The briefing.

eVisa online before travel, or visa-on-arrival at Kilimanjaro and Dar airports for most passports ($50 single entry, $100 multiple entry). Passport valid 6+ months, with two blank pages.

Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) required in advance — no visa-on-arrival. Apply 2+ weeks before travel at etakenya.go.ke. Valid 90 days.

Visa on arrival (30 days) for most passports, or apply via the Irembo portal. $50 single entry.

eVisa required in advance — apply at visas.immigration.go.ug. $50 tourist visa, or the East Africa Tourist Visa ($100) covering Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.

Visa-free for most Western passports for up to 90 days. Passport must have 2+ blank pages for entry stamps.

Visa on arrival or the KAZA UNIVISA ($50) covering Zimbabwe and Zambia — useful for Victoria Falls visits.

Required on arrival if coming from (or transiting) a yellow-fever risk country. Certificate must be at least 10 days old. Uganda and Rwanda enforce strictly.

Present in most safari areas below 2,500m. Prophylaxis recommended — Malarone is the most commonly prescribed. Long sleeves and DEET at dusk are the best practical defence.

Ensure tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis A and typhoid are up to date. Rabies pre-exposure is worth discussing for longer trips with remote activities.

Climbers should allow 6–8 days minimum on the mountain for acclimatisation. Diamox is commonly used. Full medical and evacuation insurance is mandatory.

Non-negotiable. It must include medical evacuation (Flying Doctors in Kenya / AMREF in Tanzania are commonly used) and trip cancellation.

Neutral tones (khaki, olive, beige). Long sleeves and trousers for evenings and mosquitoes. A fleece and lightweight rain jacket. A wide-brimmed hat and good sunglasses.

One pair of well-broken-in walking shoes and one pair of sandals. Proper hiking boots only if you're trekking gorillas or Kilimanjaro.

At least 300mm of telephoto range for serious wildlife photography. Compact binoculars (8x42 is the sweet spot) — don't share a pair between two people.

UK-style three-pin plugs in most of East Africa, South African-style in the south. A universal adapter covers both. Power banks are essential — lodges often run on solar.

Personal medications in original packaging, a small first-aid kit (plasters, painkillers, rehydration sachets, anti-histamine). Hand sanitiser. Sunscreen (hard to find in-country).

USD is widely accepted for park fees, lodges and tips. Smaller denominations ($1, $5, $10, $20) are more useful than large notes. Bills must be 2013 or newer.

Visa and Mastercard work in cities and most lodges (typically with a 3–5% surcharge). Don't rely on cards in remote parks. American Express is rarely accepted.

$15–25 per guest per day for a safari guide, $10–15 for a driver. Given privately at the end of the trip, in USD cash.

$10–15 per guest per day, placed in the tip box at reception on departure. Goes into a shared pool covering housekeeping, waiting staff, kitchen.

Lodges have room safes — use them. Don't carry all your cash on you at once. Keep a photocopy of your passport separate from the original.

June–October (the long dry) and January–February (short dry). Cool mornings (10–15°C), warm days (25–28°C), low rainfall. Prime game viewing.

April–May (long rains) and November (short rains). Lush, green, fewer travellers. Afternoon thundershowers typical. Some northern Serengeti camps close.

May–October is the Okavango flood / peak game season. Cold nights (5°C or less in July), warm clear days.

Mediterranean climate — opposite of the safari belt. Dec–Feb is warm and dry; May–August is cool and wet.

Ngorongoro crater rim, Mount Kenya, the Virungas — 2,000m+. Cold at night year-round. Kilimanjaro summit is below freezing in any month.

05:30 wake-up tea; 06:00 game drive; 10:00 brunch back at camp; midday rest; 15:30 afternoon game drive; 19:00 sundowner then dinner; 22:00 bed. Pacing bends with season and preference.

Three nights minimum in any park worth visiting. Two-night stays mean two morning drives — you'll feel rushed. Four or five nights rewards patience.

East Africa: 3–6 hour drive days are normal. For longer hops, we fly. Southern Africa: almost always fly.

Most lodges now have Wi-Fi, though it's intentionally limited in public areas. If you need to work, flag it — we'll steer you to better-connected properties.

Minimum ages vary by camp — often 6+, sometimes 12+ for smaller luxury lodges. Dedicated family camps welcome under-6s with interconnecting rooms and kids' programmes.