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FAQ's
Accommodation activities and Payments
Upon booking with us for your destination choice and with our Travel Consultant having verified availability they will respond with an invoice and payments methods available. A payment of a non-refundable deposit of 20% of the total travel quotation is required in order to confirm your reservation. After receipt of your deposit, we will, subject to availability, make reservation for your trip. The balance of the trip is due not later than 90 days prior to date of travel. Upon receipt of your full payment, we will send travel vouchers, safari information, clothing lists, etc. All prices are quoted in U.S. dollars and must be paid in U.S. dollars or the equivalence in Rands.
Payment Methods:
- Secure On-line Payment
- Bank Transfers
- Credit Cards: We accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express, they attract a surcharge.
- PayPal: For more detailed information, visit our Payment Methods
Travel Facilitation For Foreigners, Foreign Residents And Nationals
The East Africa Tourist Visa is a single-entry visa for foreigners visiting Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda simultaneously. It is multi-entry within the three countries; however, this expires automatically if a traveler goes outside of the three (3) countries.
This visa is a result of a joint initiative made by the Heads of States of the respective partner countries to boost regional tourism and create opportunities for tourists to explore the diversity of East Africa. A tourist who gets the East Africa Tourist Visa must start travel from the country that has issued the Visa.
A foreigner who wants to visit simultaneously the Republic of Kenya, Republic of Rwanda and Republic of Uganda for tourism purposes. The visa will be issued at any of the diplomatic representations of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, at the immigration offices of the respective countries or on-line where applicable.
Type of visa: An East Africa Tourist Visa is multiple entry (within the three countries) visa and shall be valid for 90 days.
- An application for an East Africa Tourist Visa may be made manually or online by submitting EATV Form 1.
- The application may be made prior to the intended date of travel or on arrival at the first port or entry into Kenya, Rwanda or Uganda where applicable. Applications can also be lodged at any of the diplomatic representation of the Republic of Kenya, Republic of Rwanda and Republic of Uganda, at the Immigration Offices of the respective countries or online where applicable.
- Kenya :For those beginning their trip in Kenya, you can find information on the visa application process on the consular section of your local Kenya embassy’s website.
- Rwanda :For those beginning their trip in Rwanda, you can apply through the Rwanda Online Visa Application System. Under “Type of Visa” select “East Africa Tourist Visa.” For more information, contact your local Rwanda Embassy.
- Uganda :For those beginning their trip in Uganda, you can find information on the visa application process on the consular section of your local Uganda Embassy’s website.
- Every application for an East Africa Tourist Visa shall be accompanied with the East Africa Tourist Visa fee of one hundred United States Dollars (100 USD) or its equivalent.
Dependents:All persons must apply in their own right.
Travel document:Any genuine acceptable travel document valid not less than 6 months.
Visa Fees:100 USD or its equivalent.
Validity of Visa:90 days from the date of issue.
Work or No Work:Work is not permitted
Visa Extension:An East Africa Tourist Visa shall not be extended.
Multi-entry/ Single entry:The Visa is a single-entry Visa; but it is multiple entry within the Partner states only. It elapses when one moves out of the Partner States.
- One clear colored passport size photo with white background recently taken without glasses, caps and scurf; (the photo should be attached to the application form by use of glue stick. Stapling and clipping the photo to the application form is not advisable).
- A complete filled application form.
- Visa application letter addressed to the issuing authority of the concerned country.
A special consideration has been given to expatriates (foreign residents) residing in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. They no longer need a visa to visit any of the three countries. They can now obtain an Inter-State Pass which is valid for 6 months.
In addition to the requirements listed above for the East Africa Tourist Visa, the expatriates will require a valid resident/ work permit.
Kenyans, Rwandans and Ugandans use Identity Cards as travel documents within the region. The use of National Identity cards went into effect on 1 January 2014. The decision enables citizens of one country to spend up to six months in the two other countries using only their National Identification (ID) cards.
