What is included in my payment?

All park entry fees, camping/hut fees, rescue fees, fullboard accommodation, English speaking guides, porters, 4x4 vehicle, unlimited game viewing within park opening hours, camping equipment and AAR Emergency Rescue if mentioned is included in the price. Personal requirements (bottled water, beer, cigarettes, soap etc) and tipping is not included in the price. If you want to stop at Maasai villages and take photographs of the locals, you have to pay an entrance fee and negotiate with them if they ask you to pay for taking photographs of the locals. If you want to have a stopover at Olduvai Gorge, you have to pay a modest entrance fee

Can I bring my children on Safari/Trekking?

There are no age restrictions in the national parks. However, children below 11 are not allowed to trek Kilimanjaro or Mount Meru. When choosing a safari itinerary, keep in mind that young children often get tired on long transit drives, so it is better to focus on parks close to each other and spend more time in each of them. Once the animals start appearing, the hours fly by and what is actually a day in a car will not be tiresome to children (or adults!).

What are the best times to visit the parks?

Serengeti: October-June Ngorongoro: All year round Lake Manyara: All year round Tarangire: Dry season Arusha Park: All year round Kilimanjaro: All year round, but the rainy season is generally not recommended due to snow and rainfall.

Which Route do you recommend for Kilimanjaro?

Machame route. It is known as the "Whisky route", while Marangu is known as the "Coca Cola route". There is a great difference between the two most popular routes. Machame route lets you see more of the mountain, as you are ascending Machame but descending Mweka. In Marangu route you are ascending and descending on the same path. Choosing Machame, you will see more of the scenery, and acclimatization is done while you are walking, as opposed to resting days where you stay at the huts in Marangu route. While walking up Machame route, you are trekking through Karranga Valley for acclimatization, you are gaining minimal height while keeping yourself active and enjoying the scenery. The trek to the summit is hard in both routes, but Machame has its advantages: it is less steep than Marangu route, and most people spend less time reaching the peak than in Marangu. So we highly recommend Machame route, as long as it is done in 6 days and you avoid taking the Arrow Glacier shortcut. For those of you who want to have the comfort of sleeping in huts, Marangu route is the only option.

How Close Do I get to the Animals?

It is important to carefully follow the park regulations. Therefore, the guide is not allowed to drive off the tracks to approach animals. Generally, the guide should keep a distance of at least 25 metres from the animals, but some animals actually approach vehicles or stay close to the tracks, so you will probably get up and close to the wildlife. We have had clients surrounded by herds of elephants and lions, close enough to reach out and touch them (this is not a good idea!). Remember that the parks are not zoos, and that close encounters are not guaranteed!

How many People make it to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro?

Our statistics are very good: 70% of our clients have reached the Uhuru Peak since January 2007. The people who did not make it, either got too exhausted or were suffering from strong headaches and nausea due to the altitude. There is no telling who will make it, but the best advice is to take it slow, drink lots of water and pay attention to symptoms of altitude sickness.

Will there be a lot of driving between the Parks?

It depends on your itinerary. If you are short on time and want to see as many parks as possible, you will be spending more time on transfers between the parks compared to longer itineraries. Lake Manyara, Tarangire and Arusha National Park are situated not far from Arusha (30 minutes up to 2 hours). Serengeti and Ngorongoro are further way, and to fully enjoy these parks you should go for a 4-5 days tour at the minimum. The national parks are open from 7am to 6pm, and we do our best to create itineraries where you'll spend most of your time in the wilds!

Do your Vehicles have open roofs?

All our vehicles are custom made for safaris. They have pop up roofs for excellent viewing. On most of our vehicles, you can completely remove the roof, to get maximum views and the opportunity to work on your tan! (remember sun protection lotion).

Can I climb Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro indepently?

You can not climb Kilimanjaro without the organization of a licensed company. There are strict rules regarding guides, porters and weight-limit for the luggage. You can arrange a trek to Mount Meru on your own. But booking with a company has many benefits: You don't have to arrange the food yourself, porters will carry your supplies and you are in safe hands should anything happen. Even if you arrange it on your own, there are rules to be followed: An armed ranger must accompany you, and you are not allowed to carry more than 15kg.

Can you pick me up at the airport?

Yes. We arrange transfers from Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam (Nyerere International Airport) and Nairobi International Airports. Booking a tour with us, the pickup from Kilimanjaro and Nairobi Airport is complimentary. Transfers from the other airports can be done by private vehicle, flight or shuttle bus. Contact us for more details.

How do I pay you?

Booking from abroad, we require a 30-50% deposit (bank transfer) upon confirming the tour. The balance can be paid on arrival in Tanzania. When in Arusha or Dar es salaam, you can use travelers cheques, cash ($ or Tshs) and credit card facilities in town. We accept part payment by travelers cheques.