Kilimanjaro: Machame Gate > Machame camp > Shira Cave > Barranco Camp > Karanga Camp> Barafu Camp > Summit Uhuru Peak > Mweka Camp
Safari: Tarangire > Two-day Serengeti >Ngorongoro Crater
All Year Round
The hotel we select comply with our high standards and requirement per category.
Machame Camp
Shira Cave Camp
Barranco Camp
Karanga Camp
Barafu Camp
Mweka Camp
No Accommodation
When you land at Kilimanjaro International Airport, a driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Arusha. This lively city, known as the "gateway to the wild," is your last stop before your adventure begins. In the evening, a professional guide will give you a briefing to get you ready for your climb.
Arusha (City)
After a hotel breakfast in Moshi/Arusha, you'll drive 45/90 minutes through coffee plantations and villages to Machame Gate. There, you'll register with Kilimanjaro National Park while your gear is prepared. Then, you'll hike through rainforest and savannah to Machame Camp, enjoying views of wildlife, plants, and eventually Kibo Peak. Your porters and cooks will have a hot meal ready for your arrival.
Change in Elevation: 1,800m to 2,835m
Distance: 11km
Estimated hiking time: 5-8 hours
Elevation gain; 1,035m
Vegetation zone: Rain Forest
Machame Camp
After a warm breakfast, you'll start your day by packing up your gear and heading out across the heathland and moorland dunes. As you trek, you'll experience increasingly higher altitudes, which will help your body acclimate. You'll climb the lava-filled Shira Plateau before making your way to Shira Camp, where your porters and cooks will have a delicious meal ready for you.
Change in Elevation: 2,835m to 3,750m
Distance: 5 km
Estimated hiking time: 5-6 hours
Elevation gain; 915m
Vegetation zone: Moorland
Shira Cave Camp
Today's trek begins early with a steep, rewarding climb east across the Shira Plateau. After the junction of the Shira and Lemosho Routes, you'll take a secluded trail for a break. Lunch will be at Lava Tower, an incredible 300-foot volcanic plug, before a rapid descent to your campsite in the Great Barranco Valley. This scenic spot is encompassed by massive valley walls and the stunning Kibo massif, with glaciers reflecting sunlight and a unique landscape featuring giant lobelias and groundsels. You'll then enjoy a warm meal before sleeping. Today's climb will reach an altitude of 4600m, but you'll descend to sleep at 3900m, an important strategy for acclimatization.
Change in Elevation: 3750m to 4,600m to 3,900m
Distance: 10km
Estimated hiking time: 6-8 hours
Elevation gain; 850m
Elevation loss; -700m
Barranco Camp
This section of the Machame Route is filled with thrilling exploration and life-changing scenery. You'll start the day with a 90-minute climb up the magnificent Barranco Wall, also known as the Breakfast Wall. After that, you'll continue along a calm trail until you reach the Karanga Valley. Here, you'll settle and mentally prepare for the final stretch of your journey.
Change in Elevation: 3,900m to 3,995m
Distance: 6km
Estimated hiking time: 4-6 hours
Elevation gain; 300m
Elevation loss 205m
Vegetation zone: Alpine desert
Karanga Camp
The final day on the Kilimanjaro Machame Route, before the summit, begins with a gentle climb through the Karanga Valley. Temperatures will drop, and vegetation will thin out. You'll set up camp on an exposed part of the ridge (barafu camp) and enjoy an energy-rich meal to prepare for your midnight ascent to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Change in Elevation: 3,995m to 4,673m
Distance: 4km
Estimated hiking time: 3-4 hours
Elevation gain; 678m
Vegetation zone: Alpine desert
Barafu Camp
Your journey to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro starts just after midnight, taking you across sapphire glaciers to Stella Point. A beautiful sunrise will illuminate the summit as you proceed toward your ultimate destination: Uhuru Peak, known as the "Rooftop of Africa."
From the summit, you'll feel an immense sense of exhilaration and triumph as you look down upon the clouds and ice. Following a celebration with your support team, you'll descend to Barafu Camp for a short break, then move on to Mweka Camp. There, a hot meal will be waiting, and you'll spend your last night on the mountain unwinding beneath the stars.
NB: This is the longest and most challenging day of the trek.
Change in Elevation: 4,673m to 5,895m to 3,100m
Distance: 17 km, (5km ascent, 12km descent)
Estimated hiking Time: 12-16 hours (7-8 hours to summit, 5-6 hours descending)
Elevation Gain: +1,222 to summit
Elevation loss; -2,795m descent
Vegetation zone: Arctic / Rainforest
Mweka Camp
After breakfast, you'll walk back to Mweka Gate, enjoying the misty, deep green forest. You'll then say goodbye to your guides and porters before getting into the shuttle that will take you back to Moshi/Arusha, where you can look forward to a hot shower, a comfortable bed, and fresh clothes.
Change in Elevation: 3,100m to 1,640m
Distance: 10 km
Estimated hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Elevation Loss: -1,460m
Vegetation zone: Rainforest
Arusha (City)
Your safari guide will pick you up from your hotel in Arusha and drive you to Tarangire National Park. Enjoy a game drive focused on spotting large elephant herds and iconic baobab trees. A picnic lunch will be served inside the park. The afternoon game drive will continue, with opportunities to see lions, leopards, giraffes, and various birds. In the evening, you will be taken to your lodge near the park for dinner and an overnight stay.
After an early breakfast, you'll embark on a scenic drive to Serengeti National Park, passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. A picnic lunch will be provided en route. Upon arrival, you'll enjoy an initial game drive before heading to your lodge for dinner and your overnight stay.
Start the day with an early morning game drive, a prime time for spotting predators. After a late breakfast, you'll have time to relax at the camp. An afternoon game drive will take you to a different section of the Serengeti's vast plains. Dinner and your final overnight stay in the Serengeti will be at the camp.
After an early breakfast, you will descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive. The crater is renowned for its high concentration of wildlife and offers an excellent chance to see the "Big Five." A picnic lunch will be served inside the crater. After a six-hour game drive, you will ascend from the crater and drive back to lodge for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast on your final day, it's time to check out of your lodge. Your driver will then take you from the park directly to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home.
Arusha (City)
No Accommodation
You'll be collected from the airport.
Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.
Machame Camp
Shira Cave Camp
Barranco Camp
Karanga Camp
Barafu Camp
Mweka Camp
No Accommodation
This tour starts and ends in Moshi or Arusha.
We advise on international flights, but you book them yourself.
Fly to/from Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO)
A transfer from and back to the airport is included
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost
All citizens traveling internationally will need a passport valid for six months beyond the completion of your Bush 2 City journey for entry into Tanzania. Your passport must also contain two blank pages.
Tanzania Visa
Online Visa applicants are advised to make their applications through the Official Tanzania Immigration website (www.immigration.go.tz) ONLY and NOT through any other links.
What you will need to apply for a VISA
– > A recent passport-sized photo of the applicant
– > A copy of the applicant’s valid passport (biographic data page)
– > Return ticket of the flight
– > 100 USD Visa fee for USA Nationals and 50 USD for other nationalities
How to apply for a VISA online:
1. Visit the Immigration Services Website (https://www.immigration.go.tz)
2. Click the e-services button
3. Select and click the e-Visa Application Form
4. Upload and attach the applicant’s scanned relevant documents for the Visa
5. The applicant will receive an e-mail message containing a User Identification Number (that may be used to track the application online)
6. After completing the online visa application form, the applicant will have to pay the respective visa fee
7. Upon successful payment, the applicant will submit their application
8. Lastly, the applicant will receive a message confirming that their application has been received.
How to Track Visa Application Status:
After successfully applying, an applicant may track the progress of their application by using the ID Number given during the application stage. To track the application, the applicant will return to the Visa Application System and click the Visa Status button.
