F.A.Q

There are many varied parks and reserves from which to choose – each has its own unique reasons for visiting, be it a special topography or rare wildlife species. Where possible we recommend combining two, three or more parks in order to see a broad range of landscapes and animals. Some private reserves / conservancies are able to offer night game drives and walking safaris plus they offer the advantage of having few – if any – other tourist vehicles sharing the land.

In most parks / conservancies you can normally guarantee that you will see the more common grazing animals such as buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, eland, giraffe, gazelles, impala and waterbuck. In addition lions, leopards and cheetahs are present in most parks, but are most easily seen in the Mara and the Mara Conservancies. Elephants are best seen in Selenkay / Amboseli and Rhino are often sighted in Nairobi National Park, Ol Pejeta Conservancy and Lake Nakuru Park.

The Mara eco-system and its wildlife extends far beyond the boundaries of the official Masai Mara National Reserve. Other game-filled wildlife reserves (known as Conservancies) have been established in the Mara on tracts of wilderness adjacent to the Reserve. Guests staying in the small camps in the Conservancies find that on game drives the animal sightings and photo opportunities tend to have few other vehicles present. The conservancies offer a more private, exclusive wilderness experience (away from crowds of tourists) and they allow night game drives and walking safaris.

If you are booking a fly-in (air) safari your safari game drives will be operated by your chosen camp / lodge. Various types of vehicles are used for game drives, so do check with your sales consultant which type your chosen accommodation uses. These drives may be shared with other guests – typically maximum 6 per vehicle – and there may be the option to upgrade to a private vehicle.
If you are booking a road safari in Kenya you can choose between a 6 seater safari minivan or a closed-sided 4×4 vehicle – both have pop-up roofs giving passengers great photo opportunities. We always recommend a 4×4 safari vehicle in preference to the vans – it is worth the extra cost to be in a real safari vehicle and not in the vans favored by some of the cut-price tour companies!

Many visitors are surprised to find that on safari there are often not as many bugs as there are in their home countries in summer and frequently they tell us that they did not even see a mosquito on safari! However this is Africa and there are certainly many tropical insects in the country but most are quite harmless to humans and some of them are actually very interesting! During the rainy season there are often more insects in evidence especially after a shower of rain.

The lodges normally provide mosquito nets in the guest rooms but in the tented camps these are not needed if the tent is insect-proof with zipping doors and sewn in groundsheets. The important thing is to leave the lights switched off when you are out of the tent and always keep the doors zipped shut.
Most people on safari do not even see an insect in their lodge room or in their tent. If you notice a gecko (small lizard) in your lodge room, these are common and absolutely harmless so they can just be ignored, especially as they eat mosquitoes and bugs.

As for snakes, there are many species of snakes in East Africa, most of which are harmless to humans. Snakes are not often seen as they avoid being in the open where people are walking about and will almost always try to get away and to hide if they sense human footsteps approaching. Your guide may spot a snake and point it out from the safety of your vehicle when on a game drive but they are rarely seen in the grounds of the lodges or camps.

If you do see a snake, do not approach it – simply give it a wide berth and tell your guide or a member of staff at the camp. If left alone at a safe distance, snakes do not pose a danger.

Each camp and lodge varies with its exact schedule, but generally safaris follow a typical pattern with two main activities each day. Activities are mainly game drives and guided walks, but in some locations can include game viewing from a river.

The morning may begin with a hot drink and light snack before the first drive / activity which starts at or just after sunrise. There are great opportunities to see wildlife at this time since it is still fairly cool and animals are most active.

The morning activity usually ends by late morning with guests returning to the camp / lodge for breakfast / brunch.
Guests generally relax at the camp / lodge for the middle of the day. This is because the animals are quite inactive during the heat of the day – seeking shelter in the shade. Guests have lunch and enjoy the camp or lodge facilities (lounge / hammocks / swimming pool etc) or some properties offer short walks or visits to a hide.

The second main activity will follow afternoon tea (drink / snacks, etc) in the late afternoon and perhaps end at a scenic point to view the sunset. Some camps offer night drives after this. Guests later return to the camp / lodge for drinks and dinner.

The water in many cities and small towns is purified and safe to drink, but we recommend drinking bottled water / drinks which are readily available at hotels, camps and lodges.

First contact our team of travel experts who will help you plan your trip and will provide a quotation. You can use our simple online Booking Enquiry form or email us on contact@breathsaafaris.com. If you choose to proceed with a booking we will check availability at the hotels, camps and lodges and hold provisional bookings where possible. Reservations are confirmed on receipt of a 25% deposit, and final payment is due 60 days prior to the start of your arrangements. Payments can be made by debit / credit card (MasterCard, Visa) via our secure online payment system. Alternatively payments may be made by bank transfer or PayPal.

The food available at most camps and lodges is of good quality and with an international style. Breakfasts include cereals, fruit, cold meats, eggs, bacon, sausages etc and fresh bread. Lunches and dinners may include soups, salads, cold meats, pasta, meat & fish dishes and fresh fruits and vegetables. Larger lodges tend to offer a buffet selection.

Smaller camps have a more personal service with guests dining together communally. Some properties can offer bush breakfasts, picnic lunches and dinners for an experience of dining in the wild.

Mobile / cell phone coverage across Africa is generally quite good and even some of the main safari areas have a service. Your phone company will be able to tell you what service is provided in the countries you are visiting. If you use your phone during your safari please respect other guests and do not use the phone during game drives or speak loudly on your phone while in camp.

Yes, the camps and lodges have power – perhaps as solar lighting and / or a generator. The power may be switched off for part of the day. At small camps and lodges you may not be able to use a hairdryer or electric shaver but batteries can be charged either in your tent / room or in a communal area.

Your charger must be 220v or you will need to bring a transformer – though most electronic equipment now automatically converts from 110v to 220v. The required adaptor plugs are included in most international travel adaptor kits. For Kenya it is plug type G (the British-style 3 rectangular pin plug).

In the unlikely event of illness or injury our driver-guides and most camp / lodge staff are trained in first aid procedures. Medical travel insurance is a necessity and we recommend that you purchase a policy with a supplemental benefit for emergency medical evacuation.
In the event of a medical emergency an aircraft can be dispatched to lodges or camps. There are good quality medical facilities in the larger towns and cities should you require medical attention while on your trip.