Mobile Safaris is the old-fashioned way that colonial visitors journeyed through Africa over the past two centuries. This “Out of Africa” chic safari is a magical experience from having Victorian campaign mess tents, to being served dinner under a starry African night sky. This form of nomadic safaris is like taking a trip in a time machine where you can follow the dusty herd trails of elephants or come face to face with a pride of lions resting under the shade of a tree as the sun beats down on a landscape that has shaped this rugged part of a wild untamed earth for centuries.
Mobile camps started in East Africa with tourists wanting to experience a bygone era and the trend moved from Kenya to Tanzania and then to Botswana and South Africa. This form of safari allows the camp to move every day to different areas and mostly does not involve permanent structures.
This is a lavish affair with all the creature comforts with the added advantage of moving to explore new places.
If you can ever get that feeling when you travel, even just for a moment, that this might have been how Ernest Hemingway would have done it–do it. That old world elegance fused with adventure and the prospect of danger. This is the type of nostalgia you would cross oceans and deserts for.
If you want a dream safari to be like the early explorers of Africa, then a mobile safari is for you, but with a modern twist. There is something exhilarating about sleeping in a tent, no barriers between you and nature and only the romance of lantern light listening to the sounds of the bush at night.
This adventurous tour gives you an original safari experience involving luxurious tents, clean crisp linen on comfortable double beds with en-suite bathrooms, plus hot mobile showers. There is a whole team of friendly staff to take care of your needs and each night you get to your new destination, the camp is perfectly recreated.
Mobile safari does mean that you are going to embark on a guided journey, traveling by road, to explore a variety of places. This also allows you to travel with the same hosts your entire time. Mobile safaris are the most authentic way of experiencing the wildlife of Africa.
Mobile safaris, and more precisely camping mobile safaris, are undeniably the most traditional way of exploring Africa. Roaming in a small group, on a 4×4, moving camps as you proceed across isolated areas until you can nearly feel that you’ve touched the essence of Africa.
Mobile safari’ can access remote destinations by light aircraft and enjoy the use of a private safari vehicle that has been customised to offer plug points for charging electronic devices.
Guests can embark on a series of land and water-based adventures with their private guide such as private boat cruises, game drives, cultural excursions and seasonal fishing.
Summing up this incredible experience around Eastern Africa which is brimming with awe-inspiring landscapes and an assortment of wildlife, ranging from the mighty elephant and proud lion to an assortment of plains game and birds.
The rustic , yet comfortable, design of the camps guarantees a light footprint whilst offering a full-serviced mobile camping experience which entails butlers, housekeepers, chefs. There is no electricity in camps, but cell phones, cameras and other electronic devices can be charged on the safari vehicle.
The eastern part of Africa was the birthplace of mobile safaris. Tanzania is a perfect destination to take a trip down memory lane. Tanzania has the mass migrations of the Serengeti, the Great Rift Valley, Ngorongoro Crater, the fossils of Olduvai Gorge, snow-capped Kilimanjaro, Lake Manyara and the spice-island Zanzibar. One also has to visit the second largest fresh-water lake in the world – Lake Victoria and one of the deepest lakes in the world – Lake Tanganyika.
Selous Game Reserve is one of the world largest, and the paradisiacal Ngorongoro one of the largest intact volcanic craters, where wildlife roams freely among the Maasai herders. This is a not to be missed experience for an exploring adventure.
The coastline of Tanzania is also spectacular, and the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia offers outstanding water sports after a safari. The culture is a mixture of African, Arab, European and Indian origins. 120 tribal groups exist in the country. English and Swahili are the most widely spoken languages.
The wildlife viewing and birding is spectacular all year round. A mainly good time to visit Tanzania is from late June until October. The animal’s migration happens on the plains on their way to the Maasai Mara in Kenya.
Katavi National Park is the third largest park in Tanzania and should not be missed. The park is easy to access via road and air but has fewer tourists than the other parks in the country, making the experience more exclusive and remote on a mobile safari.