Students which are nationals of Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda can use their Students Identification Cards (IDs) to travel to any of the three countries. Click here for more details
Your Falcon Safari Guide And Travel Tips
As for all tourist destinations, there are some precautions you will have to take and some items that will make life easier for you:
- Malaria – The Chobe and Okavango areas are high-risk malaria areas, and you will be wise to take precautions. The swamps are rife with insects, and insect repellents are a must-have.
- Sunblock and sunglasses are essential, especially in the November to February summer season with accompanying high temperatures. Use practical sunglasses that can be replaced at low cost should you happen to lose or break them. If you use prescription glasses, a safe option is to have a spare set available.
- Well-worn hiking boots are another good investment. Well-worn is the keyword. You don’t want to hobble around with blistered feet. Remember to shake a boot before putting it on! It’s a nice hideout for spiders and scorpions.
- Binoculars are a sound investment, and a good camera is a must for recording your memories.
- Don’t overburden yourself with luggage, but do pack long-sleeved shirts and a hat, as well as a jacket for cooler nights if your visit falls within the winter months.
- It is also useful to have a small battery-powered torch and a supply of meds for headaches, indigestion, etc.
- Pack comfortable clothing, but remember it is Africa. Don’t pack camouflage or similar clothing and appear in public in it. You may just draw the attention of the police, and you wouldn’t like them to spoil your safari.
Speak to Falcon Safaris, the top tour operator for Southern Africa, for your planned Africa visit. Their top-class destination management team will make your African encounter a memorable one.
Kenya is located in East Africa, nestled between Somalia to the north west and Tanzania to the south. Neighboring countries include Ethiopia and Sudan to the north and Uganda to the west.
Kenya has a total of 580 367 km².
- Amboseli National Park - 390 km² (150 mi2) in size at the core of an 8,000 km² (3,000 mi2) ecosystem
- Lake Nakuru National Park - 168 square kilometers
- Masai Mara - 1510 square kilometers
- Samburu National Park - 104 square kilometers
- Tsavo East National Park - 11,747 square kilometers, one of the oldest and largest parks in Kenya
- Nairobi - 684 square kilometers
The population of Kenya consists of 32 major indigenous African groups, five of which making up 70% of the entire population. These groups include Kikuyu, Luo, Luhya, Kamba and the Kalenjin. Ethnic minorities include Arabs and Asians. The standard time zone in Kenya is 3 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
Nairobi (pronounced /naɪˈrəʊbɪ/) is the capital and largest city in Kenya, and popularly known as the 'Green City in the Sun'. Nairobi is also the capital of the Nairobi Province and of the Nairobi District.
Nairobi is located on the Nairobi River in the south of Kenya and is the most populous city in East Africa, with an estimated population of 4 million. Nairobi is also the fourth largest city in Africa.
Climate and Best time to Visit Kenya.
Kenya lies directly on the equator and has a tropical climate. It is hot and humid in the coastal areas and temperate inland and very dry in the north and northeast parts of the country.
Kenya is a great year-round destination, with the main tourist season being in January and February. During this period the weather is hot and dry and is generally considered quite pleasant.
This is also a time when flocks of birds arrive in the Rift Valley, offering a kaleidoscope of color and sound. Between June and September, the weather is still dry, with the rains coming from March to May. During the rainy months things are quiet, with hotels and lodges having many rooms available and prices tend to decrease.
Botswana is Africa's oldest democracy, has the strongest currency with a history of prosperity and peace for a perfect safari holiday Chobe elephant. It occupies 581 730km² of plateau with an average elevation of 1000 m. More than 100 000km² is devoted to game reserves and national parks. Over 80% of Botswana is a semi-arid region of grassland or thorn trees with erratic rainfall.
Beyond the narrow eastern corridor where the majority of the population is concentrated, Botswana is a largely roadless wilderness of savannahs, deserts, wetlands and salt pans. With its unique Okavango delta and the wildlife wonderland of the Chobe National Park, Botswana is one of Africa's premier safari destinations.
Botswana's leaders took the view that high quality / low volume tourism was the best way to create a sustainable industry, while still preserving the environment. The high price, low impact has worked brilliantly.
