F.A.Q. Kenya & TanzaniaKenya & Tanzania

F.A.Q.

Why travel with Djoser to Kenya and Tanzania?

All ‘game drives’ are included in the travel sum. Enthusiastic, Dutch tour guides lead the tour. The tour through Kenya and Tanzania has a good price to quality ratio. The entrance fees for all parks and all ‘game-drives’ are included. A ‘camp courier,’ with the help of the participants, prepares three meals a day and travels with the group. Well-maintained, modern Mercedez Benz trucks and camping equipment guarantee a carefree safari. Because we collaborate with various different agencies in Africa we can provide for replacement vehicles in the case of any possible vehicle breakdowns, so the travel program can continue on as planned.

I will be joining a Dutch (International) group. Will I have problems with language?

It is possible that you could be the only North American traveler on the this trip, made up of Dutch travelers from Djoser, Netherlands. Almost all travelers from the Netherlands have a wonderful command of English and are willing to socialize. Many fellow travelers are willing to help with translations. The Dutch tour leader (who is a trip coordinator, not a lecturer) will address the group, first in Dutch. He/she will then repeat the important information to you in English. There is a breakfast meeting with the group and tour leader each day, which is a good time to review materials and to go over plans for the day. At some stops we may also have the assistance of a local country guide will address the group in English. While the tour leader will help you to assimilate, you will not get a word-for-word repeat of all that is said or written in Dutch.

The overwhelming majority of people who book these trips enjoy the international blend but frankly, it is not for everyone. It is inevitable that there will be times when your fellow travelers are speaking Dutch. If you have a travel partner, it is much easier to blend in to conversation, or at least to have a buffer for an English conversation. A flexible and easy-going nature are essential when joining an international group. Single travelers may feel a little isolated at such times. Before booking, you can check with us to see if another North American traveler has booked. Singles who adapt well on these trips are typcially very experienced travelers, have traveled with with international groups (English not the primary language), and have easy-going personalities. Those who require a greater level of attention from the tour leader should book one of the Djoser trips with North American participants only.

Is there a possibility to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro?

Various different agencies organize climbs on Kilimanjaro from Arusha (Tanzania). During our tour we do not have enough time to reach the top, but you can extend your return trip from Nairobi. In that case you will stay behind in Arusha. You need to reserve at least 5 days for the climb. We can not book this climb for you. For transportation back to Nairobi you can make use of comfortable buses which travel between Arusha and Nairobi on a daily basis.

Are the entrance fees for the national parks included in the travel sum?

All entrance fees for the national parks are included in the trip price, with a value of approximately $200 for trips to Kenya and over $300 for the Kenya and Tanzania trips. All other entrance fees are not included in the travel sum and you will have to pay for these separately.

What is the best time to travel to Kenya and Tanzania?

The best time to travel is dependent on the season. In Kenya and Tanzania two rain seasons can be discerned. In the ‘long rain season’ the rain falls from March until May and in the ‘short rain season’ between mid October and December. Showers mostly occur around evening-time, are short and intense and definitely do not form an impediment for travel in this period. Many young animals can be seen just after the rain season. The dry season typically sees.

What is a ‘camp courier’?

Besides the Dutch tour guide a ‘camp courier’ will be traveling with you. This person organizes the grocery shopping and meals, but does expect you to help with cooking and washing dishes. Djoser provides cutlery, chairs, tents and mats. All meals during the camping nights are paid for from the meal allowance budget.

What should I write on the visa form?

We will send you a visa form and instructions for filling out the forms with your booking package.

What should I bring with me on this tour?

For this camping tour you only need a warm sleeping bag. Djoser provides all other camping gear. We will give you a tent, a comfortable mattress, a small folding chair and cutlery. The tents have small mosquito-gauze windows, but do not forget to bring a good mosquito repellent. Two towels, a daypack, good walking shoes, a bathing suit and a good flashlight are essential. Binoculars are handy for spotting various animals. After booking you will receive more information about your luggage.

Can I recharge the batteries for my digital camera or video camera during this tour?

At most places where you camp out you can recharge your batteries for a fee at the reception or at a nearby lodge. This is however not possible during the stay in Serengeti NP or at Kakamega NP.

