FAQ's
Choosing a Destination, Health & Safety, Travel Requirements, Safari Pricing
Most of the African safaris and African vacations we organize for our clients are 100 percent customized to their individual interests, timeframe and budget. The rates for the destinations we offer cover a wide range and typically vary significantly from the “high season” (generally July through mid-November) to the “low season" (generally November through June).
We also offer pre-scheduled African safaris; those safaris which have already been planned and scheduled by us or one of our ground operators in Africa and which depart on a set date, visiting specific locations. These safaris are found on our Trips page.
We encourage you to contact us for a quotation; we are here to assist you in planning an amazing African holiday. We really are passionate about what we do and we welcome all enquires.
CHOOSING A DESTINATION
Southern Africa vs. East Africa; which safari region is better?
First, let’s define the regions… In terms of wildlife safaris, Southern Africa includes South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia while East Africa is essentially Kenya and Tanzania. Meanwhile, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and The Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), all destinations popular for Gorilla tracking safaris, are generally considered Central Africa. Malawi and Zambia are also sometimes classified as Central Africa.
Historically and up until the 1980’s, East Africa was the preferred destination for safari-goers and wildlife enthusiasts. Kenya and Tanzania offered superb wildlife viewing with a well-developed safari infrastructure of operators with both permanent camps and mobile safari circuits. In contrast, the countries in Southern Africa, while full of wildlife and beautiful wilderness areas, were either politically unstable or mostly undeveloped for safari tourism.
During the 1990’s things began to shift. South Africa’s apartheid came to an end and its monetary unit, the Rand, historically very strong, began to depreciate, making South Africa a very attractive travel destination. Intrepid safari guides in South Africa took advantage of the increase in tourism to open up Botswana and Zimbabwe to hunters and photographers. With the increase in tourist capital, the safari industry in Southern Africa grew and permanent camps and mobile safaris opened in its pristine wildlife areas.
In terms of landscapes and attractions, the regions are quite different. East Africa boasts Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti Plains / Maasai Mara ecosystem and the Ngorongoro Crater. Southern Africa includes Botswana’s Okavango Delta wetland, the Skeleton Coast and Namib desert of Namibia, the miles of coastline with diverse habitats and the Kruger National Park of South Africa, the semi-arid Kalahari Desert of Botswana and northern South Africa, and the lower Zambezi River basin including Victoria Falls along the borders of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The wildlife species found in the two areas are essentially the same; most of the predators and plains game can be seen in both regions and only some birds and a few mammals and reptiles are distinct between the regions. The major differentiation is in the numbers of certain species and the general experience a visitor will have when viewing them.
East Africa offers herds of zebras and wildebeests in the hundreds of thousands. The annual migration between the Maasai Mara in the north and Tanzania’s Serengeti in the south is a spectacle unequaled anywhere on earth today. However, Botswana and Zimbabwe are home to 80% of Southern Africa’s 300,000 elephants and huge herds are a common sight along their northern borders.
The weather also varies between the regions. In East Africa, October marks the beginning of the “short rains” while April brings “long rains.” Many of the safari camps close during the long rains due to difficult driving conditions. In Southern Africa, while each country varies, the rains generally fall between November and March with the rest of the year being mostly rain-free. Most of the camps stay open year-round. The rainy or “green” safari season in Southern Africa offers benefits such as herbivores having their babies, lush green landscapes and dramatic skies, all of which combine to create superb photographic opportunities. Temperatures are similar between the regions with May through August being the cooler months.
The major differences between East Africa and Southern Africa for safaris are the density of tourists, the safari accommodations and the safari vehicles. East Africa, in general, has earned a reputation for a high density of tourists staying in hotel-styled lodges. The most common safari vehicle in East Africa is the mini-van with its pop-up roof, whereby passengers stand up to take pictures while peering out of the roof or sit in the enclosed vans. Conversely, Southern Africa is known for its luxury tented safari camps and huge tracts of wilderness areas with very low tourist densities, making for a private safari experience. The safari vehicles used here are modified, open-air Land Rovers which also add to the intimacy of the experience.
That said, there are a growing number of luxury lodges cropping up in East Africa, particularly in Tanzania and these lodges offer a far more exclusive experience than the large safari lodges which may have typified Kenya and Tanzania.
