When To Travel

Accommodation style (this section would be better with pictures and $$ ranges than text – need to find good example pictures of accommodation)

Accommodation vary according to location and budget. Here is a low down (with pictures) of the kinds of accommodation on offer:

Urban areas

Most travel experiences in East Africa will see you having at least one night in an urban location. Below is an overview of the type of accommodation that you can expect in East Africa

Homestay

Hostel / Guesthouse

Hotel

Lodge

Bed & Breakfast

Budget

Encircle East Africa can arrange a reliable homestay, hostel or cheaper hotel accommodation to fit your needs.

Mid-range

At the mid-range, depending on your personal preferences, you could stay in lodge just outside of town or at a hotel. Some cities have bed and breakfast options.

Luxury

Hotel

Lodge

Luxury Bed and Breakfast

Safari destination

Public Tented Camps

Mobile Campsites

Luxury Tented Camps

Lodge Accommodation

Budget accommodation on safari tends to be in the form of standing tents. Usually, your tent will be put up and bedding arranged for you. You will still have your meals prepared and have access to shared toilet and showering facilities. You may lucky to have a warm have a bucket shower prepared for you in some camp areas.

Tented camping

Campsite

Local guesthouse

Local homestay

Self-contained volunteer rooms

Maasaiboma

Mid-range accommodation

Mobile campsite

Lodge accommodation

Luxury (Over $250)

Luxury tented camps (a whole new perspective on glamping!)

Lodges

Too much to take in at once? Arrange a chat with us to talk it through.

Let’s plan your travel experience [copy form from other sites – we may add to it)

Tell us what you are looking for in a travel experience and let us do the hard work for you. The best travel experiences are ones that are tailored to you.

I am travelling: [drop down box]

Solo

As a couple

As a family

As a group

As an educational group or institution

As part of business or corporate travel

Other – please tell us!

Do you know the dates or time of year you will be travelling?

How long do you wish to travel for?

Do you want to base your travel around particular country/ies?

Kenya

Ehtiopia

Rwanda

Tanzania/Zanzibar

Uganda

Not sure -depends on experiences on offer

Our safaris are tailor made for those wishing to experience the tantilizingexcitement and romanticism of a traditional safari under canvas without compromising on life's little luxuries.

Tipping in Africa

Tipping is something of a tradition on safari. however, it is not compulsory in Africa and always remains at your discretion.

Should you wish to show your appreciation to guides,

How it all work.

I would recommend you travel with small envelopes so you can distribute tips discreetly You’ll find it very handy to carry a generous amount of small US dollar for tips, so you don’t have to worry about accessing change

For your Tanzania trip you will have one guide for 6 days. I would say $60US at the border leaving Tanzania ( Isibania) you’re welcome to give more or less depending on how you felt about the service.

Also the same for Kenya, at the end of the Maasai Mara Safari find out If the same guide is driving you to the airport if it’s the same guide, then give the tipping at the airport.

Same as for Uganda at the end of the safari give the tip to the guide on the last day of your trip. Again if the same guide will take you to Entebbe airport wait until the airport to give the tip.

Feel free to include a short personal note of thanks with someone’s tip if they’ve been particularly impressive or helpful.

Tip guides and trackers separately to camp staff. Again the best time to tip guides and trackers is during your last safari activity, or on departure if they’re taking you to an airstrip or other drop-off point.

For other general camp or lodge staff, do it in one single tip. Give this to the camp manager or place it in the tip box that’s usually located in the reception area or somewhere central. This tip money will then be divided among all lodge staff. Generally, guides get high rate tips because they are usually with one or a group for an extended amount time. The lodges and Camps have small tipping boxes that each clients staying at the lodge can put a tip.

In some cases, staff may be cheeky and ask for money or gifts. Please report any unprofessional behaviour such as this to the camp manager, at the time.

Lastly, there should be no obligation for you to pay more than what you’re comfortable with, or to tip at all if you’re not happy with the service. And don’t compare your tipping with what others are doing. There is no right or wrong and it should always be done out of gratitude for the service provided.