Umbato Safaris :: Frequently Asked Questions

	Luxury Kenya Safaris

	Budget Camping Safaris

	Air Safari Packages

	Mountain Climbing

	Lodges in Kenya

	Excursions

	Nairobi Airport Transfers

	Eating Out

	National Parks & Game Reserves

	The Kenya Coast

	Kenya Beach & Bush Safari

	Balloon Safaris

	Natures Circuits - Kenya and Tanzania

	Travel information

Frequently Asked Questions

1) How do I book a Safari?
You can book a suggested Itinerary from our website. These trips offer the convenience of a pre-set itinerary and a fixed price, with flexible scheduling. Travel dates are up to you.

Customized Itinerary
Or you can start from scratch and work with us to develop a totally customized itinerary and schedule. We are enthusiastically open to side trips, detours, special needs and special plans.

2) What does the trip price include?

Full board lodging (3 meals a day) on Safari, whether in hotels, lodges, tented camps, mobile tented camps, or bush camps as specified in your itinerary
Half board (2 meals a day at the beach hotels)
All your park and game reserves fees, including conservation fees
Unlimited game drives in our safari vehicles-window seat guaranteed
All in-country transportation as specified in your itinerary, whether by vehicle or bush plane
One of our experienced in-country safari guides.
Excursions, as specified in your itinerary
Unlimited bottled water in our safari vehicles

3) What is NOT included in the price?

International and regional airfare
Any expenses incurred in conjunction with this trip while in your home country.
Cost of obtaining required passports or visas: Kenya US$50 per person, single entry
Airport departure taxes
Travel Insurance. Please make sure that you obtain a convenient travel insurance in your home country
excess baggage fees. Note: Baggage is restricted to 15kgs Kenya/Tanzania per person in a soft sided bag on all charter flights.
Medical expenses, meals or activities not specified or indicated as optional;
gratuities to drivers/guides/tour leaders. Note: Tipping is discretionary based on services provided; Tipping guidelines are: $5-$10 per day for professional safari guides/tour leaders; $3-$5 per day for camp staff, e.g. waiters, housekeepers, which is a communal tip that is shared among the staff); porters - $1; driver/guides - $2-$5); restaurant waiters/waitresses – 10% of bill; hotel housekeeping - $2 per day.

4) How does our pricing work?
Our trips use tiered pricing based on logistics. Getting people into remote areas where the best game viewing exists is more costly when there are only two people in the Land Rover, rather than four or five. Economies of scale result in lower pricing for four or five people traveling together as opposed to pricing for a couple traveling alone. As well, the logistics of moving gear around for a walking safari with numerous bush camps is more complicated and costly than a trip that involves simply staying at a lodge. Our pricing structure is tiered so you pay for the costs of your safari and don't subsidize other groups.

Our trips have no hidden costs. We don’t quote you a low price and then tell you that, in addition you have to pay your park fees or that in-country transportation is extra. When we quote you a trip price it includes almost everything while you are in-country. The few items not included like gratuities, passport and visa fees, and beverages are set forth above.
Our trip prices range over a wide scale. The price depend of:

The number of people traveling in the group
Whether your in-country transportation is by bush plane or Land Rover
Whether you choose to stay in lodges or smaller tented camps
How remote you want to go
Whether you want to view game from a mobile tented camp
Whether you want to participate in walking safaris that involve remote bush camps

We can work with you to bring your safari within your budget range. Most of our trips are suggested Itineraries, but you can vary them as you want. Let us know what your budget is and we will do our best to design a trip that gives you the experiences you want within the budget you see.

5) How far in advance to I need to book?
There is no cutoff. There are numerous flights into Kenya being a business hub in East Africa, but should be booked early as a lot of travel happens into Kenya. The flights into Tanzania are slightly more limited and we find that there can be problems getting seats on British Airways or KLM if you try to schedule less than two months ahead of time.

Peak seasons, travel periods between July to October and December to February, may mean you book up as far as nine months ahead of time. Mid to late December is a busy time in both Kenya and Tanzania. Outside of peak seasons, you should have no trouble booking if you schedule your safari at least six to eight months in advance.

6) Which is the best time of year to visit Kenya?
Let's start with when not to travel: November, April and May. This is the rainy season in East Africa and it becomes pretty hard to get around in the remote places our guests want to explore.

The mass migration moves from Kenya into the Serengeti in Tanzania in December, January, February, and March. That can be a spectacular time to travel to be able to view the GREAT MIGRATION and crossing over the Mara River.

Unfortunately, climate changes due to global warming are triggering some changes in the timing of the migration, so check with us if you are interested in traveling on the edges of the normal migratory months.

Great game viewing at other times is possible, even at low or Off-peak seasons and can be a very relaxing time. The lodges are less crowded and the game reserves not involved in the migratory pathways have as much game as normal. It's all a matter of what you want. Check with us if you have specific time frames in mind for your travel and we can help you plan where to be so you get the best possible game viewing experiences.

7) What kind of weather can I expect on Safari?
Most of East Africa is savannah, comparable to the high plateau, semi-desert areas of Colorado or New Mexico. Altitude ranges from 3,000 to 7,000 feet. Temperatures during the day range from 75 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Nights are cool with temperatures dipping as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas. Even though you will be traveling near the equator, please take our packing recommendations seriously and take along a light jacket or sweatshirt, sweater, and a fleece pullover. Additionally, bring something warm to sleep in at night. Humidity is low in the inner mainland. If you don't travel near the rainy season, it usually doesn't rain.

8) What kind of shape do I need to be in?
You get to choose the activity level of your safari. Traditional Land Rover safaris require little or no physical activity, although you can add all kinds of active adventures to your safari, including an afternoon walking safari, a morning horseback ride, or a boating adventure.

9) What kind of medical care do I need before I go to Kenya?
Before you leave for an international destination you should consult your physician. You will also need to decide on a malaria prevention medication. It is advised to take malaria prophylaxis.
Vaccination for Yellow Fever is not obligatory anymore. Other vaccinations like hepatitis, tetanus are recommended.

10) Do I need a Visa to enter Kenya?
Visitors from most countries require a visa in order to enter Kenya. Almost all visitors can purchase a visa at the point of entry, but some nationalities are required to obtain the visa in advance in their home country.

Please check the current situation with your local Kenyan diplomatic mission. If you intend to fly to Nairobi and then travel on to Tanzania, remember that you may also require a multiple entry visa to enter Kenya, even if it is only for a few hours. From January 2005 the Visa for Kenya and Tanzania is 50 US$ per person for each country.

11) Photography on Safari
You will get fairly close to a lot of the wildlife, but a good 35 mm camera with a 75-300 zoom lens will certainly help you take some great shots. It is always best to buy your film before you travel, because film here is expensive and not as fresh. 100 – 200 ASA is a good speed for general photography here. Though it can get bright, you might want to be able to get some action shots and the higher speed film will be helpful. Some people also like to use 400 ASA for fast moving animals and evening shots.

A beanbag is much better than a tripod for photos from the car. (The safari vehicle should have a pop-up or removable roof to make photography easier.) A cable release is useful to get shots without camera motion. Also, a flash can help with indoor and campfire shots. Remember to bring extra batteries for your camera equipment. Most people find they take 2 to 3 rolls of film per day whilst on safari.

If you bring a video camera, don't forget the tapes (very expensive here) and the recharging accessories. You can generally recharge the camera at lodges and from the vehicle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Book here!

	Private Safari
	Check Our Pricing
	Book Airport Transfers
	Hotel Accommodation