Insider Tanzania July 2021
Now for the best part, the reason why we all travel to this beautiful corner of the world: wildlife. It's July, the busiest time of the year, and it's quiet. So quiet. I've enjoyed cheetah hunts, leopards roaming the granite boulders of Kogatende, and craziest of all, witnessed over 10 wildebeest crossings practically all to myself. Truly once in a lifetime.
Five reasons a safari in East Africa is the perfect socially distanced holiday
As you start to consider your travel plans, there will be many new factors to consider – safety protocols, cost, destination, length of time to name a few. And while we may be biased, we're here to say that an East African safari should be at the top of your list. Safari holidays are quite naturally socially distanced, and we have strict health and safety protocols in place. And breathtaking views of the great plains and wildlife encounters will remind you how beautiful and exciting our great big world really is. Keep reading for five reasons why a safari should be part of your post-COVID-19 travel plans.
Safaris are a naturally socially distanced holiday.
By nature, safaris are an open-air holiday with the vast plains of the bush at your doorstep. The remote location of safaris takes you far away from crowded city centers and the natural world as the perfect backdrop to your first vacation in a post-COVID world. Social distancing calls for wide-open spaces and fresh air, and we can't think of many places better than on an East African safari. From decks perfect for lounging with a cocktail and good book from the camp library to private bush picnics and riding in open-air safari vehicles, fresh air is never in short supply.
There are strict health and safety protocols in place.
Even before COVID-19, health and safety protocols are a crucial part of any safari. At Urth Expedition, we want to ensure that you feel safe in the safari environment and that your needs are always met.
With fewer tourists right now, wildlife viewings are largely for yourself!
Wildlife sightings have never been better with fewer game drive vehicles and tourists clamoring for the perfect place to park up and watch some of Earth's most spectacular wildlife in their natural habitat. Take it from the photographer, George Benjamin, who traveled to Sayari Camp in time for the Great Migration. "I've enjoyed cheetah hunts, leopards roaming the granite boulders of Kogatende, and craziest of all witnessed over ten wildebeest crossings practically all to myself. Truly once in a lifetime," he shared of his visit last July.
You're supporting communities and conservation efforts that are very much in need.
Travel is the largest industry globally and is a livelihood for so many – from those who work in the camps, to those who work for other services like airlines and experience providers. Additionally, when you travel on safari with Urth Expedition, you're automatically contributing to wildlife conservation and community development through a US$5/day donation that goes toward supporting these projects where local communities directly benefit.
A safari will ignite your wanderlust and remind you why we travel all over again.
Whenever it is that you are ready to travel again, East Africa reminds you of how beautiful the world is and how much adventure is out there. And when you travel, travel thoughtfully – with companies and brands that have the same values as yours and that will go the extra mile to support meaningful growth and development to communities, the travel industry, and sustainability initiatives that will protect our future. Travel can and will be rewarding and purposeful again, and we can't wait to welcome you.
General Packing Suggestions For Tanzania
Soft-sided bags are much easier to store and load, so this is preferred over hard-sided luggage. Since you may need to handle your bags at the certain exit and entry airport points during your journey, the lightweight nature of soft-sided luggage makes this task easier for you as well. You should pack any critical items in your carry-on bag instead of packing them in your checked baggage. This should include, at a minimum, your travel documents, money, medications, and other important items. You should lock your luggage at all times and use only TSA-approved locks.
The African bush is no place for expensive jewelry, and wearing these items only invites trouble. Leave sentimental and expensive jewelry at home where you know it is safe! When traveling, never keep all of your cash in one place. Distribute it to minimize any potential loss. Cameras and other equipment should be protected during your tour activities, and water-resistant daypacks are the perfect solution! Lastly, and most importantly, keep it simple and straightforward. Your Tanzanian travel is an adventurous, high-paced, once-in-a-lifetime experience that takes you into some of the most pristine wilderness in the world. Please do not bring hairdryers, irons, excessive clothing and unnecessary beauty toiletries. You will not need them during your discerning Safaris in East Africa natural settings.
