AfricanOverlandTours.com BLOG

Hi everyone,

Great news for any last minute travellers we have a 20% off special on the following Nairobi to Livingstone Overland.

•  http://www.africanoverlandtours.com/african-overland-destination/east-africa/camping-tours/15-21-days/21-Days-Nairobi-to-Vic-Falls-Southern-Trails.php
• 03-Sep-08 23-Sep-08
•  Price is normally  2008 Price: ZAR 11 300 Local payment: $ 780
• But with the SPECIAL IT IS 9040 ZAR (plus the local payment of 780 USD)

Please submit the enquiry with the subject Southern Trails September Special

Hi everyone,

We have just been sent an awesome special for a very popular route. It is a  Nairobi to Victoria Falls/Livingstone Overland departing on the 3 September - 23-September-08. The reason for the trip is that a big group has unfortunately pulled out.

Normally the trip costs  ZAR 11 300 plus the local payment of $ 780 but we have a massive special of 9700 ZAR plus the local payment - 15% off the tour price.

• http://www.africanoverlandtours.com/african-overland-destination/east-africa/camping-tours/15-21-days/21-Days-Nairobi-to-Vic-Falls-Southern-Trails.php

The trip visits my personal favourites such as the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Zanzibar (all my top sites visited in Africa). Then the trip travels south to the peaceful country of Malawi, traveling down the inland sea that is Lake Malawi. After Malawi the trip travels west through Zambia to Livingstone for all your adventure activities.

All in all, an awesome trip at an awesome price.

For more details and to book email info@escape4africa.com

Safe travels!

Andrew Walton

www.africanoverlandtours.com

FERRY SCHEDULE (Dar to Zanzibar and vice versa)

Ferries (Daily departures from Dar es Salaam)  Time

From DAR to ZNZ

Flying Horse and Aziza                              1230 (slow ferry 3.5hours)

Sea Bus                                                    1400

Sea Bus                                                    1600

Sea Express                                              0730

Sea Star                                                    1030

Mega Speed                                               0730

Mega Speed departs 0930 HRS on Sundays from Dar.

Ferry Times as follows:

1^st Ferry leaving at 07:30 hrs be there at the port 30 minutes before departure times…speed ferry taking 2 hrs time…not less 40 $.

2^nd Ferry leaves at 10:00 hrs ..2 hrs time across.

3^rd  Ferry departs at 12:00 hrs…slow ferry…3 and half hrs time to Zanzibar.

4th’ Ferry departs at 14:00 hrs…2 hrs time across.

5^th  ferry departs at 16:00 hrs…2 hrs time…and this is the last ferry for the day.

Ferries (Daily departures from Dar es Salaam)  Time

From ZNZ to DAR

Flying Horse and Aziza                                2200

Sea Bus                                                     1400

Sea Bus                                                     1600

Sea Express                                               0730

Sea Star                                                     1030

Mega Speed                                               1400

Flying Horse and Azizi depart 2200HRs arrive Dar 0600HRS the following morning.

Price of the ferry from Dar es Salaam to Stonetown, Zanzibar: non-residents $20 inclusive of tax $5 for the slow ferry. The fast catamaran: $40 and $5 tax

Hope that helps with planning your Zanzibar arrival and departure.

Andrew

www.africanoverlandtours.com

We just received an update on gorilla permits for Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC.

Due to migrations of gorilla families between the Magahinga & Bwindi NP’s in Uganda, the Ruhengeri  NP in Rwanda & the Virunga NP in the DRC, gorilla trekking permits have had to be re-issued as some family groups that previously inhabited parks on one side of a country’s border, moved.

Below is an update on the current costs of the Gorilla Trek Excursion:

We have just received some great specials on some tours. Have a look!

13 Day Kenya & Tanzania Adventure

Departing 29 June 08

• 40% off the Tour Price

24 Day South East Adventure (Nairobi- Vic Falls )

Departing 13 July 08 and 13 August 08

• 20% off the Tour Price

31 Day South East Adventure ( Nairobi - JHB )

Departing 13 July 08 and 13 August 08

• 20% off the Tour Price

21 Day East African Explorer (Livingstone- Nairobi)

Departing 15 August 08

• 20% off the Tour Price

29 Day East African Explorer Johannesburg- Nairobi

Departing 07 August 08

• 20% off the Tour Price

13 Day Kenya & Tanzania Adventure

Departing 13 July 08, 20 July 08

• 20% off the Tour Price

21 Day Cape to Vic Falls -Southern Sun (Cape Town to Victoria Falls

Departing 31 August 2008

• Was 5890 NOW 5490 ZAR (plus local payment of 450 USD)

21 Day Cape to Vic Falls -Southern Sun (Cape Town to Victoria Falls)

Departing 28 September 2008

• Was 5890 ZAR NOW 5490 ZAR (plus local payment of 450 USD)

21 Day Cape to Vic Falls -Southern Sun (Cape Town to Victoria Falls)

Departing 26 October 2008

• Was 5890 NOW 5490 ZAR (plus local payment of 450 USD)

Victoria Falls to Cape Town (Reverse Direction)

Departing 19 October 2008

• Was 5890 NOW 5490 ZAR (plus local payment of 450 USD)

http://www.africanoverlandtours.com/african-overland-destination/southern-africa/camping-tours/15-21-days/21-Day-Cape-to-Vic-Falls-Southern-Sun.php

The first moment I set my eyes on the silverback and his family was a truly a breathtaking experience. You just can’t believe your eyes. I will never forget looking down from a cliff and seeing the beautiful animals below.

