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 How do I know which trip is best suited for me? If you like the out of doors and animals, any safari will be right for you. If you have never been on safari you might want to consider either Kenya or Tanzania as these countries are considered to be the best game-viewing countries in the world. As for physical fitness, none of the trips include a great deal of physical activity. Apart from walking to your room or tent and to a couple of sights, one does not need to be in exceptional physical condition. If you do want more exercise you can choose to take a nature walk at most of the lodges/camps or swim where there is a pool. What is the best time of year to take such a trip? All of our scheduled tours are offered to take advantage of good weather, cultural events and/or activities. With a few exceptions, travel to most destinations can occur throughout the year. Remember that those countries in the Southern Hemisphere have reversed seasons from the Northern Hemisphere. Rates are less expensive in the off-seasons due to the weather. Don’t forget that trips in the off-season and winter months have their own special charm and magic. And, tourists are fewer. If you are willing to deal with less than perfect weather conditions, consider taking a trip in the low season. Will I need a passport? Yes. You will need a valid passport issued by your government. If you do not currently hold one, begin the process of applying for one now. If you do have a passport, check the expiration date. This date is important because most countries will prohibit you from entering if your passport is not valid for at least six months beyond the date you complete this trip. To obtain a passport you must complete an official passport application form and submit the form to one of the appropriate passport acceptance facilities within your country. Sometimes it can take time to obtain a new passport so don’t put off applying for it as soon as you know you want to travel. Will I need a visa? Yes, you will need a visa. Once you have registered for a trip we will send you the respective visa application and instructions to you in your pre-trip information packet. You are responsible for purchasing your own visa. Do I need shots/vaccinations to go to one safari to Africa? We do strongly recommend that you to take anti-malaria medication. Malaria is serious and it is best to avoid any possibility of contracting it. You must talk to your physician about what medication is best for you. Any shots or immunizations are up to you and your doctor. We suggest that you visit the website for the Center for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov to learn more about specific requirements/recommendations for each country. Are safaris to Africa appropriate for children? Most children love being on safari though both parents and child will have a much more enjoyable time if the child is 10 years or older. Seeing the animals is great fun for children but some drive times can seem interminably long for them and there is very little opportunity to run around so children may feel a bit stifled. All of the accommodations are set up to handle children of all ages so including children on a safari it not a problem. If you are a large family or a group with many children you may want to consider a customized trip. Don’t assume that a customized trip will be more or too expensive just because it is tailored. That is often times not the case. We have developed fun, educational material which will help make a trip like this even more enjoyable for children. How are the accommodations? We stay only in the best accommodations available in any location to provide you with the utmost comfort and safety. All have the requisite amenities you’d both expect and want. All rooms and tents have en-suite bathrooms. All have friendly, well-trained, English-speaking, customer-oriented staff. And, finally, the lodges and camps we select to use are located to mazimize your game-viewing opportunities. What can I expect of the food? Believe it or not, some actually gain weight on safari because the food is so good! You will be pleasantly surprised with the high quality and great diversity of food from which to choose. Food is prepared for Western tastes. Large buffets are often standard at breakfast and lunch at most lodges. These buffets typically will include a few local dishes for you to sample. Food selection is more limited at tented camps but equally as exquisite if not better. There is always ample selection to meet even the most discerning palate. If you have any dietary requirement, please advise us upon registration so we can make arrangements to have your needs met. What if I get hungry between meals? Most complain that they eat too much while on safari but if you find yourself hungry between meals you might consider bringing snacks with you. All the lodges have gift shops where sweets and a limited number of snacks can be purchased if you find yourself without or short. Is it safe to drink the tap water? We do not recommend drinking the water from the tap while on safari in any lodge or camp. Safe-drinking water is provided in your room/tent by the lodge or camp. Additionally, you can purchase bottled water at every lodge or camp. We also provide each client with a bottle of water at the start of every day as we begin our game drive. How do I dress for safari? Dress is very casual and informal on safari. Temperatures will change slightly during the course of the day so it’s best to dress in layers. Bring clothes that you don’t mind getting dusty. There are laundry facilities at each lodge/camp so you can send your clothes in to be laundered. You will need far less than you think while on safari. Once you have registered for a safari we’ll send you a clothing list in your pre-trip packet of information. Comfortable walking shoes are a must. Hiking boots are unnecessary and inappropriate. Due to the limited space in safari vehicles and on the small airplanes on which we’ll be traveling, you will be restricted to bringing one soft duffle bag and a second small bag for cameras, binoculars, and other personal items. We will provide you with the duffle bag and a suggested packing list once you have signed up for the trip. Don’t worry. Most people say they have brought too much clothing once the trip begins and wish they would have left things at home. We understand that you’ll need other clothes if you are traveling elsewhere before or after the trip. That luggage can be stored while you’re out in the bush and retrieved before you leave to go home. Remember; expect to be charged for excess baggage by both domestic and international airlines. This can be quite costly so pack wisely. What if I get sick on safari? In the unlikely event that you become seriously ill while on safari you will be airlifted to either Nairobi or Johannesburg. Both cities have excellent medical services available and well-educated, well-trained medical personnel. The cost of the air evacuation is included in the price of your trip. Additionally, all lodges and camps have Western-trained doctors on staff or available to them and will be able to treat you on the spot. Given our years of traveling to each of these countries, we also have a list of doctors (including dentists) we know and use ourselves and will contact them if need be. Do you recommend travel insurance? Yes, travel insurance is recommended. It can cover trip cancellation/trip interruption, medical protection, baggage protection, travel accident protection, and emergency assistance. Ask your insurance agent if your current policy covers you for personal injury and loss of baggage outside your home country. Remember, Medicare is NOT valid outside the United States. NOTE: Travel insurance policies normally require payment at the time you pay your trip deposit. Some providers we can suggest are:
Sue Doyle of Mill
Avenue Travel can also assist you. Sue can be reached at
Absolutely. We welcome the opportunity to work with you, your family, and a group of friends or even an organization to tailor a trip just for you. We work with you, using your parameters and guidelines, to design the trip. When should I make my reservation? Most people prefer to travel during high season so the sooner you can reserve a spot the better. Accommodations and airlines both fill up quickly. While it is possible to reserve a place within a month or two of the trip, you should really do six months out, especially if you want a customized trip. How do I reserve a space? To reserve a space you will need to complete and return a Traveler Information and Preference Form along with a $500 per person deposit. Forms can be downloaded off our website or you can request a form by either calling our office at or by sending us an email. Since international airfare is not included in the price of the trip, how would you recommend getting to the starting point of the trip? Each of you is responsible for getting yourself to the starting point of each trip. You can contact your travel agent, use the Internet, or call the airlines to purchase your ticket. Many prefer to use frequent flier miles. If you’re not sure how to start, talk to us as we have many sources and contacts in the travel industry who can assist you. If you don’t have a travel agent and want to work with one, we suggest contacting Sue Doyle, president of Mill Avenue Travel, for any and all assistance in planning and booking your airline travel. Sue can also assist you in making additional travel plans outside of the trip itself. Sue can be reached at 1-800-815-6455 or via email at sue@millavetravel.com
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