Booking Terms & Conditions (Gorilla Tours and Travel)
1. Our contract
All bookings are made with Gorilla Tours and Travel. By booking a trip with us you are deemed to have agreed to these Booking Conditions (which constitutes the entire agreement between you and us) and your booking will be accepted by us on this basis. The services to be provided are those referred to in your booking confirmation product description.
2. Deposit requirement
You are required to pay a deposit of 25% of the total price per person per trip for your booking to be confirmed (please note that increased deposit requirements apply for some trips). For trips in which the total amount is less than or equal to $2000 you will be required to pay the total amount upon booking. If your booking is made within 60 days of the departure date then for any trip the full amount is payable at the time of booking.
For trips including gorilla tracking you will be required to pay for the gorilla permit in full (US$600 for Uganda and US$750 for Rwanda). The gorilla permit fee is non-refundable.
3. Acceptance of booking and final payments
If we accept your booking we will issue a confirmation. A contract will exist between us from the date we issue the confirmation.. Payment of the balance of the trip price is due 40 days before the departure date. Please note that full payment is required earlier for trips more than 5 days, or custom trips. If this balance is not paid on or before the due date we reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled without refund. We will endeavor to offer you the most convenient and safe methods of payment.
4. Your details
In order for us to confirm your travel arrangements you must provide all requested details with the balance of the trip price. Necessary details include full name as per passport, date of birth, nationality, passport number, passport issue and expiry date and any pre-existing medical conditions you have which may affect your ability to complete your travel arrangements. If you are 70 years of age or over we also require you to complete and forward a Self-Assessment. Your booking cannot be confirmed without provision of these details.
5. Cancellation by the traveler
If you cancel some or all portions of your booking cancellation fees will apply. A cancellation will only be effective when we receive written confirmation of the cancellation. If you cancel a trip:
- 60 days or more prior to departure, we will retain the deposit
- less than 60 days prior to departure, we will retain 100% paid by you in connection with the booking.
You are strongly advised to take out cancellation insurance at the time of booking which will cover cancellation fees. If you leave a trip for any reason after it has commenced we are not obliged to make any refunds for unused services.
6. Cancellation by Us
We may cancel a trip at any time up to 30 days before departure, subject to clause 13. We may cancel a trip at any time prior to departure if, due to terrorism, natural disasters, political instability or other external events it is not viable for us to operate the planned itinerary. If we cancel your trip, you can transfer amounts paid to an alternate departure date, or alternatively receive a full refund. In circumstances where the cancellation is due to external events outside our reasonable control, refunds will be less any unrecoverable costs. We are not responsible for any incidental expenses that you may have incurred as a result of your booking including but not limited to visas, vaccinations, travel insurance excess or non-refundable flights.
7. Booking amendments
If you wish to transfer from one trip to another or transfer your booking to a third party you must notify us at least 30 days prior to the proposed departure date. A fee of $200 per person per change will apply (in addition to any charges levied by hotels, ground operators or airlines).
If you notify us less than 30 days prior to the proposed departure date the refund policy applicable to cancellations will apply. Transfers to a third party are only permitted where the transferee meets all the requirements in relation to the trip, and transfers to another departure can only be made to a departure within the current validity period.
Amendments to any other arrangements made in conjunction with your trip will incur an $200 administration fee per booking per change. This fee is in addition to any charges levied by hotels, ground operators or airlines. No amendments are permitted to your booking within 10 days of departure.
8. Understanding of Risk and Assumption of Risk
You hereby acknowledge that you have voluntarily applied for the trip / tour designated by your booking agent or on this receipt or form. I understand that you may travel to remote countries and areas that are inherently risky and that may include high degrees of danger from natural and human factors, and other similar activities associated with foreign travel. You are prepared to assume the risks associated with this trip / tour including: forces of nature; terrorism; civil unrest; war; accidents; and transportation including land vehicles, boats, and aircraft that are not operated or maintained to standards found in your country.
