African Safari Guide Part1
Inspiration Safari Guide - Authentic, Intimate, Ethical
Inspiration Safari Guide - Authentic, Intimate, Ethical
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PART ONE<br />
INSPIRATION<br />
Authentic, Intimate, Ethical
All great<br />
adventures<br />
start with a whisper<br />
of wonder…
In the modern world, you may need to listen a little<br />
more carefully for the call of the wild. But, beneath the<br />
hum of technology, the chatter of convenience, and<br />
the buzz of bright everyday living – it’s still there.
Often, it’s not outside your window,<br />
but within your own heart. Lend<br />
an ear and you will hear a thousand<br />
hooves, the midnight roar of a lion<br />
on the prowl, and the rhythm of fire<br />
and drums.
Before now, maybe you thought<br />
a safari was something for the future,<br />
some far flung agenda that you would<br />
get around to eventually. Only, the<br />
drums have been beating louder and<br />
the idea of watching pink flamingos<br />
take flight has been creeping into<br />
your dreams.
It’s time,<br />
Africa is calling your name.<br />
These golden plains bring a raw emotion shimmering to the surface; it’s a place<br />
where sunsets can make you weep, where the snows of Kilimanjaro pull at your<br />
primitive side, and where the ballet of life and death that plays out across the<br />
undulating landscapes causes the heart to both wither and bloom.<br />
There is time to get lost in the orchestral emotion of safari, but the first step is<br />
piecing together those fragments of a dream to make a crystal-clear image of<br />
the side of Africa you are ready to experience…
<strong>Safari</strong>s<br />
Designed for the Senses<br />
Those who have never stepped foot in<br />
Africa before, may have a dust smeared<br />
vision of a safari in their mind. Yet,<br />
the beauty of a <strong>Safari</strong> adventure is that<br />
they can be expertly crafted around<br />
your own aspirations. From watching<br />
elephants from the steamy bliss of<br />
your private jacuzzi to camping beside<br />
flickering flame and a sky smeared with<br />
stars – there is the simple, the soft, and<br />
the utterly sensational when it comes<br />
to safari.<br />
For many, the allure of a journey to<br />
Africa is to walk in the place where<br />
man’s first footsteps fell, and to engage<br />
in intimate encounters with buffalo,<br />
lions, rhinos, elephants and slinking<br />
leopards. This is only one branch of the<br />
tree – your Africa can take a million<br />
different tangents.
For Wild Wishes<br />
Wildlife lovers can lap up the wonders of<br />
the big five, but also watch hippos wallow<br />
in the mud, crocodiles stalk the riverbeds,<br />
and see the blur of cheetahs as they race<br />
across the Serengeti.<br />
Gaze in awe at tall necked giraffes nibbling<br />
leaves from the trees, and feel your heart<br />
race as you watch a pride of lion’s hunt<br />
zebra beneath a blue arched sky.
For Cultural<br />
Clarity<br />
Culture aficionado’s can walk<br />
alongside the ancient tribe of Masaai<br />
Warriors, haggle for woven wares<br />
at the bustling markets, laugh with<br />
children in the classroom, and get a<br />
truly authentic taste for local life. You<br />
can follow the footsteps of some of<br />
our first ancestors in the Ngorongoro<br />
Crater, admire ancient fossils, and<br />
dance to the local beat of drums until<br />
you collapse beside the fire.
For Rare Romance<br />
Hopeless romantics can sleep soundly in white<br />
feather beds, clink champagne flutes on a sunrise<br />
balloon ride, soak in spa waters, and stroll the<br />
ivory sand beaches of Zanzibar.<br />
Lovers can nibble gourmand picnics in the bush,<br />
take tandem bicycle rides on birdsong trails,<br />
and make time for true connection against<br />
a backdrop of rare beauty.
