Safari is a Swahili name that means adventure journey or travel. Initially, it was taken to be the hunting expeditions to Africa but has now become a more eco-friendly form of adventure for people of all ages and walks of life. For you travelling to Africa, Safari has become the dream vacation of a lifetime, combining adventure with total comfort to ever-increasing travellers. Visit Africa’s most beautiful game reserves, seeing hundreds of rare birds and mammals from your chauffeured safari vehicle. Relax in comfortable lodges surrounded by scenic valleys and plains. Time takes on a new meaning as you learn to sit quietly listening to the sounds of Africa. The balance of nature will no longer be empty words you will see it daily in the drama of animals fighting for their survival and coexistence.

All Year Round! But it also really depends on the type of animal you wish to see. Certain reserves have good game viewing all year round but others will have particularly good elephant sightings or other migratory animals at different times of the year. It is generally felt that the African winter (June – August) is the best time to go on safari, as the grass is dry and vegetation sparse making game viewing easier. It is also the time when animals are on the move looking for food and water. In Kenya and Tanzania, you have the memorable opportunity of witnessing the migration of over two million animals.

Yes, we have an international clientele. We receive visitors from all-over the world! We can make all arrangements in East Africa including transportation, accommodation and activities for anybody from any part of the world without any discrimination. However, we can only arrange international flights originating from selected countries where we have a representative office. Visitors from other areas not represented are requested to make own flight arrangements to Africa. Please Contact us for more!

Temperatures in winter are generally mild but can become considerably cooler in the evening, so pack multiple layers of clothing to ensure you stay comfortable on afternoon game drives and walks. It goes without saying that the standard safari gear must include a broad brim hat, sunscreen and mosquito repellent. In areas where malaria is prevalent, summer is generally a more risky time to travel. So, before you go on safari, consult your doctor for the necessary anti-malaria medication.

No. English is spoken throughout East Africa, especially by those involved in the tourist trade. At a reasonable fee, we can provide a driver / guide who speaks your local language. Our drivers speak various languages and we have specialists for French, Spanish, Italian, Swahili, Japanese, Indian, Chinese and Russian.

Great! International cuisine is available at all the hotels you will be staying. Special dietary requirements are catered for throughout East Africa if you need. Please give us advanced notice so that we can make arrangements with the lodges and camps you are scheduled to stay at. Most restaurants offer selections for vegetarians, depending on their forte. Local specialties can be surprisingly good! With the exception of a few lodges, halaal and kosher food is not available at most camps/lodges.

Vaccination requirements change from time to time. Some countries require advance inoculations for yellow fever (and certificates thereof) that are good for 10 years – Roaming Africa Tours & Safaris Ltd! will advise you of these. Malaria is present in many parts of Africa – we will advise you if you will be visiting a malaria area. We suggest you consult your local doctor or health department for information on malaria prophylactics and the latest health precautions. If you are on prescription medication, please ensure you have an adequate supply to last the duration of your stay and a copy of your prescription(s).

The beauty of Africa encompasses not only birds and animals of all shapes and sizes, but also the many different tribal peoples, and the exotic physical features from mountains to broad savannas, forests to rivers and deserts. Your safari has been carefully planned to include a wide variety of sights and activities.

Because you are traveling in protected game reserves, many of the animals have no fear as long as you are in a vehicle. You can get surprisingly close, especially when lions are busy feeding on prey, or at rest. Elephants often walk up to and even surround a minibus. Monkeys and baboons may study you as closely as you study them. But natural behavior will only continue if you give the animals some space and are quiet. If you go too close, or talk too loudly, the animals may just leave. Most animals will be more interesting if allowed the space to continue their natural behaviors- stalking, mating, playing with their young. Your driver will know the best viewing distance. Please do not encourage him to “stalk” or otherwise interfere with hunting or other activities crucial to the animal’s survival.

No, not if you stay within the marked boundaries of your lodge or in your safari vehicle. Your guide and driver know what is, and is not, safe. Incidents involving animals are rare in East Africa and are, almost without fail, the result of someone doing what they have been advised not to do. Nairobi is a big, bustling city. Avoid wearing flashy jewelry, hold onto your purse and camera bag, beware of clever conmen and don’t walk in the city at night. Do not wear money belts, since they can easily be cut off from the rear. It is always a good idea when you travel to keep a photocopy of your passport in your suitcase and another at home. It’s a fact that traveling on safari is safer than traveling in most U.S. cities. The people are friendly, and the government patrols the game parks – their most treasured resource- for the safety and benefit of all.