You also assume risks associated with altitude, illness, disease, physical exertion, and alcohol consumption, knowing that access to evacuation and/or suitable medical supplies and support may not be available. By signing, clicking, responding, taking a tour, or proceeding any further past this point of communication, you agree to take full responsibility for your own actions, safety and welfare, except for unanticipated events including injury, illness, emotional trauma, or death. You also understand that you will be a member of a group and will conduct yourself in a way that will not endanger the group or yourself. You understand that if you fraudulently represent yourself as fit for this trip, you may be removed prior to or during the trip at your own expense. You agree to these statements in totality without plan to pretend you didn’t know or expect any of these absolutely crucial requirements.
By booking with us you understand that travel, international and domestic, is not an inherently predictable or safe activity. It can be as safe as a day at home in your country, but it involves a risk of delay, theft, injury, disease, or death. By taking a tour and making a contract with us you are waiving your right to sue or seek legal action against compensation from us through any lawsuit, at home and abroad. You understand that travel is subject to all sorts of unpredictable forces and many known risks in the country in which you live and depart from, the transportation that conveys you, and the places in which we operate. You are to examine the country in which we provide tours closely and decide for yourself whether you would like to make a contract with us, and if you decide to make this contract then you waive your right to seek compensation for any minor and severe misfortunes, including but not limited to injury and death. You are to read the news and keep updated on the situation on the country. We have no liability to you for any cost, loss or damage, nor if you cancel mid-trip, will we refund you the cost of any unused portion of your travel arrangements. In addition, you understand that tours with wildlife or nature are subject to the forces of nature and the decisions of the animals and circumstances of weather. On any given tour it is not guaranteed to see the animals you wished for, that inhabit the destination, or to have the most ideal weather to see the destination itself.
9. Exclusions
The land price of your trip does not include:
- international or internal flights unless specified
- airport taxes and excess baggage charges unless specified
- meals in the city hotels
- Visa and passport fees
- travel insurance
- Optional activities and all personal expenses.
10. Prices & surcharges
We reserve the right to impose surcharges up to 30 days before departure due to unfavorable changes in exchange rates, increases in airfares or other transportation costs, increases in local operator costs, taxes or if government action should require us to do so. In such instances we will be responsible for the first 2% of the additional costs and you will be responsible for the balance. If any surcharge results in an increase of more than 10% of the trip price you may cancel the booking within 5 days of notification of the surcharge and obtain a full refund.
11. Age & Health requirements
Minimum General Policy: For the majority of our trips the minimum age for children is 12. All travelers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult who is responsible for the child’s day-to-day care. Please note we cannot guarantee triple or joining rooms for families; accompanying adults may be required to share with others in the group on a twin share basis. The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years.
Maximum General Policy: For the majority of our trips we have no upper age limit, though we remind you that gorilla and chimp tracking can be physically demanding and a Self-Assessment form is required for all people 70 years and over.
We are able to provide details on mandatory health requirements; however, we are not medical experts. It is your responsibility to ensure that you obtain proper and detailed medical advice at least two months prior to travel for the latest health requirements, recommendations for your destination and any costs. Where you do not do so and either are not allowed to enter any country, or suffer personal injury or death as a result, we have no liability to you for any cost, loss or damage which you suffer nor will we refund you the cost of any unused portion of your travel arrangements.
12. Passport and visas
You must carry a valid passport and have obtained all of the appropriate visas, permits and certificates for the countries in which you will visit during your trip. Your passport must be valid for six months beyond the duration of the trip. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of the correct visas, permits and certificates for your trip; please refer to the website or contact us for details. We are not responsible if you are refused entry to a country because you lack the correct passport, visa or other travel documentation.
13. Travel insurance
Travel insurance should be taken out at the time of booking for any trips. Your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident, death, medical expenses and emergency repatriation. We also strongly recommend it covers cancellation, curtailment, personal liability and loss of luggage and personal effects.
14. Flexibility
You appreciate and acknowledge that the nature of this type of travel requires considerable flexibility and you should allow for alternatives. The itinerary provided for each trip is representative of the types of activities contemplated but it is understood that the route, schedules, itineraries, amenities and mode of transport may be subject to alteration without prior notice due to local circumstances or events. We will however in the best of our ability and in consideration of safety and time include all of the components stated in our product itineraries.
