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Frequently Asked
Questions
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Where is the best place to go on safari?
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Where is the best place to go for wildlife viewing in Africa?
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What kinds of animals will I see on safari?
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What is the Migration?
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Will I have a chance to interact with the local people?
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What if I want a custom safari?
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Can I take my children on safari?
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Will I stay in tents or lodges?
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How big are your safari groups?
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What's the weather like?
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What clothes should I bring on safari?
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What's the food like on safari?
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Can special dietary requirements be accommodated?
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Are safaris safe?
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Is it OK to drink the
water?
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Are there a lot of bugs?
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How far in advance should I book my safari?
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Can I use a credit card to pay for my safari?
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What
Injections and Medication should I get?
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What additional costs can I expect when I travel with
Makundi Africa Expedition?
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Can
I get visa a upon arrival?
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I
am a solo traveller. How can I join your tour?
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1.
Where is
the best place to go on safari?
Safari in
Kiswahili, the language of East Africa, simply means a journey.
Today it is synonymous in English with a wildlife-viewing adventure
in the African bush. If your primary reason for traveling to Africa
is to experience an abundance of African wildlife in unspoiled
wilderness, then East Africa should be your destination of choice.
The parks and wildlife reserves of Eastern Africa are inhabited by
vast herds of wildebeest spread out across the Serengeti savanna,
huge populations of elephant and buffalo, as well as plains game and
their predators.
All these animals interact and roam freely, the same as they have
for thousands of years. Here you'll witness an incredible diversity
of ecology and will find the vegetation and bird life as fascinating
as the big game. This is the home to 90% of film series produced on
African animals.
East Africa also boasts a remarkable number of World Heritage
Sites....Back
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2.
Where is the
best place to go for wildlife viewing in Africa?
You simply can't beat
Tanzania for wildlife concentrations. Most people have heard of the
spectacular Ngorongoro Crater and the wide array of wildlife
dwelling on the crater floor. Most have heard of the vast Serengeti
savanna and Maasai Mara which host the annual migration of
wildebeest and the predators that follow in their wake.
This is only the beginning of the natural phenomena awaiting
your discovery on a safari to East Africa. Guests of Makundi
Africa Expedition
consistently tell us
the wildlife they experienced far surpassed their most optimistic
expectations..Back
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3.
What kinds of
animals will I see on safari?
East
Africa is
home to over 35 species of large four-legged mammals and has over
1,000 species of birds listed. On a typical safari in Eastern Africa
you can expect to see elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, baboon,
monkeys, Chimpanzees and a variety of plains game such as wildebeest,
hartebeest, zebra, impala and gazelle.
Most people see lion and hyena, and possibly cheetah or leopard. In
Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park you may see
one of the few remaining black rhino to be found in East Africa.
You'll undoubtedly see several different species of mongoose and
some hyrax and other small mammals.
If you're lucky you'll see one or more of the smaller cats, foxes,
wild dog or the more restrained antelope like lesser kudu, bushbuck,
Oryx or eland...Back
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4.
What is the
migration?
Every year, over one million wildebeest move through the
Serengeti plains in search of food and water. The phenomenon of
these animals moving en mass through the African savanna is known as
the migration. Their movement is driven by the seasonal rains that
water their grazing pastures. It is impossible to predict in advance
exactly how or when this progression will take place, but there is a
pattern. Generally from mid-December through May the herds are
feeding in the southern Serengeti.
During February thousands of calves appear on the plains. Between
June and July, the wildebeest begin their annual migration north
reaching the Mara River that marks the Kenyan border sometime
between the end of July and beginning of August. After the first
short rains, usually in the beginning of November, the herds move
back into Tanzania's Serengeti and make their way to the southern
pastures where they rest and feed through the rains until their
search for better grazing leads them to begin their annual migration
once again.
Even when the migration moves into Kenya for the summer months,
there are many resident herds in the Serengeti and there is always
an incredible array of wildlife to experience there. Also, in the
summer months, which are the height of the dry season, thousands of
elephant congregate around the Tarangire River.
This park is at its prime during these months and we adjust our
itineraries to take advantage of the prime wildlife viewing there.
Each time of year offers the visitor to Tanzania a special
opportunity for wildlife viewing..Back
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5. Will I have a chance to interact with the local people?
The vast
majority of East Africans are still living very close to their
traditional lifestyles. In the northern circuit most of the people
are subsistence farmers. The Maasai people, favoured by
photographers for their strikingly colourful décor, live a pastoral
existence following their herds of cattle to better grazing areas,
still adhering to the traditions and ceremonies of their ancestors.
Their "villages" are located throughout northern Tanzania.
Other
small tribes of hunter-gatherers, living according to their ancient
customs and traditions can also be found in this area.
At
Makundi
Africa Expedition
we consider the cultural component of any safari to be subtle yet
essential. All of our guides are Tanzanian born. They are an
excellent resource to help you gain greater insight into the local
culture. We don't promote
specially-staged dances or tourist-oriented
presentations. Instead, on most of our cultural trips, we begin with
a visit to a traditional village where you are welcomed as friends
of
Makundi Africa Expedition
into
their lives and invited to get to know them as they get to know you.
As we
drive between parks, we pass many villages and
Maasai Bomas
giving you further glimpses into the lives of the East African
people. We also offer a special trip in which our guests travel well
off the beaten path to spend time among the Wa Hadzabe people and
observe their ancient hunter-gatherer ways...Back
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6.
What
if I want a custom safari?
