Cielo Pictures and Expeditions
PLANNING YOUR SAFARI
Planning a safari can be a lot of fun but it's not like booking a cruise, a winter vacation on a tropical island over even a tour of Europe. There are many pieces to this travel puzzle, things like; deciding on the best location(s) to see what you really want to see, making sure you can do it as safely as possible, finding the right vehicles and drivers, arranging for the appropriate permits, finding the best lodges/tented camps and getting the best price.
I've been doing this 'adventure travel thing' for more than 30 years, throughout the world and have learned that experience is the only way you can learn some of these things, especially in Africa. That's actually the reason I started taking people on safari in the first place. I started getting requests from friends and family to come with me to Africa. Realizing that it's not like traveling anywhere else, they wanted someone who knew what he was doing and who could get them there and back as safely as possible. Well one safari group led to another, friends told friends, I mentioned it on my website and more than 15 years and countless safaris later, I'm still at it and enjoying it more than ever!
I love introducing people to Africa, it's an amazing place, and I'd be delighted to help you put together your dream trip. Below, you will see a list of key items that, when done right, will make your safari the best that it can.
I've also included a list questions that I will ask when you contact me to start helping you with your safari.
Transportation
I work with some of the best driver/naturalists in East Africa. I've known and have trusted them for many years. This is very important and can make a huge difference in the way your safari goes. We only travel in customize, extended Land Cruisers with photo hatch roofs.
One of the transport options is flying into the wilderness regions by light plane. It saves a lot of time but adds some to the safari cost. Rick will arrange the flights for you.
Lodging and Tented Camps
While on safari you will have a choice between staying in a comfortable 'hard-walled' lodge, luxury tented camp or mobile bush camp. Through the years of traveling through Africa, I have stayed at many - but only go back to a select few.
- Luxury Tented Camps provide large, private cabin tents with ensuite bathrooms and large comfortable beds. There are dining and lounge tents. The food is fantastic and, with enough notice I can arrange for any dietary needs or restrictions to be taken care of.
- Most of the lodges that I book are comfortable, 'cottage style' facilities, again with good food served in a dining hall.
- For the more adventurous, we have a mobile bush camp that we setup in the Maasailands of Kenya. It includes shower and toilet facilities and we bring in a chef to do the cooking.
- We also have a small, private guest house for cultural encounters with my friends in a Maasai community in Kenya.
Oh... and most now have wifi!
Visa's - Immunizations - Money - Flights etc.
I can guide you through the process of applying for the appropriate international visa's, getting the appropriate vaccinations, deciding on how much money you will need to bring with you and in which currencies, and offer advice on the international flights you will need to get there and back. We do not book international flights because some people want to use and/or collect travel miles, some people want to make side trips along the way and some have preferred airlines that they like to use.
Deciding when to go and who to go with.
Deciding when to go can be impacted by a number of things. There are times when there are more or fewer tourists on safari, when the costs are higher or lower (and some situations prices can double because of the time of year). In some situations, adjust your timing by just a few days can save you hundreds of dollars.
Some travellers want to be by themselves (more expensive) others are happy to join up with a group. We can sometimes connect you with other travellers who would prefer to go with a small group in order to save some money.
Deciding when to go and who to go with.
Deciding when to go can be impacted by a number of things. There are times when there are more or fewer tourists on safari, when the costs are higher or lower (and some situations prices can double because of the time of year). In some situations, adjust your timing by just a few days can save you hundreds of dollars.
Some travellers want to be by themselves (more expensive) others are happy to join up with a group. We can sometimes connect you with other travellers who would prefer to go with a small group in order to save some money.