For Tanzania: To obtain your eVisa, please visit https://visa.immigration.go.tz. The point of entry into Tanzania is Arusha, Tanzania.
For contact details within Tanzania:
Tanzania Contact
B2C Adventure LTD
Sakina Kwa Idd, P.O. Box 1849
Arusha, Tanzania
Phone: +255 789 725 322
Email: info@bush2cityadventure.com
We recommend obtaining visas in advance. Although airport visas are available, due to inadequate staffing, delays of over an hour can be expected if you purchase your visa upon arrival in Tanzania. Visa requirements can change quickly. Please do not keep forms on file as they may become outdated, causing unnecessary processing delays.
We recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration, and your citizenship. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who can assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost, or stolen.
To facilitate travel requirements, destinations are increasingly utilizing online forms that require digital proof that you’ve completed your submission (via email, QR code, etc.). To ensure smooth travels and peace of mind, we strongly recommend all guests carry a personal smartphone and sign up for international data plans before traveling overseas.
Traveling with Children as a Guardian:
If you are traveling as the guardian of a child/children, we strongly suggest that you carry a letter from both parents of the child authorizing emergency treatment in the event of illness or accident. For travel abroad, many foreign countries have specific entry requirements for children under 21 who are traveling internationally without BOTH parents. (These requirements are in response to the increased incidence of children being abducted and taken abroad.) PLEASE NOTE THAT BUSH 2 CITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for children traveling without both parents.
See your travel advisor, or call Bush 2 City at +255 789 725 322 to make a reservation.
At the time of booking, please have the following information ready for all members of your party:
– > Tour Name and Departure Date
– > Traveler’s Name: First and last names as they appear on your passport or driver’s license
– > Traveler’s Address(es)
– > Email Address *
– > Traveler’s Phone Number(s) *
– > Emergency Contact Information: Please provide the name and phone number of a relative or friend (not traveling with you) whom we could contact during the tour in the unlikely event of an emergency
– > Interest in extending your trip by staying in a Bush 2 City recommended hotel before your trip begins or after it ends
* Required Fields
Deposits:
Deposits and local flight fees are due at the time of booking. Note: if your tour includes air transfer, the full amount for airfare will be requested in full and not counted as part of the deposit.
Should you wish to book with Bush 2 City Adventure, once we have received your booking details, we will request a non-refundable booking deposit of $250 per person. This deposit is usually paid by credit card.
Final Payments:
Final Payment is due to Bush 2 City 45 days before departure for tour trips. If a safari is arranged within 45 days before the commencement of the safari, the full amount shall be payable to confirm the safari. If your deposit was made by credit card, the final payment will be automatic unless you opted out at the time of booking. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payment will be considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply.
We recommend that all travelers booking safaris with us purchase travel insurance to cover their trip investment. Ensure that you have cancellation cover for any reason.
Travel Insurance Benefits – We advise all visitors to carefully review the extent of a policy’s coverage before purchasing it, and the following recommendations should be included in the policy before you make a purchase:
Trip Cancellation – If you must cancel your tour due to a covered reason, the plan provides coverage for the amount you paid for your travel arrangements. Make sure the policy benefits reimburse the airfare cancellation charges up to the value of your original airfare purchase.
Trip Interruption – If you have to interrupt your tour for covered reasons, the plan provides reimbursement to catch up to your tour or return home.
Travel Delay – Provides reimbursement for missed, prepaid travel arrangements if you are delayed by a common carrier, natural disaster, unannounced strike, or other reasons as cited in the plan.
Medical Expense – Reimburses covered medical expenses incurred in the event you become injured or sick during your trip.
Baggage / Personal Effects Protection – Provides reimbursement in the event your luggage or personal effects are lost, stolen, damaged, or delayed during your trip.
Worldwide Emergency Assistance Services – 24-hour emergency telephone assistance hotline for medical and travel-related problems.
Please note that the insurance policy is arranged by clients themselves from the company based in their home country, not Bush 2 City. Purchasing insurance is advised immediately after confirming your safari with us and paying the deposit.
If circumstances arise necessitating the cancellation of your holiday, such cancellation must be formally communicated to us in writing. A cancellation will only be deemed valid once we have received written notification.
Please note that in the event of a cancellation, both the deposit and any charges related to amendments will be non-refundable. Cancellation fees are assessed on a sliding scale, as outlined below, and apply per person upon our receipt of your written cancellation notice before your scheduled departure.
Regardless of the reason, cancellations result in costly charges from our travel and hotel providers covering penalties and fees incurred by canceling confirmed bookings. These fees vary from tour to tour, and therefore, the following fees apply:
– > Cancellations 120 to 60 days before departure incur a forfeiture of the 30% deposit
– > Cancellations 60 to 45 days prior incur a 50% fee of the total tour rate.
– > Cancellations less than 45 days prior incur a 100% cancellation fee.
Travel insurance is highly recommended to cover unforeseen cancellations. If your cancellation falls within the coverage scope of your insurance policy, as outlined in its terms and conditions, you may be eligible to recover the incurred charges from your insurance provider. However, it should be noted that if we have already issued your domestic airline tickets and you decide to cancel them at any point, you will not be entitled to any refunds for these tickets, under the circumstances described.
Moreover, if you fail to show up or join the safari after the departure date has passed, no refund will be issued. The time of cancellation will be when notice is received in our Sakina Kwa Idd, Arusha, Tanzania office.
In the event of an unforeseen circumstance beyond our control, Bush 2 City reserves the right to amend the cancellation terms outlined herein.
Click here to find Bush 2 City`s Travel Terms & Conditions.
AIRFARE: Airfare to and from this destination is not included in the journey cost. If purchasing your airfare elsewhere, you must provide us with your confirmed arrival and departure flight information no later than three weeks before your arrival date.
BUSH 2 CITY AIRPORT TRANSFERS: Bush 2 City airport transfers are included at the start and end of the journey between the airport and the Bush 2 City hotel. Airport transfers are available for any pre-tour or post-tour hotel stays immediately consecutive to the tour, provided flight information is received in the Bush 2 City office no later than three weeks in advance. Your final documents will include details on locating your transfer upon arrival in the tour start city.
AIRLINES AND CHECKED LUGGAGE: Due to space limitations during your Bush 2 City journey, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one average-size suitcase per person. Besides complying with the Bush 2 City restriction noted above, you should also research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Bush 2 City journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years and are free to revise luggage policies without notice. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Bush 2 City cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by failure to research and comply with airline policies. PLEASE NOTE that if you are booked on a tour that includes on-tour flights, the checked luggage weight restrictions for these flights may be lower than the weight restrictions for your international flights.
To help in your packing, Bush 2 City recommends each guest bring a duffel bag. The duffel bag has been specially designed to provide more than adequate space for essential items needed while on safari. Strict limitations on our on-tour flights require that each guest take only one piece of soft-sided luggage (the duffel bag) weighing no more than 33 pounds, or 14.97 kilograms. This weight limit includes all camera equipment. Soft-sided luggage is required to ensure your piece fits into irregularly shaped luggage compartments. In addition, guests are limited to one soft-sided carry-on bag per person, not to exceed 15 lbs. or 6.8 kg, and no larger than an average knapsack.