15. Change of itinerary
While we endeavor to operate all trips as described, we reserve the right to change the trip itinerary.
Before departure: If we make a major change we will inform you as soon as reasonably possible, if there is time to do so before departure. The definition of a major change is deemed to be a change affecting at least one day in five of the itinerary. When a major change is made you may choose between accepting the change, obtaining a refund of money paid on the land portion of the trip only or accepting an alternative tour offered.
After departure: We reserve the right to change an itinerary after departure due to local circumstances or events outside of our control. In such emergency circumstances the additional cost of any necessary itinerary alterations will be covered by you: please note that by booking a tour or service you also hereby agree to carry emergency funds to be used in such instances, just as embassies require proof of means of subsistence to enter some countries. Please note we are not responsible for any incidental expenses that may be incurred as a result of the change of itinerary such as visas, vaccinations, or non-refundable flights.
16. Authority on tour
Our group trips are run our professional guide. The decision of our guide is final on all matters likely to affect the safety or well-being of any person participating in the trip. If you fail to comply with a decision made by our guide, break local law, or interfere with the well-being or mobility of the group, the guide may direct you to leave the trip immediately, with no right of refund. We may also elect not to carry you on any future trips booked or to report you to local authorities and law enforcement and immigration. You must at all times comply with the laws, customs, foreign exchange and drug regulations of all countries visited, and you also agree to travel in accordance with our travel guidelines. Antagonism of the tour and customer service staff on a trip and harassment or insulting of guides will lead to termination from a trip without refund.
17. Acceptance of unknown factors
You acknowledge that the nature of the trip is adventurous and participation involves a degree of personal risk. You will be visiting places where the political, cultural and geographical attributes present dangers and physical challenges greater than those present in our daily lives.
We use information from government foreign departments and reports from our own contacts in assessing whether the itinerary should operate. However, it is also your own responsibility to acquaint yourself with all possible relevant travel information and the nature of your itinerary. You acknowledge that your decision to travel is made in light of consideration of this information and you accept that you are aware of the personal risks attendant upon such travel.
18. Limitation of liability
You hereby release and discharge Gorilla tours and Travel, and its agents, associated persons, contractors, and employees from and against any and all liability arising from my participation in the trip / tour or provided service. You agree that this release will be legally binding upon yourself, your heirs, successors, assigns and legal representatives; it being your intention to fully assume all risk of travel and to release Gorilla Tours and Travel and everybody associated with it or in communication with you in relation to it and your trip or service from any and all liabilities to the maximum permitted by law.
- liability for any loss, death, injury or damage which you may suffer (directly or indirectly) in connection with or arising out of your participation in a trip, or any breach of the Booking Conditions, is excluded.
- you release us and our officers, employees, agents and representatives from any liability and expressly waive any claims you may have against us arising out of or in connection with your participation in a trip.
- any condition or warranty which would otherwise be implied by law into these Booking Conditions (Implied Warranty), is excluded.
To the extent an Implied Warranty cannot be excluded, our liability in respect of the Implied Warranty is limited to (in our absolute discretion):
(i) the provision of a similar trip to an equivalent value; or
(ii) a refund of the total amount received by us from you in connection with your booking.
Any claim by you is excluded to the extent that it is for indirect or consequential loss, loss of profits or economic loss, however it arises, or for indirect, special, punitive or exemplary damages.
19. Claims & complaints
If you have a complaint about your trip please inform your tour leader or our local representative at the time in order that they can attempt to rectify the matter. If satisfaction is not reached through these means then any further complaint should be put in writing to us within 30 days of the end of the tour.
20. Severability
In the event that any term or condition contained in these Booking Conditions is unenforceable or void by operation of law, or as being against public policy, then such term or condition shall be deemed to be severed from this contract or amended accordingly only to such extent necessary to allow all remaining terms and conditions to survive and continue as totally binding.