For Family Finesse<br />
Far flung families will make memories that last a lifetime<br />
in the landscapes of Africa. Children will be awestruck<br />
at their picture book animals springing to life, teens will<br />
invoke their inner explorer, and feel the friction of life<br />
as they mountain bike, swim in wild lakes, and embrace<br />
cultures outside their own. <strong>Safari</strong>’s are the ultimate<br />
learning experience that speak to all ages.
Whatever your ambition,<br />
find a safari that fits as well<br />
as a tailored glove.
Selecting Your<br />
Signature <strong>Safari</strong><br />
Style<br />
<strong>Safari</strong> is not a one size fits all adventure,<br />
there are many options on the shelf,<br />
and a myriad of materials to tailor<br />
your trip to be one you desire. We<br />
understand that for many, a safari is<br />
a once in a lifetime excursion and we<br />
are firm believers that you shouldn’t<br />
compromise on dreams that run this<br />
deep.
Africa’s safari history dates right back to the<br />
13 th century when wealthy traders would<br />
stalk the lands for prized hides and trophies.<br />
Now, we tend to swap blood and destruction<br />
for education and culture. Yet these swaying<br />
grasslands, undulating plains, shimmering<br />
waterholes and soaring mountains remain<br />
something you want to snag; not for mounting<br />
above the fireplace, but for keeping stashed in<br />
your heart.<br />
Take a look at some of the safari styles you<br />
can choose...
Perfectly Private<br />
Completely customized itineraries<br />
strip away the mystery of ‘what<br />
if’ and deliver an unabashedly<br />
indulgent experience for savvy<br />
travelers. If you don’t like the idea<br />
of taking someone else’s trip but<br />
long to see Africa – your way, then<br />
boutique independent tours are<br />
the answer.<br />
Fully customizable trips to Africa<br />
are like being a child in the candy<br />
store of sublime life experiences.<br />
You select the destinations that call<br />
to your curiosity, you handpick<br />
the wonders you want to see, you<br />
select the dates that align with<br />
your life, and you muse over<br />
accommodations, journeys and<br />
tours that turn a hazy outline into<br />
something true and tangible.<br />
Go Group,<br />
Go Together<br />
If you want to go fast, go<br />
alone. If you want to go far,<br />
go together. Group tours are<br />
another way of exploring the<br />
nooks and crannies of this<br />
mighty continent. Group<br />
travel takes compromise<br />
but can usually help to cut<br />
back on the costs of a safari.<br />
Departure times are normally<br />
set in stone and you also need<br />
to be prepared for the chance<br />
that in larger groups you may<br />
not get the best seat for prime<br />
wildlife viewing.<br />
However, shared experiences<br />
and the camaraderie of group<br />
travel can be its own reward.<br />
With a boutique independent<br />
tour, you share your savannah<br />
with no-one – save the big five<br />
and your guide.
Lavishly<br />
Luxurious<br />
Gone are the days of<br />
roughing it out on the open<br />
road, high end safaris are<br />
here to stay. From lodges<br />
with spas and swimming<br />
pools to pop up luxury<br />
tents with en-suites and<br />
verandahs that turn<br />
camping into a creative art<br />
– these safaris blend the<br />
beauty of the wild with the<br />
finesse of the finer things<br />
in life.<br />
Think lavish canopy tents,<br />
rainfall showers, private<br />
chefs preparing candlelit<br />
meals in the bush, and<br />
toasting each day with a<br />
glass of sommelier wine<br />
to the soundtrack of the<br />
wild.
Classical Cool<br />
Fall back into the pages of<br />
yesteryear with a classic safari.<br />
The traditional pathway to<br />
discovering Africa will conjure<br />
visions of Hemmingway,<br />
binoculars clasped in hands,<br />
the cry of the wild, and<br />
evenings spent with canopy<br />
walls and campfires.<br />
Often, the game drives and<br />
journeys are overland – gifting<br />
you time to become one with<br />
the sun soaked prairies and<br />
plains that stretch out before<br />
you.
