A Safari East of the Mara

Please note that all scheduled flights carry a luggage restriction of 15kg per person in soft bags, including carry-ons. The acceptance of excess baggage is at the sole discretion of the airline but some offer the option to purchase an additional freight seat for luggage weighing up to 75kg.

We are delighted you have chosen to travel to East Africa. You will meet some wonderful people during your stay and be amazed at how friendly and welcoming everyone is towards visitors. It almost goes without saying but please be sensitive to others and aware of local customs. Should you wish to take a photograph of someone, please ask permission beforehand. Generally the answer is yes but sometimes it comes with a request for a small donation.

While theft is not very common, please take responsibility for the safety of your valuables by keeping them in a money belt or a hotel / lodge safe. Please take caution when in the urban areas, especially at night. We kindly request that you do not bring sweets for the children.

In an effort to reduce the impact on the environment, Kenya has recently made the use and importation of all plastic bags illegal. The ban applies to carrier bags, flat bags, zip lock bags etc, with severe consequences if not complied with. Plastic bags (includes those from duty-free shopping) are known to be confiscated upon arrival in Nairobi.

We are often asked, understandably, by travellers ‘how safe will I be?’ It is a good question to ask and simply put the answer is that Angama Safaris will do all and more to ensure your personal safety and the safety of your possessions every step of your journey. We have teams on the ground in Nairobi, at our lodge in the Maasai Mara and in Johannesburg all of whom are on call 24/7. As a lodge operator in Africa with over 25 years of operational experience in the safari business across 6 countries we know that keeping our guests safe is paramount. We have done, and continue to do this, day in and day out. Angama Safaris applies the same stringent adherences to safety as does the Angama Mara lodge team. Should you have any specific questions in this regard please ask your travel planner.

• Comfortable cotton clothing
• Both long and short sleeve shirts, shorts and trousers
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Sunhat, sunglasses, sun block, lip balm
• Bathing suit
• A jacket and/or warm fleece – layers are always good as it can be cold at altitude
• An extra pair of reading glasses (if you need ‘em)
• Camera, binoculars, extra memory cards, charging equipment

Tanzania and Kenya are two of the many African countries where yellow fever is endemic, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travelers over one year of age who are arriving from other countries classified in the endemic zone (much of Africa and Latin America). Vaccinations need to be administered 10 days or more prior to travel, and the certificate will need to be provided as proof. Depending on your onward travel plans, or country of residence, you may also be required to have the vaccination in order to leave Kenya.

Although there are many areas that are considered low-risk, malaria does exist in East Africa, and we recommend that travellers contact their local medical clinic for professional advice, and that they obtain comprehensive travel insurance, including health cover, prior to travelling.

To enter Kenya you will need:

• A valid passport for at least six months from the date of entry, with at least three consecutive blank pages (temporary passports will not be accepted)
• Visas are required for visitors from many countries, including the UK and the US
• Visas for Tanzania are available upon entry at all official entry points or in advance from a Tanzania Mission abroad (recommended)
• Ordinary / Tourist visas cost US$ 100 for American citizens, and US$ 50 for other nationalities, and applications must be accompanied by two recent passport sized photographs
• Visitors from certain countries do not require a visa: for a full listing, and more information please see the website of Tanzania’s Ministry of Home Affairs, or the Tanzanian Embassy in Washington DC
• Visas for Kenya can be applied for at the point of entry or online at the new
  eCitizen portal
• Single entry visas are valid for three months from issue, and cost US$ 50; multiple-entry visas cost US$ 110 – these fees can also be paid in Pounds Sterling & Euro, but must be in cash
• Visitors from certain countries do not require a visa: for a full listing, please see the website of the Kenyan Embassy in Washington DC.

• In Tanzania, the local currency is the Tanzania Shilling (TZS) and the current rate of exchange is approximately TZS 2,314 / US$1. To get an up-to-date rate of exchange, we recommend visiting Oanda.com
• US$ are widely accepted, though you may have some trouble with notes of larger denomination or those issued prior to the year 2000. At certain bank branches US$ are available over the counter, but are not available for withdrawal from ATMs
• We recommend travelling with some US$ in cash, for any eventuality, and in multiple denominations
• Many local restaurants will accept US$, though prices are shown in Shillings and typically inclusive of all taxes and levies
• All major credit cards are widely accepted: Visa, MasterCard, American Express & Diner’s Club etc
• Gratuities are entirely at guests’ discretion and are not included in Angama Safaris quotes. There is no hard and fast rule for this, and tipping recommendations vary from property to property across the country. However as we are frequently asked for advice, herewith a guideline:

* Restaurant waiters: 10 – 15% (often asked for in cash and not included on the bill)
* City drivers: US$10 – $15
* City guides: $30 per day
* Porters: $5
* Lodge safari guides: $20 – $30 per day
* Lodge butlers / waiters: $10 – $20 per day
* Members of staff at a lodge (generally pooled and distributed): $10 – $20 per day