Everything you need to know before your East African journey — from planning and packing to park fees and permits.
The dry season — June to October — is generally considered the best time for game viewing across Kenya and Tanzania, when wildlife concentrates around water sources and vegetation thins out. January and February are also excellent, with warm weather and calving season on the Serengeti and Mara plains. For gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, the drier months of June to September and December to February offer the most comfortable hiking conditions. That said, every month has its own appeal, and shoulder seasons often mean fewer crowds and lower rates.
We recommend booking at least 6 to 12 months in advance, especially for travel during peak season (July to October) or if your itinerary includes gorilla permits in Uganda or Rwanda, which have limited daily availability. For off-peak travel, 3 to 6 months is usually sufficient, but earlier booking always secures the best camps and lodges.
Most safari days begin with an early morning game drive at sunrise — around 6:00 or 6:30 a.m. — when animals are most active. You'll return to camp mid-morning for a full breakfast, followed by leisure time or a guided bush walk. After lunch and a rest during the hottest hours, an afternoon game drive heads out around 4:00 p.m. and continues until sunset. Evenings are spent around the campfire with dinner served under the stars. Some lodges also offer night drives, balloon safaris, or cultural visits as optional activities.
Absolutely. Many camps and lodges in Kenya and Tanzania are family-friendly and offer dedicated children's programmes, shorter game drives, and interconnecting rooms or family tents. Some properties have a minimum age requirement (typically 5 or 6 years for open-vehicle safaris, and 15 years for gorilla trekking), but we'll match you with properties that suit your family's needs. We design family itineraries that balance wildlife with beach time and cultural activities to keep younger travellers engaged.
Safari costs vary widely depending on the destination, season, level of accommodation, and whether you fly or drive between locations. A mid-range safari in Kenya or Tanzania typically starts from around USD 350–500 per person per day, while luxury fly-in safaris can range from USD 800 to over USD 1,500 per person per day. Gorilla trekking permits add USD 1500 (Rwanda) or USD 800 (Uganda) per person. We design itineraries based on personal preferences and always provide a transparent, quote before you commit.
A lodge is a permanent structure — often stone or timber — with hotel-style rooms, en-suite bathrooms, and full amenities. A tented camp uses large canvas tents on raised platforms with proper beds, en-suite bathrooms, and verandas; these offer a closer-to-nature experience without sacrificing comfort. A mobile camp is a seasonal setup that moves to follow wildlife migration, offering an authentic bush experience with surprisingly comfortable furnishings. All three levels provide excellent guiding and hospitality — the choice comes down to the experience you're looking for.
Most nationalities require a visa for each country. Kenya and Ethiopia offer e-visas that can be applied for online before travel. Tanzania issues visas on arrival or via an e-visa portal. Uganda and Rwanda both offer e-visas, and if you're visiting both, the East Africa Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda for a single fee of USD 100, valid for 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your return date and have at least two blank pages. We'll advise you on the specific requirements for your nationality at the time of booking.
A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required for entry into Kenya (if arriving from an endemic country), Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda. We strongly recommend consulting your doctor or a travel health clinic at least 6 to 8 weeks before departure. Commonly recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, and Tetanus. Malaria prophylaxis is also advised for most safari destinations in East Africa. Your doctor will tailor recommendations based on your specific itinerary and medical history.
Yes — comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory for all Africa Rebound Safaris bookings. Your policy must cover medical expenses, emergency evacuation (including air evacuation), trip cancellation, and loss of personal belongings. Safari destinations are often remote, and medical evacuation costs can be very high. We also include AMREF Flying Doctors' cover in our packages, which provides emergency air evacuation across East Africa.
Scheduled bush flights strictly limit luggage to 15 kg per person (including hand luggage and camera equipment), and baggage must be in soft-sided bags — no hard suitcases. This is a firm restriction imposed by the airlines for aircraft weight and safety reasons. Most safari lodges provide laundry services, so you can pack light and have clothes washed during your stay. We'll provide a detailed packing guide before your trip.
US dollars are widely accepted across East Africa for tips, curios, and optional activities. We recommend carrying small-denomination bills (USD 1, 5, 10, 20) for tipping and markets. Note that US dollar bills printed before 2013 are sometimes refused. Most lodges and camps accept credit cards (Visa and Mastercard are most widely accepted), but remote bush camps may be cash-only. Local currencies — Kenyan Shilling, Tanzanian Shilling, Ugandan Shilling, and Rwandan Franc — are useful in towns and markets. ATMs are available in major cities.
Pack neutral-coloured clothing in khaki, olive, beige and brown — avoid bright whites, blues, and black (which can attract tsetse flies in some areas). Layers are essential: mornings and evenings can be cool, especially at higher elevations, while midday is warm. Key items include a wide-brimmed hat, quality sunglasses, sunscreen (SPF 50+), insect repellent, a lightweight rain jacket, comfortable walking shoes, and binoculars. For gorilla trekking, add waterproof hiking boots, long trousers, gardening gloves, and a rain poncho. We provide a comprehensive packing list tailored to your itinerary.
Safari is very safe when conducted with professional guides and reputable operators. Our guides are highly trained, licensed professionals who know how to read animal behaviour and keep a safe distance. You'll always be accompanied and briefed on camp and wildlife protocols. The lodges and camps we work with maintain rigorous safety standards. We also include AMREF Flying Doctors' cover for emergency medical evacuations. As with all travel, general precautions apply — we'll provide a full safety briefing before your departure.
Most mid-range and luxury lodges offer Wi-Fi in the main areas, though speeds vary and can be slow or intermittent in remote locations. Some high-end properties provide in-room Wi-Fi. Mobile phone signal is available in and around major towns and some parks, but coverage is patchy in more remote wilderness areas. Many travellers find that disconnecting is one of the highlights of the safari experience — but if staying connected is important, we can recommend properties with reliable connectivity.