We trekked in the thick vegetation for 3 hours which was beautiful as we passed villages and saw how the locals live in the area. The walk is certainly for fit people and the length of the walk depends on where you go to see the gorillas on the day. Some people only walk for 30 minutes while other routes are longer, like mine was.

Make sure you carry at least a 1 litre of water as I didn’t have enough but my guide was so kind and offered his water. It is important to wear comfy trainers (not new ones as they will give you blisters and get ruined in the thick bush). Long trousers are necessary and a long, thin sleeve top. It will be hot and humid and depending on the time of the year you could be walking in the rain. Comfy longs socks which you must tuck your trousers into so that red ants don’t crawl up your legs, or you can wear gaters.

When you get to the gorillas you will be asked to sit down and you will spend an hour with them. When I was there a big mom came over to see us with her baby. It was just amazing and our guide told us to look down and never in the eyes. While we were sitting there a gorilla toddler (probably 8 months old) came running up to us and started beating on his chest like Tarzan. Such a show off!

It was honestly one of the best experiences in my life. They were just so huge and so gentle, and I was amazed that they allowed us to witness an hour of their every day life.

Just to let you know the permit (currently 500-600 USD) goes to the park and the preservation of the gorillas. Minimum age is 16 but I recommend 18 to be the minimum.

Here are a few budget trips that visit the gorillas. We also have upmarket Rwanda Gorilla treks that allow for multiple gorilla treks.

14 Day Gorillas and Game Parks Safari

14 Day Masai Mara and Gorillas

14 Day Gorilla Encounter * Special *

Gelle

www.africanoverlandtours.com

Hi everyone,

This is a question we get asked loads. For me personally, the present is always the best time to go on an africa overland to East Africa but naturally for all of us our diaries and holidays don’t allow for us to close the laptop and hit the road.

Thanks to the size and unique areas in East Africa means that it is a year round destination. Let me highlight the best time to visit certain areas.

Best times to visit Tanzania:

Jul-Aug: During this time, the weather is cool. Dry season parks, like Tarangire, are at their prime. This is the best time to visit the Serengeti because during the height of the dry season, almost all the animals will go away on their own holiday in Kenya’s Masai Mara.
June- October allows is great for Zanzibar as the tempreture is around 28 degrees
December to mid March is the calving season in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater which is has amazing game viewing.

Best times to visit Kenya:

July to August: During this time the migration crosses the Mara River where the animals stay in the Masai Mara until November (short rain season) before heading south back into the Serengeti.
Jan – Feb. Most people find the hot, dry weather during this time the most pleasant in comparison to the rest of the year’s weather.

This is also the best time for bird watching, as bird in huge numbers flock to the lakes. Nakuru is a hit with the flamingos.

Best times to go to Uganda:

June – Sept: This is a very dry period. April to October brings the rains which isn’t ideal.

I hope that gives you some insight.

If you have any questions please feel free to drop us an email on info@escape4africa.com

Andrew Walton

www.africanoverlandtours.com

SAA has just started daily flights between  Johannesburg and Entebbe, Uganda. Great news for combining South Africa or Vic Falls safari with a gorilla trek in Uganda.

Andrew

 www.africanoverlandtours.com

Yesterday was a great day for East Africa and Kenya! Kofi Annnan brokered a power-sharing agreement with a coalition government of the 2 main parties. Have a look at the news link .

This wonderful news and a we are looking forward to the country returning back to the Kenya we love.

Andrew

 www.africanoverlandtours.com 

Hi Gelle,

Thanks for checking up on us! Dina and I had a wonderful time in Uganda and Tanzania. In Uganda, we were within three meters of a gorilla family, including the silverback. The experience was unforgettable! The accomodations were nice, especially a lake resort on Lake Bunyonyi. And our driver, Enoch, was wonderful.

In the Serengeti, we saw tons of animals, with the exception of leopards. On the other hand, we saw eleven cheetahs, which was wonderful. Ngorongoro felt like another world–Dina called it “Eden,”
which I think is pretty accurate. And our driver there, John, was really wonderful and knowledgeable.

We had a wonderful time. Everything went smoothly and was very enjoyable. Thank you so much for your help! Whenever I have the opportunity to recommend you and Escape 4 Africa, I will!

Wishing you the best,
Dustin

USA

Reply from client Dina to Gelle on the same trip.

Hi Gelle

Yes thanks again for everything. We had a truly spectacular trip and everyone is amazed we managed to do it so easily.

Thank you again,

Dina

USA

www.africanoverlandtours.com