We
would be delighted to work with you to help you and your family,
friends or organization plan the best possible safari to match your
interests and budget. We organize custom safaris for professional
photographers, honeymoon couples and families.Back
to the top |
7. Can
I take my children on safari?
YES!
Makundi Africa Expedition
has a
personal understanding and deep commitment to meeting the special
needs of families. We have designed family safari programmes to
allow you and your children to experience the wonders of Africa
together. You'll have a chance to deepen your understanding of
cultural diversity, discover the many miracles of nature, and at the
same time play, laugh, and enjoy the pleasure of one another's
company. Our trips are well suited for children... Back to the top |
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8. Will I
stay in tents or lodges? Our
safaris offer a wide array of safari styles to suit your interests
and budget. Please see our
Itineraries
section for
a description of the different types of accommodation we use on our
trips.
..Back to the
top |
9. How
big are your safari groups?
Small. Our scheduled safaris vary in size depending on the nature of
the safari. We keep our groups small (the very maximum is 15 people,
minimum 2-5 people) to allow a more intimate connection with the
African bush.
..Back
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10.
What's the weather like in East
Africa?
Located at an altitude of 5,000 to 7,600 feet,
East Africa’s
dry sunny climate is nothing like the steamy African jungle of
Tarzan movies. The weather is
spring-like year round, with daytime temperatures in the 70s and
80s, evenings in the 60s. From June until August, temperatures are
slightly cooler, ranging from the 50s to the mid-70s. The coastal
and lowland areas tend to be more tropical in temperature...Back
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11.
What
clothes should I bring on safari?
Safari dress is comfortable and casual - layers are recommended.
Keep it simple and bring things you don't mind getting dusty. After
you have booked your safari, we send you pre-departure information
through emails to help you prepare for your safari...Back
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12. What's
the food like on safari?
You will be pleasantly surprised by both the quality and the variety
of the food available on safari. In most lodges, meals are served
buffet-style so you can choose what you like. The food is prepared
according to western tastes, with some curries and local cuisine
included. If you choose a camping safari, fresh meat and produce is
prepared by our expert chefs to the highest sanitary standards. Most
returning guests rave about our camp food!...Back
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13.
Can special dietary
requirements be accommodated?
Special dietary requirements such as vegetarian or diabetic meals
can easily be arranged with advanced notice. If you are vegetarian
or vegan you may wish to bring along some alternative protein
sources. If you have multiple food allergies, you'll definitely want
to bring along supplementary snacks. It is important we know of any
possible dietary restrictions as soon as possible...Back
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14.
Are safari Safe?
Today's modern safari is a far cry from the rugged safaris of the
past. After a stimulating day of game viewing, you can relax at
comfortable, attractive lodges, with amenities like swimming pools,
full service restaurants and en-suite bathrooms.
Located right in the scenic settings of the wildlife reserves, the
lodges are close to nature… but not too close for comfort. Every
care is taken to ensure your health and safety on safari...Back
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15.
Is it OK to drink the water?
We provide bottled water on game drives and in
campsites,
and you can purchase good quality bottled water at all the lodges
and camps.
..Back
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16.
Are there a lot of bugs?
There are more bugs in many places in the USA than you will
encounter on safari. Again, remember that most of the areas you'll
be visiting are arid (especially from July - November). The bugs you
will see are fascinating, but certainly not anything to be concerned
about. ..Back
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17. How
far in advance should I book my safari?
It is better to
book as far in advance as possible to ensure availability at the
time you wish to travel, especially during the peak seasons (July,
August and
Christmas). This is
especially important for those wishing to travel on private custom
safaris and those adding extensions to the scheduled trips. We
recommend at least 6 months before you plan to start a safari.
However, the earlier the better!
..Back
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18.
Can
I use a credit card to pay for my safari?
Sorry,
we do not accept Visa or
MasterCard for your safari
deposit. The balance is due 60 days prior to departure and is
payable through our Bank in
Arusha. ...Back
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19.
What
injections and medication should I get?
For
medical advice it is always best to consult your doctor or travel
clinic. Currently, there are no injections required for entry into
East Africa (Tanzania/Kenya/Uganda)
unless prior to your arrival you go through countries that are
infected with yellow fever/cholera or other diseases. However, for
accurate and most up-to-date information please visit the embassies
for a country you plan on visiting (Tanzania/Kenya/Uganda). Malaria
is very common in
East Africa and anti-malarial
medication is highly recommended. We also recommend that you bring
insect repellent in addition to the above to provide protection from
bugs.
Bear in mind that you will be staying in camps and lodges oriented
to meet the needs of American and European guests...Back
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20.
What additional costs can I expect when I travel with Makundi Africa
Expedition?
Our safari packages include all accommodation and meals while on
safari, airport transfers, park fees and services of guides and
drivers. It is customary to tip your guide and driver, as well as
the cook or camp staff if you are camping during your safari. You
will also need to pay for your own beverages and personal items like
laundry service and phone calls.
Before you
depart, you are responsible for any passport and visa fees. We
also recommend
you purchase travel protection insurance. And finally, if you know
yourself to be a big souvenir shopper you'll need to
budget for that!
...Back
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21. Can
I get visa a upon arrival?
We
recommend that you visit the embassies websites for the most
up-to-date information on visas including costs for the visas...
Back to
the top |
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22.I
am a solo traveller. How can I join your tour? We recommend you email
us with as many details as you can so that we can check and see
whether we have a room for you or not...Back
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