Please note: We are not able to match people up in twin share rooms.

If you haven't pre booked your arrival transfer the best way to get to the Hotel Boulevard is via a local taxi firm at the Nairobi airport called Venture Africa. There is a circular wooden desk in the arrivals hall with the VENTURE AFRICA sign. You can’t miss it, as Nairobi airport is quite small. The transfer will cost you approx USD$20. Ignore all the other taxi drivers who are shouting ‘Taxi! Taxi!’ and make your way to the desk. Kumuka passengers have been using Venture Africa for many years and it is a reliable, friendly firm.

The itinerary for this tour must remain flexible to allow the best chance of seeing the gorillas.

Nairobi And Lake Nakuru National Park. We depart Nairobi at 10.00am to Lake Nakuru National Park. This journey goes via the Masai escarpment, which provides spectacular views of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Nakuru National Park is famous for its large population of pink flamingos, which featured in the movie “Out of Africa”. Aside from flamingos, Lake Nakuru boasts a sizeable population of rhinos, both black and white. The more sociable white rhino is a common sight seen grazing on the open plains. However, its less sociable cousin, the black rhino, often remains hidden in the dense bush. Although not native to this park they were introduced here because the park offered good security from poachers, and they are being used in a breeding program to maintain and improve the rhino population and gene pool. This park also has lion, leopard, buffalo, plains game (gazelle, antelope, and giraffe) and a large diverse bird population, which was the original reason the park was established. We camp in the Park, which gives us the thrill of hearing the night sounds of some of Africa’s famous wild beasts.

Kampala-Kibale And Lake Bunyoni. From Kampala we head out to the western part of the country where we see the gorillas. We set up camp at Lake Bunyoni and use this as a base for the gorilla visits. Lake Bunyoni is a great place to spend a few days swimming, walking, canoeing (in traditional dug out canoes, not as easy as it looks!) whilst looking forward to your trip to the gorillas or reflecting on the time you have spent with them. The fact that permits to see the gorillas are restricted can mean that it will take a few days for everyone with permits to see them.

Kampala And Bujagali Falls/Jinja. Leaving Kibale we head back to Kampala. The following day we take a short drive (approx 3 hours) to Bujagali Falls near Jinja where we have the optional excursion of white water rafting on the Nile River, quad biking or volunteer at the Soft Power Education Project. There are some excellent walks either by the Nile or in the local villages.

Naivasha And Masai Mara. From Lake Naivasha we head into the Masai Mara, one of Africa’s premier game parks. The Masai Mara has large herds of plains game (gazelle, antelope, and giraffe) which in turn attract large numbers of carnivores (lion, cheetah, hyena and the ever elusive leopard). In the Masai Mara we do two game drives, one evening drive and one early the following morning. In most national parks it is forbidden to drive at night so all game viewing is done as early and as late as possible to get the best conditions. Looking for game in a National park is not always easy. This is one of the advantages of using a truck, which gives us superior height, making it easier to see over the surrounding terrain. Game parks are places where the enthusiast tends to use a lot of film so it’s advisable to have some extra on hand.

Arusha And The Ngorongoro Crater. Arusha is situated on the southern slopes of Mt Meru and was originally a coffee town. Safaris have now taken over as the town’s big earner. In Arusha we transfer into smaller 4 wheel drive vehicles to transfer to Karatu, where we spend the night.

Karatu is a small trading town on the edge of the Ngorongoro Conservation area. The following morning we head into the Ngorongoro Crater National Park. We descend onto the Crater floor for an early morning game drive in one of the most stunning natural wonders of the world. At 19Kms across and 600m deep this is the 5th largest crater in the world. It is a world heritage site and boasts a unique ecosystem. The crater itself reflects a mini rift valley. It has a soda lake with flamingos, fresh water, open plains, and a forest area. There is a high concentration of animals here, and it is also a home to a small population of black rhino. We spend around 4½ hours game driving around the crater. We use smaller vehicles to visit the park, as the walls of the extinct volcano that form the crater, are too steep to be negotiated by large vehicles. After the Game drive we head back to Arusha.

