Travel Information

WeatherTransportationMigrationsBird WatchingPricingInsurancePreparation

Safety

  • 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.

Health

  • 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.

Food

  • Most hotels and lodges have buffets, pasta and omelette stations, and menu orders.
  • Guests may choose from Western (American) and International cuisine, as well as local fare. 
  • Chefs accommodate special dietary needs (Gluten free, vegan, etc.).
  • All meals are included in tour pricing.

Weather

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

Monthly 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

Transport

  • 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

The BIG Five

One hundred years ago, the “Big Five” were the most sought after animals to hunt. They were the fiercest, the most dangerous animals; the animals that would hunt the hunter.

Explorers  of East Africa went home with stories of lions and leopards in tall African grass, of rhinos that would charge at the mere smell of a person, of the Cape Buffalo hidden in the bushes, and the terrors of an enraged elephant.

Today, these are the five animals people most want to see and hunt with their cameras while on safari. These big mammals are more interesting than the early explorers and hunters knew!

Migrations

Year-Round

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.

January – March Southern Serengeti, Tanzania

  • CALVING in February

April – May Southern and Central Serengeti

  • MATING Late May and Early June
  • MOVING northwest into the areas around the Grumeti River where they remain until late June

June Southern, Central, and Northern Serengeti, Tanzania and Maasai Mara, Kenya

  • CROSSING RIVERS as early as June and as late as August

July – October Northern Serengeti, Tanzania and Maasai Mara, Kenya

  • ARRIVING in Kenya in late July/August

November Maasai Mara, Kenya

  • MOVING south

December Central Serengeti, Tanzania

  • ARRIVING in plenty of time for calving in February

 

Bird Watching

Year Round (peak time April – June)

Pricing

How do our prices differ from other companies?

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.

How do our prices differ by age of traveler?

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

What discounts are available?

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.

Included

  • 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

Not Included in Price

  • 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

Cancellation Fee and Refund Policy

▪ 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.

Preparation

KALAMA Wildlife and Photographic SAFARIS provides safari eBooks, information about visas and vaccinations, and checklists for what to pack (gear, clothing, money, etc.).

Welcome to Kalama Safaris

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