The wildlife of Katavi National Park also includes herds of elephant, Cape buffalo, crocodile, hippo, giraffe, zebra, impala, reedbuck, lion and hyena. The rainfall season brings a wealth of water birds to the lakes. The major viewing areas are at Katuma River, the floodplains, seasonal rivers of Katavi and Chada.
While in Tanzania, one has to see Mt Kilimanjaro which is a giant volcanic mountain. This remarkable natural phenomenon is the highest mountain peak in all of Africa.
Many people go to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, so the region is not a quiet area but it is one of the finest and should not be missed. The mountain is easy to climb with or without equipment, and many people easily reach the crater. The also has a vast variety of wildlife including leopard, elephant and buffalo.
Kenya is famous for its big game with enormous numbers of animals in over 40 National Parks and Reserves. Kenya has a long history of protecting its wildlife, which gives the visitor a delightful range of experiences in all sorts of diverse terrain. All of the Big Five are frequently seen on a standard safari. The Masai Mara is one of the best places in Africa to see big cats, and white rhino is easily seen at Lake Nakuru. The Rift Valley lakes, especially Lake Bogoria, draw thousands of flamingo, which feed in the shallow waters.
Kenya provides quality wildlife viewing during the year, but the crucial time is in the Dry season from June until October. This tallies with the wildebeest migration in the Masai Mara.
The exact timing is to be determined on rainfall, but it is normally in August and September when the wildebeest migration reaches the northern Serengeti, and they begin to cross into the Masai Mara. In October they move all the way back to Tanzania.
But Kenya does not offer just wildlife, it is also the rich culture of Kenyan tribes which the Maasai are instantaneously recognisable. You can clearly notice them with their thin long physiques wearing red robes.
The magnificent highlands of Mount Kenya offer the ideal conditions for Kenyan Arabica coffee to grow. There are coffee farm tours which highlight the origins of coffee and the process of picking and processing coffee.
Kenya also has an amazing coastline and is one of the best places in Africa to spend time at the beach. There are hundreds of beaches and resorts which offer many water sports and entertainment for families visiting.
The history of safari
The word “safari” originates from the word “safar”, an Arabic verb meaning “to make a journey”. Its origins began in tragic times with the rise of the slaving empire of Zanzibar. Sultans of the time headed out in elaborate caravans over large areas travelling from Zanzibar to Lake Victoria marching slaves and porters carrying large bags of ivory tusks and leaving a trail of dying slaves and elephants in their wake.
When the Europeans arrived, nothing changed except their porters carried more guns and muskets. Zanzibar was the starting point for safaris to the mainland. This was the place where many a merchant haggled prices for porters and guards and bribes were paid for safe passages. Many a European explorer had to endure months of planning done in the hot sweating markets of Stone Town.
The most well-known explorer and missionary David Livingstone started his journey in Zanzibar early in 1866. His aim was to locate the source of the Nile River. When he found himself in the village of Nyangwe, he saw Arab slave traders killing hundreds of people. This made Livingstone extremely vocal advocate against slavery back in the United Kingdom.
However his expedition fell short of its objectives as he never found the source of the Nile, but it did help to fill in details about the great lakes – Lake Tanganyika and Lake Mweru. He also helped identify Lake Malawi and Lake Ngami. But his journey became hazardous and he lost porters due to tropical illnesses or desertion and his supplies were stolen. This ironically made him come to depend on the slave traders for help. Livingstone was lost for six years. A journalist, Henry Stanley was sent by the London Daily Telegraph and the New York Herald to find him.
Stanley eventually found him in Ujiji on the shores of Lake Tanganyika on October 27,1871 . “Doctor Livingstone, I presume?” They say a smile lit up the features of Livingstone as he answered: “Yes, and I feel thankful that I am here to welcome you.” Livingstone was also known to have written about his use of quinine as a remedy for malaria and theorised about the connection between malaria and mosquitoes.