Dar-Es-Salam And Zanzibar.  Dar es Salaam (meaning “haven of peace” in Swahili) is on the Indian Ocean and we spend a night here before heading to Zanzibar.

For most of our passengers Zanzibar is a real highlight of their tour.  There actually two islands which make up the exotic archipelago of Zanzibar, these are Uguja and Pemba.  We travel to the larger island, Uguja, by ferry from tropical Dar es Salaam.  This journey takes 3 to 4  hours. Conditions are usually smooth but beware of the occasional day with rolling seas!.  Look out for dolphins en route.

Zanzibar is known as the Spice Island, reflecting the great variety of produce  planted here by the original Omani settlers. Take a spice tour and test the claim that Zanzibar has the sweetest pineapple in the world.  Explore Stone Town with its labyrinth of walled streets and soak up the Arabic architecture and giant elephant-proof doors.  Pause a moment at the peace memorial, erected as a somber reminder of the sadder side of Zanibar's slave trading past.  Shop for a variety of locally made crafts and world famous Tinga art.  For beach lovers we recommend travelling out of town and relaxing on the isolated beaches, perhaps enjoy a beachside massage or some traditional hair braiding or henna painting. Try snorkelling with dolphins, scuba diving or visit the giant land tortoises of nearby Prison Island.  

If you enjoy food then Zanzibar is the place to be.  There is a huge choice of African, Indian and Arabic fare with lots of seafood washed down with sugar cane juice whilst watching another perfect sunset.  Also try the candlelit night markets serving traditional snacks. 

We generally spend 3 to 4 days on the island.  Accommodation is not included and this is to give you a degree of choice.  Some passengers like to stay together as a group in budget accommodation, (25-35 USD per person per night), other people like to use the opportunity to spoil themselves in an up market beach retreat.  Therefore we recommend that your budget around U$300-400 for you stay on Zanzibar to cover accommodation, food, transport around the island, drinks and souvenirs.  Please note that this is a recommendation only as different passengers have widely differing spending patterns.

Malawi And Lake Malawi Beaches. Malawi is a small country in central southern Africa and is dominated by water and mountainous regions. More than 30% of the country’s landmass comprises of Lake Malawi. On our trip through Malawi we visit a number of the small bays along the lakeshore. Snorkelling and diving are available or people can just swim and laze about on the beaches. There is also ample time to visit local villages and the local markets which abound with woodcarvings, the most famous of these being large carved chairs. These chairs have proved very popular with our clients over the years, only to become a problematic purchase when the time comes to send such a large object home.

Livingstone And Victoria Falls. Victoria Falls, known locally as “Mosi oa Tunya”, “the smoke that thunders”, is one of the world’s natural wonders, though they are neither the highest nor the widest of the world’s waterfalls. They do, however, create a visual spectacle as they cut a massive gorge in the earth and crash 111 metres to the river below. This gorge actually forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia and the initial part of our stay we spend on the Zambian side.

Here we have the option to do an evening river cruise on the Upper (above the falls) Zambezi River, which takes about 3 hrs with drinks included. On the Zimbabwe side there are a wide variety of optional activities, the most famous being White Water rafting on the Lower Zambezi. This excursion takes a full day and has 14 plus rapids none below grade 4 (rapids are graded from 1 to 6). Please note that at certain times of the year the rafting may be restricted or even closed due to high water levels (March – May). Bungy jumping is also an option for all those who wish to throw themselves 111 metres head first off a perfectly good bridge. Another optional activity is Jet Boating, imported and improved on from New Zealand. Various flights are on offer, including light fixed wing aircraft, helicopter, microlight and ultralight, all offering wonderful viewing of the falls. As well as these, there is horse riding, elephant riding and canoeing, not to mention a walk to the falls themselves. Videos and still photographs are available for purchase of most activities, and are a great reminder of your adrenaline filled visit to the mighty Victoria Falls and Zambezi River

At Victoria Falls some members of the group may be transferring to other tours. There may also be new members joining for the last week of the tour to Johannesburg.