21. Photos and marketing
You consent to us using images and spoken and written content and quotations of you taken during the trip for advertising and promotional purposes in any medium we choose. You grant us a perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, irrevocable license to use such images for publicity and promotional purposes.
22. Privacy policy
Any personal information that we collect about you may be used for any purpose associated with the operation of a Trip or to send you marketing material. The information may be disclosed to our agents, service providers or other suppliers to enable us to operate the Trip.
23. Applicable law
The laws of the Government of Uganda, govern these Booking Conditions to the fullest extent allowable. Any disputes in connection with a trip or these Booking Conditions must be initiated in the courts of Uganda.
Travel information to Uganda
Facts about Uganda
Uganda is a landlocked country located west of Kenya and is slightly smaller than the state of Oregon. Uganda’s climate is tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in the northeast. Its lowest point is Lake Albert at 621 m and its highest point is Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley at 5,110 m. The population of Uganda is approximately 30million and the capital is Kampala. English is the official national language, taught in grade schools, used in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts. Bwindi, in southwest Uganda, is home to half the world’s remaining Mountain Gorilla population.
Travel Documents
Clients require a valid passport and visa to enter Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Please make sure that your passport is valid for six months from the date of your safari and that it has a sufficient number of unused pages for endorsements. We suggest that you take two photocopies of the information page of your passport and keep one in a separate part of your luggage and give the other to our East African partners during your orientation meeting upon arrival in East Africa. We also recommend leaving a copy with your contact person at home. If you lose your passport, this will make it easier to replace.
Please do not leave your passport or any other valuables in hotel rooms or unsupervised vehicles, planes, etc., while you are on safari.
Visas
Uganda government effective July 2016 introduced online visas, anyone arriving into Uganda who requires an entry visa must have applied through the online application system prior to arrival. Visit https://visas.immigration.go.ug *
Procedure; Go to the visa immigration website https://visas.immigration.go.ug
Complete the application form and upload clear copies of current passport, Yellow fever certificate and a passport photo.
On completion of the online application, you will receive a bar-coded email notification. Print out the email and bring it with you to Uganda. Upon arrival at the point of entry, present the bar-coded email to the immigration officer who will scan the barcode; take your finger prints and photo.
The visa sticker will be printed with your photo and embedded in your passport (passport must be valid at least 6 months).
Health Requirements
You should consult your physician regarding the best choice of vaccines for your trip. Recommendations will depend on many individual factors, including your precise travel plans. It is recommended that you see your doctor at least four to six weeks before your trip to allow time for vaccines to take effect.
YELLOW FEVER – Due to reported cases of Yellow Fever in other parts of Africa, all visitors arriving in Uganda are required to present a valid Yellow Fever card upon arrival.
Travelers to East Africa intend or endemic areas are strongly advised to protect themselves with vaccination against Yellow Fever at least two weeks prior to their departure from their own home countries. If traveling to Uganda, it is highly recommended that you be inoculated against Yellow Fever as the country has a tropical climate and is considered a Yellow Fever risk area.
A travel clinic directory is available through The International Society of Travel Medicine: http://www.istm.org/
Travel and Medical Insurance
We strongly recommend that you make arrangements for comprehensive travel and medical insurance services.
We recommend that you visit www.insuremytrip.com, where you will be able to compare policies and information from 18 leading companies.
Most policies offer Trip Cancellation, Baggage, Medical, Dental, Emergency Evacuation, 24 Hour Traveler Assistance, Baggage Delay, Travel Delay, and Accidental Death Coverages. Some policies also have options for Collision/Damage coverage for rented cars, Flight Insurance (a form of Accidental Death Coverage while flying only) and added Emergency Evacuation insurance. Some package policies include coverage for children at no extra charge.
Although every possible care is taken to safeguard you and your property while on safari with us, we accept no liability to clients for any accidents, injuries, or illnesses incurred or for any loss of, or damage to, client property.