April to August is one of the best times to visit Botswana, although it is winter the weather is still pleasant and it is dry. This however is also the busiest time as Europe and America have annual holidays. The least crowded times are June, early July and mid to late September. Summer is probably the worst time to visit as the rains damage roads and game is less visible
The Okavango Delta, Moremi and Chobe are Botswana's most popular parks. The best time to visit them is from May to September, during the Dry season and winter, resulting in more moderate temperatures. In addition, the Okavango is flooded from June to October. Wildlife viewing is good year-round, but this can differ for some parks.
About VISAS
You should check with the embassy or consulate of the country(s) you are visiting for the current information on visa requirements. Basic visa information and contact details are available on Visa Information
We often get asked about this new KAZA visa (also known as the KAZA univisa), so we thought we’d share our insights with you.
The KAZA visa has been established for the purpose of multi-country travel within this beautiful region.
Currently, the KAZA visa program is in the Stage 1 pilot phase, which means it’s a Zambia Zimbabwe visa, and can also cover guests for day trips into Botswana.
Stage 2 of the KAZA visa program will see the visa extended to all 5 KAZA countries, including Botswana, Angola and Namibia. A common visa (or univisa) for this region will eliminate the need for multiple visas and so encourage cross-border travel.
The visa is valid for nationals of 65 countries. You can find out more information from the official KAZA visa website here: Click here for more details
The KAZA univisa costs around US50$.
The KAZA univisa is valid for up to 30 days. As long as you remain within Zambia and Zimbabwe. It also covers those who visit Botswana for day trips through the Kazungula borders.
The KAZA visa is available at a port of entry into Zambia and Zimbabwe. Below is a list of locations where you should be able to obtain a KAZA visa on entry into Zimbabwe or on entry into Zambia.
Ports of Entry :
Zambia
- Harry Mwaanga Airport (Livingstone),
- Victoria Falls Land Border,
- Kazungula Land Border (Botswana Zambia border),
- Kenneth Kaunda Airport (Lusaka)
Zimbabwe
- Victoria Falls Airport
- Victoria Falls Land Border
- Kazungula Land Border (Botswana)
- Harare Airport
However, it is important to note that the physical visa is not always available.
If the Visa is not available at your port of entry in Zimbabwe and you plan to do a daytrip to Botswana or Zambia, then we highly recommend that you obtain a double entry visa for Zimbabwe (if available to you).
Zimbabwe uses a three-tier visa model. The model is classified into categories A, B and C. Click here for more details
If you are within Category C, you can apply online of the evisa through the following website: Click here for more details
For the standard Zimbabwe visas (not KAZA), the visa costs are as follows:
- Single Entry Visa: US$30.00
- Double Entry Visa: US$45.00
Exceptions to Visa Fees:
- British and Irish passport holders
- Single Entry Visa: US$55.00
- Double Entry Visa: US$70.00
- Canadian passport holders
- Single Entry Visa: US$75
NB: Visa fees are subject to review, Fees are taken from the Zimbabwean Immigration website and this should be checked for the most up-to-date information Click here for more details
More about Zambia Visa accessing Click here for more details
Health and Insurance
Most countries in Africa are Malaria areas. Malaria is a potentially fatal disease. Please ensure that you have consulted your doctor as to what prophylactics you should take for that particular country being that there are many different strains of Malaria.
Please check with your doctor on what inoculations you require for the country(s) you will be visiting. If you require a Yellow Fever vaccination then you will need an inoculation certificate to take with you on holiday. Failure to do this will definitely result in you not being allowed to enter that country.
Medical kits are available at lodges and in safari vehicles to treat minor inflictions.
You, however, should pack your own basic medical kit with painkillers, antiseptic cream, anti-histamine and plasters.
Prescription medicines must be brought with on safari and it is important to note that a description of the medicine should be obtained from your practitioner in case of emergency while on safari.
The description will allow for medical personal in Africa to find a replacement prescription if necessary.
