What to Expect
- Physical requirements: This trip is only for physically fit and healthy travelers and is not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs or other mobility aids. You can expect 2-4 hours of daily physical activities of moderate intensity, with 1-2 miles of unassisted walking over the course of each day. We reserve the right for our Trip Leaders to modify participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home if their limitations are impacting the group’s experience.
- Climate & terrain: The hottest months are October-February; mid-day temperatures can reach between 80-100 degrees, with cooler temperatures at night. April-May bring heavy rains. The roads may be in poor condition and can cause problems for travelers with leg or back issues. We’ll travel over bumpy, dusty terrain during overland transfers and game-viewing drives, and camp in tents built on uneven terrain.
- Pacing: 8 locations in 18 days. Early morning and late afternoon game-viewing drives on safari days, rising at 6am; 1 internal flight.
- Transportation: We’ll travel in closed Land Cruisers in Tanzania and five- or seven-seater closed mini-vans in Kenya, both with roof hatches, hard seats, and no air-conditioning.
- Accommodations: We stay for 12 nights in lodges and tented camps that are comfortable, but basic. Our lodges use generator electricity and lantern lighting, have private toilet and shower facilities and do not have air-conditioning. We also spend 4 nights in hotels similar to those offered in the U.S.
- Group Size & leadership: 13 maximum and 1 Trip Leader.
Visa Information
U.S. citizens will need a visa (or visas) for this trip. In addition, there may be other entry requirements that also need to be met. For your convenience, we’ve included a quick reference list, organized by country:
- Kenya: Visa required.
- Tanzania: Visa required. For this itinerary, Tanzania also requires proof of a yellow fever vaccination.
- Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls post-trip extension only): Visa required.
- South Africa (Victoria Falls post-trip extension only): No visa required.
- Botswana (optional tour during Victoria Falls post-trip extension): No visa required.
- Rwanda (Rwanda post-trip extension only): No visa required, but Rwanda will require proof of a yellow fever vaccination.
Travelers who are booked on this adventure will be sent a complete Visa Packet— with instructions, applications, and a list of visa fees—approximately 100 days prior to their departure. (Because many countries limit the validity of their visa from the date it is issued, or have a specific time window for when you can apply, we do not recommend applying too early.)
If you are not a U.S. citizen, do not travel with a U.S. passport, or will be traveling independently before/after this trip, then your entry requirements may be different. Please check with the appropriate embassy or a visa servicing company. To contact our recommended visa servicing company, PVS International, call toll-free at 1-800-556-9990.
Vaccinations Information
Proof of a yellow fever vaccination is required for this adventure. It is a legal entry requirement for Tanzania, and cannot be waived. Rwanda (visited on the optional post-trip extension) also requires proof of a yellow fever vaccination.
For a detailed and up-to-date list of vaccinations that are recommended for this trip, please visit the CDC’s “Traveler’s Health” website.