Kenya has magnificent game reserves with the Maasai Mara being one of the top favourites. There are opportunities for hot air balloon safaris, horse-riding and traditional game drives. For the adventurous, there are wonderful opportunities to go on organised hikes such as Mount Kenya. This is a bustling destination so careful planning is crucial to avoid the crowds. It is a great option for families wanting to self-cater and travel with a guide and 4 x 4 vehicle. Amboseli National Park is the stomping ground of one of the highest concentrations of elephants in Africa, with big tuskers in the mix.

How to get around: Nairobi is your main port of entry into Kenya, although some charter airlines are now flying direct onto the coastal town of Mombasa. There are exceptional places to stay in and around the capital before your fly-in safari to your first destination from Wilson airport. With good air connections to all the main safari hubs in Kenya, lodge to lodge air safaris are the best bet. If you want a double dose of migration, the Serengeti in Tanzania is a flight from the Mara, with just a short customs’ stop at the border. We do offer more budget road safaris too.

Rwanda has undergone massive development over the last five years and is well-positioned to offer remarkable gorilla trekking experiences in the Volcanoes National Park. A lesser-known national park, Akagera makes for a traditional wildlife safari; as it is still relatively undeveloped, it would be a perfect combination with a gorilla trek in Volcanoes. For the adventurist, the country’s lakes and mountains offer rewarding hikes and kayak safaris. The Rwanda government aims to make its country a low impact eco destination.

How to get around: Kigali, the capital, is your entry point for Rwanda which is well served by several European and Eastern airlines. Getting around to the different parts of this diverse country is normally a mix of land transfers in 4 x 4 vehicles and helicopter. Scheduled flights with Rwanda Air also serve the south western region.

You cannot beat Tanzania for the perfect bush and beach safari! The charter airline network is extensive so you can be in the Serengeti in the morning and then relax on a white sandy beach in Zanzibar by the afternoon. The more popular parks like the Serengeti, Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater often overshadow the equally phenomenal wildlife spots of Selous, Ruaha and Mikumbi national parks. Did we also mention climbing Mount Kilimanjaro? Yes, we arrange these treks too.

How to get around: Dar Es Salaam, the capital and Kilimanjaro are your 2 main entry points into Tanzania and both are served by many international airlines. Zanzibar too has good air connections so you can fly into Kilimanjaro to start your game safari and fly out of Zanzibar after a few restful days on the beach. Lodge to lodge safaris are either by air (there are many scheduled and charter airlines flying the skies) or by road in specially equipped 4 x 4 vehicles or a mixture of both.

Less known for its general wildlife and more so for its gorilla trekking safaris, Uganda is our top choice principally because the trek permits are half the price of its neighbours. What’s more, you have the opportunity to encounter many other primates, enjoy fabulous birding (we know where to find the elusive Shoebill) and boat up the Nile to see Murchison’s Falls. Ishasha is quieter than its crowded mother park, Queen Elizabeth. Semuliki and Kidepo national parks are special and more off the beaten tracks. Kidepo is your destination for cheetah; for gorillas, Ruhija is less congested than Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

How to get around: Entebbe, is serviced by several European, Middle Eastern and African airlines and a stopover in Entebbe on the shores of Lake Victoria or in the capital, Kampala, is highly recommended. Scheduled air links to many parts of Uganda with Aerolink, combined with road transfers in comfortable 4 x 4 vehicles, are the way to get around.  We plan your safari to make the most of the destinations of what is affectionately called the ‘Pearl of Africa’.

For those travellers wanting to combine both Southern and Eastern Africa in one extraordinary safari, new air routes make this so easy and we can help you plan this African trip so that it is as seamless as possible.