Special Interest SafarisWhilst on safari there may be a number of special interest activities that take your fancy...from birding safaris to scuba diving (or diving with great white sharks!) to taking a ride in a hot-air balloon or climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. We have included a number of such 'special interest' activities/safaris below... Don't forget to check out our canoeing safaris, walking safaris, horse riding safaris or the mobile tented safaris if you are wanting something a little more adventurous. And then of course there are our family safaris, gorilla and chimp safaris and a range of small group (escorted) safaris.... |
Birding
Birding in Southern and East Africa is superb, with many hundreds of different species, and many endemic to certain areas. East Africa, and especially Uganda, boasts by far the largest diversity together with some of the most beautifully coloured birds imaginable. In southern Africa, as the summer months approach, the region welcomes thousands of migratory birds who come from further north to breed or from Europe and Asia as part of their annual migration. For both the avid 'birder' or merely the curious, Africa is truly a paradise!
For the keen 'birder' we have a selection of tours that will be of interest where the combination of birding, wildlife, scenery, accommodation and expertise of the guides will please any delight the avid ornithologist.
In addition, at many of the safari camps and lodges that we use in our safari itineraries, there are resident guides with exceptionally good knowledge of the birds in that region. Do let us know of your special interest in birds so that we might make the appropriate arrangements/requests.
Bicycling Safaris
There are a number of locations where cycling safaris are conducted - Luangwa valley in Zambia, Kruger in South Africa and Mashatu in Botswana for example. These tend to be cycle trails of 2/3 days in duration where you would sleep out using serviced fly-camps and be accompanied by an armed specialist guide. In addition, at a number of other safari camps and lodges, there is the opportunity to cycle as one of the activity options on offer (although this is by no means commonplace).
Hiking / Climbing
We offer a number of select Hiking and Climbing options throughout Africa for the more energetic and adventurous amongst you..
Hiking
Our hiking options include The Otter, Dolphin & Whale Trails on the Wild Coast in South Africa, along with other hiking opportunities in the Fish River Canyon in Namibia, Table Mountain in Cape Town and Ol' Donyo Langai in Tanzania - combining beautiful locations with exciting hiking opportunities.
Climbing
Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Mount Kenya, and the Ruwenzoris in Uganda, are the most challenging mountains on the Africa safari circuit and we have joined forces with two of the most specialised operators in East Africa to offer you a selection of climbing programs.
Hot-Air Ballooning
With its wide open spaces and clear skies Africa provides fabulous ballooning experiences for the more adventurous. Because of the vagaries of weather it is best not to plan your itinerary around a Balloon safari but rather take advantage of the possibility should you be planning to be in any of the regions where ballooning is offered. Our favorites would be the awesome landscape scenery of the Namib desert region of Namibia or the wide open plains of the Serengetti / Masai Mara. This is definitely one of the more unusual and exhilarating experiences you will have and is really a must for even the serious landlubber!
The format for these trips is much the same wherever you choose, starting with a pre dawn wake-up and transfer to the launch site, preparation of the balloon and basket followed by a one hour flight with champagne breakfast to finish - not to be missed if the weather is obliging!
Space is limited so be sure to pre-book. Cost is between US$250 - US$450 per person depending on the season and location (expensive but well worth it in our opinion!). There is otherwise no special requirements for participation in a Balloon Safari.
Private Guided Safaris
The ultimate safari experience is the Private Guided Safari, where an expert guide accompanies your group as your own 'private' guide. A number of highly experienced professional guides specialise in accompanying small groups on tailor-made safaris in order to add that extra continuity and expertise to the safari. In this way your guide acts as both host and guide, sharing his/her extensive knowledge with you and all the time ensuring that everything goes according to plan!
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Such tours/safaris may be general in nature or revolve around a special interest: wild dogs, the big cats, elephant, atronomy, historical sites, tribes and cultures etc. Let us know your special interest and we will do our best to bring you together with the appropriate 'expert' guide and create an itinerary that will take you to the areas most suitable to that interest.
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We have access to a number of 'top' guides including Craig Van Zyl, Paul Oliver, Pat Dewil, Benson Siyawareva, Garth Thompson, Ivan Carter, John Stevens and many more...so talk to us about a Private Guided Safari today!
Railway Journeys
Whether you are a railway enthusiast or are merely looking for a somewhat different way to tour, a rail safari has distinct advantages - most notably being that the train acts as both your transportation and accommodation! Without doubt, a train safari is one of the most convenient ways of seeing Southern Africa, allowing you to enjoy the continent's splendour without having to endure its harshness. Railway journeys of varying standard and duration are available through the southern African countries of South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe with some operators going as far north as Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
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Set departures and set itineraries are a feature of the railway journeys offered with some trips being only from A to B whilst others offer a complete touring service with local tours being undertaken at each stop.
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Apart from the standard rail services available within the individual countries (not highly recommended) the countries best served by tourist trains are Namibia and South Africa, with the destinations of Victoria Falls and Dar es Salaam also being offered. Worth considering, for those planning to travel to southern Tanzania is a new Safari Express train service that takes you through the Selous and on to Mikumi and Ruaha NP. And for the more adventurous (hardy) there is always the Tazara Express between Zambia and Dar es Salaam!
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We have a range of LUXURY and SAFARI train options to choose from.
White Water rafting
There are only two recognised white-water rafting destinations in Africa - on the Zambezi river below the Victoria Falls and on the Nile in Uganda. We have added a third - the Kunene river in northern Namibia (seasonal). We have chosen established and reputable white-water rafting specialists for your consideration.
Shark Diving
Diving with Great White Sharks in the cold waters off the Cape Peninsula has become one of the latest adventure activities in southern Africa. Not for the faint-hearted....
Elephant-back Safaris
There are a number of different Elephant 'experiences' available to the modern safari goer. These range from elephant interaction (grooming, training and riding), through to riding an elephant for short periods, and then to the geniune Elephant-Back safari where the elephant becomes your mode of transport as you take long 'walks' through the African bush. All have their place in educating us on the intricate lives of these amazing creatures.
- If you are looking for the ultimate elephant-back experience then nothing can beat a 6-day safari with The Elephant Back Company staying at Abu Camp in the Okavango Delta. Here you will actually ride these huge bush 4x4's, sitting atop custom-designed saddles as they transport you through the wonderful landscape and wildlife of the Delta.
- If you would like to gain an up-close appreciation of these massive beasts as part of your wildlife experience we can highly recommend the elephant experience at Stanley's Camp in the Okavango.
- If you are only looking for the experience of riding an elephant for a hour or so then you can't beat The Zambezi Elephant Trail.
We have chosen established and reputable Elephant-Back operators for your consideration.
Fishing
No matter your personal preference, be it salt water or fresh water, deep sea or fly - Africa's coast and river systems can offer some of the most exhilarating fishing locations you will find anywhere. Tell us your penchant and we will give you some exciting options to choose from - whether it be off the coast of Kenya or Mozambique, Lake Victoria or the mighty Zambezi river.
Golf
African Encounter, in conjunction with Ascot Tours - the golf tour specialist based in South Africa, offer the golfing enthusiast an opportunity to play golf on some of the most challenging and finest golf courses in southern Africa. Ascot Tours can arrange superb accommodation, select the very best courses, and will ensure an unsurpassed golfing safari.
