As Africa experts, we are often invited to be guest speakers and panelists at major travel shows and exhibits. One of the questions that crops up frequently at these events concerns the tourist visa. Tourist visas are a requirement for many African countries including Egypt, Tanzania, and Kenya. In some cases you can get a visa on arrival at the airport, in others you will need to plan ahead and get one from the embassy in advance. If you have a choice, getting a visa in advance does not necessarily save you time when you arrive at the airport, but it does save you from having to part with some precious foreign currency on arrival.

We usually recommend you first call the embassy or consulate of the country you are visiting to find out the most current requirements, since regulations can change day by day. We try and keep up with them, but it’s not always possible, and rules also vary depending on your nationality. Even in our own office we have different experiences, Yvette rarely needs to bother with visas in Africa, since she holds a South African passport.

Questions to Ask When You Call the Embassy or Consulate

• Can the tourist visa be issued at the airport or land border – or do you need to get it in advance?
• Will you need proof of an airline ticket purchase or tour itinerary?
• How long is the tourist visa valid for?
• Does the validity of the tourist visa start once issued, or on arrival in the country?
• How much does it cost and what is the accepted method of payment?
• Ask if you need a “single” or “multiple” entry visa based on your planned trip itinerary
• How long does it take to process the visa?

Once you’ve gathered all the information, make sure you get the right application form and follow all the guidelines. It’s likely you will need some passport photos, a money order, and a passport with blank pages that is valid for at least six months after you arrive in the country.

We recommend you start the visa process at least a month before you depart on your trip so you have ample time to get your passport back with the visa in it. If you need multiple visas for a safari that encompasses several countries it may be worth using a visa agency to avoid a lot of mailing back and forth. Click here for a list of agencies.

Part of what we strive for at African Portfolio is to provide unique, customized itineraries for our clients. We love to involve our clients with the planning and choosing of hotels, routes and safaris. By being informed about your trip every step of the way, you will know exactly what borders you may be crossing, and what cities you will be flying into. This will make it easy to ensure you get the right tourist visa in good time for your trip of a lifetime!

Diane had the joy of spending five days on Mnemba island recently. It’s a miracle she managed to drag herself away to get back to work — it truly is a slice of paradise. If you’ve ever dreamed of a private island with white beaches, a warm clear blue ocean, luxury chalets, and spectacular snorkeling right off the beach, Mnemba is the place for you. As Diane put it – “I would have no hesitation in encouraging anyone who had the budget, to include Mnemba in an East Africa itinerary or in fact to make it a single purpose destination”. And that’s from our resident self-declared “non-beach” person.

Where is Mnemba Island?
The private island of Mnemba, lies 2.8 miles (4.5 kms) off of the north–eastern tip of Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean. The island is about 1 mile in circumference and surrounded by an atoll of coral reefs. Most visitors will fly into Zanzibar and take an hour drive to the northern coast. From there it’s a 20 minute boat ride to Mnemba. You arrive directly on the beach, no jetties here, so be prepared to get your feet wet!

Where to Stay on Mnemba
The only place to stay on the island is at the Mnemba Island Lodge in one of ten bandas (individual, traditionally built chalets). Each banda is located directly on the beach, with private beach sala and traditional Zanzibari sunbeds. The bandas are luxuriously simple, with an open air concept that allows for lovely cooling breezes. Each banda comes with its own butler offering personable and professional service. You can spend your entire stay wearing nothing but a swimsuit, no need to dress in anything else for breakfast, lunch or dinner. All meals are served on the beach (weather permitting), it is sophisticated but totally casual. There’s a main lounge and bar that has a selection of board games, a good library and even a TV. The rates are all-inclusive and include all activities.

What’s it Like on Mnemba?
As Diane put it, “the sand was as fine and white as I have ever seen, yet wasn’t hot. I could walk around the entire island in 20 minutes”. There’s lots of beautiful nature to explore both on land and in the water. Green turtles come to lay their eggs on the island, so you can watch them swim in the ocean and see their babies hatch on the beach. You can opt to go deep sea fishing or diving at any time. There are certified diving instructors on the island. Snorkeling is fabulous here, there are more than 300 species of fish to marvel at. Birders bring your binoculars, there’s plenty to see here. Nights are spent looking at the stars, enjoying a delicious dinner of fresh fish with a cool glass of wine, and listening to the ocean waves. Mnemba island is malaria-free, and there are no snakes or scorpions on the island. Shoes are optional.