Checked Luggage – General
Due to space restrictions, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one suitcase per person, weighing no more than 44 pounds (20 kg) and with overall dimensions (length + width + height) not exceeding 62 inches (158 cm). Besides complying with the Bush 2 City restriction noted above, you should also research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Bush 2 City journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and luggage exceeding airline standards for size or weight may result in expensive overage fees or other consequences. Airlines are free to revise luggage policies without notice, and certain airlines have different baggage allowances for different classes of service. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Bush 2 City cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by failure to research and comply with airline policies.
Carry-on Luggage – General:
Although oversized bags and wheeled carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for safari vehicle travel or many on-tour flights. Most modern safari vehicles offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats is typically small and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags. For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece and bring only those items you need handy during the day, such as makeup, medications, valuables, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the seat must be stored in the luggage truck and will be inaccessible during daytime travel.
HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.
VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Some of the countries visited on this itinerary may require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against certain diseases to enter the country. These requirements are subject to frequent change as outbreaks occur and subside in different areas, and it is, therefore, crucial that you obtain the very latest information on entry requirements as you prepare for your journey.
Regarding the Yellow Fever Vaccination:
While not a Bush 2 City requirement, guests are advised to bring proof of Yellow Fever Vaccination or a doctor’s note stating why they are unable to get the Yellow Fever vaccination for entry into Tanzania. Please be advised that this regulation often changes.
For the most current information, please consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by clicking here and the World Health Organization (WHO) by clicking here. You may also wish to visit the websites for the embassies of the countries you will be visiting. Besides providing details on vaccination requirements, these sites can also provide information on vaccinations that may be recommended (but aren’t required) and other potential health issues for which no vaccines are available.
Any decisions relating to your health, of course, should not be based solely on information provided by a website. It is critically important that you consult with your physician before your journey to obtain any required vaccinations and to review any optional recommendations offered by the CDC or other sources. Please be sure to discuss your journey with your physician at least four to six weeks in advance of your departure, as certain vaccinations take time to become fully effective. Also, be certain to ask your physician for proof of any vaccinations you receive and to pack this proof along with your other travel documents in your carry-on luggage (not in your checked luggage).
Researching and complying with vaccination entry requirements for the countries visited on this itinerary is the responsibility of the traveler and not Bush 2 City. Bush 2 City is therefore not responsible for any expenses incurred or disruptions to travel caused by improper or incomplete vaccinations, or by the failure to provide proof of required vaccinations. If you do not obtain the necessary vaccinations and proper documentation, you may be denied entry into one or more countries or temporarily quarantined until the necessary vaccinations are administered, or until proper documentation is provided.
SPECIAL DIETARY REQUESTS
The restaurants, hotels, caterers, and numerous other partners we work with all do their best to accommodate special dietary requests from Bush 2 City guests. However, given the diverse nature of those food providers (from small wineries to grand hotels to world-famous restaurants in more than 70 countries worldwide), some of our partners are better able than others to accommodate such requests. We therefore cannot guarantee that all dietary requests can be accommodated at every meal. Also, please note that where dietary requests can be accommodated, choices will frequently be limited.
MOBILITY
All travelers to Africa should be in reasonably good health. There is not a significant amount of walking on this tour; however, the walking that is done takes place over uneven terrain, occurs frequently in warm weather, and includes climbing in and out of safari vehicles. If you opt for on-tour air transfer upgrades, please note that flights use single or twin-engine propeller planes accommodating 18-50 passengers. We strongly advise that guests who require assistance walking or who travel with oxygen tanks may not fully enjoy this very active journey.
There are certain rules and regulations that one should be aware of while on safari. You must listen to your tour director/consultant, local guide, or ranger, as they are trained to be aware of the environment around them. Guests should be aware that while on safari, you will be traveling in smaller groups and will travel on small bush planes and/or helicopters. Guests will use smaller safari vehicles, where they will be required to rotate not only safari guides, rangers, and cars but also seats within the car. Please note that there are limited medical facilities, and guests will not have exclusive use of a vehicle should they need special attention or consideration.
The safari vehicles are not air-conditioned, though you might find some have air conditioning, but it is not guaranteed. The cars have six window seats, with roofs that lift for animal viewing. Please note that the areas traversed on game drives are typically unpaved and will often be bumpy and dusty.
Please note that all Bush 2 City guests will dine at Bush 2 City Designated tables for meals. The majority of meals while on safari are buffet style due to the international guests that stay at the lodges.
A NOTE ON THE SCHEDULED HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE: The minimum age to participate in the hot air balloon ride is seven. There is no maximum age, although you must be reasonably mobile, fit to fly, and prepared for an adventure! Balloon passenger weights are calculated at an average of 176 lbs (80 kg) per person. If you weigh more than 50% above the average weight (i.e., 265 lbs/120 kg), you may be charged an additional fee.
AN IMPORTANT NOTE ON SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN AND MOBILITY ISSUES: This Bush 2 City itinerary cannot accommodate oxygen tanks, wheelchairs, or motorized scooters. Oxygen tanks are strictly prohibited in many foreign countries on regional flights aboard small aircraft, such as those intra-tour flights featured on this Bush 2 City journey. Likewise, the very limited cargo capacity on such flights prohibits the transport of wheelchairs or motorized scooters. Guests should also bear in mind that the infrastructure in many foreign countries, particularly in developing countries, often presents severe and even insurmountable challenges for those with walking difficulties or other mobility issues. The responsibility of the Bush 2 City Director and Guide is to ensure that the guest enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest. Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.
We have compiled a reading list of recommended books to give you more information about the destinations you will be traveling to on your upcoming journey!
You can view the reading list.
Into Africa
With the utterance of a single line—“Doctor Livingstone, I presume?”—a remote meeting in the heart of Africa (Tanzania’s Lake Tanganyika) was transformed into one of the most famous encounters in exploration history. This is the true story behind the meeting of the great explorer David Livingstone (the first Westerner to witness Victoria Falls) and journalist Henry Morton Stanley. Also available as an audiobook. By Martin Dugard.
The Scramble for Africa
The detailed historical account of how six European countries—Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Portugal, with Belgium’s King Leopold at the center of it all—carved up Africa among themselves from 1876-1912, all in the name of the “3 Cs”: Christianity, Commerce, and Civilization. By Thomas Pakenham.
The Complete Short Stories Of Ernest Hemingway
A definitive collection of the esteemed Africa-loving American novelist’s short stories, including the most beloved classics “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” “Hills Like White Elephants,” and “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,” plus seven new tales published here for the first time. By Ernest Hemingway.
The Worlds of a Maasai Warrior, An Autobiography
An autobiographical memoir revealing the traditional childhood, adolescence, and coming of age of a Maasai warrior on the plains of the Serengeti. It also touches on the author’s experiences as a park ranger and his journeys abroad. By Tepilit Ole Saitoti.
The Tree Where Man Was Born
A classic portrait of East Africa, enthralling in its detail on nature and daily life, drawing on the author-naturalist’s field trips to Ngorongoro, the Kenyan highlands, and the Serengeti. By Peter Matthiessen.
A Grain of Wheat
A compelling story by East Africa’s leading voice, this moving and eye-opening novel—set in the wake of the Mau Mau rebellion, on the cusp of Kenya’s independence from Britain—follows a group of villagers whose lives have been transformed by the 1952–1960 Emergency. At the center of it all is the reticent Mugo, the village’s chosen hero and a man haunted by a terrible secret. Also available as an audiobook. By Ngugi Wa Thiong’o.