Tipping is customary and appreciated in East Africa. As a guideline: safari guides typically receive USD 15–25 per person per day, camp/lodge staff USD 10–15 per person per day (placed in the communal staff tip box), and transfer drivers USD 5–10 per transfer. For gorilla trekking, it's customary to tip your porter USD 10–15 and the tracking rangers USD 10–20 per group. These are guidelines — tips are always at your discretion based on the service you receive. We'll include detailed tipping guidance in your pre-departure pack.
A DSLR or mirrorless camera with a zoom lens in the 100–400mm range is ideal for wildlife photography. A wide-angle lens (16–35mm) is great for landscapes and camps. Bring extra batteries and memory cards — charging opportunities exist at lodges but may be limited in mobile camps. A beanbag is extremely useful as a stabiliser when resting your lens on the vehicle door. High-quality modern smartphones also take excellent safari photos. Dust is a constant factor, so carry a protective bag or cover for your equipment. Remember that camera gear counts towards your 15 kg bush flight luggage limit.
Both countries offer world-class safari experiences, but they differ in style. Kenya's Maasai Mara is famous for the Great Migration river crossings (July–October), excellent big cat density, and a wide range of conservancy-based lodges that offer exclusive, low-traffic game viewing. Tanzania's Serengeti is vast and offers the migration in a different phase — the calving season (January–February) on the southern plains is a highlight. Tanzania also has the Ngorongoro Crater, a natural amphitheatre teeming with wildlife. Kenya tends to offer more road-based variety with shorter driving distances, while Tanzania rewards travellers who enjoy the scale and remoteness of larger parks.
Gorilla trekking is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. In Uganda, trekking takes place in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park; in Rwanda, it's in Volcanoes National Park. Permits are required and must be booked well in advance — USD 800 per person in Uganda and USD 1,500 per person in Rwanda. The trek can last anywhere from 1 to 6 hours depending on where the gorilla family is located, through dense forest and steep terrain. A reasonable level of fitness is recommended. Once you find the gorillas, you'll spend one hour observing them at close range. The minimum age is 15 years, and anyone with a cold or communicable illness may be turned away to protect the gorillas.
Yes — multi-country itineraries are one of our specialities. Popular combinations include Kenya and Tanzania (Mara–Serengeti circuit following the migration), Kenya with a Zanzibar beach extension, Uganda and Rwanda (gorilla trekking combined with savannah safari), and Kenya with Uganda for a bush-and-primates itinerary. We handle all cross-border logistics including flights, visas, permits, and transfers so the transition between countries is seamless. The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda on a single visa for USD 100.
National park and conservancy fees vary by country and park. In Kenya, fees range from USD 50–80 per person per day for the major parks. In Tanzania, Serengeti and Ngorongoro fees are higher — around USD 70–80 per person per day. Uganda and Rwanda park fees are generally lower for savannah parks but the gorilla trekking permit is a significant cost. All park fees, conservancy fees, and applicable government taxes are included in our standard quotes unless specifically noted otherwise. We always provide a fully transparent breakdown.
Absolutely — and we highly recommend it. After the early mornings and dusty bush roads, a few days by the ocean is the perfect wind-down. Kenya's Indian Ocean coastline (Diani Beach, Watamu, Lamu) offers white sand and warm waters year-round. Tanzania has Zanzibar — a short flight from the Serengeti or Arusha — with its spice-island culture, Stone Town heritage, and pristine beaches. We design bush-and-beach itineraries that balance both experiences seamlessly, with internal flights connecting your safari to the coast.
Still have questions?
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We had an absolutely incredible time with Africa Rebound Safari. From the moment we started planning our trip with Lillian, they were incredibly helpful and responsive, making the whole process a breeze. Our guide, Anthony, was fantastic – so friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about the wildlife. He knew all the best spots for sightings, and we were lucky enough to see the Big Five, which was an unforgettable experience.
I have recently (12/2023) booked a trip with Lilian and Africa Rebound Safaris and I must say it was everything we wanted from that experience and more! From excellent communication during organising and tailoring the adventure to our liking, through the quality of chosen and recommended facilities everything was fabulous. Our driver and guide, Martin, did an amazing job showing us Kenya and telling us all about the country and different animals. Truly an amazing experience and I would absolutely recommend this company to anyone. Thank you so much and I hope we'll see each other again! - Agi and Victor
With Africa Rebound Safaris, we had the most amazing trip. Not only was everything great, but we also had the impression that they cared about us and wanted to make this vacation memorable.
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Ronny Rudolph.
4 months ago
★★★★★
We had booked a safari with Africa Rebound to Amboseli and Tsavo East in March. Lillian made every effort to organize the trip as perfectly as possible.
RR
RonnyR
Linz, Austria We Enjoyed
★★★★★
We had booked a safari with Africa Rebound to Amboseli and Tsavo East in March. Lillian made every effort to organize the trip as perfectly as possible.
P
Perrez Oyato.
3 years ago
★★★★★
I recently used Africa Rebound for my vacation to Tanzania and I couldn't have been happier with their services. From the moment I booked my trip, their team was extremely helpful and responsive. They worked with me to create a customized itinerary that fit my interests and budget, and provided great recommendations for activities and dining options in the area.
During my trip, everything went smoothly thanks to the detailed planning by the team. The accommodations they booked for me were top-notch and the tours they arranged were all amazing experiences. Their local guides were knowledgeable and friendly, and made sure I got to see all the highlights of the destination while also providing unique insights into the local culture and history.
