Faqs

Is Victoria Falls an absolute must?

It depends on one’s itinerary. For example if you are going to spend a few days in Hwange (Zimbabwe) and then going on to Botswana, it makes good sense to include a couple of days in Victoria Falls. For sheer spectacle, nothing can touch the Falls at peak flood in April or May/June. Nice weather at that time of the year, too. The white-water rafting experience in the Zambezi down from Victoria Falls is awesome especially when conditions are ideal (September/October). Not for the faint at heart! If you are pressed for time, then it is ok to leave Vic Falls off – it is rarely the #1 highlight of anybody’s trip. Great to see – best from the Zimbabwe side – and we just love spending some time at the grand Victoria Falls Hotel.

Is the bird-watching good?

The birding is wonderful in southern Africa with about 600 species being present. Southern Africa offers some of the most diverse habitat – especially in northern Botswana and Zimbabwe – while Namibia has a wealth of endemic bird species. The area is covered by a selection of excellent field guides (detailed information provided upon booking). Our African safari partners emphasize more than just the ‘big mammals’ on safari, and their guides are all familiar with the birds of their particular areas, while some are bird experts in their own right.

WHERE CAN I SEE GORILLAS?

As a ‘stand alone’ activity before or after a safari, a Rwanda gorilla trek at Volcanoes National Park is an easier option than Bwindi (Uganda), simply because Volcanoes National Park is easier to get to from Kigali, than is Bwindi from Entebbe.
However, the Rwanda authorities increased the cost of a gorilla permit at Volcanoes NP to $1,500 some time ago. If visitors include at least one other Rwanda destination on the itinerary, the price drops by about 30%. So it may be worthwhile to include at least one other Rwanda destination such as Akagera National Park or Nyungwe Forest, to qualify for the discount. The fee for a gorilla permit is $700 in Uganda; with seasonal discounts in April, May & November when it is lower.

What are the main advantages of Eastern Africa over Southern Africa?

If you are intent on combining culture and wildlife, East Africa has no equal. Nowhere else can you see Maasai herdsmen with their cattle side by side with wild animals such as buffalo. In Tanzania’s northern circuit, for example, there are many opportunities to visit Maasai homesteads or cultural bomas, experience market days in the towns and villages, and to generally experience how wildlife and people co-exist. Another reason to specifically visit East Africa is to view the annual wildebeest migration. This spectacle of seeing hundreds of thousands of animals congregated in one area has no equal in southern Africa, except for the zebra migration in the Kalahari and the wildebeest migration in Liuwa National Park in Zambia.

Any advantages in selecting southern Africa?

Are Kenya and Tanzania over-commercialized? They certainly appear to be from some materials, but are they still the best place for game viewing and cultural experiences?