Please consult with your doctor prior to leaving on your trip to ensure that you have sufficient amounts of your prescribed medication, as there may not be medical provisions available in certain parts of Africa.
It is always advisable to take out medical insurance prior to any international travel. Enquire with your Travel Consultant for further information pertaining Medical Insurance.
Travel Tips for Safari
The most visited countries in Southern and East Africa like – South Africa, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, and Ethiopia are safe to visit. Make use of hotel safety deposit boxes.
Travelers with tour operators are the least at risk and self-drive clients are advised to plan in advance what routes they wish to travel, and to get all of their destination information ahead of time. If travelling by car, make sure the doors are locked at all times and that no bags or purses left on passenger seats – and in the bush the only danger you will encounter are wild animals.
It is better to book as far as possible (4 – 6 months) in advance to ensure availability at the time you wish to travel. This is especially important during the peak seasons: July, August, Christmas and New Year’s. And for those travelling on Tailor-made Safaris and those adding extensions to Scheduled Safaris.
Every client over the age of 65 is required to submit a medical certificate or self-declaration of medical fitness before the start of the tour (please request this form from your travel consultant). For all Adventure Safaris, there is an age limit of 70 years. For all Lodge Safaris, there is an age limit of 80 years.
Namibia & SA Tours: We allow children as young as 9 years of age on our safaris through Namibia and SA.
Botswana Tours:
- Children under 12 years old will be accepted on a case to case basis. Permission will be required.
- Children under the age of 12 are not permitted on Mokoro trips in Botswana. One parent must stay with the child at the lodge.
Madagascar Barefoot Luxury Kayak Adventure Tours: We strictly do not accept children under the age of 12 years old on these tours.
Manafiafy Kayak Experience: Children under 12 years old will be accepted on a case to case basis. Permission will be required.
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Our Travelers Say
We travelled with Falcon Safaris in Zimbabwe and Botswana for 16 days. Falcon designed a wonderful trip with private guide to the most interesting sites in both countries. The organization of the whole trip was excellent, flights within the country, accommodation and activites. The guides were very knowledgable and told us a lot about the countries, their history, people, economy and much more. We visited the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, the Victoria Falls Tour and a number of national parks in both countries.
Rhino tracking was a real adventure! We had tremendous further game drives and saw very many animals - we did the Big Five. We had much more Victoria Falls Activities than planned and enjoyed very much.We strongly recommend Falcon Safaris to everyone planning a trip to Southern Africa and East Africa.
Wonderful trip to Zimbabwe and Botswana with excellent organization and very competent guides
Our Consultant Vimbai was very helpful and accommodating. We stayed at the Elephant hills hotel which was nothing short of amazing.Our activities included a helicopter flight, dinner cruise as well as a morning game drive. All the activities were absolutely amazing.
Exceptional!
We worked with Gertrude to schedule and organize everything and she did an excellent job. I asked a lot of questions via e-mail and she answered everyone in a timely helpful manner. Our guide at Victoria Falls was also great. He met us at the airport, provided a thoughtful tour of the Falls and got us to our next guide in Botswana. Our lodgings at River View Lodge were just as described- very comfortable and excellent food. All the staff were so pleasant and helpful. If I had to do it again I would arrange a morning boat ride as well. We only did the sunset boat rides and they were the high point of our entire trip- we saw so many animals and our guide was very knowledgeable. Just a great experience. Our lodgings at Oddball's Enclave was rustic and we loved it. So great to disconnect from the world for a bit. Leo, our guide, was the best - got us out and about, saw fantastic wildlife and got back to camp safely each time. Doc manages the camp so well. This whole trip was planned and organized by Falcon Safaris and we could not have been happier.
Fabulous, well planned trip
Falcon safaris have given my the correct advice with excellent service. The only suggestion will be to work closer with the lodges to confirm bookings as soon as possible. We have booked and pay our deposit a year in advance. We have only receive our final convermation from Chobe Safari lodge a week before departure. I do realize its not within your controle but with limit alternatives and a group of 14 people it becomes an issue to find alternative accomodation if the booking was cancelled.
Excellent and efficient service
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