Stanley took over 400 porter loads of supplies, including four porters who just carried brandy, wine and vinegar. Twenty two porters carried two boats, to be reassembled when a lake was reached. Porters also carried his huge bathtub thousand miles inland from the coast on their heads.
Livingstone could not be convinced to leave Africa and continued his explorations until he died. After suffering a variety of tropical illnesses throughout his life, he succumbed to malaria and dysentery and died on May 1, 1873 at Chief Chitambo’s Village near Lake Bangweulu, Zambia. There are some reports that local African attendants were somewhat unwilling to give up Livingstone’s body and at the end they cut out his heart and gave back his body, stating that his heart belonged to Africa. His body was finally transported to and buried at Westminster Abbey.
Another two obscure explorers were John Hanning Speke, and his more famous one-time travelling companion, writer and explorer Richard Burton.
The two travelled thousands of miles inland at the head of a huge train of porters, sometimes so weakened they had to be carried on litters. Yet, they managed to be the first Europeans to discover Lakes Tanganyika and Victoria.
During their safari, an insect crawled into Speke’s ear and made him deaf. Burton was plagued by fever and nearly blind. They were barely talking to each other by the time they got home. Speke died in strange shooting accident just hours before he was due to debate publicly with Burton as to the true origin of the source of the Nile.
Just like today, safaris had to have elegance and flair and image was and is extremely important. Headmen and porters’ leaders wore elaborate headdresses. Drums and guns were fired to announce the arrival of a safari.
At night the Europeans had canvas tents just like tourists have today. Camp was broken before first light and most used walking in the cool of the morning and stopping to rest during the heat of the day.
At the end of the nineteenth century, slavery was abolished and the slave caravans were no more. The safari caravans that now directed into the interior were mostly European explorers, hunters and missionaries.
As colonialism became entrenched throughout Africa, tourism was introduced into East Africa. The writings of Burton and Stanley had captured the imagination of the public. People wanted to now experience what they had but in comfort. What also helped the start of the tourism was the opening of the Suez Canal which made the East Coast of Africa more reachable to everyone with an appetite and money for adventure.
A living evolution between the old and new generation of the safari was Frederick Courtenay Selous. He was an old-time Victorian great white hunter who made his name as an elephant hunter, explorer and naturalist. He was also a deep-rooted believer in the colonial dream. Selous was a great advocate of Cecil Rhodes. Rhodes used Selous as a guide on engineering works, exploration routes for roads and railways. He also was assigned as a scout for troops, fighting alongside Robert Baden-Powell, during the so-called Matabele Rebellions and the notorious Jameson Raid.
He later became one of the first guides of a professional hunting tour. He took rich wannabes on safari across East Africa to shoot a lion or elephant. He shaped the safari business as it is today. Although he did not arrange Teddy Roosevelt’s grand safari (1908-1910) he travelled and hunted with the American president and with many other wealthy luminaries. Roosevelt said “Mr. Selous is the last of the big game hunters of Southern Africa; the last of the mighty hunters whose experience lay in the greatest hunting ground which this world has seen since civilised man has appeared herein.”
When World War I broke out in 1914 Selous volunteered for military service at the age of 62, and was turned down. He then tried to join the Legion of Frontiersmen, an East African mercenary troop that his friend was setting up in Kenya. Lord Kitchener allegedly turned down the application, stating that Selous was not help at his age.
At the start of the war several thousand Germans were living in German East Africa, which shared a long border with British Kenya. They were defended by the colonial force, the Schutztruppe. They were compiled of numerous battalions led by German officers and a core of several thousand well-trained native soldiers, called ‘askaris.’ These were commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck. They managed to invade Kenya despite the heavy odds against them of one to eight.
This made London’s War Ministry send troops from India to Tanga, north of the German capital, Dar es Salaam. But they were utterly defeated, which gave Driscoll’s plan to found a private army in Kenya renewed strength.
At age 64, Selous was accepted in February 1915 as a lieutenant and company leader of the 25th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. They were an undisciplined mob, nicknamed ‘the old and the bold.’ They had numerous successful victories against the Germans. It was recounted that after leading patrols of exhausted men forty years his junior through heavy swamps for hours on end, Selous would take off in the evening with a butterfly net to collect specimens.