Out of Africa
A now-famous love story drawn from the Danish author’s time running a coffee plantation in British-colonial Kenya’s Ngong Hills—in the Great Rift Valley, just outside of Nairobi—from 1914-1931. By Isak Dinesen (aka Baroness Karen Blixen).
Simplified Swahili
An excellent, easy-to-use system for learning Swahili, the lingua franca of Southeast and East Africa. By Peter M. Wilson
Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania
This field guide is the most comprehensive and well-illustrated available. By Dale A. Zimmerman.
The Safari Companion
Without a doubt, the best field guide to observing and understanding the behavior of African mammals. Invaluable for safari-bound travelers. By Richard D. Estes.
West with the Night
The epic true-life account of the woman who began her flying career in 1930s Kenya by scouting African wildlife herds from the air and became one of the most famous pilots of her day. A contemporary of Karen Blixen (aka Isak Dinesen, the author of Out of Africa), Markham left an enduring memoir that soars with astounding candor and shimmering insights. Also available as an audiobook. By Beryl Markham.
Too Close to the Sun
This biography of Denys Finch Hatton—the explorer whose real-life romance inspired Out of Africa—conjures the mystical beauty of Kenya’s savannahs after WWI while describing the way of life in colonial British East Africa. By Sara Wheeler.
The Great Animal Orchestra
An incredible audiobook! Musician and naturalist Krause is one of the world’s leading experts in natural sound, and he’s spent his life discovering and recording nature’s rich chorus. Accompanied by his recordings—of jaguars at night in the Amazon rain forest to encountering mountain gorillas in Africa’s Virunga Mountains—he offers an intense and intensely personal narrative of the planet’s deep and connected natural sounds. By Bernie Krause.
The Flame Trees of Thika
A classic. In 1913, Elspeth Huxley set off in an open cart with her parents to travel to Thika in Kenya. As pioneering settlers, they built a house of grass, ate off a damask cloth spread over packing cases, and discovered—the hard way—the world of the African. By Elspeth Huxley.
Unbowed
Nobel Prize-winner Wangari Maathai recounts her extraordinary journey from her childhood in rural Kenya to the world stage. When Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977, she began a vital poor people’s environmental movement, focused on the empowerment of women, that soon spread across Africa. She continued to fight tirelessly to save Kenya’s forests and to restore democracy to her beloved country. Also available as an audiobook. By Wangari Maathai.
The Serengeti Rules
How does nature produce the right numbers of zebras and lions on the African savanna or fish in the ocean? The author, an award-winning biologist, tells the stories of the pioneering scientists who sought the answers to such simple yet profoundly important questions and shows how their discoveries matter for our health and that of the planet. Also available as an audiobook. By Sean B. Carroll.
We have compiled a reading list of recommended books to give you more information about the destinations you will be traveling to on your upcoming journey!
You can view the reading list.
Into Africa
With the utterance of a single line—“Doctor Livingstone, I presume?”—a remote meeting in the heart of Africa (Tanzania’s Lake Tanganyika) was transformed into one of the most famous encounters in exploration history. This is the true story behind the meeting of the great explorer David Livingstone (the first Westerner to witness Victoria Falls) and journalist Henry Morton Stanley. Also available as an audiobook. By Martin Dugard.
The Scramble for Africa
The detailed historical account of how six European countries—Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Portugal, with Belgium’s King Leopold at the center of it all—carved up Africa among themselves from 1876-1912, all in the name of the “3 Cs”: Christianity, Commerce, and Civilization. By Thomas Pakenham.
The Complete Short Stories Of Ernest Hemingway
A definitive collection of the esteemed Africa-loving American novelist’s short stories, including the most beloved classics “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” “Hills Like White Elephants,” and “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,” plus seven new tales published here for the first time. By Ernest Hemingway.
The Worlds of a Maasai Warrior, An Autobiography
An autobiographical memoir revealing the traditional childhood, adolescence, and coming of age of a Maasai warrior on the plains of the Serengeti. It also touches on the author’s experiences as a park ranger and his journeys abroad. By Tepilit Ole Saitoti.
The Tree Where Man Was Born
A classic portrait of East Africa, enthralling in its detail on nature and daily life, drawing on the author-naturalist’s field trips to Ngorongoro, the Kenyan highlands, and the Serengeti. By Peter Matthiessen.
A Grain of Wheat
A compelling story by East Africa’s leading voice, this moving and eye-opening novel—set in the wake of the Mau Mau rebellion, on the cusp of Kenya’s independence from Britain—follows a group of villagers whose lives have been transformed by the 1952–1960 Emergency. At the center of it all is the reticent Mugo, the village’s chosen hero and a man haunted by a terrible secret. Also available as an audiobook. By Ngugi Wa Thiong’o.
Out of Africa
A now-famous love story drawn from the Danish author’s time running a coffee plantation in British-colonial Kenya’s Ngong Hills—in the Great Rift Valley, just outside of Nairobi—from 1914-1931. By Isak Dinesen (aka Baroness Karen Blixen).
Simplified Swahili
An excellent, easy-to-use system for learning Swahili, the lingua franca of Southeast and East Africa. By Peter M. Wilson
Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania
This field guide is the most comprehensive and well-illustrated available. By Dale A. Zimmerman.
The Safari Companion
Without a doubt, the best field guide to observing and understanding the behavior of African mammals. Invaluable for safari-bound travelers. By Richard D. Estes.
West with the Night
The epic true-life account of the woman who began her flying career in 1930s Kenya by scouting African wildlife herds from the air and became one of the most famous pilots of her day. A contemporary of Karen Blixen (aka Isak Dinesen, the author of Out of Africa), Markham left an enduring memoir that soars with astounding candor and shimmering insights. Also available as an audiobook. By Beryl Markham.
Too Close to the Sun
This biography of Denys Finch Hatton—the explorer whose real-life romance inspired Out of Africa—conjures the mystical beauty of Kenya’s savannahs after WWI while describing the way of life in colonial British East Africa. By Sara Wheeler.
The Great Animal Orchestra
An incredible audiobook! Musician and naturalist Krause is one of the world’s leading experts in natural sound, and he’s spent his life discovering and recording nature’s rich chorus. Accompanied by his recordings—of jaguars at night in the Amazon rain forest to encountering mountain gorillas in Africa’s Virunga Mountains—he offers an intense and intensely personal narrative of the planet’s deep and connected natural sounds. By Bernie Krause.
The Flame Trees of Thika
A classic. In 1913, Elspeth Huxley set off in an open cart with her parents to travel to Thika in Kenya. As pioneering settlers, they built a house of grass, ate off a damask cloth spread over packing cases, and discovered—the hard way—the world of the African. By Elspeth Huxley.
Unbowed
Nobel Prize-winner Wangari Maathai recounts her extraordinary journey from her childhood in rural Kenya to the world stage. When Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977, she began a vital poor people’s environmental movement, focused on the empowerment of women, that soon spread across Africa. She continued to fight tirelessly to save Kenya’s forests and to restore democracy to her beloved country. Also available as an audiobook. By Wangari Maathai.
The Serengeti Rules
How does nature produce the right numbers of zebras and lions on the African savanna or fish in the ocean? The author, an award-winning biologist, tells the stories of the pioneering scientists who sought the answers to such simple yet profoundly important questions and shows how their discoveries matter for our health and that of the planet. Also available as an audiobook. By Sean B. Carroll.
