9 Things to Know Before Booking a Kenyan Safari

An East African safari tops many a bucket list and, having just returned from a two-week wildlife adventure in Kenya & Tanzania, I can reiterate that it is every bit as special as it is made out to be. However, spellbinding images of grazing zebras and migrating wildebeests could make one easily overlook the practicalities. Here are some ground realities to take into account before you get booking.

 

 

1. Not your regular holiday

To state the obvious – a safari is ALL about viewing wildlife. Your waking times, eating times and even bathroom times are governed by game drives. On a holiday of this kind, there is no such thing as a lie-in…on most days you wake up earlier than you would on regular working days. Meals are often cold packed lunches and the novelty of picnicking in the wild might not last forever. Flush toilets are few and far between and if nature calls in the middle of a chase, the bush toilet is your only option.

 

2. Don’t underestimate travel time

A typical safari usually includes more than one national park, sometimes in different countries, resulting in long days spent just sitting in the vehicle. Dodgy roads, bio breaks and stops for entry, exits and visas further pushes up travel time, meaning you end up spending a lot more time on the road than you bargained for. There’s no point getting antsy…that’s just how things work.

 

 

3. Different safaris for different people

Safari itineraries vary widely in terms of inclusions and durations, and it is important to choose one that works for you. The same applies for safari accommodation – it could range from a basic tent in the middle of the savannah to a sprawling oasis fitted out with pool and sauna. Recommendations and reviews are helpful no doubt, but it is important to pick the type of accommodation in keeping with the experience you are after. What may be wonderful for someone could be your idea of hell.

 

4. Caution: bumpy road ahead

Tarmac roads are more the exception than the norm, with the ones in and around Maasai Mara taking bumpiness to a whole new level. If you are prone to back/neck aches, you might want to bring a brace and avoid sitting at the back of the vehicle. Inter-park flights are expensive but worth considering given the state of some of the roads.

In the dry season, dust poses an added challenge, obscuring people, clothes and luggage under a film day after day – the fancy sun-glasses and tote bags are best left behind at home.  If, like me, you are allergic to dust, it would be a good idea to wear a dust mask during the long road trips. A scarf, though unwieldy, does the job too.

 

 

5. Money matters

The US Dollar is the preferred currency and it is essential to have a few notes in varying denominations handy. In fact, payment for the Tanzanian visa at the border can only be made in US dollars ($50 as on July 2016). They do not have credit card facilities or an ATM. USD is also easier to exchange for local currency as most banks do not deal in other foreign currencies.

Tipping is expected in the lodges and also by your guide/driver. Some lodges offer guidelines on how and how much to tip, with many of them recommending a gratuity to be made for the staff as a whole rather than to individuals. US dollars or the local currency is preferred.

 

6. The bare necessities

Given their remote location, lodges and camps do not have ready access to produce and supplies. So, if you are vegetarian, have food allergies or dietary restrictions of any kind, make sure to let them know at the time of booking. Else, you risk going hungry as many lodges have a pre-decided set menu for dinner.

There’s plenty of advice out there about packing for a safari and it cannot be re-emphasised enough that you will not need a different set of clothes for each day. Many lodges offer a same-day laundry service and others have facilities for washing clothes yourself. Travel/safari shirts can be re-worn as is. While jeans work well for the cool evenings, they are an impractical option for game drives and long inter-park transfers. Trekking/travel pants are roomy, comfortable and accumulate less dust.

 

 

7. Technology and connectivity

The big lodges that run on electricity usually have all the amenities you would expect in a city hotel, such as high speed Wi-Fi in the rooms, power sockets and so on. The smaller lodges/eco camps that use solar power either have limited Wi-Fi in the reception or none at all. However, they will always have some provision in the common area to charge phones and cameras.

 

8. The Maasai experience

Be prepared to pay if visiting a Maasai village. They charge in the range of USD30/person which is meant as a donation to the community. In addition, you will be expected to make a purchase or two from their crafts market, which can sometimes get a bit too persuasive. If this kind of thing makes you uncomfortable, a visit is best avoided. Also be aware that these visits have now evolved to become a set routine of song, dance and fire-making.

 

 

9. To vaccinate or not

While planning for my trip, I found that the advice on yellow fever vaccination was rather hazy. While some websites warned you couldn’t travel without one, others dismissed it as a non-mandatory expense one could do without. Compulsory or not, from experience, getting the vaccination definitely made things a lot easier. Officers on both sides demanded to see our vaccination cards when we travelled from Kenya to Tanzania and back. Not sure what the penalty would’ve been if we didn’t have one, but there was a large group of unvaccinated tourists waiting around listlessly while we breezed through immigration.

 

 

For many of us, a safari is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and being well prepared means the only surprises you get will be the kind that made you want to do a safari in the first place. Having said that, it is neither possible nor required to plan and control every aspect of the trip…as they do ever so often in Kenya, just say hakuna matata and roll with it!