NB Please note that entrance (approximately 20 USD) to Mosi oa Tunya (Victoria Falls) National Park is not included in your tour price.

Maun And The Okavango Delta.  From Chobe we will drive along the edge of the Makgadikgadi pans to the town of Maun.  We will stop in town to restock and prepare for our trip into the Okavango Delta.

The Okavango Delta is formed by the Okavango River, which flows into the desert and disappears as it fans out to form the Delta. We go into the ‘the Delta’ for 3 days (2 nights) and camp in the bush usually on the banks of one of the many fresh water channels that give life to the flora and fauna. Our method of transport is 4 wheel drive vehicles and Makoro (meaning ‘dug out canoe’ in Setswana). The Makoros are traditionally made of wood but as they come to the end of their serviceable life, fibreglass canoes are now replacing them. These are not quite as authentic but building the old canoes uses a whole tree and the environment is beginning to suffer. Each makoro is piloted by a ‘poler’, who helps set up camp & take guided bush walks…he/she will also always be ready for a chat and a cup of tea with you around the fire. We take all our own equipment and food and bring it all back out (including the rubbish), showing our understanding of the fragility of the Delta. The Okavango Delta region is one of the world’s last remaining true wilderness areas and is home to a vast amount of animals. It is possible to take some walks to try to see them or, if you are lucky, they will wander pass close to camp. As you retire to your tent for the night, the sounds and smells of the African bush will leave an indelible mark on your senses like no other.

From the Delta we continue to Kasane and the adjoining Chobe National Park in northern Botswana. At Chobe we usually go on a 3 hour sunrise game drive in open sided 4x4’s and a 3 hour sunset boat cruise. Both the boat cruise and the game drive (and the resident 50000+ elephants) give us great game viewing opportunities in one of the largest parks in southern Africa.

AFRICA CENTRE LODGE

65 Sunny Road

Lakefield - Benoni

Johannesburg1501

South Africa      Tel/fax:  (+27 11) 894 4857    Tel: (+27 11) 894 7887

Kumuka can make post tour bookings on your behalf, please contact your agent or Kumuka should you wish to organise this.

All optional excursions, visas and meals unless otherwise stated in the itinerary.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours. All clients MUST be insured to cover personal accident, medical expenses, cancellation, curtailment and repatriation. It is also very important that your insurance policy is relevant to the Kumuka style of travel. Kumuka offers a specially negotiated insurance policy specifically tailored to adventure travel. As well as providing substantial cover for medical emergency, cancellation and curtailment, personal luggage, money and valuables and legal expenses, this insurance will also provide cover for the adventure activities you may choose to undertake whilst on tour. Please call us on the Kumuka freephone number 0800 068 8855 (UK only), or on 1300 667 277 in Australia, for further information.

No client will be allowed on tours without suitable insurance. If you have already arranged insurance elsewhere, please be aware that many of the optional activities such as bungy jumping or water rafting may not be covered on your policy. If you plan on doing any of these activities please purchase additional insurance.

At the start of your tour you will be asked to present your original policy document and complete an insurance information form. We recommend that you have a photocopy of this document, which you keep separate from the original.

Please note: you will not be permitted to join a Kumuka Tour without travel insurance.

Many nationalities are able to obtain visas at the local borders or point of entry. It is important that you obtain the appropriate information about your visas before you embark on your Africa trip. Country entry regulations change daily, www.kumuka.com provides you with visa information. Please also consult your relevant embassy for all details on whether to obtain visas in advance or locally.

EACH CLIENT IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING ALL NECESSARY VISAS FOR THEIR TOUR.

Kumuka does not accept responsibility for changes in regulations or requirements for visas. The information provided is given in good faith.

Anti-malaria tablets are essential. Get professional advice from your GP or Travel Clinic about types of tablets, as resistant strains exist. These tablets may need to be taken at least 1 week before travelling to Africa, during your travels and sometimes for 4 weeks after leaving a malaria area. DO NOT forget to follow your prescribed routine. DO NOT CHANGE THE ROUTINE, once prescribed by your Doctor. As there is considerable resistance in parts of Africa, the only effective prevention is to NOT get bitten. Dusk till dawn is the time when mosquito's bite therefore, always protect your self with repellents and long clothing during this time. Malaria is the most common serious ailment that affects our clients; do not expose yourself to unnecessary risk.