Kilimanjaro: Machame Gate > Machame camp > Shira Cave > Barranco Camp > Karanga Camp> Barafu Camp > Summit Uhuru Peak > Mweka Camp
Safari: Tarangire > Two-day Serengeti >Ngorongoro Crater
All Year Round
The hotel we select comply with our high standards and requirement per category.
Machame Camp
Shira Cave Camp
Barranco Camp
Karanga Camp
Barafu Camp
Mweka Camp
No Accommodation
When you land at Kilimanjaro International Airport, a driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Arusha. This lively city, known as the "gateway to the wild," is your last stop before your adventure begins. In the evening, a professional guide will give you a briefing to get you ready for your climb.
Arusha (City)
After a hotel breakfast in Moshi/Arusha, you'll drive 45/90 minutes through coffee plantations and villages to Machame Gate. There, you'll register with Kilimanjaro National Park while your gear is prepared. Then, you'll hike through rainforest and savannah to Machame Camp, enjoying views of wildlife, plants, and eventually Kibo Peak. Your porters and cooks will have a hot meal ready for your arrival.
Change in Elevation: 1,800m to 2,835m
Distance: 11km
Estimated hiking time: 5-8 hours
Elevation gain; 1,035m
Vegetation zone: Rain Forest
Machame Camp
After a warm breakfast, you'll start your day by packing up your gear and heading out across the heathland and moorland dunes. As you trek, you'll experience increasingly higher altitudes, which will help your body acclimate. You'll climb the lava-filled Shira Plateau before making your way to Shira Camp, where your porters and cooks will have a delicious meal ready for you.
Change in Elevation: 2,835m to 3,750m
Distance: 5 km
Estimated hiking time: 5-6 hours
Elevation gain; 915m
Vegetation zone: Moorland
Shira Cave Camp
Today's trek begins early with a steep, rewarding climb east across the Shira Plateau. After the junction of the Shira and Lemosho Routes, you'll take a secluded trail for a break. Lunch will be at Lava Tower, an incredible 300-foot volcanic plug, before a rapid descent to your campsite in the Great Barranco Valley. This scenic spot is encompassed by massive valley walls and the stunning Kibo massif, with glaciers reflecting sunlight and a unique landscape featuring giant lobelias and groundsels. You'll then enjoy a warm meal before sleeping. Today's climb will reach an altitude of 4600m, but you'll descend to sleep at 3900m, an important strategy for acclimatization.
Change in Elevation: 3750m to 4,600m to 3,900m
Distance: 10km
Estimated hiking time: 6-8 hours
Elevation gain; 850m
Elevation loss; -700m
Barranco Camp
This section of the Machame Route is filled with thrilling exploration and life-changing scenery. You'll start the day with a 90-minute climb up the magnificent Barranco Wall, also known as the Breakfast Wall. After that, you'll continue along a calm trail until you reach the Karanga Valley. Here, you'll settle and mentally prepare for the final stretch of your journey.
Change in Elevation: 3,900m to 3,995m
Distance: 6km
Estimated hiking time: 4-6 hours
Elevation gain; 300m
Elevation loss 205m
Vegetation zone: Alpine desert
Karanga Camp
The final day on the Kilimanjaro Machame Route, before the summit, begins with a gentle climb through the Karanga Valley. Temperatures will drop, and vegetation will thin out. You'll set up camp on an exposed part of the ridge (barafu camp) and enjoy an energy-rich meal to prepare for your midnight ascent to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Change in Elevation: 3,995m to 4,673m
Distance: 4km
Estimated hiking time: 3-4 hours
Elevation gain; 678m
Vegetation zone: Alpine desert
Barafu Camp
Your journey to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro starts just after midnight, taking you across sapphire glaciers to Stella Point. A beautiful sunrise will illuminate the summit as you proceed toward your ultimate destination: Uhuru Peak, known as the "Rooftop of Africa."
From the summit, you'll feel an immense sense of exhilaration and triumph as you look down upon the clouds and ice. Following a celebration with your support team, you'll descend to Barafu Camp for a short break, then move on to Mweka Camp. There, a hot meal will be waiting, and you'll spend your last night on the mountain unwinding beneath the stars.
NB: This is the longest and most challenging day of the trek.
Change in Elevation: 4,673m to 5,895m to 3,100m
Distance: 17 km, (5km ascent, 12km descent)
Estimated hiking Time: 12-16 hours (7-8 hours to summit, 5-6 hours descending)
Elevation Gain: +1,222 to summit
Elevation loss; -2,795m descent
Vegetation zone: Arctic / Rainforest
Mweka Camp
After breakfast, you'll walk back to Mweka Gate, enjoying the misty, deep green forest. You'll then say goodbye to your guides and porters before getting into the shuttle that will take you back to Moshi/Arusha, where you can look forward to a hot shower, a comfortable bed, and fresh clothes.
Change in Elevation: 3,100m to 1,640m
Distance: 10 km
Estimated hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Elevation Loss: -1,460m
Vegetation zone: Rainforest
Arusha (City)
Your safari guide will pick you up from your hotel in Arusha and drive you to Tarangire National Park. Enjoy a game drive focused on spotting large elephant herds and iconic baobab trees. A picnic lunch will be served inside the park. The afternoon game drive will continue, with opportunities to see lions, leopards, giraffes, and various birds. In the evening, you will be taken to your lodge near the park for dinner and an overnight stay.
After an early breakfast, you'll embark on a scenic drive to Serengeti National Park, passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. A picnic lunch will be provided en route. Upon arrival, you'll enjoy an initial game drive before heading to your lodge for dinner and your overnight stay.
Start the day with an early morning game drive, a prime time for spotting predators. After a late breakfast, you'll have time to relax at the camp. An afternoon game drive will take you to a different section of the Serengeti's vast plains. Dinner and your final overnight stay in the Serengeti will be at the camp.
After an early breakfast, you will descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive. The crater is renowned for its high concentration of wildlife and offers an excellent chance to see the "Big Five." A picnic lunch will be served inside the crater. After a six-hour game drive, you will ascend from the crater and drive back to lodge for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast on your final day, it's time to check out of your lodge. Your driver will then take you from the park directly to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home.
Arusha (City)
No Accommodation
You'll be collected from the airport.
Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.
Machame Camp
Shira Cave Camp
Barranco Camp
Karanga Camp
Barafu Camp
Mweka Camp
No Accommodation
This tour starts and ends in Moshi or Arusha.
We advise on international flights, but you book them yourself.
Fly to/from Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO)
A transfer from and back to the airport is included
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost
All citizens traveling internationally will need a passport valid for six months beyond the completion of your Bush 2 City journey for entry into Tanzania. Your passport must also contain two blank pages.
Tanzania Visa
Online Visa applicants are advised to make their applications through the Official Tanzania Immigration website (www.immigration.go.tz) ONLY and NOT through any other links.
What you will need to apply for a VISA
– > A recent passport-sized photo of the applicant
– > A copy of the applicant’s valid passport (biographic data page)
– > Return ticket of the flight
– > 100 USD Visa fee for USA Nationals and 50 USD for other nationalities
How to apply for a VISA online:
1. Visit the Immigration Services Website (https://www.immigration.go.tz)
2. Click the e-services button
3. Select and click the e-Visa Application Form
4. Upload and attach the applicant’s scanned relevant documents for the Visa
5. The applicant will receive an e-mail message containing a User Identification Number (that may be used to track the application online)
6. After completing the online visa application form, the applicant will have to pay the respective visa fee
7. Upon successful payment, the applicant will submit their application
8. Lastly, the applicant will receive a message confirming that their application has been received.
How to Track Visa Application Status:
After successfully applying, an applicant may track the progress of their application by using the ID Number given during the application stage. To track the application, the applicant will return to the Visa Application System and click the Visa Status button.