The ” Great Migration ” is the heralded movement of millions of wildebeest and zebras across Tanzania’s Serengeti plains into the Masai Mara game reserve of Kenya, from late June through early October. Tanzania’s annual migration occurs March through May and October through November. Whether you catch the migration or not, there will always be plenty of animals, more than you could ever imagine. And you could take the same safari at the same time every year and always see something different. Nothing remains the same, because the animals are constantly on the move in search of fertile grasslands.

Roaming Africa Tours & Safaris Ltd uses only the finest accommodation available. Hotels in Nairobi are deluxe, with quality shops, restaurants, and amenities. The game lodges are imaginatively built with marvelous gardens and terraces. A typical lodge has bungalows spread across the grounds, a large central reception area, dining room, shops and an attractive outdoor swimming pool. Many have exercise room as well. Each room has twin beads and private bathroom with flush toilet and shower or bath. Tree hotels, such as the Ark or Mountain Lodge, are more rustic, yet feature great views from their lofty perspective, and each bedroom has its own private facilities. Some of our safaris feature permanent tented camps, with large canvas tents erected on concrete or wood platforms. They all have sewn-in floors and net screens. Comfortable beds and a private connecting bathroom with flush toilet and shower make for a most comfortable stay. Many even have swimming pools! Most permanent tented camps in Tanzania retain all the style and glamour of the famous mobile-tented camps. Sensitive to this fragile environment, these camps retain an elegant simplicity, yet offer every feature to ensure a comfortable stay: excellent meals: fine wines and liquors: insect proofed tents with twin beds: private hot water bucket shower: discreet safari toilet: free laundry service. Private camps are set up in private game viewing areas far from other tourists. Here you’ll have a chance to view game on foot, or by four-wheel drive vehicle with your highly trained naturalists guides. For most, these exclusive camps are the ultimate African experience.

We recommend only bottled water. It can be purchased inexpensively throughout your trip and is good insurance for healthy, enjoyable safari. Beer, wine and soft drinks are also fine to drink. Roaming Africa Tours & Safaris Ltd! adds a sparkling touch to the fresh and delicious African fare by providing you with cool, clear bottled water with each meal on all itineraries. We will also offer you the same refreshing bottles of water on game viewing expeditions.

Most of your safari will be in deluxe late-model minibuses or 4×4 Totota Landcruiser’s . At most tented camps, and in the Ngorongoro, Grater, you’ll travel in four-wheel drive vehicles. Everyone will have a window seat for best game viewing and photography. Every vehicle has its own professional driver/guide. One pair of binoculars and guidebooks is furnished to enhance your viewing pleasure. Roads outside major cities are often dirt or gravel and may be bumpy or dusty. You may happen to get temporarily stuck in a muddy patch if there is a heavy rain. It’s all part of the adventure and your driver is an expert in dealing with tough driving conditions. Some of our safaris feature short flights, thereby saving hours of surface travel. From this lofty perspective, you will appreciate the size and scope of the African plains, and enjoy the additional time allowed for game viewing drives.

At tented camps in Tanzania and certain tented camps in Kenya, you have the opportunity to view wildlife on foot. During a two to three hour walk your guide will help you position yourself downwind, and surprisingly close, to such awesome animals as buffaloes and elephants. A truly thrilling experience. Your guide will help you read spoor and appreciate the fabulous wealth of small animals, from spiders to birds.

Roaming Africa Tours & Safaris Ltd staff have has escorted over 10,000 visitors on safari to Africa. Years of first-hand experience mean that your every need has been anticipated and all our tours have been thoroughly proven. Each vehicle has its own local driver/guide. These well-trained professionals make their living by knowing every inch of ground, making sure you have a good time. Their keen eyes and experience give them the uncanny ability to spot birds and wildlife all along the way. In addition to their wealth of knowledge about wildlife, they are happy to tell you all about life in their native land. One of the hardest parts of leaving Africa is saying good-bye to your driver, who will have become a wonderful friend and companion. For most programs there is a naturalist guide in addition to your driver. These dedicated professionals are with you at all times to make sure that your every need is attended to, answer all your questions, and give informative briefings on the reserves you visit, the birds and wildlife you see, and the people you meet. They can explain animal behavior, pointing out the matriarch in a herd of elephants or the zebra’s unique way of listening for predators. We are particularly proud of the outstanding quality of our guides.

