Frequently Asked Questions

Just about any time of year is good for a Kenya safari. The most popular seasons are mid-December to mid-March and August to the end of October — driven by demand for Christmas and winter holidays, and the summer school break respectively.

An increasing number of visitors are discovering that June and November are ideal months, offering excellent game viewing with lower visitor numbers. Kuldip's Touring Company Ltd also offers some tours with greatly reduced — or no — single supplements during April and May. We may also be able to offer attractive group discounts during this period; please contact us for details.

The millions of wildebeest and zebra are always somewhere on the Serengeti–Mara ecosystem, but they are not always in large herds and on the move. Their location is largely dependent on rainfall patterns, which can vary considerably from year to year.

In general, the herds begin crossing into the Maasai Mara in July and continue through August. They remain in the region until the beginning of December, when they follow the rains southward back into Serengeti National Park. The herds can move in enormously long single-file lines or in vast, sweeping columns.

Yes. All safaris can be booked with the exclusive use of a private vehicle for your party. A fully private safari for two guests is naturally more expensive on a per-person basis compared to joining a scheduled or shared departure. However, on a private safari the cost of the vehicle and your professional driver-guide is shared among your group, so the per-person rate becomes more economical as more guests travel together.

Most safari vehicles can comfortably seat up to seven guests, but for maximum comfort we recommend six. On special request — for example, families with children — we can accommodate up to eight guests in one vehicle.

If you are arranging an exclusive (custom) safari, you are free to design whatever itinerary you choose, within logistical constraints. This website presents a curated selection of our most popular, tried-and-tested itineraries — but we can arrange any required route subject to practical considerations, and will be pleased to discuss and quote for your special requirements.

If you meet a large predator while on foot, do not run. Running may trigger a chase response — and the animal can run at least twice as fast as you. If there are two or more of you (which there should always be, especially at night), move together closely; the predator may then perceive you as one large opponent rather than several small ones.

In lodge and camp areas, a predator passing through is usually just doing exactly that — passing through. Let it pass and slowly back away. Then inform a watchman or member of staff that predators are in the area, and advise other guests to stay clear.

If a predator is closing in, make yourself appear as threatening as possible. Shout at it firmly. If it comes too close, throw stones or any object to hand. Your safety is always the priority.

Do not get out of the vehicle unless your driver-guide says it is safe to do so. In many parks, leaving the vehicle is not only risky but also a breach of park regulations. There are designated areas — such as observation points and picnic sites — where disembarking is permitted.

Encountering animals on foot is part of the walking safari experience. Most wildlife will move away once they become aware of your presence, which usually happens at a considerable distance — you generally get closer to animals by vehicle than on foot.

Walking safaris in wildlife areas should always be escorted by an armed ranger. If walking near lakes or rivers where crocodiles may be present, stay at least five metres from the water's edge. Crocodiles are superbly camouflaged and may be concealed in the water, waiting to ambush prey on the bank. Never leave children unattended near water.

Your safari driver-guide will do his best to help you witness the full drama of the African bush — including predators hunting, making a kill, or feeding. If the timing doesn't coincide, you may still come across a carcass or the aftermath of a hunt. This is nature at its most raw and is part of the safari experience.

If you would prefer not to see such scenes, simply let your guide know and you can look the other way or move on.

Seeing snakes on safari is rare. Most species will move away as soon as they detect your presence, so they are usually gone before you have a chance to spot them. That said, not all do — and some East African species carry potent or even deadly venom.

Always watch where you walk and use a torch when moving around outdoors at night. Snakes bite because they are frightened or feel threatened, not out of aggression. For safety, stay at least two body-lengths away from any snake you cannot identify as harmless, and back away further to avoid disturbing the animal. Never attempt to handle a snake unless you are experienced, and never approach a seemingly dead snake — it may not be dead at all.

The only snakes in the region that may view humans as prey are very large pythons, but sightings are uncommon. Never leave children unattended in areas where pythons are known to occur.

During the dry season, insects are relatively scarce. Numbers increase during the rains — along with beautiful species such as butterflies. The same applies to mosquitoes, which thrive in warm, moist environments and are most common during the rainy season, near rivers and lakes, and along the coast.

The mosquitoes that may carry malaria are active at night — take appropriate prophylactic medication and sleep under a mosquito net. Tsetse flies, which are active during the day, can in very rare cases transmit sleeping sickness. Their bites are painful, which is reason enough to swat them or chase them out of the vehicle.