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Current carriers flying into Nairobi, Kenya: British Air (BA), KLM (KL), Kenya Air (KQ), SN Brussels (SN), South African Airways (SA) and Swissair (SR).

KLM is the only carrier that flies into Arusha, Tanzania from Europe.

Behold a new perspective of the Savannah by adding a Balloon Safari in either Amboseli, Masai Mara, Tarangire or the Serengeti.

EARLY MORNING - 4 HOURS
This is the ultimate way to view wildlife in Africa. You will be woken before dawn and then driven to a remote location. Taking off as the sun rises, you will drift quietly above plains, rivers and forests while gazing at spectacular scenery and with luck, take some incredible photographs. The flight is approximately one hour and gives a ‘birds-eye’ experience to game-watching which many find to be the climax of their safari. On landing in the middle of the bush there will be a full champagne bush-style breakfast set up, with a table decked in silver cutlery, fresh Kenyan coffee, tea and fruits. It is a truly magical experience.

Letters with pertinent updated information as well as photo tips from several sources will be periodically mailed upon receipt of deposit.

Upon arrival at the airport you will be greeted and assisted by our tour leaders and local tour operators.

There will be a pre-tour briefing for all clients reviewing the itinerary with suggested Do's & Don'ts to make your trip more pleasurable. Questions will be answered during this time.

Your driver/guides, local people, are well trained and most knowledgeable about the flora and fauna encountered during your tour. They speak both Swahili and English.

The roads of Africa are somewhat notorious. They range from acceptable to very poor. Vehicles used are the Nissan 9 seat safari buses equipped with a pop up roof. However, no tour will be booked with more than 7 people per bus which provides everyone a window seat. The Ngorongoro Crater is the exception when 4x4's are used with 5 people to a vehicle.

Once in Africa, any additional services or excursions can be arranged with our local tour operators.

All flights leaving East Africa will be reconfirmed by our local operators before departure.

Remember to schedule an extra three days of travel time for your Safari. This will allow for your flights to and from East Africa.

Visas are needed for entry into both Kenya (KENYA EMBASSY) and Tanzania (TANZANIA EMBASSY).  You can obtain these visas at their consulates in either New York City, NY or Washington D.C..
One other way to obtain a Kenya visa is when you arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.  The visa office there is open 24 hours a day.

The departure taxes are included in the price of your airline ticket.

With the exception of the tribal villages and small business shops, Credit Cards are accepted almost everywhere in East Africa. Some cash is good to have on hand.

Typical Safari
It might be said that there is no “typical safari” in Africa. Each of our safaris differ by the personalities of the participants, the wildlife viewing experience and the types of safari chosen.

Seat-in-vehicle (scheduled safari) versus private
We offer a number of seat-in-vehicle safaris where the participants come from different agents, locations and backgrounds. These people travel together for both the experience of seeing Africa and also the opportunity to meet others that share their interests and experiences. These trips do not have the flexibility that is available in a private safari. They do, however, have the benefit of a lower cost because transport and other expenses for the trip are shared in the price. These are great trips for single travellers or couples. Private safaris are custom tailored for the specific interests of the participants with a bit more flexibility in decisions such as start times of game drives.

Fly-in safaris depend on travel between places by aircraft. Generally, transfers and activities are provided by the camp or lodge in shared use vehicles.

Fly-drive safaris have a combination of driving and flying and may spend part or all of the time in our vehicles. The flight is usually a time saving flight at the beginning or end of the adventure to avoid retracing ground that has already been driven over.

Road safaris are by road and almost always in our vehicles. For trips other than seat-in-vehicle, this means you get the exclusive use of the vehicle on safari and the driver-guide is with you throughout the part of the trip in that particular country.

Arrivals and departures
A typical safari starts with arrival to a gateway city. This may be Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi or Kilimanjaro International Airport near Arusha. Often, the first night is spent in the town giving the holiday-makers time to refresh after their long flight. However, there are also people who arrive in the early morning after an overnight flight and want to get to the bush straight away.

At the end of the trip, there may be the need for an overnight room in the gateway city because the departure is in the early morning. Or, if departure is in the late evening, clients may wish to have a day room to relax and refresh. In Nairobi, we now have our Club Class Lounge that provides a comfortable place to relax before heading to the airport.

About Accommodation
The accommodation standards in Africa have a diversity that stretches the imagination. We have chosen the properties we use for our safaris with great care. Some of the terms used for accommodation can be a bit confusing. Here, we try to explain the difference between them.

Luxury Tented Camps
Generally considered the best for a true safari experience, luxury tented camps are generally smaller with between 5 and 25 total tents. They are spacious, fully furnished and en suite. They often have butler service and dining is comparable with fine restaurants. Often, these camps are sold on a fully inclusive meal plan with house beverages included.

Luxury Mobile Camps
In Tanzania, we offer luxury mobile camps. These camps are specifically set for the safari and tailored for the needs of the clients using them. For extensive details on our luxury mobile camps, please see pages 28 & 29.

Fly Camps
Some of our programmes provide the option for fly camps. Fly camping is generally in lighter weight tents and there are separate tents for toilets and showers. Fly camping is often used in remote areas on walking safaris where lorries cannot access to provide the services of a larger camp. These camps still have cooks and porters to look after visitors’ needs and their remote locations make fly camping a special experience.

Tented Lodges
Tented lodges offer the same feel as a safari lodge, with reception buildings, spacious dining rooms and often pools and other facilities. The difference is, guests still get the opportunity to experience Africa under canvas. The “rooms” are spacious, fully furnished tents with en suite toilet facilities. Often , there is a thatched outer roof serving as a fly sheet over the main tent. and providing a verandah - the perfect place to enjoy the view.

Safari Lodges
As special as a tented experience in Africa can be, many travellers prefer safari lodges. These vary dramatically in size and style. From small, intimate bush homes to mid sized properties with rondavals housing four rooms per building to bigger lodges with accommodation for large groups and complete facilities such as conference rooms, business centre and swimming pools.

Hotels & Resorts
In gateway cities and at the coast, we feature a variety of hotels and resorts differing in size and style.

Where’s the loo?
With the exception of Treetops in Kenya all accommodation featured in this brochure have en suite bathroom facilities.

On Safari, baggage is limited to one medium-size suitcase or duffle bag and a moderate amount of hand baggage (one day pack and a camera bag).

The landscapes in each park differ. Even the Serengeti and Masai Mara are diverse and bring their own separate pleasures.

Keep in mind that weather in East Africa is as unpredictable as elsewhere in the world. There are a couple of rainy seasons. The heavy rains generally range from April to May with light rains usually in October and November. While the roads may be impassable during the rainy season, the landscape can be lush and full of bloom.

Items included are: indicated meals, lodging, indicated in-country air transportation, all ground transportation, guides and park fees. All your lodging will have clean rooms with private showers and toilets.

Items not included are: airfare, beverages, items of a personal nature (laundry can be done in the lodges), tips and visas.

Please check further references at your library and/or your local book store.

Photos may not be reproduced without written permission.
© 2002 Safari Express Company