Frequently asked questions

Send us an enquiry through the website, WhatsApp or call us on +254 755 721 184, or email [email protected]. Tell us the trip, your dates and how many people are travelling. We'll confirm availability and send a written quote. When you're happy, pay the deposit shown on the quote and we'll send your booking confirmation.

As early as you can for peak periods: July to October for safaris, school holidays, Easter and Christmas on the coast, and international trips that need visas. Three to six months ahead gives you the best choice of lodges, hotels and flights. Outside peak times, a few weeks is often enough, and we can sometimes arrange short-notice trips.

Most of our trips depart from Mombasa or Nairobi, and each package page shows its departure points. Coast safaris such as Tsavo leave from Mombasa, while the Maasai Mara and Lake Naivasha trips start in Nairobi, and Mombasa guests can connect by SGR or flight. Guests already in the UAE can book Dubai excursions through our Dubai desk on +971 56 631 2154.

Yes. Our tailor-made service builds trips from scratch, whether that's safari and beach combined, a honeymoon, a family reunion or a multi-country holiday. Tell us where you'd like to go, your dates, who's travelling and your budget, and we'll send a day-by-day plan you can adjust until it feels right.

Yes. We arrange travel for families, churches, schools, chamas, sports teams and companies, including conferences, team retreats and incentive trips. Group bookings can include shared transport, room blocks, rooming lists and one payment plan for the whole group. Contact us with the group size and dates, and we'll send a group quote.

Children are very welcome on most of our trips. Child rates depend on the hotel, lodge, airline and park, and each sets its own age limits, so share your children's ages when you enquire. Very young children often travel at a reduced rate or free, while older children may pay adult rates for some services.

Most hotel and lodge prices are quoted per person sharing a double or twin room. If you travel alone and want a room to yourself, the hotel charges an extra amount, called a single supplement, because the room is priced for two. We'll show it clearly on your quote, and we can sometimes suggest properties where it is lower.

Let us know in writing as soon as possible. Changes and cancellations are handled under our booking conditions, which explain the charges that apply depending on how close to departure you cancel. Some costs, such as certain flight tickets, visas and park fees, may be non-refundable once paid. Travel insurance can protect you against these costs.

A deposit secures your booking, and the amount depends on the trip and on what our suppliers require. It is shown on your quote and confirmation. The balance is then due before departure by the date stated on your booking. Some services, such as flights or peak-season rooms, may need to be paid in full straight away.

Lipa Polepole means 'pay slowly'. It lets you secure a trip with a deposit and then pay the balance in flexible instalments that suit your income, as long as the full amount is paid before you travel. It's a practical way to plan a holiday months ahead. We'll agree your payment dates in writing when you book.

You can pay by M-Pesa, bank transfer or card. The payment details are shown on your invoice. Before sending money, confirm the details with us by phone on +254 755 721 184, and keep your M-Pesa message or bank slip. We'll send a receipt for every payment, including each Lipa Polepole instalment.

Kenya's national parks, reserves and many hotels charge different rates for Kenyan citizens, East African and Kenyan residents, and international visitors. Park entry fees make up a large part of a safari's cost, so the difference shows clearly in the package price. To get citizen or resident rates, carry your national ID, passport or alien card, as gates and hotels check it.

On our safaris it usually means transport, accommodation, meals, park entry fees, game drives, a driver-guide and drinking water, as listed on each package. It doesn't normally cover drinks from the bar, tips, optional activities such as balloon safaris or village visits, or travel insurance. Always check the inclusions and exclusions on the package page and your quote.

Pack light, neutral-coloured clothes, a fleece or jacket for chilly early mornings, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellent. Bring comfortable closed shoes, binoculars, a camera with spare batteries, any medication, and a refillable water bottle, since single-use plastics are banned in Kenya's parks. Use a soft bag if you're flying to an airstrip, and keep your ID handy.

Yes. The Madaraka Express runs between Mombasa and Nairobi several times a day, and many of our Mombasa guests use it to join Nairobi safaris such as the Maasai Mara or Lake Naivasha. We usually recommend travelling the day before your safari starts. We can book your train tickets and a Nairobi hotel together with your trip.

We strongly recommend it for every trip, and for some it's required. Schengen visa applications need medical travel insurance, and Zanzibar requires all foreign visitors to buy its own inbound insurance before arrival. A good policy covers medical treatment, evacuation, cancellation and baggage. We can arrange cover with your booking.

It depends on where you're going. Carry a yellow fever certificate if you have one, because Tanzania, Zanzibar, Singapore and some other countries can ask for it from travellers coming from Kenya. Speak to a doctor or travel clinic a few weeks before you travel about malaria prevention and routine vaccines, particularly for safari areas and the coast.

Most visitors need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), approved before travel and applied for online at etakenya.go.ke. Since 2025, citizens of East African Community partner states and most African countries, except Somalia and Libya, are exempt. Processing typically takes about three working days, so apply at least a week before you fly. Rules can change, so check the official site.

Yes. We process UAE tourist visas, help Kenyans with Turkey's e-visa where they qualify or with the embassy application where they don't, and guide you through Schengen and UK applications, including documents, appointments, flight and hotel reservations and insurance. The embassy always makes the final decision, so apply early and give yourself time.

No. As East African Community citizens, Kenyans can visit Tanzania and Zanzibar without a visa. You do need a valid passport, your yellow fever certificate, and for Zanzibar the mandatory inbound travel insurance, bought online before you arrive. Other nationalities usually need a Tanzania visa, which we can advise on when you book.

Yes, when you follow your guide's instructions. Stay inside the vehicle during game drives unless your guide says it's safe to get out, keep your voice down near animals and never feed wildlife. At camps and lodges, follow the staff's advice about walking after dark. Your driver-guide will brief you on the park rules at the start of the trip.

Use the same common sense you would anywhere. Keep valuables out of sight, use registered taxis or arranged transfers at night, and keep copies of your passport and tickets separate from the originals. Only buy excursions from your hotel or a trusted operator, and agree prices before you go. Save our number in case you need help during your trip.

Contact us on +254 755 721 184 by call or WhatsApp, or, if you're in the UAE, our Dubai desk on +971 56 631 2154. We'll work with the hotel, lodge, airline or driver to sort it out. For medical emergencies, contact your insurer's emergency line first, which is printed on your policy.