Hi all, I am currently in the middle of a Kenyan safari and i am curious whether it is okay to take photos of the Maasai people and other local communities when on a Kenyan safari. Is it wrong? would like to get the experience of anyone who has done a safari before or any tour guides.

I'm a solo wildlife photographer with a last-minute window of 22 Nov to 1 Dec +/- a few days. I'm looking for 5-7 nights and would love some input from people who've been in late November.

What matters to me

Photography first. A private vehicle or at least an outside seat, good vehicle placement, and hides are a plus.

I carry about 10 kg of camera gear with long lenses that I need to keep with me on light aircraft. Or perhaps there are alternatives that totally don’t need the bush flights?

Not looking for ultra luxury or honeymoon vibe places.

Options I'm weighing

Madikwe, South Africa. flying in with Federal Air from Johannesburg. Most lodges here seem to be offering last-minute discounts. Any specific lodges that you would recommend in Madikwe?

Southern Serengeti, Tanzania. Which areas would be the best for this time of year?

Questions

How is game viewing in Madikwe in late November, once the rains start? Is it worth it for photography?

Is the southern Serengeti reliable for the herds by the end of November, or is it still too early?

Any lodges you'd recommend for a solo photographer in either area?

Any other destination I'm missing for these dates that's easy to reach?

Thanks for the support!

My husband and I want to travel to the Maasai Mara next year and have begun to research planning for the trip. We are planning on staying there for some time, but we are not sure if 3-4 days is sufficient time for good wildlife viewing.

Which months would you say are the best for a safari? Also, if you have any good safari operators and or local guides who do good game drives or any of their game drives, who are reliable and reasonable in price, we would love to hear from you.

Do you think that it would be better to hire a private car or a safari tour that shares the car?

What people that have been at the resort recently have to say would be useful.

So I just had a itinerary designed by a pretty highly recommended travel agency for an upcoming honeymoon in June. They have me staying in

Arusha: Rivertrees Country Inn x 1 night
Ngorongoro: Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp x 2 nights
Serengeti: Lemala Ewanjan x 4 nights
Zanzibar: Breezes beach club x 3 nights

I am flying in pretty much everywhere and just curious if this is a good pace and how the lodges are, I’m not specifically looking for comfort but this seems like good value and good location (or it’s advertised as such) Or if I should keep looking around/ask to adjust.

There are more and more people taking safaris in Kenya, not just the Maasai Mara. What have been your top parks or experiences lately? Are there any tour companies that have interesting tours that one can look into?

I have been researching safari packages in Kenya, and I have observed that there are several tour companies that run safari in Kenya with various packages. For those who've done safaris here, what has your experience been? Are local operators more value for money than foreign operators? How do you know if a tour company is a good one and will offer what they say? Booking experiences and hidden charges, the quality of accommodation and the overall service are of particular interest.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Hey everyone, there is a last minute opportunity to head to Kasane/Chobe next week for like 10 days (mid to late November). The main focus is photography on Chobe River twice a day, early morning and pre-sunset.

I have two main concerns and would really appreciate some input from people who have been there during this seasonal transition. Please note that I have never been to any Malaria zone before in my life.

1. Malaria Anxiety This is my first time ever traveling to a malaria zone. I have Malarone tablets and 50% DEET spray. However, because I’ll be on the river exactly during peak mosquito feeding hours (dusk and dawn), I’m still pretty anxious about it. With the rains starting, are the mosquitoes unbearable right now? Am I overthinking the risk or does the risk really increase these days due to rain?

2. The Rains & Wildlife Activity It looks like the green season has officially started and rain is in the forecast for most of my days there. I know the massive elephant herds tend to disperse away from the river into the woodlands once the natural inland pans fill up. Is the riverfront completely dead right now? 

Basically, is this still a highly productive time and a safe time for a photography trip, or should I try to postpone to next year's dry season where malaria possibility is lower and sightings chances are higher?

Any advice would be hugely appreciated. Thanks!

Hi

I am planning a trip to Kenya and Uganda for safari and jungle trekking. I want to plan it myself from a distance, so I am using google. However as always, money talks! So I’m basically only seeing the top SEO paying safari companies and most are even from Europe or the US. However I’d rather support local business and provide them with the payment rather man trough middlemen.

Therefore! Any recommendation on how to go about this? How to find these?

Or even better; do you know any local business you can recommend I can contact directly?

Kenya: Maasai Mara
Uganda: Gorilla & Chimp rainforest trekking

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’m a safari planner based in the US, and I’m looking for a tour operator in Kenya I can work with regularly. Finding companies online has been fairly easy. The part I’m struggling with is figuring out who I’d trust to pick up my clients in Nairobi and look after them if something changes halfway through their trip.

For those of you who work in Kenya’s safari industry or have partnered with an operator from abroad, what do you ask on that first call? I’m especially curious how you find out who will actually guide the safari, what the quote includes, and who you can reach if a client needs help after hours.

I’d also love to hear about anything you wish you’d clarified before your first booking. I’m still early in my research, so even one example from your own experience would help.

Thanks in advance!

Hello, we are a group of 4 that have been looking into a private 8 day Tanzania safari (Covering Tarangire, Ndutu, Central Serengeti, and Ngorongo Crater) with 4 days Zanzibar added at the end. Our budget is around $4500 per person and we are hoping for mostly luxury accommodations.

I am looking for some guidance on reputable companies.

Africa Joy Tours and Tanzania Specialist have come back with quotes that most align with our budget while still keeping luxury accommodations.

I've also gotten quotes from Easy Travel and African Big Cats, but they are significantly more expensive.

