Safari Information
Travel Guide
In order to prepare you accordingly for your next safari with Kalama Safaris, we have curated safari guides below that will help you have general information and an idea of what your safari will be, entail, and what is best to do at what time.
Browse below and get informed before visiting Kenya, or booking your next safari.
safety & Health
- Hotels and lodges are gated with security guards at entrances.
- In the evening, guards escort guests to and from rooms/tents and patrol areas within the lodge complex inside parks.
- Kalama Wildlife & Photographic Safaris remains connected with US Embassy about your safe travel in Kenya and Tanzania.
- Covil protocols are followed in safari vehicles, hotels, and lodges.
- David Kalama, your safari director, makes sure dangerous situations are avoided; he revises itineraries as needed to assure personal safety.
- CDC Guidelines are followed in safari vehicles, hotels, and lodges including temperature checks, masks, hand sanitizing, and social distancing.
- Safari vehicles are sanitized before game drives and travel between destinations.
Weather and climate
Jan to March
Best time to visit Kenya and Tanzania for safaris. The temperatures are friendly. The climate is hot and dry making it easy to spot wildlife during this season. It’s referred to as High Season.
April to June
This is known as the Low Season. The rains start from March all the way to June, with a hot and dry short period in May. Hence not a good month for a safari since its easy to get stuck most of the time in the reserves and parks.
July to December
The best season to visit Kenya and Tanzania. The climate and weather are friendly, it’s hot and dry after a rainy season from April to June. It’s easy to spot wildlife during this time.
Rain rarely interferes with our safaris and game drives.
Temperature
Kenya Yearly Range
F° 86 – 50 – C° 30 – 10
Tanzania Yearly Range
F° 82 – 46 – C° 29 – 8
rainfall
Kenya
Jan-March, June-October, December
Inches 0.8 – 4.1
Millimeters 30 – 105
April-May, November
Inches 5.1 – 8.7
Millimeters 130 – 220
Tanzania
Jan-March, June-October, December
Inches 0.8 – 3.5
Millimeters 30 – 105
March-May, November
Inches 4.9 – 13.4
Millimeters 15 – 90
Transportation
- Drive times to destinations average about 2 hours with stops for breaks, meals, shopping, attractions, etc.
- Safari Vehicles (4 x 4 Land Cruisers or Land Rovers)
- Most safari tours include at least one local flight instead of long drives between destinations.
- International flights are not included in tour prices. A daily international non-stop flight from JFK to Nairobi, Kenya on Kenya Airways is about 14 hours. (A non-stop flight from LAX to Sydney, Australia is about 15 hours). Flights with multiple stops could be over 20 hours.
Game Drives
- Driver guides (well-experienced in spotting wildlife and positioning the vehicle at the best angle for lighting to view and photograph wildlife, landscapes, sunrises, and sunsets)
- Length 2 to 6 hours (may include breakfast or lunch in the park)
- Most lodges inside parks allowing for quicker access to wildlife and game drives
- Guaranteed window seat in safari vehicle with social distancing
- Bottled water, soft drinks, and juices
Animal Migration
The Great Migration is made up of 260,000 zebra that precede 1.7 million wildebeest and then followed by hundreds of thousands of other plains game, including around 470,000 gazelles.
KALAMA Wildlife and Photographic SAFARIS select destinations based on the months for visitors to experience the Great Migration and wildlife concentrations.
Pricing
Year Round (peak time April – June)
ALL inclusive on arrival in Nairobi, Kenya.
Meals and accommodations
Transfers and local flights (see itineraries)
Gratuities for portage/restaurant servers - except housekeeping
MINIMUM gratuities for driver guides and drivers
The number of days and nights do not include travel days to and from Nairobi, Kenya.
READ MORE about inclusions and exclusions below.
Double Occupancy Per Adult 18+ Person
Singles travel at the same price as double occupancy - no supplements
Student 75% of Double Occupancy Age 13-18 Per Person
Child 50% of Double Occupancy Age 4-12 Per Person
Infant/Toddler No Cost
Groups of 4 or more travelers (adults, students, children) receive a discount of $150 per traveler.
Repeat Kalama Wildlife & Photographic Safari travelers receive a discount of $200 per traveler.
Group organizer receives a free safari photography book $200 value.
Inclusives
Exclusives
Inclusives
- Local/regional flights * All safaris include at least one local flight
- Accommodations and meals
- Gratuities for porterage and restaurant services
- All applicable game park entrance fees
- Excursions and game drives (see itinerary)
- Services of David Kalama (Safari Director) and experienced driver guides
- Minimum gratuities for drivers and driver guides
- Guaranteed window seating with open top
- Safari vehicles carry cold drinks and mineral water during the day
- Membership in Flying Doctors Society – (Emergency air rescue)
- Covid tests required at border crossings and for travel back to country of origin
Exclusives
- International airfare
- Excess baggage fee
- Kenyan and Tanzanian eVisa fees
- Personal expenses such travel insurance, communication charges that include emails, faxes and phone calls
- Alcoholic beverages, including during meals
- Laundry
- Optional activities provided by hotels/lodges/camps
- Optional Hot Air Ballooning (cost per person about 480 US Dollars)
- Gratuity for David Kalama – tour director
cancelation policies
▪ Cancellation 90 or more days before start date (100% refund of price less a $300 administrative fee per person)
▪ Cancellation 89-60 days before start date (75% refund of price less a $300 administrative fee per person)
▪ Cancellation 59-30 days before start date (35% refund of price less a $300 administrative fee per person)
▪ Cancellation 29-0 days before start date (0% refund of price per person)
Please purchase travel insurance!
Review the terms and conditions before deciding whether to purchase travel insurance. At a minimum, consider trip cancellation, trip interruption, medical evacuation, and medical protection.
Insurance
Travel worry-free with travel insurance from trusted insurers. Compare and buy online with safe and secure checkout and instant confirmation of coverage at www.travelinsurance.com .
Consider the following:
- Trip Cancellation
- Trip Interruption
- Medical Evacuation
- Medical Protection
- Baggage Loss
- Flight Accident
- Accidental Death
Review the terms and conditions before deciding whether to purchase travel insurance. At a minimum, consider trip cancellation, trip interruption, medical evacuation, and medical protection.
Our Guests
Reviews and Testimonials
David Kalama is THE BEST East Africa Safari Safari Director and Guide. You will see more animals and birds than you can imagine. David seems to know where and how to find them, as well as how to get the best photo image of them. He gives above and beyond, will exceed your expectations, and you will have the Trip of a Lifetime. Take your family, take your kids, take your grandkids - they will thank you forever. "Nobody does it better than David - nobody does it even half as good." You will be very happy if you go on Safari with David Kalama.
FANTASTIC! I have been on safari with Kalama Wildlife & Photographic Safaris twice. The guides are professional & knowledgeable about Africa, it's people, and the wildlife. David's knowledge of photography is unsurpassed.
Seeing animals in their habitat is an unforgettable experience! Every day is a feast of wildlife sightings. The accommodations are superior lodging, food & locations, staff.
Enjoy the best of Africa with the Best, Kalama Wildlife & Photographic Safaris. I did!
Traveled the world and never have we ever had a better director or guide. Because of David Kalama we have been going (to East Africa) for seven years. The first trip we were hooked not only do we love Kenya and Tanzanian and the parks but without David as our leader we would not continue to, he is what makes the whole trip successful. His personality, knowledge and knowing where the wildlife are cannot be beat. We stay at the nicest and safest camps and the staff becomes family. I highly recommend anyone traveling to Africa to see the wildlife to travel with David Kalama Wildlife & Photography Safaris.
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