English is an official language in East Africa. All drivers, guides, lodge and camp staff and most people that you will meet in East Africa speak English. Roaming Africa Tours & Safaris Ltd! also boasts to be one of the local companies that have multi-lingual driver guides who speak more than two foreign languages fluently! It’s fun to learn a few words and phrases of Swahili or other local languages, and your guide will help you along. You’ll enjoy sharing your smile and few simple courtesies with your African hosts.

Many young people will be anxious to practice their English with you, or help you with your Swahili. At some roadside stops, locals can be competitive in attempts to sell you jewelry or baskets. Bargain if you like what you see. Otherwise, firmly say, “No, thank you,” or “Sitaki, Asante Sana,” and move on. Never photograph locals without asking their permission first. This may require a fee, which your guide can help you negotiate. Giving away Polaroid photos will help you get pictures that would not otherwise be possible. Please DO NOT hand out candy, ballpoint pens, or trinkets to children. It encourages them to wait for handouts from well meaning visitors rather than going to school. It’s okay to barter with tee shirts and caps in the rural shops or to thank someone who’s been especially helpful with a tee shirt, news magazine or paperback book, but please don’t encourage these beautiful children to beg! Most Africans are extremely polite by the world standards. By keeping an open mind and going out of your way to be courteous and respectful, you’ll win friends and much more likely to get your way.

Africa is the photographer’s dream! A camera will record all those, unbelievable and spectacular sights you’ll want to share with friends. We suggest a good 35 mm camera with a 35-70 mm zoom lens, and a longer lens, such as an 80-200mm to capture the multitude of rare birds you see. More and more travelers are capturing all the thrills of safari on video cameras. Most lodges and camps have facilities for recharging your smart phones and  batteries. You may have to pay a nominal fee in some game parks for non-commercial use of video cameras. Unobstructed pictures can be taken through the roof hatch of your minibus. Remember that any vibration in the camera is magnified, so be sure to rest your arms on the body of the vehicle and request that the engine be turned off, if that’s possible. Note: Taking photographs at AIRPORTS, HARBORS, and MILITARY INSTALLATIONS is prohibited.  As a protective measure to protect the color of ancient art, some tombs and temples do not allow the use of a flash, or strobe

Aside from shopping, you need money for drinks, tips and incidentals. Experience has shown that most clients spend between $400 and $800. The shops are full of tempting items. Major credit cards are accepted in major hotels and stores, but some game lodges and rural shops accept only cash. Do not keep all valuables in one place, such as a purse, that could be lost. It’s a good idea, if you have more than one credit card to keep the second in a separate pocket or locked in the hotel safe.

Tips for baggage handling and for hotel and lodge personnel are included in your tour price. Tips to driver/guides, tour managers and guides are discretionary, but customary. As a rule of thumb, $20 per day per minibus (shared by the passengers, i.e.$4.00 per day if there are five passengers) for your driver and $4.00 per person per day for the guides is the recommended amount for most tours. At lodges and camps, the recommended tips to driver/guides are $5.00 per person per day and an additional $5.00 per person, per day to be shared among camp personnel.

Since you will be met upon arrival at the airport and escorted to your hotel, you will not need any local currency before you reach the hotel, where you can obtain it. However, if time permits, airport exchanges often give better rates than hotels. There is now a large number of banks, ATM’s and registered For-Ex Bureaus where you can change your money safely and at excellent rates. Major Credit Cards are often accepted in larger towns and at lodges, but in markets and with vendors along the road, cash works best, and bargaining is expected. We recommend that you take traveler’s checks rather than carrying large amounts of cash. Many travelers find it useful to carry a hand calculator to estimate dollar values while shopping.

In the event of an emergency or sudden sickness while you’re on safari in East Africa, we guarantee medical evacuation to a hospital. The medical facilities in Nairobi offer a full staff of professionals along with state-of-the-art testing equipment. Most hotels and safari lodges you will visit has in-house doctor who will attend to you in case of a need.

Remember you are on an African holiday expedition. We understand how valuable your vacation time is. When you entrust that precious time to Roaming Africa Tours & Safaris Ltd, we will help you make the most of every minute. It is our privilege to take you away from the everyday world to contemplate the timeless wonders of Africa. So you’ll return from your Roaming Africa Vacation safari with much more than memories. You’ll return feeling renewed, refreshed, and replenished.