Currency and Currency Exchange
The currency in Uganda is the Uganda shilling. The exchange offices in the airports and border crossings have up-to-date exchange rates for all major world currencies, including U.S. dollars. Most hotels will exchange your currency at moderate premiums, but usually at lower rates than the banks. Major credit cards are accepted in East Africa at larger hotels and in some shops in the main cities.
For Uganda: We suggest that you take cash in US$ in $100 or $50. Notes must be dated 2013 or newer and must be in good condition, not torn, etc., or banks will refuse them. Traveler’s cheques are not popular and will receive a very low rate of exchange. Additionally, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to change traveler’s cheques outside of the large cities.
PLEASE NOTE:
a) It is illegal to exchange money with anyone but a licensed money-changer.
b) It is an offen
Your Safari Driver/Guide
A skillful, committed and willing driver/guide can add much to your safari.
Your driver/guide has experience both in driving off road and with wildlife. He may be able to spot animals that you cannot see due to his familiarity with the area and animal behaviors. Feel free to ask questions.
Tipping
In general, at hotels, lodges, restaurants, etc., a 10% tip is the norm. This assumes that you received service that you consider to be good/friendly/pleasant. If you did not receive good service, then there is no point in tipping. If you received service that you consider goes beyond that which you would normally expect, then you should tip accordingly. A waiter or porter normally earns between $4 and $8 per day, depending upon the establishment (small café or big hotel), so tips in excess of a day’s wage are exceptional, unless they are being shared.
On safaris, it is common practice to tip drivers, guides, porters and other staff if service has been good. Some recommendations for tipping:
Driver/guides: $10 per client per day
Camps and lodges: $5 per client per night
Gorilla trekking guides: $15 per client per trek
Gorilla trekking porters: $15 per client per trek
National park naturalists: $10 per client per walk
It is difficult for locals who receive tips in small denominations of US currency to convert to the local currency. It is best to change money into the local currency and obtain small bills. Tipping with the local currency provides the recipients with the most value from your tips. Please do not tip in US$ coins as they cannot be exchanged.
Electricity
Electric current is 220-240-volt AC 50 Hz. Power sockets are usually of the three-square-pin variety as used in the UK, although some older buildings have two-round-pin sockets. Bring a universal adaptor with you.
Some lodges do not have electricity 24 hours a day. Generators supply the electricity and often the sleeping rooms have very few electrical outlets. You should also bring a device that allows you to plug in more than one item to one outlet to allow you to charge multiple batteries and a computer at the same time.
Some vehicles have outlets for charging batteries during your game drives, but some do not. Ask your safari driver/guide.
Time Zones
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are eight hours ahead of Washington, DC, Eastern Standard Time. The daylight hours are from approximately 06:15 to 18:30. East Africa does not change its clock for Daylight Savings Time.
Climate
The climate of East Africa varies with each region because of the varied topography. Broadly speaking, the climate is hot and humid at the coast and becomes less humid as you move inland. The heat is moderated largely by altitude, therefore the cooler areas are found in the highlands. Most of the areas frequented on normal wildlife safaris are in areas of moderate climate. In general, the coolest months are from June to October and the warmest from December to March. Rainfall generally comes in two seasons, the ‘long rains’ from mid-March through May, and the ‘short rains’ during November and the first half of December. Again, there will be slight regional variations. Rainfall varies from less than 10 inches per year in the semi-arid areas of Kenya’s northeast to about 60 inches along the coast and over 120 inches in the mountainous rainforest areas, such as Uganda’s southwest.
Food and Drink
Generally, it is advisable not to drink or brush your teeth with tap water in East Africa. Bottled water is always available.
The food served at most lodges is of the highest quality. Gourmet cooks bake fresh breads and produce soups, salads, and entrees that could easily appear on tables at top restaurants around the world. Meals are international in flavor with soups, salads, pasta dishes, meat and fish dishes, and breads.
Normally, your wake up calls will be accompanied by tea or coffee and cookies before your morning game drive or bush walk. Returning to camp late morning, brunch is served with fresh fruit, cereals, bacon, eggs, sausage and toast.
Otherwise, lunch is usually a warm dish served with salads, quiches, and cold meats.