Is it possible to make a hot air balloon trip above Serengeti National Park?

It is possible, provided there are no bad weather or other compromising conditions, to make a hot air balloon trip above Serengeti National Park. The trip takes about one hour and the cost for this trip is about $400 per person, including a champagne breakfast.

Is it possible to extend this tour?

When you book your trip you can request a layover. The layover cost is $150 for the flight deviation. If you would like an extension you can request an extension when you book for $100 per extension (for flight deviation). Djoser will book these flights subject to availability. Please let us know when you book how many nights and where you wish to extend or layover. Neither hotels nor airport transfers are provided for layovers and extensions.

What are the accommodations like?

During the safari in Kenya you will spend the night for most of the trip in comfortable, sturdy, double occupancy tents equipped with mosquito nets. You will set up your tents yourselves. This is the best way to be close to nature and to get familiar with the African ‘bush’. It’s a unique experience to fall asleep with the roar of a lion in the background! We spend the night on official campgrounds in national parks. The bathroom facilities are simple, with primitive toilets and cold water. On Central Island in Lake Turkana the tents will be on the bank of the lake with primitive open pit bathroom facilities that consist of a whole in the ground with a seat over the hole and a tent around it. In Nairobi and Tiwi Beach we spend the night in hotels. In the Kenyan capital you will spend the night in a centrally located middleclass hotel with private bathroom. At the end of the trip you will spend the night at the shore near Tiwi Beach in an apartment complex with swimming pool at the palm beach with a view of the Indian Ocean.

During the camping safari through the various parks of Kenya and Tanzania the nights are spent in spacious double occupancy domed tents that you set up yourselves. You are expected to bring a warm sleeping bag.; Cooking utensils, tents with mosquito nets and mattresses are provided. Most of our time in the nature parks we will use official campgrounds with simple facilities and cold showers. In the beginning as well as the end of the trip you will spend the night in a centrally located middleclass hotel with private bathroom in Nairobi.

During the hotel trips we use several types of accomodation. We stay the night in hotels, banda’s and lodges. The quality varies from basic to tourist class. In Masai Marai we stay the night in our own “tented camp.” You sleep in a spacious two-person tent, provided with a bed, however, the sanitary facilities you share with your fellow travelers from the group. In Nairobi and Nyali Beach we stay in hotels. In the Kenyan capital you will sleep in a centrally located middle-class hotel, provided with a shower and a bathroom. At the end of the trip you stay the night on the caost at Nyali Beach in an apartment directly onto the palm beach, with a view over the Indian Ocean. The complex is provided with a swimming pool.

Use the following link to view some of our lodgings: http://www.djoserusa.com/hotels

What is the transportation like on this trip?

During the trip to Kenya and Tanzania we will use trucks that are specially equipped for safaris with convenient space for luggage, camping equipment and supplies. There are some unpaved roads along this route in northern Kenya and Tanzania and in the wild parks. In large cities such as Arusha and Nairobi, Djoser does not provide transportation.

Use the following link to view slides of the transportation we use: http://www.djoserusa.com/transportation

How is the food organized during the safaris?

On the camping safaris, the accompanying camp courier prepares a delicious meal three times a day, paid for from the meal allowance budget. You will be billed separately for these meals in advance. Tasty western meals will be prepared. In Nairobi only, you will have to pay for your own meals yourself. For the preparation of the meals participants are only expected to lend a helping hand with washing dishes. Each day two participants have chore duty.

In Nairobi you have to pay for your own food. You are free to choose any restaurant. Certain places in Nairobi only serve African cuisine, for example in the district south of Moi Avenue. Several centrally located hotels offer a weekly African buffet, where you may taste all kinds of courses for a reasonable price. Furthermore there are many Indian restaurants and also Chinese and Italian restaurants. Outside of town is the “Carnivore” Restaurant, which is famous for serving game.

During the hotel trips almost all of the meals are eaten together. You will be billed in advance on your invoice for the total cost of these meals. The hotel also offers several possibilities. On specific nights a BBQ is organized, that is accompanied by a band and local dancers.
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