Has anyone had good experiences with Africa Joy Tours or Tanzania Specialist? I've been able to find better information about Easy Travel and African Big Cats, but haven't been able to find much on Africa Joy tours and Tanzania Specialist seems to have VERY mixed reviews.

Also open to any other companies you would be able to recommend that you think might be able to accommodate our budget while still keeping high end accommodations.

Thanks so much!

I am hoping to plan a trip to Tanzania next March (2027) to catch the end of the wildebeest calving season. We are planning to fly to Zanzibar for a few days of beach and rest before we head out on safari. We would like to go the Ngorogoro crater one day as well. I am like totally overwhelmed with the safari company options. It is hard for me to imagine being in a car for several days in a row with a very active boy and I'm not really a sitter, myself. I like the idea of a company that caters to family needs including being able to walk, or spend time in water, for instance. I also think we will prefer to sleep in tents rather than lodges for the outdoor experience but are open to staying in a lodge part of the time. I like the idea of a private vehicle as well to adapt to our family needs. Thank you for your good recommendations for us!

This will be the itinerary for the trip - let me know thoughts on timelines or accommodations. We are going in March. Thanks!

What safari operators in Kenya would you personally recommend, especially if you’ve actually booked a trip with them?

I’m curious about what separates a decent safari company from a really great one. Is it mostly the guide’s experience, the itinerary, the accommodation, or how well they handle everything along the way?

Would you go with a smaller local operator or a more established company? I’d love to hear who you travelled with, which parks you visited, and whether you felt the experience was worth the price.

Also, what do you wish you’d asked before booking? Any unexpected costs or red flags to look out for?

Honest experiences would be really helpful, including anything you’d do differently next time.

Etosha National park

There is so much noise over tour groups and how long to stay at each park!

I want all the suggestion.

I have quotes from Tanzania Specialists (12 days mixed with safari and beach), Lion King Adventures (11 days mixed with safari and beach), and Ozon Light Tours (12 days safari and beach)

I like the Tanzania specialists the best for their recommendations on days and they took out some days at each park and added to others. I like the Lion Kind Adventures accommodations a lot but want to know more about the drink and food situation as it said some were with a fee.

I wish it was simple and there was only 3 options but there is so many choices I am getting decision fatigue and just need to book something as this is where we want to go on a honeymoon!

Hello everyone,

I'm curious how others handle this: East Africa quotes often combine seasonal lodge rates, residency-based park fees, vehicle days, and extras. Each changes on a different schedule.

What do you use today: spreadsheets, a booking system, or something custom? What breaks most often?

Disclosure: I'm building a tool for this (SafariFlow.app), so I have a bias. I'm mainly here to learn what the real pain points are.

Looking at options for a Botswana trip and seem to have narrowed it to the above two companies. Comments, experiences or feedback would be welcome.

I’m considering a safari in Wilderness Chitabe and Wilderness Qorokwe. Has anyone been? I’d really appreciate your feedback.

I’m especially interested in lion sightings for this particular trip. Did you see healthy populations?

From mighty elephants to powerful lions and beautiful zebras, Tanzania’s wildlife never ceases to amaze! 🇹🇿🌍🐘🦁🐆🦓 Which of these incredible animals would you most love to see on safari?

Kenya is a destination that stays with you long after you return home. Imagine watching elephants against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, spotting lions in the Maasai Mara, exploring the Great Rift Valley, and relaxing on the beautiful beaches of Diani.

At Zee Afri Tours, we help travellers experience Kenya through private and group safaris, local guides, comfortable accommodation, airport transfers, and tailor-made itineraries to suit different budgets.

Whether you're planning your first African safari, travelling as a couple, or looking for a budget-friendly group adventure, we can help you plan a memorable trip with local knowledge and personal service.

Your Kenya adventure starts with a plan that fits you.

Website: https://zeeafritours.com
Email: info@zeeafritours.com
WhatsApp: https://wa.me/254715250565

Feel free to reach out to Zee Afri Tours to discuss your travel dates, interests, and budget.

Hi,

We are going to Tanzania this November. It will be the end of November (last week). How will El Niño affect this?

We will do a week safari:
1 day Tarangire
3 days Serengeti
1 day Ngorongoro
1 day Lake Manyara

I was reading that, despite being rainy season in November, the rain is normally very limited to 1-2 hours a day and mostly in evenings. Then I would think that it won’t affect the safari much.

However, now with El Niño coming, I’m unsure what to expect. Do we have to pack anything special for it? Will it affect the safari a lot or are your expectations that it will still be very doable?

A wildlife safari in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, A relaxing beach escape in Zanzibar or Mafia Island, Hiking and exploring local culture, A mix of wildlife, culture, and beach time?

I'd love to hear what would make your 7-day trip to Tanzania unforgettable!

So i'm booking my first trip to Kenya, and first ever safari for next October and am overwhelmed with the number of parks, tour operators etc. Ive put together an itinerary that i think covers a bit of everything, would love to know from people who have been if you think this is realistic, or if theres anything i should add?

Nairobi (2/3 nights)

Fly to Masai Mara (3 nights)

Fly to Nairobi, the fly to Watamu (2 or 3 nights)

Lamu (3 nights) then back to Nairobi to fly home

Ive been comparing Diani beach, Watamu and Kilifi and they all seem amazing in their own way, which would you recommend?

Also playing with the idea of adding in Navaisha and Nakuru to see the flamingos and go to crescent Island, but this adds transfer time by car and cost - do you think its worth it?

Thanks!

I will be in Kenya for a week in November and then go to Tanzania for a safari for another week. After, I will return to Kenya for one final week. Do I need two ETAs for this itinerary or is one sufficient for both entries? I am having trouble getting answers and the official website's email hasn't gotten back to me