Roosevelt wrote to him: “It is simply first class to have you a fighting officer in the fighting line.” By early 1916 it was the rainy season, the area they were fighting in was a swamp, and malaria was rampant.
Selous was left with only 170 men. He wrote home for the last time: “We are on the eve of an attack on the Germans out here. Our forces are terribly depleted, principally from sickness.” A bloody battle in the village of Beho-Beho ensued. Different eye-witnesses stated that a sniper killed him.
He was buried where he was killed at the edge of a grassy savannah plain with only a cross to mark his grave. There was no better place for a naturalist and a hunter to have his final rest.
When the First World War ended, the former German East Africa became Tanganyika. This was held on a special United Nations command by Britain. When the country became under English rule, the safari industry enjoyed a new revival.
People flocked to see the newly ‘discovered’ wonderlands of the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.
Nairobi was still the bustling centre for tourism but the old settlers were slowly being exchanged by the less adventurous. Tanganyika changed into a hub for the harsher and more severe type of European safari adventurer.
The dawning of the new age of motor vehicles and aeroplanes descended on East Africa and changed the face of how safaris were done forever. Where once caravans of porters carrying luggage and people, was now replaced by vehicles driving in convoys through the wilderness. Planes were also flying clients in between camps or were trailing herds of animals from the air. The planes were also used to fly in supplies.
Even the forms of hunting had changed, some were dragging meat behind vehicles and shooting animals from the inside of the car. This outraged the old white hunters as they had stalked animals on foot.
American writer Ernest Hemingway also helped make the safari fashionable when he wrote about his experiences in his writings. “Now, being in Africa, I was hungry for more of it, the changes of the seasons, the rains with no need to travel, the discomforts that you paid to make it real, the names of the trees, of the small animals, and all the birds, to know the language and have time to be in it and to move slowly.” He wrote in his book Green Hills of Africa. He ended up spending a total of 10 months in eastern Africa over two stays, in 1933 and 1953-1954.
From these experiences came such works as Green Hills of Africa (1935) and the posthumous True At First Light (1999). Two short stories – The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1936) and The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber (1936) are also based in Africa.
When he first headed out for the first time in Africa, he was 34 years-old, on his first major safari, he had already made a name for himself as a writer. By that time he had not only given the world some major works of literature, but on top of that the stuff from which legends are made.
The world started seeing that a trip to the African wilderness became not only adventurous, but stylish and fashionable for the wealthy. During the 1920’s and 30’s it was the rage to show off your money by going on a safari. Edward VIII of England shocked his white hunters when he came to Tanganyika on safari in 1928 by shunning many of the normal luxuries. He was described as tough and hardy, plus thought nothing of stalking elephant on foot for several days in a row, marching through blistering heat and sleeping in a simple tent on the ground.
The normal style of safaris had all the lavish luxuries such as chemical toilets, air mattresses, walled tents, mosquito nets and dining tables. Breakfast was served before dawn so the guests could go off early for a hunt or a game viewing. They would be back for lunch and an afternoon siesta. Then they would be off again until dark. When they returned they would have a hot bath ready for them. Cocktails would be served just before dinner. If the guests had the money, anything was possible.
Hemmingway experienced two aeroplane accidents in Africa within 48 hours that led to him suffering serious head injuries that some say resulted in him having depression that possibly led to his suicidal death on July 2, 1961. But not even that could dampen his love for Africa. On January 21, 1954, Ernest and his wife Mary departed from Nairobi airport in a Cessna, with veteran pilot Roy Marsh. The tour was to continue to Entebbe via Murchison Falls as Mary wanted to see the falls from the air.
When they approached the falls, Marsh had not seen a telegraph line at the lodge and crashed into it. He managed to make an emergency landing, but they were stuck in a remote area. They landed in “a sandpit where six crocodiles lay basking in the sun or an elephant track through thick scrub. They ended up spending the night in the jungle surrounded by elephants. “We took turns going to the river, but the elephants were very stuffy about it. There were lot of hippos and crocs wandering around the river bank,” Hemmingway later told the press.
