Safari FAQs

There are a number of airlines with scheduled flights to the major airports in cities of the different countries. The major East African countries also have national carriers like Uganda Airlines, Kenya Airways, RwandAir, Air Tanzania that facilitate air travel. These are the best options if you are looking for connecting or direct flights to that particular destination to avoid wasting time. A number of these however do not directly serve European and American airports but you can opt for airlines from those destinations coming to East Africa. Examples include KLM, Emirates, Ethiopian Airways, Egypt Air among others.

It is recommended to communicate your arrival time and flight arrival and departure details. This helps in easing the pick ups and drop offs in time.

Each destination in East Africa has Visa policies that differ and are often determined by the bilateral understandings the country has with your country of Origin. Citizens of the great East African Community do not require visas to travel within the different states with the exception of DRC. Below are links to immigration of the various East African countries and their immigration policies;

Uganda; https://visas.immigration.go.ug/

Kenya; https://evisa.go.ke/single-entry-visa.html

Tanzania; https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/

When visiting Rwanda you can get a single entry visa on arrival at the airport without any prior application. The East African Tourist Visa is also available for travellers visiting Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda. This costs $100 and is valid for 90 days giving you access to the three countries without having to apply for another visa.

Communication is key especially on a Discovery Journeys expedition where you seek to get to know more about the people in terms of culture, history and wildlife in general. In destination East Africa, English is the commonly used official language alongside a number of native languages. In Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania communication in English is easy and for safaris here you will always get a full time English speaking driver guide. While at hotels/lodges, you can easily communicate in English as well as most of the staff can speak English.

In Democratic Republic of Congo however, French is the official language and it is spoken alongside the many native languages in the country. Some people can speak English but may not be very fluent.

Other languages are also spoken and there are specialised driver guides who speak German, Russian, French and can be hired at an extra cost. These major international languages however not being native to the African people, pronunciation and accents can change and it is very important to Pay attention and listen all the time especially when being briefed for a major safari activity.

For major wildlife activities and accommodation, the US dollar and the different local currencies are used for transactions. Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania use shillings while Rwanda uses Francs. Overall safari quotes for international guests coming from outside the East African community will always be given in dollars as it is used as a base to cost activities and accommodation. For Citizens from the East African community, a currency of the country you are visiting is quoted but would still be subjected to the prevailing dollar exchange rate.

It is very important to have some miscellaneous money especially cash for smaller transactions while on safari like shopping or paying for some extras you may incur. This cash is advisable to be exchanged to local currency as many less traveled paths destinations do not have credit card services as well as local markets where you can buy souvenirs.

Most of the safaris are executed by road transportation using 4×4 Toyota Land-cruisers or Nissan patrols. For airport pick ups, sometimes Vans are used but these are specifically for short transfers. The safari vehicles have a fridge or cooler box where water and other drinks are kept while in transit. For individuals ranging from 1 to 2 we use a 3 seater TX Prado or Nissan but for 3 people and more we use extended land cruisers. These have large windows ideal for wildlife viewing and photography.

Because it takes a couple of hours to connect to different destinations by road, Air transport is used and recommended for destinations that are about 8 hours drive and above. With Air transport you would take only 1 hours and a few minutes to get to a destination. This however increases the cost depending on the destination you are going to. There are a number of scheduled flights but these operate with minimum numbers and when fully booked a charter flight can be arranged but at an extra cost.

There are some destinations with water bodies and sometimes water transport is used. Those that are touristic use motorised canoes but engines boats are also present.

Each destination in East Africa has suitable accommodation facilities and these range from budget to high end luxurious options. There is a provision for Camping which is even more adventurous and most affordable. The budget accommodation options we use are self contained and range from $150 for a double room and $130 for a single room on full board basis.

During the booking process, we give the different accommodation options for one to choose what they prefer most. We also have flexibility and can book a mixture of all the categories if it is what one prefers.

At the lodges/hotels, they prepare both local and international dishes so one has a wide range of options to choose from. To ensure food safety, we take note of dietary requirements and allergies that are communicated to the lodges in advance.

At Discovery Journeys we arrange a number of activities at different destinations featuring Culture, History, and Wildlife. The wildlife attractions in East Africa plus the culture are the backbones of major safaris and a number of destinations are wildlife-protected areas (National parks) and communities.