For Tanzania: To obtain your eVisa, please visit https://visa.immigration.go.tz. The point of entry into Tanzania is Arusha, Tanzania.
For contact details within Tanzania:
Tanzania Contact
B2C Adventure LTD
Sakina Kwa Idd, P.O. Box 1849
Arusha, Tanzania
Phone: +255 789 725 322
Email: info@bush2cityadventure.com
We recommend obtaining visas in advance. Although airport visas are available, due to inadequate staffing, delays of over an hour can be expected if you purchase your visa upon arrival in Tanzania. Visa requirements can change quickly. Please do not keep forms on file as they may become outdated, causing unnecessary processing delays.
We recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration, and your citizenship. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who can assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost, or stolen.
To facilitate travel requirements, destinations are increasingly utilizing online forms that require digital proof that you’ve completed your submission (via email, QR code, etc.). To ensure smooth travels and peace of mind, we strongly recommend all guests carry a personal smartphone and sign up for international data plans before traveling overseas.
Traveling with Children as a Guardian:
If you are traveling as the guardian of a child/children, we strongly suggest that you carry a letter from both parents of the child authorizing emergency treatment in the event of illness or accident. For travel abroad, many foreign countries have specific entry requirements for children under 21 who are traveling internationally without BOTH parents. (These requirements are in response to the increased incidence of children being abducted and taken abroad.) PLEASE NOTE THAT BUSH 2 CITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for children traveling without both parents.
See your travel advisor, or call Bush 2 City at +255 789 725 322 to make a reservation.
At the time of booking, please have the following information ready for all members of your party:
– > Tour Name and Departure Date
– > Traveler’s Name: First and last names as they appear on your passport or driver’s license
– > Traveler’s Address(es)
– > Email Address *
– > Traveler’s Phone Number(s) *
– > Emergency Contact Information: Please provide the name and phone number of a relative or friend (not traveling with you) whom we could contact during the tour in the unlikely event of an emergency
– > Interest in extending your trip by staying in a Bush 2 City recommended hotel before your trip begins or after it ends
* Required Fields
Deposits:
Deposits and local flight fees are due at the time of booking. Note: if your tour includes air transfer, the full amount for airfare will be requested in full and not counted as part of the deposit.
Should you wish to book with Bush 2 City Adventure, once we have received your booking details, we will request a non-refundable booking deposit of $250 per person. This deposit is usually paid by credit card.
Final Payments:
Final Payment is due to Bush 2 City 45 days before departure for tour trips. If a safari is arranged within 45 days before the commencement of the safari, the full amount shall be payable to confirm the safari. If your deposit was made by credit card, the final payment will be automatic unless you opted out at the time of booking. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payment will be considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply.
We recommend that all travelers booking safaris with us purchase travel insurance to cover their trip investment. Ensure that you have cancellation cover for any reason.
Travel Insurance Benefits – We advise all visitors to carefully review the extent of a policy’s coverage before purchasing it, and the following recommendations should be included in the policy before you make a purchase:
Trip Cancellation – If you must cancel your tour due to a covered reason, the plan provides coverage for the amount you paid for your travel arrangements. Make sure the policy benefits reimburse the airfare cancellation charges up to the value of your original airfare purchase.
Trip Interruption – If you have to interrupt your tour for covered reasons, the plan provides reimbursement to catch up to your tour or return home.
Travel Delay – Provides reimbursement for missed, prepaid travel arrangements if you are delayed by a common carrier, natural disaster, unannounced strike, or other reasons as cited in the plan.
Medical Expense – Reimburses covered medical expenses incurred in the event you become injured or sick during your trip.
Baggage / Personal Effects Protection – Provides reimbursement in the event your luggage or personal effects are lost, stolen, damaged, or delayed during your trip.
Worldwide Emergency Assistance Services – 24-hour emergency telephone assistance hotline for medical and travel-related problems.
Please note that the insurance policy is arranged by clients themselves from the company based in their home country, not Bush 2 City. Purchasing insurance is advised immediately after confirming your safari with us and paying the deposit.
If circumstances arise necessitating the cancellation of your holiday, such cancellation must be formally communicated to us in writing. A cancellation will only be deemed valid once we have received written notification.
Please note that in the event of a cancellation, both the deposit and any charges related to amendments will be non-refundable. Cancellation fees are assessed on a sliding scale, as outlined below, and apply per person upon our receipt of your written cancellation notice before your scheduled departure.
Regardless of the reason, cancellations result in costly charges from our travel and hotel providers covering penalties and fees incurred by canceling confirmed bookings. These fees vary from tour to tour, and therefore, the following fees apply:
– > Cancellations 120 to 60 days before departure incur a forfeiture of the 30% deposit
– > Cancellations 60 to 45 days prior incur a 50% fee of the total tour rate.
– > Cancellations less than 45 days prior incur a 100% cancellation fee.
Travel insurance is highly recommended to cover unforeseen cancellations. If your cancellation falls within the coverage scope of your insurance policy, as outlined in its terms and conditions, you may be eligible to recover the incurred charges from your insurance provider. However, it should be noted that if we have already issued your domestic airline tickets and you decide to cancel them at any point, you will not be entitled to any refunds for these tickets, under the circumstances described.
Moreover, if you fail to show up or join the safari after the departure date has passed, no refund will be issued. The time of cancellation will be when notice is received in our Sakina Kwa Idd, Arusha, Tanzania office.
In the event of an unforeseen circumstance beyond our control, Bush 2 City reserves the right to amend the cancellation terms outlined herein.
Click here to find Bush 2 City`s Travel Terms & Conditions.
AIRFARE: Airfare to and from this destination is not included in the journey cost. If purchasing your airfare elsewhere, you must provide us with your confirmed arrival and departure flight information no later than three weeks before your arrival date.
BUSH 2 CITY AIRPORT TRANSFERS: Bush 2 City airport transfers are included at the start and end of the journey between the airport and the Bush 2 City hotel. Airport transfers are available for any pre-tour or post-tour hotel stays immediately consecutive to the tour, provided flight information is received in the Bush 2 City office no later than three weeks in advance. Your final documents will include details on locating your transfer upon arrival in the tour start city.
AIRLINES AND CHECKED LUGGAGE: Due to space limitations during your Bush 2 City journey, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one average-size suitcase per person. Besides complying with the Bush 2 City restriction noted above, you should also research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Bush 2 City journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years and are free to revise luggage policies without notice. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Bush 2 City cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by failure to research and comply with airline policies. PLEASE NOTE that if you are booked on a tour that includes on-tour flights, the checked luggage weight restrictions for these flights may be lower than the weight restrictions for your international flights.
To help in your packing, Bush 2 City recommends each guest bring a duffel bag. The duffel bag has been specially designed to provide more than adequate space for essential items needed while on safari. Strict limitations on our on-tour flights require that each guest take only one piece of soft-sided luggage (the duffel bag) weighing no more than 33 pounds, or 14.97 kilograms. This weight limit includes all camera equipment. Soft-sided luggage is required to ensure your piece fits into irregularly shaped luggage compartments. In addition, guests are limited to one soft-sided carry-on bag per person, not to exceed 15 lbs. or 6.8 kg, and no larger than an average knapsack.