Newspapers across the world splashed the story that Ernest Hemingway was lost in Africa.
A passenger plane flying from Entebbe to Sudan changed course, by chance the pilot looked down and saw the Cessna.
They were rescued by the SS Murchison which took them to Butiaba on Lake Albert. There, they met a pilot named Reginald Cartwright, who persuaded Ernest, Mary and Roy to fly with him to Entebbe where the world’s press were waiting.
But Cartwright crashed the plane while taking off. Hemingway managed to escape the wreckage only by smashing a door open.
His kidneys, spleen and liver were torn, his spinal column was crushed and his body burned. He barely escaped death that it was remarkable. Presumed dead, several newspapers reported their death until a wounded Hemingway and his fourth wife allegedly walked out of the jungle in high spirits. There were reports that said, “carrying a bunch of bananas and a bottle of gin, and was quoted, possibly even correctly, as saying: ‘My luck, she is still running very good.’”
In the 1950s, the face of safaris changed again with the introduction of mass air travel. Tourists crammed into big four engine planes began to land at Nairobi airport. This was just a couple of hours away from the reserves and game protected areas. The Mau Mau uprising which terrorised Kenya from 1953 did not even stop the influx of middle class tourists who could now afford to travel.
By the end of the 1950s, the changeover from hunting as the principal safari activity was complete. Most tourists to East Africa from the 1960s onwards came to view and take photos of game in protected areas, not to shoot for trophies.
Today people who opt for mobile safaris, with all the luxury and sophistication, with which they are surrounded, are still searching for the experience pursued by Stanley and Livingstone two centuries ago. That closeness to the wild earth, a feeling of freedom that only wide open spaces and animals roaming free can feed a human soul.
Avoid travelling near refugee camps in north-western Tanzania, especially in the region of Kigoma and to the west of Kagera bordering Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, as it is dangerous due to banditry.
Tanzania and Kenya are mostly safe, but like anywhere in the world, petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching does happen, mostly in public places and popular tourist areas in the major cities.
Make sure that your belongings especially your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times
Avoid deserted beaches
Bag snatching from passing vehicles is common so be aware.
When walking along the street, do not carry your bag with the strap across your body. You could be badly injured if a thief drives by and attempts to steal your bag
If you are the victim of an armed robbery, do not resist. Attackers could assault you for failing to comply or not complying quickly enough.
Avoid walking around at night
Wildlife viewing
Wildlife viewing poses risks, especially on foot or at close range.
Always keep a safe distance when observing wildlife
Only get out of a vehicle when a professional guide says it is safe for you to do so.
Only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators
Closely follow park regulations and your wardens’ advice
Road conditions in Tanzania
Roads are better in the larger centres, but outside the cities, road conditions and road safety are poor throughout the country.
Road signs are frequently missing, and visibility is poor due to insufficient lighting.
Poorly maintained cars, roaming wildlife, livestock, cyclists and pedestrians also increase the risk associated with driving.
Outside major cities, four-wheel drive vehicles are highly recommended.
Road conditions in Kenya
Road conditions and road safety can differ greatly throughout the country.
Major highways are generally in good condition but minor roads are poorly maintained. Drivers do not respect traffic laws, and drinking and driving is prevalent, especially at night.
Excessive speeds, poorly maintained vehicles, poor lighting and inadequate signage pose hazards.
During the rainy season, some unpaved roads become impassable, even with four-wheel drive vehicles. You should drive defensively and always be aware of your surroundings.
Serious traffic delays are common. The road from Nairobi to Mombasa is particularly congested and can be dangerous for tourists unfamiliar with local driving conditions.
Use authorized border crossings when travelling by vehicle between Kenya and Tanzania.
Avoid driving yourself unless you are familiar with local conditions
Avoid travelling by road at night because there is the risk of robbery when you stop at robots at night.