Dinner consists of an appetizer and soup, followed by meat, fish and pasta dishes served with fresh vegetables and sauces. Dinner is followed by tea or coffee and dessert.
We are happy to accommodate special diets and appreciate knowing about them in advance.
Personal Health
Please ensure that you bring sufficient quantities of any toiletries or medications you require. Consult your doctor before departing so that he/she knows the conditions under which you will be taking medication. Please advise us of any side effects of any medication you take and of any dietary requirements related to taking them.
Some suggested items:
- Anti-malaria pills
- General antibiotic treatment
- Antacid tablets/anti-diarrhea/indigestion preparations
- Cold & flu medication
- Aspirin/Tylenol or equivalent
- Antiseptic solution
- Band-aids
- Insect repellant
- Sunscreen
- Calamine lotion/Bactine for insect bites or sunburn
Luggage
Travel light – remember, if you can’t carry your own bag, it’s too heavy! One strong, medium-sized duffle bag or medium suitcase (that you can carry) and a daypack should be adequate. 20 kg is the maximum allowable baggage weight for international flights, 15 kg on internal scheduled flights, and 10 kg on charter flights.
The overweight rules and their enforcement vary from airline to airline. Some airlines do not charge anything as long as each piece of checked luggage is less than the maximum. Others charge as much as US$ 5.00 per kilo of overweight.
Carry-on Baggage
We suggest you carry the following items with you on the plane in your daypack or carry-on bag: gorilla/chimp trekking footwear mentioned in the parking information below, camera, binoculars, important documents, and other irreplaceable items. It is also a good idea to pack a change of clothes and your toothbrush in your carry-on…just in case. It is crucial that you pack any essential medication in your carry-on in sufficient quantities to last for at least a few days after the scheduled end of your trip.
Storage of Gear
Excess baggage may be stored at the hotel in Entebbe / Kampala while you are on safari in Uganda. Please remember to clearly label any bags you are leaving there. Valuables should be left at the reception desk in a safety deposit box and not in your main luggage.
Packing Information
Clothing
The dress for our safaris is informal; therefore lightweight, casual clothes are appropriate. Safari clothing should be neutral in color (tan, brown, khaki, light green). This list is intended merely as a guideline, so you should use your own judgment and experience in packing.
Shirts: Cotton, short-sleeved or T-shirts, long-sleeved, if you are sensitive to the sun.
Trousers: Shorts may be worn in some places. However, long, cotton field pants are advisable in some of the areas in which we will be walking.
Hat: A wide-brimmed or peaked hat for sun protection.
Sweater: Light sweater, jacket or sweatshirt for cooler evenings. It cools off quite drastically in the higher elevations.
Bathing suit: Some of the hotels or lodges will have pools.
Raingear: Poncho or raincoat just in case, especially if gorilla trekking is on your itinerary.
Shoes and socks: Trail shoes or running shoes with a good solid grip and good support and cotton socks are the most versatile and comfortable footwear for this trip. Some people prefer their well broken-in hiking boots. You can also put in some gardening gloves for gorilla trekking.
Accessories
Daypack: Bring a small backpack to carry bottled water, extra socks, moist travel wipes or sanitizing hand lotion, field guides, film, and your personal items.
Flashlight: Bring a strong flashlight (and extra batteries) in case we go on a night walk or power failures.
Binoculars: Binoculars are an essential piece of equipment on safari.
Miscellaneous: Personal soap, extra pair of prescription glasses, pocket calculator, travel alarm clock, laundry soap (for washing delicates), large zip-lock bags for damp laundry, and paperback books if you are a reader.
Note: We recommend that you put any sharp objects such as nail files, Swiss army knife, scissors, etc. in your checked luggage or they will be confiscated by airport authorities at check-in.
Equipment
If you are taking expensive camera, video, or sound equipment with you, we suggest that you make a list of the items, including description, serial and model numbers and bring one copy with you.
We are not responsible for the loss or theft of any personal articles such as cameras, binoculars or other valuables while you are on safari. Therefore, we strongly urge you to check your household or personal insurance policies to ensure that all the valuable articles you may take with you are insured to the level of your personal requirements.