Checked Luggage – General
Due to space restrictions, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one suitcase per person, weighing no more than 44 pounds (20 kg) and with overall dimensions (length + width + height) not exceeding 62 inches (158 cm). Besides complying with the Bush 2 City restriction noted above, you should also research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Bush 2 City journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and luggage exceeding airline standards for size or weight may result in expensive overage fees or other consequences. Airlines are free to revise luggage policies without notice, and certain airlines have different baggage allowances for different classes of service. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Bush 2 City cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by failure to research and comply with airline policies.
Carry-on Luggage – General:
Although oversized bags and wheeled carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for safari vehicle travel or many on-tour flights. Most modern safari vehicles offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats is typically small and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags. For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece and bring only those items you need handy during the day, such as makeup, medications, valuables, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the seat must be stored in the luggage truck and will be inaccessible during daytime travel.
HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.
VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Some of the countries visited on this itinerary may require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against certain diseases to enter the country. These requirements are subject to frequent change as outbreaks occur and subside in different areas, and it is, therefore, crucial that you obtain the very latest information on entry requirements as you prepare for your journey.
Regarding the Yellow Fever Vaccination:
While not a Bush 2 City requirement, guests are advised to bring proof of Yellow Fever Vaccination or a doctor’s note stating why they are unable to get the Yellow Fever vaccination for entry into Tanzania. Please be advised that this regulation often changes.
For the most current information, please consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by clicking here and the World Health Organization (WHO) by clicking here. You may also wish to visit the websites for the embassies of the countries you will be visiting. Besides providing details on vaccination requirements, these sites can also provide information on vaccinations that may be recommended (but aren’t required) and other potential health issues for which no vaccines are available.
Any decisions relating to your health, of course, should not be based solely on information provided by a website. It is critically important that you consult with your physician before your journey to obtain any required vaccinations and to review any optional recommendations offered by the CDC or other sources. Please be sure to discuss your journey with your physician at least four to six weeks in advance of your departure, as certain vaccinations take time to become fully effective. Also, be certain to ask your physician for proof of any vaccinations you receive and to pack this proof along with your other travel documents in your carry-on luggage (not in your checked luggage).
Researching and complying with vaccination entry requirements for the countries visited on this itinerary is the responsibility of the traveler and not Bush 2 City. Bush 2 City is therefore not responsible for any expenses incurred or disruptions to travel caused by improper or incomplete vaccinations, or by the failure to provide proof of required vaccinations. If you do not obtain the necessary vaccinations and proper documentation, you may be denied entry into one or more countries or temporarily quarantined until the necessary vaccinations are administered, or until proper documentation is provided.
SPECIAL DIETARY REQUESTS
The restaurants, hotels, caterers, and numerous other partners we work with all do their best to accommodate special dietary requests from Bush 2 City guests. However, given the diverse nature of those food providers (from small wineries to grand hotels to world-famous restaurants in more than 70 countries worldwide), some of our partners are better able than others to accommodate such requests. We therefore cannot guarantee that all dietary requests can be accommodated at every meal. Also, please note that where dietary requests can be accommodated, choices will frequently be limited.
MOBILITY
All travelers to Africa should be in reasonably good health. There is not a significant amount of walking on this tour; however, the walking that is done takes place over uneven terrain, occurs frequently in warm weather, and includes climbing in and out of safari vehicles. If you opt for on-tour air transfer upgrades, please note that flights use single or twin-engine propeller planes accommodating 18-50 passengers. We strongly advise that guests who require assistance walking or who travel with oxygen tanks may not fully enjoy this very active journey.
There are certain rules and regulations that one should be aware of while on safari. You must listen to your tour director/consultant, local guide, or ranger, as they are trained to be aware of the environment around them. Guests should be aware that while on safari, you will be traveling in smaller groups and will travel on small bush planes and/or helicopters. Guests will use smaller safari vehicles, where they will be required to rotate not only safari guides, rangers, and cars but also seats within the car. Please note that there are limited medical facilities, and guests will not have exclusive use of a vehicle should they need special attention or consideration.
The safari vehicles are not air-conditioned, though you might find some have air conditioning, but it is not guaranteed. The cars have six window seats, with roofs that lift for animal viewing. Please note that the areas traversed on game drives are typically unpaved and will often be bumpy and dusty.
Please note that all Bush 2 City guests will dine at Bush 2 City Designated tables for meals. The majority of meals while on safari are buffet style due to the international guests that stay at the lodges.
A NOTE ON THE SCHEDULED HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE: The minimum age to participate in the hot air balloon ride is seven. There is no maximum age, although you must be reasonably mobile, fit to fly, and prepared for an adventure! Balloon passenger weights are calculated at an average of 176 lbs (80 kg) per person. If you weigh more than 50% above the average weight (i.e., 265 lbs/120 kg), you may be charged an additional fee.
AN IMPORTANT NOTE ON SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN AND MOBILITY ISSUES: This Bush 2 City itinerary cannot accommodate oxygen tanks, wheelchairs, or motorized scooters. Oxygen tanks are strictly prohibited in many foreign countries on regional flights aboard small aircraft, such as those intra-tour flights featured on this Bush 2 City journey. Likewise, the very limited cargo capacity on such flights prohibits the transport of wheelchairs or motorized scooters. Guests should also bear in mind that the infrastructure in many foreign countries, particularly in developing countries, often presents severe and even insurmountable challenges for those with walking difficulties or other mobility issues. The responsibility of the Bush 2 City Director and Guide is to ensure that the guest enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest. Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.
We have compiled a reading list of recommended books to give you more information about the destinations you will be traveling to on your upcoming journey!
You can view the reading list.
Into Africa
With the utterance of a single line—“Doctor Livingstone, I presume?”—a remote meeting in the heart of Africa (Tanzania’s Lake Tanganyika) was transformed into one of the most famous encounters in exploration history. This is the true story behind the meeting of the great explorer David Livingstone (the first Westerner to witness Victoria Falls) and journalist Henry Morton Stanley. Also available as an audiobook. By Martin Dugard.
The Scramble for Africa
The detailed historical account of how six European countries—Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Portugal, with Belgium’s King Leopold at the center of it all—carved up Africa among themselves from 1876-1912, all in the name of the “3 Cs”: Christianity, Commerce, and Civilization. By Thomas Pakenham.
The Complete Short Stories Of Ernest Hemingway
A definitive collection of the esteemed Africa-loving American novelist’s short stories, including the most beloved classics “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” “Hills Like White Elephants,” and “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,” plus seven new tales published here for the first time. By Ernest Hemingway.
The Worlds of a Maasai Warrior, An Autobiography
An autobiographical memoir revealing the traditional childhood, adolescence, and coming of age of a Maasai warrior on the plains of the Serengeti. It also touches on the author’s experiences as a park ranger and his journeys abroad. By Tepilit Ole Saitoti.
The Tree Where Man Was Born
A classic portrait of East Africa, enthralling in its detail on nature and daily life, drawing on the author-naturalist’s field trips to Ngorongoro, the Kenyan highlands, and the Serengeti. By Peter Matthiessen.
A Grain of Wheat
A compelling story by East Africa’s leading voice, this moving and eye-opening novel—set in the wake of the Mau Mau rebellion, on the cusp of Kenya’s independence from Britain—follows a group of villagers whose lives have been transformed by the 1952–1960 Emergency. At the center of it all is the reticent Mugo, the village’s chosen hero and a man haunted by a terrible secret. Also available as an audiobook. By Ngugi Wa Thiong’o.