There is the<br />
simple, the soft,<br />
and the sublime<br />
when it comes to<br />
safari.
Divine<br />
Destinations<br />
to Dream About<br />
From East to South, the continent of<br />
Africa manages to capture both the richly<br />
grandiose and the glory of simplicity. We<br />
are keeping our eyes turned towards the<br />
east, the fabled Africa we yearn for in our<br />
dreams.<br />
The Africa where the Great Migration<br />
thunders across the plains, where the<br />
Masaai stand on tall legs wrapped in<br />
coral colored shawls, and where the<br />
turquoise and white islands are soaked<br />
in spice and come with a heady dose of<br />
hedonism.<br />
If the world is a painting, we don’t<br />
even consider East Africa to be the box<br />
of paints; instead it is the canvas from<br />
which the very visions of this great and<br />
beautiful life are sketched.
Kenya<br />
Calling you Home<br />
Acacia’s prickling the scorched orange grasslands, the shimmering heat<br />
rising, and the ancient threat of the Great Rift Valley – the very backbone<br />
of the world. Kenya isn’t the place you visit, it’s the place you come home<br />
too.<br />
The cradle of all things wild and wonderful, you can expect a world<br />
filled with rich colors, fascinating tribes, and an impeccable coastline<br />
for plunging, lounging, and purveying the pink frothy sky.
For wildlife, Kenya graces us with all the big<br />
five and some of the most stunning National<br />
Parks. The Masaai Mara ripples across the<br />
border with Tanzania and offers that sublime<br />
sea of grass view – studded with big cats and<br />
wild beasts.<br />
When the annual Great Migration takes place,<br />
the waves of wildebeest rise-up, turning this<br />
spot into one of nature’s most impressive<br />
events.<br />
The Amboseli Game Reserve gives us<br />
parchment paper landscapes, mighty<br />
elephant herds, wild savannahs and Sulphur<br />
springs bubbling beneath the big sky.<br />
The Sarara Singing Wells are awash with<br />
the cry of cats and the howls of wild dogs,<br />
and Great Rift Valley with its soda lakes will<br />
turn your world seashell pink with the sight<br />
of thousands of flamingos.
Tanzania<br />
The Dance of<br />
Life and Death<br />
Even the name rolls of the tongue<br />
with a slight buzz, Tanzania<br />
is the home of life both great<br />
and small, the delicate dance of<br />
first breaths and death, and the<br />
diamond capped splendor of<br />
Mount Kilimanjaro.<br />
The Serengeti is the spot that<br />
promises that poetry of golden<br />
plains and blue skies dotted with<br />
bright hot air balloons. Back down<br />
on the ground, and this is the front<br />
row cinema spot for witnessing the<br />
Great Migration, especially in the<br />
heart of the National Park.
There are many ancient fables sewn into<br />
the seams of Tanzania, the Ngorongoro<br />
Crater packs its own punch, with<br />
submerged hippos and herds of yin<br />
yang zebra. The Olduvai Gorge boasts<br />
footprints, fossils and early age tools<br />
from over two million years ago, and<br />
Lake Manyara is where the giants<br />
roam.<br />
Chimps swing from the trees in the<br />
charming parklands framing the<br />
Gombe Stream , and the thick forests<br />
and crater lakes of Arusha teem with<br />
the bright feathers of water birds and<br />
climbers ascending the razored ridges<br />
of Mount Meru .
Then we come to the mountain of all<br />
mountains – Kilimanjaro. Throwing<br />
her shadow across the plains, the<br />
bold and the brave dare to take the<br />
treacherous journey to the snow-capped<br />
peaks, to be rewarded with standing on<br />
top of the shoulders of Africa.