Baggage Guidance & Restrictions On Flying Safaris In Africa
At Urth Expedition, we are committed to ensuring that our guests enjoy every aspect of their vacation in Africa. And, this includes traveling to remote locations faster by way of the scheduled-charter air service. The airline's prime focus is on the safety of its passengers to ensure that travel arrangements are efficient and dependable. We have a few recommendations for you in keeping with the safari airline's baggage policies and regulations.
The safari aircraft that will ferry you to the remote parts of Africa are small, lightweight planes with limited storage space for baggage. Accordingly, we advise that you choose the right luggage for your trips. Most city travel luggage is not suitable for safari planes, so you need to pack using soft-sided duffel bags. Please ensure that the bags have no spines, frames, or a rigid structure. Also, bring bags that have very small wheels, or preferably, none at all.
When a passenger fails to adhere to the safari airline's strict baggage policy, the airline will ask the passenger to find the appropriate bag and repack. The safari airline has the right to leave the baggage at the airline's airport office or, worse case, on the tarmac in far-off parks. Making alternate arrangements for the bags to follow you by a separate charter plane is another option but will cost you a significant added expense.
You can plan your luggage according to the weight allowance as follows:
Small and lightweight aircraft in East Africa for Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda
Weight: 15 kg or 33 lbs
Dimensions: Maximum height: 25 cm or 10 inches, width: 35 cm or 13 inches, and length: 55 cm or 22 inches.
If you carry heavy photographic equipment, you might want to book an extra freight seat on the plane. As a result, you will have a baggage allowance of up to 70kgs or 154 lbs for two seats. Do inform us well in advance.
We recommend medium-sized LL Bean Adventure Duffel Bags. A more economical option is the Olympia 21″ Polyester Duffel Bag.
Choose duffel bags in whimsical colors so that it's easier to identify your bags from a stack of other passenger bags that are typically black.
The total weight allowance includes the carry-on bags. You will be holding your carry-on bags in the lap for the duration of the flight as the aircraft do not have under-seat storage or overhead lockers for stowing bags.
Given that soft-backed duffel bags are light, you can actually carry adequate clothing and other supplies.
You will only need casual clothing for your safari tour, and since most safari camps offer laundry services, you won't need too many clothes. Cultural norms do not permit that the staff to wash underclothes. But, you can get gentle soap so you can wash them yourself.
You need not carry basic toiletries. Most of the necessary supplies you need, such as shower gel, shampoo, and moisturizers, are provided by the safari camps and lodges.
The Great Migration: a guide's perspective
By Asilia Africa | 22 June 2021
Today we hear from Asilia's Tanzania Head Guide, Akil Halai. The Great Migration can be one of the highlights of any East African safari, but it also feels incredibly complex or overwhelming to plan due to its ever-moving nature. Here, Akil helps to simplify the Great Migration, making it easier to understand and best help you plan your bucket list safari.
Several maps you may see offer a detailed flow of gnus moving around in a yearly circle. While these maps of the Great Migration are helpful, they should be treated as a guideline since the herds simply do not follow a month-by-month schedule every year. Instead, they follow the rains, which are, of course, unpredictable.
From the vast Serengeti plains to the beige-colored hills of Kenya's Masai Mara, more than 2 million wildebeest, along with 250,000 zebras and gazelle, migrate in a circular route over 1,800 miles each year in search of rain-seasoned grass. This spectacle is motivated entirely by standing water, grazing, and local weather conditions. The wildebeest want to be in the short grass plains of the southern Serengeti, but the water and grazing cannot support them year around. This is where they choose to breed, with abundant grass to support them.