For the most part, Southern Africa is dominated by huge land concessions, which are owned or leased by luxury safari camp operators, and these concessions are for the sole use of the individual camp and its guests. With an average camp size of only 10-16 guests and only one or two vehicles for the entire concession, one can drive all day and not encounter anything but wilderness and wildlife.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Is travel to Africa safe?
(This is the question we are asked most often by prospective travelers)
Africa's biggest enemy is the international media who represent all 46 African countries as a single entity and not as unique and individual countries with their own characteristics. This misrepresentation is actually due to lack of education on the part of the media.
It would come as a surprise to many people to find out that there are in fact areas that are worse off in more developed countries than in the "dangerous" African countries. No country can claim to be 100% safe, and so as with travel to any new or unknown destination, it is advisable to take certain standard security precautions. Visitors should take the same precautions as they would normally take in any other destination worldwide. Keep an eye on your purses, wallets, passports, money and cameras when walking in a crowd. Avoid walking in the cities at night and place valuables in your hotel safe. Choosing a knowledgeable operator such as Eyes on Africa as your specialist Southern African tour operator is the best move you could make.
While staying at African safari lodges and tented camps you are typically far removed from human settlement and crime in the camps is virtually non existent (we have never heard of it and have been traveling to the camps for years). We advise that valuables be locked away or kept under the supervision of the camp or lodge manager, or better yet, left at home if you are at all concerned.
We are extremely knowledgeable about the continent (having been born and lived there) and can therefore minimize any possible risks for our guests. Most of your travel time in Southern Africa is likely to be spent away from the large cities where crime is most prevalent. You will be visiting areas and regions that are remote and where crime is almost non existent. Even if your African holiday involves spending time in the cities, having a company like ours able to choose the appropriate lodging, locations and simple security advice, you will find the cities we recommend are as safe as travel almost anywhere.
Finally, we simply do not recommend destinations that are not completely safe. This is why you will find that we do not recommend every country in Africa. We have lived in Africa, we know its cultures, and we know what is safe and what is not. In the same way we only recommend the finest African safari camps, we also only recommend certain cities while away from "the bush".
What are the health precautions and issues?
As vaccination requirements change on occasion, we recommend that you check with your local doctor or health department for the latest health precautions. The most important health consideration in Africa is Malaria and it is strongly recommended that you consider prophylactics (i.e., oral tablets) as a preventative precaution. You are not legally required to have any vaccinations unless you are traveling from a region where yellow fever is prevalent, in which case an inoculation will be required against the disease.
Certainly you need not rush off and get every possible inoculation and take every pill under the sun just to travel to Africa. Do not go overboard with the information put out by the disease control centers. We return time and again to Africa and to the bush and have only ever taken Malaria prevention tablets. A course of anti-Malaria tablets is advisable and many doctors advise a dose of Hepatitis A vaccine. We recommend that you visit with a local travel health specialist for complete details and safety.
Many parts of Africa do have problems with their water and foods; however, the food and water in Southern Africa is much safer than the rest of Africa, especially in the African safari camps and hotels you will be traveling to. Please do not over-react to the detriment of you own enjoyment. We have never experienced any problems with the food or water in any of the camps or hotels we have traveled to over the years.
As long as we're discussing water, one thing you must be careful of, especially during the hotter summer months and in the desert areas, is dehydration. Plenty of fresh bottled water is always available at all of the camps throughout the day and should be consumed regularly and in quantity. We have seen many guests, even experienced African travelers, who forget to drink enough water and become dehydrated. A case of dehydration will usually put you out of action for up to a day and is no fun. All the camps stock re-hydrating tablets which help to set you right again, but we wanted to mention it as this is the most common ailment we have observed among guests on African safaris. Drink lots of water!
More on Malaria
The most serious risk while traveling in Southern Africa on safari is malaria. We will not "talk down" this risk, as we know people, albeit all individuals who live and spend time in the Africa bush, who have contracted malaria. This is NOT something to take lightly and it can be a lethal and at the very least, a long and uncomfortable disease.