Zanzibar<br />
Sunshine and Spice<br />
Shake the dust from your hair<br />
and swap the wide plains for<br />
the salt tang of the Indian<br />
Ocean. Zanzibar is a melting<br />
pot of cultures, a place where<br />
you can lose yourself in the<br />
tumble streets of Stone Town,<br />
snorkel through the radiant<br />
coral reefs for hours, and tour<br />
the fragrant plantations that<br />
grant the island it’s exotic<br />
name.<br />
This is the land of sweet<br />
cinnamon and nutmeg, vanilla<br />
pods cracking on the branch,<br />
and lemon zest rippling<br />
through the air. It’s a place to<br />
touch and smell everything.<br />
In Zanzibar you feast on<br />
culture and fresh fruits, you<br />
sip tea in the streets of Stone<br />
Town, you sail the seas in<br />
ancient Arabic boats, and<br />
you lavish in luxury resorts<br />
without a care in the world.
“I never knew of a morning<br />
in Africa, when I woke up<br />
and wasn’t happy.”<br />
– Ernest Hemmingway
Seasonal Soirees<br />
From scorching summer days where the parched<br />
grasslands showcase every animal, to letting the rain<br />
soak you right down to the bone – there is always<br />
time for invoking your Africa experience.
December<br />
to March<br />
Experience summer in the Serengeti, where the winds roll<br />
in soft and warm, and the rains come in short sporadic<br />
bursts to quickly cleanse the lands and leave again.<br />
The grasslands are stripped right back meaning that the<br />
sleeping big cats are easier to spot. The watering holes turn<br />
into bustling hives of social activity as elephants seek to<br />
cool their thick skin, and zebras and wildebeest congregate<br />
to drink.<br />
In Tanzania this is the time where new life bursts forth<br />
vividly into our world. You can witness long legged calves<br />
take their first stumbling steps. The main draw of the<br />
summer season is the chance to witness the wonder of the<br />
Great Migration. A time when millions of wildebeest make<br />
their journey to richer plains across the Serengeti, crossing<br />
the perilous plains where lions stalk the shadows. This is a<br />
time of drama and death, of new life and love.<br />
In Zanzibar it’s the time when the waters are clear and<br />
warm for sublime diving sessions, and for those looking to<br />
conquer the heights of Kilimanjaro - January and February<br />
offer warm temperature conditions for climbing.
April to June<br />
The long rains are coming, you can spend<br />
hours watching the skies flood and the<br />
colors bloom beneath the torrential skies.<br />
This is the green season, the usually gold<br />
grasslands suddenly burst with color, but<br />
the big game can be hard to spot.<br />
Shoulder season shouldn’t leave a bitter<br />
taste; the lodges and activities come at a<br />
lesser price and the crowds have all but<br />
dispersed leaving you to embrace the<br />
silvery landscapes of Africa alone.<br />
The southern and central Serengeti and<br />
the volcanic crater park of Ngorongoro<br />
still offers ripe pickings for gorgeous game<br />
viewing. The wildebeest are banding<br />
together to begin their journey on the<br />
open road once more.
July<br />
to November<br />
A classical time to start your adventure in the wilds<br />
of East Africa. The skies have cleared to make way<br />
for abundant sunshine, and the rains are virtually<br />
non-existent meaning that once again, the animals<br />
must stay close to shrinking water sources.<br />
Visitor numbers hit their peak at the parks in<br />
August, and guests can expect high season prices<br />
when it comes to camps and lodgings.<br />
The Great Migration turns once more to head back<br />
to the Masai Mara Game Park. Crossing the Grumeti<br />
Reserves and the Mara River is a tense time; yellow<br />
eyed crocodiles wait in the depths to snap as the<br />
wildebeest and zebra plough into the dangerous<br />
waters.<br />
Game viewing across these months are unrivalled<br />
and for those gazing longingly at Kilimanjaro,<br />
September is sublime. The coast of Zanzibar is also<br />
spectacular come September, when the humidity<br />
has dispersed with the rains and the breeze is bright<br />
and beautiful.