Within a relatively short time, perhaps four to six weeks, several hundred thousand calves will be born, and this is where we see most of the much-awaited dramatic predator action. These predators have anticipated this buffet for over nine months, leading to some thrilling encounters. The Migration will then move off in search of provisions in response to periods of dry weather, but the herds will leave this area as late as possible and come back as soon as they can. This means that every year is different and, in fact, every week can be different, too.
The Migration is not a continuous forward motion at all times. The herds go forward, backward, and fan out across the plains. They mill around, split up, join forces again, walk in a line, spread out, or hang around together. You can never predict with certainty where they will be; the best you can do is suggest likely timings based on past experience. You simply can never guarantee the migration 100 percent.
Often, we are so engrossed in following the Migration and its patterns that we tend to overlook what happens to the vast lands when these massive herds of the biggest mammal migration (in terms of numbers and actual volume) leave. The ecological effects are plentiful. The grass on the plains has been mowed through heavy grazing and will only begin sprouting again when the rains arrive. The big cats have fed so much that it is visually evident by the size of their swollen bellies. The vultures have had many a party and will now move on to other areas. The nocturnal dung beetles have ample dung to collect enough food.
The humble dung beetles are responsible for dealing with the volumes of dung left behind by the thundering herds. Without them, the plains would very soon become unlivable for many species. Once the beetle's scout out a leftover pile, males meticulously craft the dung into balls and roll them as far away from the unruly mound as possible, often carting a female that they have also picked up on the way. If they happen to run off their path, the dung beetle male will climb on top of his dung ball and calibrate himself using the position of the sun, moon, and stars. The pair bury the dung, which later becomes food for their babies. They will now breed happily.
All these animals that benefit from the gnus will now start their stopwatches and wait for over eight months for the gnus to be back. They wait in anticipation.
Many of them struggle to make it. Many will die. The circle of life will continue. The November rains in the southern Serengeti plains will indicate it is about time for the drama to begin. It is time for the vultures to be back in numbers. It is time for the felines to clean and sharpen their claws. It is time for the gnus to return to the breeding grounds. The anticipation is over.
Why do you need to book a hot-air balloon safari?
Witnessing herds of wildebeest, towers of giraffe, or a dazzle of zebra running across the plains of Africa a few hundred meters below you is something you're not likely to forget. Combine breathtaking aerial views with a spectacular sunrise, and you're close to imagining the splendor of an African hot-air balloon safari.
What is it all about?
You'll be woken up before the crack of dawn and whisked away on a (very) early drive to the launch site. It can be quite chilly at this time of the morning – not to mention even cooler once you're up in the air, so be sure to wrap up in a few extra layers. Arrive at your balloon and watch as your professional ballooner gets ready for your take-off. Be prepared for the sound as they gas up the balloon – it can be quite loud, so it's not uncommon to get a fright! However, once you are in the air, it is mostly silent (save for the occasional roar of the gas) so you can fully appreciate the wonder of peacefully flying high above the plains.
On average, a hot-air balloon safari lasts between one and two hours. Once you are up high enough, the animals below become less aware of their audience – it really is one of the most unforgettable sights to behold to watch the sunrise over the vast grasslands as wildlife wanders. Coming back down to land can be slightly bumpy, so anyone with a bad back or similar injury should check with their doctor beforehand. Once you are back on the ground, you will be treated to a scrumptious champagne breakfast. Is that not the perfect end to a memorable morning in the African skies?
How does it work?
Hot-air balloon safaris are extremely dependent on weather conditions. If it is too windy or rainy, the flight will be canceled, and you will have the option of receiving a full refund or rescheduling to another day (if possible). Booking well in advance is absolutely essential. This is not an activity that can be organized on the day. Due to the reliance on the weather, it is also not on offer throughout the year, so it's best to make sure your agent is aware of your interest in this beautiful experience and have them book as far in advance as possible.
The balloons are well maintained and serviced often, so the whole experience is a safe one. Another thing to consider is that, because of safety measures and the large team required to make a hot-air balloon safari happen, the price of a trip can be quite high. However, if it is within your means, it is totally worth it.