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by the parasite called Plasmodia. There are four identified species of this parasite causing human malaria, namely, Plasmodium vivax, P. falciparum, P. ovale and P. malariae. It is transmitted by the female Anopheles Mosquito. It is a disease that can be treated in just 48 hours, yet it can cause fatal complications if the diagnosis and treatment are delayed. It is re-emerging as the # 1 Infectious Killer and it is the Number 1 Priority Tropical Disease of the World Health Organization. The CDC estimates that 300-500 million cases of malaria occur each year worldwide and 1.5 million to 3 million people die of malaria every year (85% of these occur in Africa), accounting for about 4-5% of all fatalities in the world.
Humans get malaria from the bite of a female malaria-infected Anopheles mosquito. When a mosquito bites an infected person, it ingests microscopic malaria parasites found in the person’s blood. The malaria parasite must grow in the mosquito for a week or more before infection can be passed to another person. If, after a week, the mosquito then bites another person, the parasites go from the mosquito’s mouth into the person’s blood. The parasites then travel to the person’s liver, enter the liver’s cells, grow and multiply. During this time when the parasites are in the liver, the person has not yet felt sick. The parasites leave the liver and enter red blood cells; this may take as little as 8 days or as many as several months. Once inside the red blood cells, the parasites grow and multiply. The red blood cells burst, freeing the parasites to attack other red blood cells. Toxins from the parasite are also released into the blood, making the person feel sick. If a mosquito bites this person while the parasites are in his or her blood, it will ingest the tiny parasites. After a week or more, the mosquito can infect another person.
Some of the safari camps in Africa are within potential malaria areas; however, most safari camps are remote and located away from densely populated areas and this greatly reduces the risk of being infected by malaria.
Anopheles mosquitoes start biting by late evening and the peak of biting activity is at midnight and early hours of morning. Protect yourself against the bites in the evenings and early mornings by applying mosquito repellant, wearing garments that cover the body as much as possible, and at bedtime, by using mosquito nets without fail.
Most camps provide mosquito repellant in the tents and in the lounges and on game drives. Some also provide mosquito "coils", an incense-like slow-burning substance that produces a smoky repellent that can be lit inside the tent before heading for dinner so that the tent is cleared by bed time. Finally, the majority of the camps also provide a mosquito netting over the beds to keep the "mossies" out while you sleep. Wearing lightweight long pants instead of shorts and covering the ankles especially is also very helpful during dinner and in the evening hours. Use the bug spray after sundown on game drives as well.
Remember that the best precaution against malaria is to reduce the likelihood of being bitten. The next best precaution is to begin and complete a full regimen of anti-malarial medication for your African safari. The medication usually begins before you leave and is completed after returning home. Check on the internet or with your physician for further information.
For more information, please also visit the following links:
CDC Information on Malaria:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/malaria
CDC Health Information for Travelers:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/
Please also read our section on Luggage Safety and Security.
Travel Requirements
What are the entry requirements?
International travelers will require a valid passport that is normally valid for 6 months beyond the intended length of stay
Depending on the country or countries you plan to visit, specific requirements regarding visas, length of stay permitted, blank (unused) passport pages, traveling with minor children, etc, may vary. Please consult with us about your passport requirements well in advance of your trip.
Safari Pricing
How much does it cost?
The cost of a trip to Africa can vary widely depending on the following:
• The level of luxury you choose. Like hotels across the globe, safari camps vary from what some would call "roughing it" (bucket showers and simple beds) to accommodations fit for royalty. Pricing varies accordingly.
• The number of days spent on safari versus city hotels. A day spent on a fully-inclusive safari (meals, drinks, and safari activities) will usually be several times more expensive than the daily cost of a city hotel. A typical two-week trip includes 2-3 days of international travel, 5-8 days on safari to see wildlife, and a few days exploring a city like Cape Town, visiting Zanzibar, or seeing The Victoria Falls.
• Airfare. Flight costs also vary depending on your destination. Visiting South Africa from the US is relatively easy, with direct flights from several US cities. Once in country, getting to the safari areas is usually a short morning flight and you'll be on safari that afternoon. Conversely, getting to East African countries like Kenya and Tanzania usually involves flying through Europe or somewhere like Dubai. A visit to Namibia will involve substantially higher airfare costs, as the areas visited are very remote and distant from one another, which means flying is the only option.