Out of Africa
A now-famous love story drawn from the Danish author’s time running a coffee plantation in British-colonial Kenya’s Ngong Hills—in the Great Rift Valley, just outside of Nairobi—from 1914-1931. By Isak Dinesen (aka Baroness Karen Blixen).
Simplified Swahili
An excellent, easy-to-use system for learning Swahili, the lingua franca of Southeast and East Africa. By Peter M. Wilson
Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania
This field guide is the most comprehensive and well-illustrated available. By Dale A. Zimmerman.
The Safari Companion
Without a doubt, the best field guide to observing and understanding the behavior of African mammals. Invaluable for safari-bound travelers. By Richard D. Estes.
West with the Night
The epic true-life account of the woman who began her flying career in 1930s Kenya by scouting African wildlife herds from the air and became one of the most famous pilots of her day. A contemporary of Karen Blixen (aka Isak Dinesen, the author of Out of Africa), Markham left an enduring memoir that soars with astounding candor and shimmering insights. Also available as an audiobook. By Beryl Markham.
Too Close to the Sun
This biography of Denys Finch Hatton—the explorer whose real-life romance inspired Out of Africa—conjures the mystical beauty of Kenya’s savannahs after WWI while describing the way of life in colonial British East Africa. By Sara Wheeler.
The Great Animal Orchestra
An incredible audiobook! Musician and naturalist Krause is one of the world’s leading experts in natural sound, and he’s spent his life discovering and recording nature’s rich chorus. Accompanied by his recordings—of jaguars at night in the Amazon rain forest to encountering mountain gorillas in Africa’s Virunga Mountains—he offers an intense and intensely personal narrative of the planet’s deep and connected natural sounds. By Bernie Krause.
The Flame Trees of Thika
A classic. In 1913, Elspeth Huxley set off in an open cart with her parents to travel to Thika in Kenya. As pioneering settlers, they built a house of grass, ate off a damask cloth spread over packing cases, and discovered—the hard way—the world of the African. By Elspeth Huxley.
Unbowed
Nobel Prize-winner Wangari Maathai recounts her extraordinary journey from her childhood in rural Kenya to the world stage. When Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977, she began a vital poor people’s environmental movement, focused on the empowerment of women, that soon spread across Africa. She continued to fight tirelessly to save Kenya’s forests and to restore democracy to her beloved country. Also available as an audiobook. By Wangari Maathai.
The Serengeti Rules
How does nature produce the right numbers of zebras and lions on the African savanna or fish in the ocean? The author, an award-winning biologist, tells the stories of the pioneering scientists who sought the answers to such simple yet profoundly important questions and shows how their discoveries matter for our health and that of the planet. Also available as an audiobook. By Sean B. Carroll.
We have compiled a reading list of recommended books to give you more information about the destinations you will be traveling to on your upcoming journey!
You can view the reading list.
Into Africa
With the utterance of a single line—“Doctor Livingstone, I presume?”—a remote meeting in the heart of Africa (Tanzania’s Lake Tanganyika) was transformed into one of the most famous encounters in exploration history. This is the true story behind the meeting of the great explorer David Livingstone (the first Westerner to witness Victoria Falls) and journalist Henry Morton Stanley. Also available as an audiobook. By Martin Dugard.
The Scramble for Africa
The detailed historical account of how six European countries—Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Portugal, with Belgium’s King Leopold at the center of it all—carved up Africa among themselves from 1876-1912, all in the name of the “3 Cs”: Christianity, Commerce, and Civilization. By Thomas Pakenham.
The Complete Short Stories Of Ernest Hemingway
A definitive collection of the esteemed Africa-loving American novelist’s short stories, including the most beloved classics “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” “Hills Like White Elephants,” and “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,” plus seven new tales published here for the first time. By Ernest Hemingway.
The Worlds of a Maasai Warrior, An Autobiography
An autobiographical memoir revealing the traditional childhood, adolescence, and coming of age of a Maasai warrior on the plains of the Serengeti. It also touches on the author’s experiences as a park ranger and his journeys abroad. By Tepilit Ole Saitoti.
The Tree Where Man Was Born
A classic portrait of East Africa, enthralling in its detail on nature and daily life, drawing on the author-naturalist’s field trips to Ngorongoro, the Kenyan highlands, and the Serengeti. By Peter Matthiessen.
A Grain of Wheat
A compelling story by East Africa’s leading voice, this moving and eye-opening novel—set in the wake of the Mau Mau rebellion, on the cusp of Kenya’s independence from Britain—follows a group of villagers whose lives have been transformed by the 1952–1960 Emergency. At the center of it all is the reticent Mugo, the village’s chosen hero and a man haunted by a terrible secret. Also available as an audiobook. By Ngugi Wa Thiong’o.
Out of Africa
A now-famous love story drawn from the Danish author’s time running a coffee plantation in British-colonial Kenya’s Ngong Hills—in the Great Rift Valley, just outside of Nairobi—from 1914-1931. By Isak Dinesen (aka Baroness Karen Blixen).
Simplified Swahili
An excellent, easy-to-use system for learning Swahili, the lingua franca of Southeast and East Africa. By Peter M. Wilson
Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania
This field guide is the most comprehensive and well-illustrated available. By Dale A. Zimmerman.
The Safari Companion
Without a doubt, the best field guide to observing and understanding the behavior of African mammals. Invaluable for safari-bound travelers. By Richard D. Estes.
West with the Night
The epic true-life account of the woman who began her flying career in 1930s Kenya by scouting African wildlife herds from the air and became one of the most famous pilots of her day. A contemporary of Karen Blixen (aka Isak Dinesen, the author of Out of Africa), Markham left an enduring memoir that soars with astounding candor and shimmering insights. Also available as an audiobook. By Beryl Markham.
Too Close to the Sun
This biography of Denys Finch Hatton—the explorer whose real-life romance inspired Out of Africa—conjures the mystical beauty of Kenya’s savannahs after WWI while describing the way of life in colonial British East Africa. By Sara Wheeler.
The Great Animal Orchestra
An incredible audiobook! Musician and naturalist Krause is one of the world’s leading experts in natural sound, and he’s spent his life discovering and recording nature’s rich chorus. Accompanied by his recordings—of jaguars at night in the Amazon rain forest to encountering mountain gorillas in Africa’s Virunga Mountains—he offers an intense and intensely personal narrative of the planet’s deep and connected natural sounds. By Bernie Krause.
The Flame Trees of Thika
A classic. In 1913, Elspeth Huxley set off in an open cart with her parents to travel to Thika in Kenya. As pioneering settlers, they built a house of grass, ate off a damask cloth spread over packing cases, and discovered—the hard way—the world of the African. By Elspeth Huxley.
Unbowed
Nobel Prize-winner Wangari Maathai recounts her extraordinary journey from her childhood in rural Kenya to the world stage. When Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977, she began a vital poor people’s environmental movement, focused on the empowerment of women, that soon spread across Africa. She continued to fight tirelessly to save Kenya’s forests and to restore democracy to her beloved country. Also available as an audiobook. By Wangari Maathai.
The Serengeti Rules
How does nature produce the right numbers of zebras and lions on the African savanna or fish in the ocean? The author, an award-winning biologist, tells the stories of the pioneering scientists who sought the answers to such simple yet profoundly important questions and shows how their discoveries matter for our health and that of the planet. Also available as an audiobook. By Sean B. Carroll.
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