Photography
A photo safari is a special experience. Long days, many animals, changing weather, variable geography and differing environments all offer excellent opportunities for outstanding photography. While the equipment and techniques are important, it is the photographer who creates the images.
The following information may help you get the best from your trip.
Our safari vehicles are four wheel drive Land Cruisers or Mini-buses. They have both sides and a roof, as distinguished from the vehicles in southern Africa, which have neither. The roof rises up several feet to allow passengers to stand and photograph 360 degrees unobstructed by windows and the like.
Under most conditions, you will not be able to safely get out of the safari vehicle during game drives.
Many photographers prefer early morning and evening game drives rather than those in the middle of the day. These are possible only if you will return to the same lodge. When planning your itinerary, you’ll need to consider how many early/late drives you prefer. Some adjustments may be possible if made well in advance of your arrival date.
On those days when you are driving from one lodge to another, a boxed lunch can be arranged.
Vehicles are not allowed off road in national parks and reserves. There are numerous tracks for vehicles in the parks, and few, if any, paved roads. However, in areas outside the parks, vehicles can go off road and depart from the tracks. Photographers often want to photograph an animal from a particular angle, which may not be possible if you are in a national park as the vehicles are not allowed to go off road.
Please note that when photographing gorillas and chimpanzees, no flash is allowed.
Camera Gear
The most important equipment is the fastest long lens you can afford. Nothing better captures an animal or a bird in low light. Weight is not a big problem because you will be in a safari vehicle, although weight may be an issue with airlines. You should bring a wider lens as well.
The Nikon DX format cameras, or equal from other manufacturers, are helpful because the sensor effectively extends the lens length by about 1.5 times. Cameras that do well with high ISO are very useful in low light situations. If you have a lens such as a 400mm or similar, you will be well served by having a second camera body with a shorter lens, such as a 70-200, or even wider to minimize changing lenses at critical moments. Sometimes, a long lens reduces the image too much. While you will see many birds where a long lens is essential, you will also see herds of elephant and will need something wider.
You will be safe if you bring three batteries per camera body. You will be using one with a second in reserve while the third is charging. If you are using two bodies, five batteries will be adequate.
A bean bag is the most inexpensive and easily used camera support in safari vehicles. Bean bags can be placed on the edge of the vehicle while you are standing. Kinesis offers a pre filled bag weighing about one pound. There are a myriad of specialized support devices at substantial prices that will mount your camera and lens on the vehicle in various ways. Really Right Stuff makes a great variety of such devices.
A laptop computer is a must if the main purpose of your trip is photography. Check your laptop battery before departure to make sure it provides power for an adequate length of time. Make sure you have at least one card reader. You need to bring memory cards with sufficient capacity. You may find that it is most convenient to have a card with sufficient capacity so that you do not have to change cards during your game drives. There may be times when you will shoot in burst mode. Try to bring cards that can accept data at the fastest possible rate.
Neither a tripod nor a monopod is useful in safari vehicles because there is not enough space. The only use for a tripod on safari is when shooting outside the vehicle.
A good pair of binoculars can be very helpful. Many animals are colored to make them difficult to see. Others may be at a distance. It is much easier to scan an area with binoculars than with a long lens.
Miscellaneous
Under no circumstances, please do not give anything - including candies, pens, empty water bottles, or money to children as this teaches them to beg. We prefer you to arrange donations through local leaders or teachers instead and would be happy to help with arrangements in advance.
The roads in East Africa are generally bad to very bad. Consequently, driving times may be long. For example, in Uganda, the drive from Entebbe to Bwindi may be up to 10 hours.
While on safari, you will find local people in East Africa to be extremely friendly and welcoming. However, before taking photographs of members of the local community it is asked that you please get their permission first. Your driver/guide will be able to help you with this if needed. Please do not give money in exchange for photographs. If you wish to send copies of photographs back to East Africa, we will make sure they are given out the next time our driver/guide is in that location.