When is the Best Time to Visit Mnemba?
The best time to visit Mnemba is from June to March, to avoid the rains. The rains generally fall in April/May and in November. But it is nice and warm year round, with average temperatures around 26°C/79°F.

Is Mnemba a Family Destination?
We would not hesitate to recommend Mnemba to anyone, but if you have younger children, they may get bored. Other than relaxing, swimming, snorkeling and diving, there is not much else to do. It is the perfect destination for couples or a group of friends.

I want to Go!
If Mnemba sounds like your ideal vacation spot, please contact us, we’ll get you there. We may even join you …

We’re very excited to be able to offer our African Portfolio clients an exclusive safari with renowned wildlife photographer Christian Sperka. We met Christian 3 years ago at a charity auction and immediately fell in love with his work. If anyone has been to our office, our walls are adorned with his spectacular wildlife prints.

About Christian Sperka

Christian is a German-born photographer who currently resides in Nashville where he has a gallery. He has an extensive library of wildlife portraits and conducts photo workshops on African safaris. He is the resident professional photographer at the Nashville Zoo where he teaches classes for amateurs and professionals. Christian is a passionate animal conservationist and has been photographing Africa’s wildlife for over a decade. Browse through some of his work by clicking here.

About our Exclusive Photo Safari – July 1 – 5, 2011

African Portfolio guests will join Christian Sperka at the Waterbuck private lodge at Kings Camp in the Timbavati Private Game Reserve. Christian will be hosting workshops and also join the group in the open-air vehicles during daily safaris in the bush. Just imagine the coffee table album you’ll be able to show off! See more details about the safari itinerary….

The Timbavati reserve covers about 60,000 hectares of pristine African bush and is part of the world-famous Kruger National Park. The Kings Camp offers the ultimate in a safari vacation, featuring an air-conditioned four-bedroom private villa with a personal butler and chef. The camp is situated on a dry river bank and affords great views of game.

Why Take a Photo Safari?

Animals wear camouflage and move quickly. Roads are bumpy and the African sun is bright, very bright. All of these factors really affect the amateur photographer’s ability to take good wildlife shots. There’s nothing more disappointing than seeing a breathtaking cheetah on the run, and only being able to show your family back home a blur with a tail. Christian will be offering workshops that will focus on how to shoot animals in the wild, in flight and on the run, regardless of skill level. He recommends using a digital SLR camera with at least a 300 mm lens to get the best results.

All wildlife images © Christian Sperka

“We’re already going to Amboseli for the views of Kilimanjaro and the great numbers of elephants, and to the Masai Mara to see the big cats and predators, possibly the migrating herds crossing the Mara River, and a hot air balloon flight over the plains. Why would we also include Samburu National Reserve on our trip to Kenya?” asked a client earlier this week.

Well – for one thing the Samburu. The Samburu people, that is. They own most of the land around the park, and they are the ones who will teach your children how to brush their teeth with a twig from the right type of tree, carve bows and arrows, or identify the tiny prints of a dik-dik in the sand. Trips to the local Samburu markets (usually on Wednesdays and Thursdays) are always a treat. They offer a rare opportunity to see the art and beauty of the Samburu culture through their jewelry and clothing in a perfectly authentic setting.

Situated alongside the Ewaso Nyiro River, there is typically enough water to attract wildlife from the surrounding savannah plains, and Samburu has become know for it’s own collection of unique and rare inhabitants: The Samburu Special Five.

The Beisa Oryx are beautiful large, non-jumping antelopes. Their grey coats are almost “artistically” embellished with a white underside, separated from the grey by a stripe of black, more black stripes where the head attaches to the neck, along the nose and from the eye to the mouth and on the forehead. Their elegant horns are thin and straight and grow up to 3 feet long.