In the event of an accident, drive to the nearest police station
Screen your fuel levels to ensure that your fuel tank is never lower than half full
Drivers often drive at excessive speeds, and they can be aggressive or reckless.
Avoid travelling alone
Keep windows rolled up and doors locked
Remain on tourist routes and avoid remote areas
When travelling between cities, you should do so in a convoy, whenever possible
Avoid camping or travelling alone and hire a reputable tour guide. Make sure you use a reputable tour company like MoAfrica to do your bookings for a mobile safari.
Follow the advice and warnings of local tour guides and camp employees
Do not walk around at night
Never leave children unattended
If you are considering climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, carefully remember the inherent risks involved.
Make sure you do not climb alone and always hire an experienced guide from a reputable company
Buy travel insurance that includes helicopter rescue and medical evacuation
Make sure that you are properly equipped and well informed about weather and other conditions that may pose a hazard
Make sure a family member or friend knows your schedule, including when you expect to be back to camp
Medical facilities are limited in Tanzania and medicines are often unavailable, even in Dar es Salaam. Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays. In Kenya, good medical facilities are available in Nairobi, but health-care standards in other parts of the country vary and can be very limited. Medical facilities may require proof of insurance or up-front payment before starting treatment.
Malaria is widespread in Africa. Malaria is a life-threatening disease. It is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Infected mosquitoes carry the Plasmodium parasite. When this mosquito bites you, the parasite is released into your bloodstream.
Symptoms can be flu-like or cause shaking chills that can range from moderate to severe. Also, a high fever, profuse sweating, headaches, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, muscle pain and bloody stools.
Make sure you start taking anti-malaria medication before your journey and during. Ensure you have adequate medication for the duration of your stay. Take insect repellent with you.
Travellers need to have a yellow fever vaccination before arriving in Tanzania and Kenya. Yellow fever is spread by infected mosquitoes. Symptoms are similar to malaria; ranging from flu-like chills and fever to server hepatitis and jaundice. If left untreated or not diagnosed early, the disease is life-threatening.
Tourists should drink only bottled water or other bottled beverages as the tap water and ice in Tanzania and Kenya as it is contaminated and not safe for drinking.
Thoroughly cooked hot foods can be eaten as it will mean most infections can be avoided. Raw fruits can be eaten only if they have an unbroken skin and are peeled. Raw vegetables and salads should be avoided due to contamination.
If food has been left out of a refrigerator for longer than an hour especially eggs, chicken and dairy do not consume them.
Cholera which is a severe form of diarrhoea, and it can be fatal. Get to your nearest hospital or clinic if you have symptoms of diarrhoea, vomiting, chills and fever. It is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called Vibrio cholera.
Do not go near pets or stray dogs or cats in Africa. They can carry infectious diseases like Rabies which is life threatening. The animals could bite or scratch you.
Heat exhaustion is a common problem, especially among tourists that have come from cooler climates. Symptoms include a bad headache, dizziness, vomiting and extreme tiredness. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of bottled water or beverages. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and apply sunscreen lotion to prevent yourself from getting sunburn.
Chronic dehydration makes you feel weak, tired, and lightheaded and increases your risk of developing kidney stones.
Move into a cool area or room and elevate your feet and legs. Drink lots of fluids until your body temperature drops. Seek medical treatment if the symptoms persist
A single-entry visa for a tourist or business is: $51
Transit visa costs: $21
East Africa Tourist Visa costs: $101
Single-entry tourist visa on arrival is US$ 50 (the exception is US citizens who must pay US$100)
For British, the fee is £40 if applying in advance.
Foreign visitors who overstay on a visa are normally declared ‘undesirable persons. If one overstays your 90 day period, you can extend your visa by another three months to avoid overstaying your visa in both countries. If you overstay your visa, you will probably be heavily fined, deported or you can be imprisoned.
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MoAfrika tours and the Kruger Safari Co. are destination management companies (DMC) and are not entities of the South African National Parks Board (SANparks).