Authentic, Intimate, Ethical
Picking<br />
the Perfect<br />
Provider<br />
Go it alone or go with the grace of<br />
a glorious operator? The million<br />
dollar question every dreamer<br />
must face when it comes to safari.<br />
In the age of the internet, travel<br />
has become much easier to address<br />
yourself. When you have the needle<br />
and thread of the World Wide Web<br />
you can stitch it all together at<br />
home. But, creating great garments<br />
takes time, patience, and skill.<br />
Sometimes, it makes sense to see<br />
a tailor.<br />
Selecting a safari provider can help<br />
lift that great weight from your<br />
shoulders – you share your dreams<br />
and they spin those threads and<br />
fragments into a living, breathing<br />
reality.
One Who Knows Africa<br />
Pick a provider who is well versed in<br />
Africa. I magine Africa as a great novel,<br />
you need someone who has studied<br />
every page – not just skimmed the<br />
blurb on the back of the book.<br />
One Who Lends an Ear<br />
Look for a keen ability to listen.<br />
Anyone can promise the world, but<br />
finding a provider who wants to do<br />
more than send you on a cookie cutter<br />
tour is paramount.
One Who Cares<br />
for Their Reputation<br />
There is an old Ghanaian saying that<br />
tells us ‘Rain beats the leopards<br />
skin, but it does not wash out the<br />
spots’ , this is a caution to care for<br />
your reputation, for once your name<br />
is marred, it will be difficult to wash<br />
those stains away.<br />
Always check the recommendations<br />
and reviews that follow your chosen<br />
tour provider. Previous travelers<br />
will be keen to share both a terrible<br />
experience and those rare and<br />
wonderful moments that changed<br />
their life. TripAdvisor can be a<br />
valuable resource, mine the internet<br />
and find your answers.
One Who Delivers More for Less<br />
The best experiences aren’t always those that<br />
are packaged the prettiest. Once you peel away<br />
the ribbons and bows, you want to make sure<br />
that what’s inside the box is substantial. Quality<br />
isn’t just skin deep, it cuts right down to the<br />
muscle.<br />
Pick a safari provider who has an ethos you<br />
agree with. One who offers ethical, intelligent,<br />
and transparent solutions and suggestions.
The world is about<br />
more than frills<br />
and lace, it’s about<br />
authenticity and an<br />
honest heart.
A Taste of Our<br />
Favorite <strong>Safari</strong> Tours
Fables of Africa<br />
5 Star / 10 days<br />
LEARN MORE > ><br />
Dive straight into the storybook lands of Kenya and Tanzania and<br />
embrace the splendor of Mother Nature. This first-class ten-day<br />
tour immerses you in four of Africa’s finest wildlife parks. Get<br />
close to the Big Five in the Serengeti, walk alongside warriors at the<br />
Masai Mara, step into ancient craters at Ngorongoro, and witness<br />
wild elephants against the sparkle of Kilimanjaro at Amboseli.<br />
Make yourself comfortable in lavish tented camps; complete with<br />
plunge pools, gourmet suppers beneath the stars, and personal<br />
guides and vehicles. This is Africa in all her finery…<br />
Rare Encounters, Kenya<br />
4 Star / 7 Days<br />
LEARN MORE >><br />
Africa is a land of many mysteries; a place where man’s first<br />
footprints fell, where mountains soar, and where bright tribes<br />
live within the fierce heart of mother nature. This seven-day tour<br />
will take you by the hand and lead you deep into the lands of<br />
Kenya’s indigenous people. Walking with the Masai, learning of<br />
their culture, making captivating memories with the children,<br />
and witnessing the splendor of their day to day life – few have<br />
this privilege to be part of such a rare and wonderful world. Of<br />
course, there will still be plenty of wildlife encounters – trekking<br />
big cats, strange birds, and breathtaking sights.<br />
Our motto is to provide authentic, intimate, and ethical tours for<br />
those who truly want to experience Africa. On this four-star Rare<br />
Encounters tour, you will see that Africa is a place of fables, and<br />
there are so many stories worth celebrating….
