Information on the Journey
This journey was mainly about African Parks. For 6 months, we slowly travelled only a small part of these four beautiful countries. During the Christmass and New Year season, we stopped for a month at the Twiwi Beach, in Kenya.
East Africa is quite easy concerning visas and insurances. There is some minor corruption. After more than 6 months there, a few policemen asked us for gift from Canada, but after a polite refusal, they didn't insist. It was often quite friendly.
Some data
Travelling with Mélanie
| Regions visited: | Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda |
| When? | June 2012 to February 2013 |
Timeline:
| Tanzania | 1 month 15 days |
| Rwanda | 25 days |
| Uganda | 1 month 20 days |
| Kenya | 2 months 15 days |
| Travel Time: | 6 months 17 days |
| Not travelling: | |
| | |
| Total: | 6 months 17 days |
The best
| Tanzania | Serengeti - Tarangire - Ngorongoro crater - Zanzibar. |
| Rwanda | Scenery everywhere - Lake Kivu - Nyungwe Forest. |
| Uganda | Queen Elizabeth Park - Sipi Falls - 3 hippopotamus at 2-3 metres from our camp - Coffee Pot in Kisoro - Explorer Backpackers in the city of Jinja. |
| Kenya | Lake Bogoria and its thousands of flamingoes (in season) - Samburu Reserve - scenery around Rusinga Island (Lac Victoria) - scenery around Cherangani Hills - gravy Zebra at Ol Pejeta Conservancy - Mount Longonot. |
The worst
| Tanzania | Lake Natron is not worth it (out of season) - park fees. |
| Rwanda | Being yelled amazungu (white person) and being constantly asked for money or trinkets (it is worst than other East African countries) - adults often ask for money or food. |
| Uganda | Fees for foreign car in parks ($150) - no info from rangers in parks - paying again to see Murchison Falls after paying the entrance fees - Ssese Islands - The road around Soroti is full of holes. |
| Kenya | Most parks and reserves have doubled their fees in 2012 - many locals say Kenya is dangerous, some say it is safe... I don't really know (I had no problem) - seeing Italians buying pens and candies for children at Marafa Depression. |
Best Time to Go
The time to avoid is the big rainy season from March to May. In November, there is a small rainy season, but not serious enough to avoid travelling.
The coast is hot and humid from December to March.
For animal sightings, as the dry seasons progress, the animals stay more and more around the waterholes. At that time, it is easier to observe them. However, for birds, the rainy season or slightly thereafter is often the best time.
Technical Data
Travellers with a Canadian passport.
Tanzania (July 2012)
| VISA | Obtained at the border or airport. $US 50 for 3 months. |
| CURRENCY | Tanzanian Shilling - $US 1 = 1580 TZS |
| INSURANCE | Local insurance or a COMESA insurance that covers the country ($90 for 6 months for all the covered countries). |
| DIESEL | $US 1.38 / litre (up to $1.45 in remote area) |
Rwanda (August 2012)
| VISA | Register online 3-4 days before entering the country (online form to fill on the Rwandan government site - print the confirmation sent by email). Get the visa at the border. $US 30 for 1 month. |
| CURRENCY | Rwandan Franc - $US 1 = 605 RWF |
| INSURANCE | COMESA - $90 for 6 months. |
| DIESEL | $US 1.63 / litre |
Uganda (September 2012)
| VISA | At the border. $US 50 for 3 months. Road tax of $US 20. |
| CURRENCY | Ugandan Shilling - $US 1 = 2500 UGX |
| INSURANCE | COMESA - $90 for 6 months. |
| DIESEL | $US 1.33 / litre - $1.56 on Ssese Islands |
Kenya (November 2012)
| VISA | At the border. $US 50 for 3 months. Road tax of $US 50 for 3 months or $US 20 for 1 month. |
| CURRENCY | Kenyan Shilling - $US 1 = 85.6 KES |
| INSURANCE | COMESA - $90 for 6 months. |
| DIESEL | $US 1.20-1.30 / litre |
