Kenya Safari Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time to travel?
Africa is truly a year-round destination for luxury safari travel. No matter when you are planning to travel, you will find a place in Africa that is perfect for that time of year. Generally, though, dry season is the best time for game-viewing and this takes place at slightly different times in different parts of Africa. For East Africa, the dry season is generally from July through October, while in Southern Africa it is a little longer: April through October. Please keep in mind that these are the peak seasons, so it is essential that you book well in advance during these months.
Do I need visas?
Visas are required for entry into Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. Visas for entry into Zimbabwe and Zambia can be obtained upon arrival. For U.S. passport holders, visas are not required for travel to South Africa, Botswana, and shorter stays in Zanzibar. Information on how to obtain your visas as well as a “visa kit” will be sent to you in plenty of time to obtain your visas before your departure. We will work with travellers who are not U.S. or Canadian citizens to obtain visa information specific to your citizenship.
What sort of food can I expect?
From the moment you arrive, your meals are included and each is a delight. Our lodges offer continental cuisine, in addition to local specialties to appeal to a wide range of palates. Nairobi boasts a variety of mouth-watering regional specialties, in addition to exceptional French cuisine, Indian curries and the ever-abundant fresh fish and game. South African specialties are derived from Indonesian cuisine with mildly spicy Malay dishes popular around Cape Town. In the bush, the quality of the cuisine in lodges and camps is superb. Meats, vegetables and fruits arrive daily, fresh from the surrounding area’s rich farmlands.
How is the weather?
East and Southern Africa enjoy glorious climates and both can accurately be called year-round destinations. In Kenya and Tanzania, a blissful 70 degrees Fahrenheit greets the day and rarely does the temperature vary throughout the year. The elevated altitudes keep temperatures comfortable, even calling for sweaters and jackets every evening and morning. Temperature variance is determined more by region than by season: upcountry areas such as Mount Kenya and the Aberdares at 7,000 feet can be cool, while the drier bush country is warmer and the sea level regions of Mombasa and Zanzibar quite tropical.
What immunizations are required?
In many cases, you won’t need any immunizations at all! For example, no immunizations are required to enter Kenya if arriving from the United States, Canada or Europe. We will address topics such as immunizations and general health considerations prior to your safari, however, please consult your local immunization clinic before you travel. It is always wise to carefully assess your health requirements before travelling abroad.
What is the minimum age for children?
Our family safaris are made for children, and other safaris can usually be tailored to accommodate any age. Call us at +254 722 456 190 to discuss which safari is right for you.
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Kenya Suggested Safari Packages
10 Days Kenya Bush and Beach Safari
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12 Days Kenya Family Safari
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12 Days Kenya Luxury Safari
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8 Days Kenya Honeymoon Safari
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13 Days Kenya Honeymoon Safari
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8 Days Kenya Luxury Safari
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8 Days Mara Migration Safari
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8 Days Masai Mara Fly-in Safari
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Tailor-Made Tour
First time on Safari?
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A new way to create your safari. African travel is opening up to the world. Create your first trip here and let us know what you think. You can trust our insightful team of travel experts to design a first time safari that experience in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda….
Highly recommended! Joseph created a fantastic, customized tour for my family. He listened to our many criteria and put together a wonderful package. He was always available and very responsive. Since we were on a safari that utilized flights within Kenya, there was no opportunity to enjoy Joseph's company (as others have commented). However, he made it a point to come to the airport at the start of our adventure and make sure we were all set. This was a small gesture that epitomized his character (I don't think this would have happened with a large tour provider). March 2023
This was our first safari and such an unforgettable experience. Communication with Joseph, the tour operator, was quick and easy. The proposed itinerary he provided was informative and we were able to easily modify it before finalizing everything. We enjoyed all the places we stayed at and there was something unique about each one. The game drives were just wow (super sawa sawa!). The tour guides/drivers (John in Kenya and Rajam in Tanzania) put in a lot of effort in finding the animals at the top of our list (leopard, rhino, calves, as well as a cheetah hunt and the most awesome selfie with an elephant). Each game drive was unique. There were so many encounters that left us awestruck—we’re still ooh ahhh-ing over our pictures and processing everything we experienced. Joseph was with us for the whole trip; he was quite knowledgeable about birds, which was a bonus. He also assisted with logistics (providing documents quickly for visas needed prior to arrival, getting us through border crossings, and arranging dinner reservations at a restaurant we wanted to go to prior to taking us to the airport). This was one of the best experiences we’ve ever had and we have White Plains Safaris to thank for that. They are reliable, prompt, friendly, and well worth the money. February 2023
Our experience with White Plains Safaris and Joseph was amazing! The service was impeccable since the very beginning: during the reservation process, Joseph was extremely helpful, flexible and very honest. After booking, he supported us in any way he could, including paying for our Visas as we had some issues doing that online by ourselves! He was also very helpful in creating the itinerary, which proved to be amazing as it offered great game drives and diversity of landscape. Things kept being perfect throughout our trip; the accommodations he had reserved were very nice and always positioned perfectly, to avoid extra driving. During the game drives he was very accommodating and always asking for our feedback to make sure we had the best time. He brought us in amazing spots thanks to his unstoppable Land Cruiser and we got to see many animals including 3 leopards from very close! We also enjoyed his company very much and he was always able to answer our questions and providing interesting insights on the animals, the parks and Kenya in general. We always felt safe and well taken care of, so I would (and will) strongly recommend Joseph and White Plains to anyone looking for a good time in Kenya and Tanzania. January 2023
White Plains Safari provided me with an incredible experience, they were really easy people to get to know and it felt like I had made another friend at the end of my trip. Their service was excellent, they were really outgoing and did their ultimate best to show us everything they could, even if it meant going out of their way in order to do so, they were very reliable and I personally had no concerns regarding their reliability. In terms of the tour itself, I would one hundred percent recommend my trip to Kenya to anyone, especially with White Plains Safaris. White Plains Safaris helped make my trip an experience I will never forget. May 2022
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Milan Nanavati, USA
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Esperanza Florendo, USA
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Matteo Fogli, Germany
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Shaun, Great Britain