Game and Glory Kenya<br />
4 Star / 10 days<br />
LEARN MORE >><br />
The drama of Kenya goes straight to the heart. This ten-day tour is<br />
all about immersing yourself in the beauty, grace and sometimes<br />
gory glory of Big Game. Yes, matriarchal elephant families, big cats<br />
rolling in golden grasses, a million dusty Wildebeest thundering<br />
across the plains, wide mouthed wallowing hippos, and more. From<br />
the shimmering sights of Amboseli, to the pink flush of flamingos<br />
at Lake Nakuru, and sundowners on the riverbanks of Samburu<br />
National Park, Kenya doesn’t get any more spectacular than this.<br />
Our boutique touch brings a familial warmth to your four-star<br />
Kenyan tour. We like to go that little bit further, with community<br />
connections, local guides, hot air balloon rides, and complete<br />
customizable charm. Because Kenya is always calling you home…<br />
Blue and Gold, Kenya<br />
3 Star / 9 Days<br />
LEARN MORE >><br />
From trekking through the bush to splashing in Mombasa’s<br />
gin colored waters – this nine-day tour captures the very best of<br />
both worlds. Starting at the soft shores of Lake Nakuru you can<br />
watch black and white rhinos charge thousands of pink feathered<br />
flamingos. The Masai Mara is the ultimate <strong>African</strong> cliché in the very<br />
best way – grasslands loaded with zebra, big cats and wildebeest<br />
– all fighting for survival. Finish with a few days on the vibrant<br />
and exciting coast of Mombasa- a cultural melting pot with a vivid<br />
local scene and postcard perfect beaches.<br />
Care, consideration and creative thinking ensures that your three<br />
star Beach and Bush tour is simply magical. We bring the sparkle to<br />
safari; with a completely customizable calendar, rare and refreshing<br />
places to stay, and private guides every step of the way. Explore<br />
Africa from every angle…
A Small Note from ToKenya<br />
The Swahili word for friend is Sahibu, and being originally from Africa;<br />
we want to share our passion for a place of wild wonders, rare visions<br />
and climatic cultures with you - our dearest Sahibu. At ToKenya, you<br />
become part of the family as soon as you step into our world. While the<br />
bigger brands wrap their safari tours in ribbons and bows, bringing the<br />
personal touch to safari is what we do best.<br />
We prefer to invite you to sit with us by the fire, discuss your dreams,<br />
and to experience authentic Africa as we know it. All without losing<br />
the luxury touch.<br />
For 15 years we have been helping dreamers and doers plan these life<br />
changing adventures. From the might and majesty of watching a lioness<br />
prowl, to the first sip of palm wine beneath the stars – our guests adore<br />
what we do, and we think you will too. Check out our TripAdvisor<br />
reviews and find out why we are consistently rated five-star.<br />
We bring boutique to the bush; all our journeys are completely<br />
customizable, working on your clock, with private vehicles and personal<br />
guides. We don’t expect you to share your savannah experience with<br />
anyone but the ones you love.<br />
Our complementary safari guide is a great place to get started. We also<br />
invite you to peruse some of our favorite journeys and tours, expertly<br />
curated by those on the ground. Local knowledge, local lore and local<br />
love. Africa isn’t just another name on our books, it’s the back of our<br />
hand, our homeland, and a place everyone must experience at least<br />
once.<br />
Warmest Regards,<br />
Charles Kasinga<br />
Charles Kasinga<br />
ToKenya <strong>Safari</strong>s
Phone: 1. 866.ToKenya (1.866.865.3692)<br />
Email: safaris@tokenya.com<br />
TOKENYA.COM INC<br />
7755 Center Ave Suite 1100<br />
Huntington Beach, CA 92647<br />
USA<br />
Office Hours:<br />
Monday to Friday 8:00am to 6pm (PST)<br />
Pacific Standard Time