• Do not take unnecessary valuables with you.
• A money belt, or something similar, worn close to your body is the best way to carry passports, airline tickets and money.
• DO NOT leave any valuables in ANY hotel room in Africa, please use SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES. Likewise do not leave your valuables in your tent - there is a safe available on the truck.
• Pickpockets operate everywhere, particularly in tourist areas and in crowded markets; you must always exercise care.
• Be aware that anything left lying around will also be liable to theft.
• Kumuka vehicles have secure doors but it is never foolish to be cautious.

We suggest passengers budget for between US$75-115 per week for personal expenses, souvenirs, evening out, alcoholic drinks etc. Be aware that some countries are more expensive than others and that if you are travelling through several your expenses will vary enormously. Similarly there will be some days when you spend nothing at all and others when you exceed your budget.

Your money should be taken in a combination of Cash and Travellers Cheques (we suggest ¼ Travellers Cheques and ¾ US Dollars cash). These should be carried in a mixture of denominations. In some cases your crew will recommend you only change a small amount of money, however in countries such as Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania the exchange rate is higher for large denomination notes.

Please note that we are advising passengers to take a limited number of US$100 and US$50 notes to Africa and no US$ notes issued prior to 2000. This is due to recent cases of counterfeit bank notes. Cash is generally easier to exchange, however it is safer to carry some traveller’s cheques in case of theft or loss. Travellers must produce their sales advice slip and their passport or a photocopy of their passport when cashing travellers cheques.

Credit Cards are not acceptable in many places and should only be relied upon in capital cities and in Southern Africa; they are, however, useful in case of emergency. We recommend Visa.  Mastercard can be difficult to use in some countries in Africa especially Uganda & Kenya. 

Expenditure in Zimbabwe using Travellers cheques or Credit cards usually avoids 15% sales tax normally charged; however, recent (Sept 2001) developments in Zimbabwe have created uncertainty in the exchange rate used on credit cards we recommend taking US cash only for Zimbabwe. Please note Scottish Pound notes are NOT accepted in Africa.

Please do NOT rely on using ATMs. They are not widely available or reliable though this situation is slowly changing.

Please Note: If your tour starts in Victoria Falls you should not change any US dollars until you have spoken with your tour leader.

How much should I take?

• The best rule for packing is to limit your self to a weight limit of 15 KGs. It will inconvenience you and your fellow passengers if you bring more. If your luggage does not arrive at the airport, please inform your crew at the Pre Departure Meeting.
• A frameless or internally framed backpack is the best way to carry your belongings since it is easy to lift on and off vehicles. Please note that we do not recommend that passengers bring suitcases.
• A small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) at hand when your main pack is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions. This can also be used for carrying 2 days of clothing so it is not always necessary to unload the large backpacks every night.
• Sleeping Bag - (You will need a sub zero sleeping bag, if climbing Kilimanjaro).
• Inner Sheet - for your sleeping bag. Can also be used as a sleeping bag when it's hot.
• Sleeping Mat - A self-inflating mat. "Thermarest" is best, although a compressed foam mat is adequate.
• Mosquito Net -if you wish to sleep outdoors. All tents have built in mosquito nets. Nets can be obtained cheaply in Nairobi and other parts of Africa.
• We also recommend that you keep your passport, credit cards travellers cheques etc. on you at all times, preferably in a money belt worn under your clothes.

You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!!

Africa has some of the most spectacular photographic opportunities in the world. To capture these scenes you will need to bring a camera with a good zoom lens. For game photography, a 200mm lens or higher is recommended. Tripods tend to be bulky and cumbersome and a versatile beanbag is a good substitute.

