On Safari
Game drives (Serengeti, Katavi and Ruaha National Park)
The main purpose of a visit to these parks is to find and watch African animals and birds. Therefore you will spend many hours in the car. Each day you will either go on two half day game drives and have lunch in the camp or on one whole day game drive and take picnic lunch with you. Your driver-guide will be your advisor. On longer game drives your driver-guide will look for a nice place to take a break. Tea, coffee, mineral water and «bouillon» (clear soup) are available and will be served by your driver-guide.
On game drives the rules of the national parks must be obeyed (for example the ban on night travel). Apart from this, you are free to decide on the day’s program and how long you want to stay in one place or watch something interesting you came across while on game drive. On our safaris you will not be restricted by the practice of limiting the kilometres driven or be restricted by the timetable of a programmed safari.
Vehicles
You will travel in comfortable «off road» vehicles that can operate in all terrains. We use two types of vehicles for our safaris: the Landrover 110 and the Toyota Landcruiser. These have four wheel drive, spacious interiors, have a long range and coil springs.
All our 4x4-vehicles have an open top so that there is an unobstructed view and, in addition, they are equipped with a popup roof which protects one from the sun. In the specially constructed single seats you sit comfortably even during the longest journey. The vehicles are serviced in our own workshop. For your safety the vehicles are equipped with their own short wave radio system. Therefore, one can be immediately contacted at any time, since our vehicles, our private camps and the base in Arusha are all equipped with radios.
Driver-guide
Our driver-guides are all Tanzanians who are very experienced and know the fauna and bird life of the parks and who are dedicated to maintain the standards of our specialized company.
Chimpanzee trackings (Mahale Mountains National Park)
The main purpose of a visit to this remote area is to encounter and observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Mahale Mountains is home to some of Africa’s last remaining wild chimpanzees: a group of totally approximately 800 chimpanzees got habituated and allows close observation. The chimpanzee trackings (only small groups of visitors are allowed at the same time to visit the chimpanzees) take place in the mornings and are guided by a tracker/ranger of the park and it takes you 1 to 2 hours to find the chimpanzees. The period of time you are allowed to stay in the proximity of the chimpanzees is restricted to 1 hour per visit.
The terrain is steep, passing through diverse forest fauna and can be quite demanding as the animals, of course, do not always remain in the same place. It is impossible to describe one’s emotions when one finds oneself suddenly in the centre of a group of these fascinating manlike apes! The chance of success to see the chimpanzees is high. More than 95% of the clients who have been in Mahale Mountains with us have seen the chimpanzees!
When hiking and climbing in the forest you can also see beautiful plants, other monkeys, small mammals and birds. In the afternoons you can relax in the green, absolutely undisturbed environment on the shore of Lake Tanganyika.
Rotation flights
From July to October we charter twice a week (Monday and Friday) a Cessna C208 Caravan to fly the rotation Arusha – Serengeti – Mahale – Katavi – Ruaha – Arusha. The aircraft has 12 seats. All fresh supplies (meat, fruit and vegetables) are also flown to our private camps with the rotation flights. The charter company that operates our flights is Air Excel Ltd and it is based in Arusha.
The schedule for each rotation flight varies depending on whether clients need to be picked up or dropped off in each national park. Stopovers for refueling are possible in Mwanza, Tabora and Dodoma.
- Arusha 06:30h – Lobo 07:20h
- Lobo 07:35h – Mahale 10:45h
- Mahale 11:00h – Katavi 11:45h
- Katavi 12:00h – Ruaha 13:30h
- Ruaha 13:45h – Arusha 16:00h
Some useful travel information and answers to FAQ
Luggage
You are allowed 15 kg of luggage per person. You have to travel with soft bags and not suitcases (bags are easier to be stowed in cars and in freight holds of small aircrafts).
Number of clients per vehicle
We have maximum 4 clients per vehicle. If wished, a vehicle can be booked by 5 clients.
Photography and Filming
Bring enough films or memory cards and batteries or rechargeable batteries. Your rechargeable batteries can be charged with a car power adapter – which you have to bring yourself – on the cigarette lighter in the car.
And you should not forget to bring your binoculars: this is what we consider the most important «Safari tool».
Climate
Generally dry and hot. The lowest temperatures might be 15°C in Bologonja (Serengeti) and the highest temperatures might reach 38 to 40°C in Katavi and Ruaha. In Bologonja it can be windy and therefore in the mornings and evenings a bit cool.
Clothing
While on safari the dress code is relaxed. Loose-fitting cotton clothing is a good choice. Clothing should be in neutral shades and of sturdy fabric, able to withstand wear and tear.
Visa
All foreign visitors require a visa. The visas are obtainable on the spot at the main ports of entry (Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Namanga).
Cash
You will only need cash (USD) for the visa fee and personal expenses (drinks in the camps, tips, souvenirs).
Communication
For your safety our vehicles, our private camps and our base in Arusha are all equipped with our own radio system. Mobile phones can be used in towns (Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Arusha, Zanzibar) and also in certain areas of Serengeti, Katavi and Ruaha.
Medical Services
Basic medical emergencies can be handled throughout Tanzania. The Flying Doctor Service, based in Nairobi provides air evacuation service in medical emergencies.