and Rwanda are where you track mountain gorillas. If you are unsure, tell us what you most want to see and we will suggest a route.

River crossings in the northern Serengeti and the Maasai Mara usually happen between July and October. Calving on the southern Serengeti plains runs from roughly January to March. The herds follow the rain, so exact timing shifts from year to year.

Permits are limited, so three to six months ahead is sensible, and longer for July to September. We secure permits as soon as your dates are confirmed.

Yes. Zanzibar is a short flight from Arusha, the Serengeti or Nairobi, and a few nights on the beach is a popular way to end a trip.

Tour prices on this site are per person sharing, from the lowest season. Your quote reflects your dates, group size and choice of accommodation.

For gorilla or chimp trekking, book 3 to 6 months ahead where possible, since permits are limited and sell out on popular dates. For a Kenya or Tanzania safari without permits, 2 to 3 months is usually enough, though peak season (June to September, and December to February) fills faster.

Yes. Every itinerary on the site is a starting draft. Tell us what you want to change, more days here, a different accommodation level, an extra country, and we rework it around that.

A booking is confirmed with a 30% deposit, plus the full cost of any gorilla or chimp permits, which must be paid in full to be issued. See our booking terms for the full payment schedule.

A card processing fee of up to 5% applies to card payments. Bank transfer avoids this fee.

Yes, and it is common. A single supplement may apply for accommodation, and we will flag that clearly on your quote.

Yes. Age limits apply to some activities, gorilla trekking has a minimum age of 15, so we build itineraries around what a family's ages can actually do.

Where a trip is joined with other travellers to reduce cost, groups are usually kept to around 6 to 8 people in a vehicle. A private trip has no one else in it at all.

Within one working day, and there is no deposit required just to enquire.

Yes. Uganda and Rwanda pair naturally for gorillas, and either combines well with a Kenya or Tanzania wildlife safari or a few days on the beach in Zanzibar. We coordinate the border crossings, flights and permits so you do not have to.

Tell us as early as possible. Lodge and vehicle bookings can often move, though permit dates are fixed once purchased and cannot be changed without buying a new permit, so the earlier we know, the more options we have.

Both have healthy gorilla populations. Uganda's permit is US$800 (US$600 in the low-season months of April, May and November); Rwanda's is US$1,500. Rwanda's parks are closer to Kigali airport; Uganda's Bwindi requires a longer drive but costs less overall. Read our gorilla permit comparison for more detail.

It varies by sector and by where the gorilla family is on the day, from a gentle hour to several hours of steep, muddy forest walking. See how hard is gorilla trekking, really? for a fuller picture, and tell us your fitness level so we can match you to a manageable sector.

Yes, 15 years old, set by UWA and RDB, with no exceptions.

One hour once you find the family, by park regulation, though the trek itself can take anywhere from under an hour to most of a day depending on where the gorillas have moved.

Kibale in Uganda is the classic chimp trekking destination, with a permit around US$300 (US$200 in low season). See what the morning actually looks like in Kibale.

Yes, and it is a popular combination, particularly through Uganda where several parks with primates sit within a few hours of each other.

No. Once purchased, gorilla and chimp permits are non-refundable and non-transferable under UWA and RDB rules, regardless of the reason for cancelling.

Yes. A habituation permit lets you spend around four hours with a gorilla family that rangers are still acclimatising to human presence, rather than the standard one hour with a fully habituated group. It costs more and is more physically demanding. See four hours instead of one for what that actually involves.

Tracking a habituated family that rangers have already located that morning makes a sighting very likely, though wild animals are never a guarantee. Your guide will keep you updated on the group's location as the trek goes.

It depends on your nationality and which countries you are visiting. The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda (not Tanzania) for US$100 and 90 days; Tanzania and Ethiopia use separate e-visas. Read our visa guide before you apply.

Carry one. All six countries we operate in are in or near the yellow fever zone, and certificates are checked on arrival from risk countries. Confirm current requirements with a travel clinic before you go.

Yes, in most safari areas at lower altitude. Talk to a travel clinic about prophylaxis well before departure. See our note on staying healthy on an East Africa trip.

US dollars are widely used for park fees, lodges and tips; bring notes from 2009 or later, clean and untorn, in smaller denominations for tipping. Local currency is useful for markets and incidentals.

Rarely. ATMs are reliable in cities like Kampala, Entebbe, Nairobi, Arusha and Kigali, but scarce once you are near the parks, so carry enough cash for the trip.

Yes, comprehensive cover including medical evacuation is mandatory for our trips, and Zanzibar requires proof of inbound travel insurance to enter.

As a guide, US$10 to 20 per person per day for a shared-vehicle driver-guide, US$5 to 15 per guest per night for lodge staff, and US$10 to 15 per person for gorilla or chimp trekking rangers. Full detail is in our tipping guide.

Millions of tourists visit the region's parks and cities safely every year. As with any trip abroad, take the usual precautions with valuables and follow your driver-guide's advice, particularly around city areas after dark.

Requirements vary by traveller and itinerary, so this is a conversation for a travel clinic or doctor, ideally a few weeks before you go, rather than something we can advise on directly.

A private 4x4, usually a Land Cruiser or safari van, with a pop-up roof for game viewing and an English-speaking driver-guide, exclusive to your group.

Typically accommodation, the vehicle and driver-guide, park fees and permits, and meals as specified on your itinerary. International flights, visas, tips and drinks are usually excluded. Every quote states this explicitly.

Neutral-coloured clothing, layers for cool mornings, sturdy closed shoes for trekking, and a light rain jacket. See our full packing guide.

Most lodges and tented camps have wifi in communal areas and charging points in rooms, though signal can be patchy in remote parks. Your driver-guide will know what to expect at each stop.

Typically around 15 kg per person, including hand luggage, in soft-sided bags. We will confirm the exact limit if your itinerary includes a domestic flight.

No. Night driving outside towns is avoided for safety, which is part of why some road transfers, such as Entebbe to Bwindi at 8 to 10 hours, are planned as a full day.