The Experience in Africa.
As the sun sets on a day of safari, memories are imbued with surprise. Preconceptions have molded and twisted into reality, foreign concepts now understood as the safari itinerary plays out. Picturing an African safari initially comes with dozens of questions. What happens after sundown? How long is a game drive? Is there time to relax?  Safari itineraries burst with exotic reverie. Rhino tracking walking safari, lunch stops beside a waterhole, mobile camps in the forest; it all sounds exciting, but taking the snapshots and creating a firm picture of a safari vacation is difficult. So, what happens on an African safari? What does a typical day look like? Here's an overview.

It can be easy to picture a European itinerary, with visits to museums, city walking tours, or dinner tables booked at a Michelin star restaurant. But even the staple safari activity, the game drive, comes as an alien concept to first time visitors. How long is a safari? How much is game and how much is driving? As much as the destination is exotic, so is a safari itinerary, filled with new concepts and unique experiences. As a starting point, the general mood is one of serenity and tranquility. For all the thrill and excitement of being on safari, most itineraries follow the rhythm of life out on the landscape; cool mornings and late afternoons are when the action is intensified, while the hot midday sun is usually for downtime and relaxing at camp. With the procession of wildlife continually wandering past, these quiet hours radiate charm.

Every itinerary is filled with an often diverse collection of safari activities, each of them flexible at heart. Guides are experts at maximizing the wildlife encounters but the experience is wildly unpredictable. For example, a game drive might last an extra hour because you've spotted vultures and hyenas fighting over a baby hippo carcass. Or it could be cut short as basecamp has radioed in a pride of lions hanging out by the camp's waterhole. Some activities are more structured, like hot air balloon rides or river boat cruises, but a vast proportion of an itinerary will be constantly tinkered dependent on the mood of both the customer and the animals. Walking safari, nighttime drives, horseback safari; new impressions are offered by the myriad of activities, each providing a compelling angle.

Safari continues at camp, where there are many more exotic concepts to consider. What are the bathroom facilities like? What do you eat? Is there even electricity? While the camps excel in blending into the environment, there is more than adequate comfort and an ongoing itinerary of surprise; cocktails at sundown, mid-afternoon snacks, detailed narratives provided by wildlife specialists, stargazing instruction, guided walks in the vicinity. And while this might be the middle of the bush, the amenities are much like the comforts of home. Using traditional methods and modern touches, safari camps provide a blueprint in ecological existence.

Moving between destinations is part of the experience, the road journeys, another game drive, and the aerial flights providing stunning impressions of scale. The wilderness excels in offering solitude and calmness, an unexpected addition to a vacation that evokes notions of drama. Even on a drive between parks there are always a dozen photo opportunities. And while safari destinations and itineraries are based on similar ideas and activities, there's a diversity and individuality that shines throughout.

DESIGNING EAST AFRICA SAFARI THAT SUITS YOUR TRAVEL NEEDS

When designing a Kenyan Safari, there are some decisions to make: The first is whether you want a private safari or a group safari. A shared safari in Tanzania is a great way to meet new people and reduce costs but (unless you are traveling alone) we usually recommend a private safari because the price difference is not very significant (sometimes none at all) and you'd be able to benefit from full itinerary customization, travel at your own rhythm and pace and have more free space in the car. In fact, we specialize in tailor made safaris.

A lodge safari can provide some of the most luxurious experiences in the world while still maintaining its traditional allure
The second decision is whether you want to camp in budget public campsites or stay in luxury tented camps/lodges.
This decision will depend on both your budget and comfort requisites. When you contact us to plan your safari, we will suggest different accommodation options for each park, recommending those we believe have the best quality for their price-range. A simple camping safari, besides helping to control the budget, can be an exciting and fun experience. On the other hand, staying in a private tented camp or lodge can provide some of the most luxury experiences in the World while still maintaining a safari's traditional allure and feeling of authenticity.

And finally, one has to decide the actual safari itinerary in terms of parks visited and total tour duration.
To help you with this planning, I set of standard tours which I believe are the best options for different durations. All my tours are tailor made so I will use the itinerary that best suits your needs and then fine tune it to make it unique and perfect for you. A private safari can have one day or one month, can be spent in public campsites or tented camps/lodges or a mixture of both, can include parks from both the East and West circuit, etc.

For every detail and information about best itineraries or for building a custom private one, please contact me. I will make a tailor-made itinerary that can include not only the safari but also transfers, accommodation in town before/after tours, internal flights, extension to the coast or Zanzibar, etc. In a few hours or minutes, I will design you a tailor made tour with fantastic value and adjusted to your wishes, preferences and budget requirements.

I prefer to make our guests wishes come true and maintain a flawless company record rather than more profit. We prefer to give you high-end binoculars that will greatly enhance your safari experience rather than cheap ones or none. We prefer to use the most experienced guides through a careful recruitment process and well maintained modern vehicles than old ones. For us, every customer is a new customer with a different set of feelings and expectations. With us, private Kenyan tours can be budget safaris with very affordable rates or they can be a luxury safari experience with balloon flights, high-end tented camps, exclusive services, etc. We will adapt to you, not the opposite.

Our guides are our real stars, the ones who can make the difference between a normal safari and a once in a lifetime experience and they are the reason why after several hundred safaris organized, we only have great feedback! In any case, you will know that the value you pay will be fair and that 5% of our profit will go out to help children in local schools.
After all, this Kenyan Safari will be, for you, the journey of a lifetime, and all the details of the itinerary and accommodation should be designed for you.

The moments - and the people.

If you reflect back on some of your favourite adventures, travels and explorations - I suspect that what sticks out in your mind are special moments or memorable people you met along the way.

It is likely not your hotels, flights, trains, activities, or the minutia of everyday travel - but rather specific moments in time and place.

Moments when you were content or peaceful, perhaps excited or exhilarated, or maybe even surprised and interested.

Now think about the people who are etched into your mind from your travels. The incredibly friendly mom and pop restaurant owners, the local man fishing down by the beach who showed you his catch or that captivating tour guide who had the most incredible stories.