Primate national parks are major highlights as they are home to a number of rare and endangered species with Mountain gorillas and chimpanzees being the primary attractions. We arrange mountain gorilla trekking safaris to all the national parks namely Bwindi Impenetrable, Mgahinga Gorilla Park, Volcanoes National Park and Virunga National Parks. There are also eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park that are endemic to the park meaning it is the only place where you can see them.

The chimpanzee trekking destinations include Kibale national park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Kalinzu Forest, and Kyambura Gorge among others. Golden monkey tracking is another primate activity you can engage in, in Volcanoes and Mgahinga Gorilla parks.

Game drives are also major activities done in savanna national parks. These feature savanna’s leading wildlife including elephants, leopards, buffaloes, giraffes, Hippos, zebras, and waterbucks among others. There are also guided nature walks that enable you to get close to the wildlife.

For destinations with lakes and rivers, boat cruises are done where you get to see wild animals like crocodiles, hippos, and other species that prefer water bodies. Other notable activities include hot air balloon safaris, community visits, canoe rides, and birding among others.

You can always choose the activities you prefer to do while on safari.

Our safaris are family friendly for all ages. Savanna wildlife destinations do not charge entry fees for Kids below 5 years.

For Primates, only individuals above the age of 15 are allowed to track mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. Golden monkey trekking also has an age limit and only individuals who are 12 years and above are allowed to track them.

For mountain hiking, it is recommended for adults who are fit as mountain hikes require a certain level of fitness.

A number of hotels/lodges also have a provision for an extra bed for kids and some charge a discounted room rate especially for kids above 12 years of age.

It is very important to communicate in case you have an underlying health issue. This is because a number of activities require fitness and any health issue can affect you leading to cancelling of the activity.

Some destinations require vaccination especially yellow fever and these are often asked at the different points of entry like the airport and border. Requirements for vaccinations vary and incase of pandemics like the Corona Virus these are highly recommended. The requirements and regulations vary time to time though depending on the prevailing conditions.

Anti malaria tablets are recommended because destinations in East Africa are active mosquito areas and malaria is a problem. Safari lodges have mosquito nets but having the anti materials is an added advantage.

Comprehensive Travel insurance is recommended to cover the whole trip plus activities. This helps incase of any cancellations resulting from an injury or need for emergency evacuation while on trip.

This is determined by the destinations you are visiting and activities you intend to do. The major essentials include clothes, footwear (Hiking boots and sandals), Camera and extra batteries, phone chargers and any other personal items you might need while on safari.

Important to note though is that airlines and domestic flight operators have a baggage limit of about 15 kgs. With this it is better to pack the most essentials needed. The recommended travel bags include duffle bags, backpacks and tote bags.

When having primates and mountain hiking on the itinerary, It is important to pack water proof long trousers, rain ponchos and long sleeved shirts. This is because the hiking starts early in the morning going through thick vegetation covered with dew. Rainfall is also unpredictable especially in the wet season that is why having a raincoat or poncho is important.

For areas that are relatively hot with temperatures ranging from 20 degrees then you can pack shorts. A number of lodges have swimming pools where you can relax on a hot day therefore having a swim suite is recommended.

Important travel documents especially passports or any identification are a must to ease movement across the different destinations. These must be kept properly and it is always better to have them in a hand bag or pocket that you can easily keep on watch on.

Tipping is recommended when you are satisfied with the service being offered. There is however no standard tipping procedure and you can decide to or not to tip the different players like the driver guide, waiters and waitresses and Park Ranger guides or boat captains.

You can tip about $5 to $10 for waiters and waitresses and Park Ranger guides or boat captains and about $15 to 25 per day for the safari driver guide. This can be done in local currency especially when tipping money below $10

Your Safety on safari is our primary priority and we will always ensure the destinations you are visiting are safe. There is however safety at a personal level for your health that you can communicate incase of allergies or any important health issue to note.

You are also responsible for personal travel documents like passports and gadgets like cameras and telephones. You can keep these in safety boxes as a number of lodges have them with a provision of setting a passcode on your own. While on walking city tours in public places or hotels you must never leave your personal identification documents or hand bag unattended to.

When going for major activities a briefing is made to guide you on the safety procedures to follow. You must always pay attention to these and ask in case you need any clarification. Always follow the guidance of your local guide or ranger for your own safety.

You can Visit East Africa any time of the year. There are only two seasons, the wet and dry season but sunshine is received throughout the year. The dry season ranges from June to September and from Mid December to Early March with minimum rainfall. The wet season is from November, April and May and is a great time for birding. This is because migratory birds from as far as Europe are in the region during this time and an addition of the natives gives you greater birding opportunities.