The African continent has a huge biodiversity. A safari to Kenya and Tanzania is a something that so many people desire to do at least once in their lifetime. An opportunity to experience this is itself special and memorable. Traveling to East Africa will change your perspective of life and more so you will get uplifted and appreciate the breathtaking sceneries, wildlife and culture of the people in the African continent. People think Kenya and Tanzania safari is expensive and only the wealthy can do it. That is just a myth, with proper planning and attention to details; it is doable and affordable just like any other tour package to a different destination.
Choose your destination carefully and research about it
Africa is a continent with around 54 countries and not a country. Travelers come to Africa with the thought that it is one large uncivilized and undeveloped country. If you choose to come to East Africa, there is Kenya and Tanzania. Information on Visa’s to these countries is important. If you choose to go to Tanzania alone, you will pay the visa independently and it will only be applicable there. If you choose Kenya Safari or Tanzania Safari and an extension to Zanzibar Beach, you will use the East Africa Visa for all three countries.
Flights between the destinations are affordable and frequent. Driving is applicable too but with long driving hours between destinations. Park fees should be a consideration too. Is it only park fees or do some of the include Tax charges too? If there is Tax it only means then the rate per entry is on the higher side.
Get to know about the parks too and the distances covered to get there. This helps in making a choice if the safari is a road package or flying package. With this knowledge, your luxury Africa safari will have a bearable budget.
Travel with a partner or a group.
This makes costs saving sense. If you travel alone you get to pay for everything alone. It is quite an amount to pay for a whole safari jeep alone. This considering does not include park fees, accommodation and park entrance fees.
When you travel in a group, you will get to split the transport and accommodation budget. This makes it cheaper for you. Group travel also gets some group discounts. It is also good way of meeting and making friends while you enjoy serenity of the African continent. It may you’re your first safari to Kenya and Tanzania but a beginning of something beautiful.
Travel during the off peak season.
Peak season rates are extremely high and hotels and lodges want to make the best out of this safari season. It is also the time we have the wildebeest’s migration in Kenya and Tanzania. Rates during the off peak season are affordable and on the lower side. The only time to avoid is April as it gets very heavy rainfall. Roads become hard to navigate during this time. Resident animals are in plenty. However spotting can be a little tricky since the grass and undergrowth is long.
Inquire from your tour operator because some camps close during the April.
Use a local operator.
Locally based registered tour operators are the best. They have the in-depth knowledge of the destinations; they have contracted rates with the hotels and lodges and provide you with the best facilitation through the entire safari. In comparison to travel agents abroad, who have to add their charge fee and the middle mans fees, the rate with a local operators is reasonable. Sometimes to an extend that a client inquiring from abroad will think they are being ripped off. A local tour operator have their hearts in East Africa, they want the best for this safari destination. Contact us for an affordable Kenya and Tanzania Luxury safari.
Travel light and pack smart.
If you think an Africa safari expensive, then try travelling with large suitcases and a lot luggage. The internal flights between the parks and reserves are short. Small planes are used for these flights. The flights have a maximum of 15 kilograms and all other extra weight is paid for. Do away with the extra luggage costs by packing light and in foldable duffle bags. This are easily carried and they weigh light. Void carrying items that you may not end up using while on safari. For example, extra sweet scented perfumes can be left at home; you do not want bees buzzing around you thinking they are smelling flowers. Carry light sport shoes and avoid boots unless you are hiking.
Make a good choice of lodges.
There are all kinds of lodges, camps, bush homes and hotels in this parks and reserves. The closer the lodge is to the conservation area the higher their rate. Have we spilled the beans? Lodges located inside the reserve are highly priced than those in the conservation zones next to the parks and the ones located distances away from the gate. Your whole intention on an African safari is to see wildlife and you therefore want to spend very little times driving to the reserves. Try booking the lodges that are located just meters away from the gates, this way you save on budget and you do not drive for long distances without seeing animal. If you really have to use the lodges within the parks and reserves, ask for standard rooms and avoid the deluxe, suites and club rooms.
Stay at sister hotels/ lodges or Camps.
It is said blood is thicker than water and this applies to the tourist facilities in Africa too. Different hotels have sister camps at different parks and reserves as well. If this is the case, then it is only practical that you will get favorable discounts if you book the same hotel chain at the various destinations. These lodges sometimes have offers and discounts where you pay for a certain number of nights and stay for more. Who wouldn’t want an extra night sleeping under the sights and sounds of the African nights? Such discounts and travel deals go a long way in making lowering your safari costs.
Choose full board or all Inclusive accommodation.
For any traveler to Africa, you want to make maximum use of the time you have. A safari to Africa is a big deal and the long haul flights are not comfortable for everyone. Most of the hotels and lodges in the parks and reserves give full board meal basis where you have lunch breakfast and dinner. Avoid those that skip one meal. The meals are sumptuous yes but will be expensive making your budget higher. Unless really necessary, avoid the expensive liquor and champagnes, they can really dent your wallets. Just stick with the local beers and cocktails unless the brands are included in your safari package. After all we are in Africa, let’s sample African made beers.
Focus on the experience you want.
Its all comes down to what you really want to experience during your safari in Africa. If you are only interested in the big five wildlife, then you can concentrate more time in the Parks that you get to see this animals. If it is about the wildebeest’s migration then concentrate on a safari Masai Mara or Serengeti.
Have a lot of days at one destination rather than experience all the destinations within a short period of time. This minimizes the costs on transport, transfers or even flight costs.
If you are interested in other activities, then you can choose the private conservancies instead of game parks. Here you get to so activities that are not allowed in the parks including night game drives, horseback riding, go carting, camel rides, helicopter rides and others and you do not have to go to the national parks at all.
Conservancies are more private and away from touristic traffic jams.
Check on flight deals and offers
Flights to Africa are quite pricey. Flight deals do not come easy. Internal flights to the different wildlife destinations are now well connected and affordable. Ask for offers and a variety of flight options to compare. If you are flying from one capital city to another, check for offers and deals online. Sometimes you get to save a huge amount rather than have the operator do it for you. If your flights arrive early morning, then choose a wildlife destination not far away from town rather than sit and relax in a hotel all day. If your flight departs at late night, then leave the wildlife parks on the very day to arrive in town in time for a transfer to the airport. This way you make maximum use of your safari to Kenya and Tanzania.