How much money should I bring?
Most of the safari camps, lodges, and hotels in Africa accept Master Card and Visa credit cards for purchases of curios, extras like premium drinks, and even gratuities for safari camp staff and guides. The shops and restaurants in the urban areas you may visit also accept Visa and MasterCard.
A note on gratuities at the African safari camps: Gratuities are not expected, but a reasonable tip would be US $10 per guest, per day for your driver/guide and perhaps $5 per day for the overall camp staff.
If you are visiting Johannesburg, South Africa, a highlight is one of the flea markets that offer beautiful African wood carvings, batiks and other VERY inexpensive but nice arts and crafts. For the flea markets, you will typically want some cash. These artisans are found in Victoria Falls as well, and their artwork is typically of nice quality and they make excellent mementoes of your trip or as gifts for your friends and family.
For ourselves, if we travel for three weeks to Africa and include two weeks on safari, we typically take around $300 in cash. This is only our guideline for ourselves; however, we feel that traveling with more cash than this is unnecessary.
About the Johannesburg Flea Markets
The flea markets in Johannesburg are an excellent place to shop and superb values on gifts, authentic African art and curios and even clothing and furniture may be found there. Locals and tourists alike frequent these markets and we highly recommend them to anyone visiting Johannesburg. The best market (in our experienced opinion) is the Rosebank Sunday Market. This market is the biggest and best and we hit it at least once every visit and never walk away empty handed.
Note that the Rosebank market only operates on SUNDAYS and so you will want to plan your stay with this in mind if you want to take advantage of the bargains to be found. There are some other markets which operate daily and vendors line the streets daily selling a variety of carvings and other goods, but the selection is nowhere near what can be found at Rosebank.
Something else to keep in mind: Many of the curios found in the safari camp shops and in malls and other stores can also be found at the flea market and usually at a considerable discount at the markets. REMEMBER TO BARGAIN WITH THE VENDORS! Their first price will usually be FAR higher than what they will accept. This is especially important when buying high-ticket items (over $100).
VAT and purchases of gifts in South Africa
Be sure to keep your receipts for items of clothing, curios, artwork, books, etc. South Africa charges a VAT (value-added tax) on all goods and this tax is refundable to tourists when they leave the country (residents are not so lucky). Organize all of the receipts and you can get a refund of the VAT at the airport before you fly home. This is a somewhat easy process but can take some time as the airport gets busy and the queues can be long - get to the airport EARLY! In spite of the relative pain involved in the VAT refund process, the VAT percentage is substantial (14%) and can amount to several hundred dollars easily depending on how crazy you go in the malls!
Be advised that the receipts must be shown along with the items purchased.
Do NOT store all of your purchases into your suitcase and check the luggage until you have had your VAT receipts stamped by the official at the airport. They have recently become more strict regarding showing the products with the receipts - they will most certainly make you show the items for which you have receipts!
ALSO - You must have your goods checked by VAT refunds BEFORE you pass through customs into the departure area!! Goods are shown in the area before you check in at Johannesburg International Airport. Your receipts are approved and stamped as they are checked against your purchased items. Only then should you proceed to check-in. After checking in your suitcases, receiving your boarding pass and clearing customs, immediately get in the VAT refund line to have your receipts added up and approved for payment. You will either get cash - or, if the amount exceeds a certain limit, a check will be mailed to you.
REMINDER: Get all receipts approved BEFORE check-in. After check-in, head to VAT refund desk to get your money.
Finally, the VAT may only be reclaimed for goods, this does NOT include hotel accommodations or food of any kind. Many visitors skip this VAT refund process, but it is well worth it if you have taken advantage of the fantastic exchange rate in South Africa.
What are the requirements for self-driving?
A very popular trip for visitors to South Africa, is self-driving along the southern coast, usually between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth along what is known as 'The Garden Route'.
Any valid driver's license is accepted in South Africa, provided it bears the photograph and signature of the holder and is printed or authenticated in English.
However, vehicle hire companies may also require an international driver's license. We will confirm requirements for you during your trip planning with us.
Choosing a Destination, Health & Safety, Travel Requirements, Safari Pricing