Print film is available in most of Africa, however quality may fluctuate and your choice will be limited to 100 or 400 ASA. Therefore, if you intend using black and white or slide film it is better to stock up before you leave - as a guideline, most people use approximately one to two rolls of 36 per week. Filters and other accessories should also be obtained prior to departure. We do not recommend that you develop your film whilst in East Africa, as the standards vary considerably and are often unreliable.

Important – Protect your camera from the elements, particularly dust, as getting your camera repaired will be impossible in most places.

Please remember, we are guests in the countries through which we travel and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs without first asking permission. It is absolutely forbidden by law to take photos at any borders, as they are all active military installations.

We have put a lot of thought and effort into locating the most appropriate type of accommodation for each tour. Overland tours will spend the majority of time in campsites and occasionally hotels/hostels as it is much more appropriate to the overland style of travel.

The more you put into your tour the greater the experience you will get from your trip. It is all about participation and mucking in with your fellow passengers!

Participation is a key factor on a tour of this nature and everyone is expected to pull their weight and get involved with the daily duties (e.g. cooking, cleaning and food shopping). The most successful trips are those where people become involved.

This is not only the best way to get to know your fellow passengers, while cooking dinner or flapping the dishes dry, but also the local people while you are putting your bartering skills to the test at the local markets!

For many tipping is a means of supplementing their wage and is a normal part of payment for goods and services. Be sure to keep small denomination notes or coins on you to avoid embarrassment. Sales and service taxes are imposed in some restaurants and bars.

Bargaining is also expected and in all markets prices are inflated to accommodate such a practice. Rule of thumb is to cut the offer in half and work upwards. This can sometimes be hard work but do not let yourself be intimidated by stallholders, you can always say no and walk away.

Kumuka endeavours to advertise a compliment of optional activities available locally during tours with selected ground handlers to make your tour more enjoyable. These ground handlers and activity partners are selected for their standards in quality, professional ability and reputation. Whereas, Kumuka has developed a travel insurance policy to cover all activities offered during your journey, Kumuka can not be held responsible for injuries or claims arising from adventurous activities by third party.Below is a list of optional excursions available at your expense on your African tour. Please note that these are intended as a guide only and prices and availability cannot be guaranteed. Your tour leader will be able to organise any optional excursions on your behalf. The list below is by no means comprehensive. There will be many other optional activities available. All activities are undertaken at passenger’s own risk.

Kenya - Masai Village $20 - Masai Mara Morning Hot Air Ballooning $425 - Lake Naivasha Crescent Island Boat $35 (min 4) - Horse Riding $35 - Hells Gate National Park $35 – Uganda - Gorilla Trek $520 - Transfer to Gorillas from $50 – 100 *Extra visa for Rwanda $75 (depending on Nationality) - Whitewater Rafting (Nile River) $130 - Quad Biking $60 - Soft Power Project $20 -  Tanzania - Cost on Zanzibar $300 - Spice Island Tour $25 - Prison Island Tour and Snorkel $25 - North and East Coast Beaches $15 - Malawi - Lake Malawi Water Sports from $25 - Scuba Diving Single Dive from $35 - Village Walk $25- Horse Riding $50 – Zimbabwe - Antelope National Park - Walk With Lions $100 - Horse Riding from $25- Elephant Ride $100 Victoria Falls - Rafting Full Day from $140 - River Boarding Half Day $125 - Flight of Angels Helicopter (30Mins) $220 - Flight of Angels - Fixed Wing Aircraft $80 - Horse Riding from $50-$100 - Bungy Jump $130 - Jet Boating from $100 - Game Walks from $90 - Botswana - Okavango Flight - Fixed Wing Aircraft $350 (min 5 - $70pp) Okavango Helicopter $200 (min 4)

Please note: The ALL options paid in US$ CASH with US$ notes have to be paid with notes dated post 2000. Anything issued prior to this may not be accepted.

*Kumuka endeavour to secure arrangements to visit the gorillas in Uganda. However, due to the high demand for permits some groups will go to Rwanda for the gorilla trek. Confirmation of this will be given by the tour leader at the pre-departure meeting. Extra visa costs and transport costs will be incurred if the trek is in Rwanda.