The word Gerenuk comes from the Somali language, meaning “giraffe-necked”, Gerenuks eat tender leaves and shoots of prickly bushes and trees from higher places than most other gazelles and antelopes by standing up on their hind legs, and stretching out their long necks. It is quite a sight to behold. Gerenuks rarely drink water, because they get enough from the plants they eat, which allows them to skip the dangerous waterhole-routine at sunset, and survive in their dry habitat.

Grevy’s Zebras are also known as the Imperial Zebra. They are taller, have larger ears and narrower stripes than other kinds of zebras, and while they once ranged through most of Kenya, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, today they are an endangered species of roughly 2,500 living in the wild and confined mostly to this part of northern Kenya.

The Somali Ostrich looks a lot like other ostriches, but the skin on their necks and thighs is grey-blue (not pink). The males’ becoming bright blue during the mating season.  Unlike other ostriches, the Somali do not like open plains, but prefer bush and scrubland where they live solitary or in pairs.

Reticulated giraffe are also known as Somali giraffe, but most noted for their beautiful and distinctive pattern: large, deep red polygonal patches are outlined sharply by bright white lines.

I know what you’re thinking:  a giraffe is a giraffe is a giraffe, and a zebra is a zebra is a zebra right? But take it from me, you will surprise yourself to find how exciting it is when you start noticing these types of distinctions, so to complete your collection with pictures of these peculiar creatures…. go to Samburu!

It’s that time of year when we pull out the Amarula Coffee Surprise and treat ourselves to a little cocktail. Yvette is heading home for Christmas and sunshine, while the rest of us will hold the fort in freezing Connecticut.

Christmas is celebrated throughout South Africa, a little like here in the US. There are lots of different religions and cultures, but fake snow and (sweaty) Santas can be seen everywhere. Christmas day is a national holiday, and the 26th of December is too. That’s thanks to the British, and it’s called “Boxing Day”.

Christmas Eve is a time for caroling, and the churches will be filled to the brim. Christmas day is usually spent having lunch outside with paper hats and crackers. Meats are roasted and families spend the day together. For those with little money, a common Christmas gift for the children is a brand new school uniform. The school year starts in January in South Africa, after a long summer holiday.

New Year’s Eve is widely celebrated in the usual fashion. Nightclubs, bars and restaurants will all have special events to welcome in 2011. On January 1st, Cape Town enjoys a colorful Minstrel Carnival – “Kaapse Klopse”, with parades and bands.

We‘d also like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best for the festive season and a very Happy New Year. Or as Yvette would say ‘Voorspoedige nuwe jaar” … but only try and pronounce that in private.

Judy Donahue, our Savor South Africa contest winner, has recently returned from her trip and sent us a lovely letter filled with her impressions of South Africa. Here are some excerpts:

After more than a year of anticipation, we are actually on our way to South Africa! It still seems almost impossible to believe that I was so fortunate to win a contest with such an incredible prize of visiting this amazing country on a luxury tour staying at three gorgeous Tintswalo lodges! I will be ever grateful to my friend, Betty, who suggested that members of our book club enter the contest—I’m so glad I listened to her!

I am glad to be here at Tintswalo Waterfall, and we are warmly greeted and shown to our room, “The Mongolian Pony,” overlooking the polo fields. I like the name of the room and hope we will be like those ponies, who are known for their strength and stamina, during this trip.

We dress for the bush, wearing our new insect-repellent safari clothes and hoping we don’t look too much like “Great White Hunter” wannabes. Our short flight takes us to Nelspruit Airport and the Manyeleti Reserve adjacent to Kruger National Park.

I ask our guide to please check the bed area and she does so with graceful tolerance. No snakes. I feel like a six-year-old, and my husband is in the next room pretending not to know me.

As we are led to a table on the broad deck overlooking a riverbed, lunch appears: a tasty stir-fry of fresh vegetables, chicken strips, and noodles, followed by a fruit tart—perfect sustenance for our first foray into the bush. A Yellow billed Hornbill lands on our table, cocks his head as if to say “It’s about time!” and flies off with a strip of chicken fluttering in his bill like a ribbon.

At home we had been cautioned not to get our hopes up to see a leopard as they are solitary creatures and hard to find. However, the other guests had seen one the previous day and were quite thrilled about it. I had a strong case of “Leopard Envy” and hoped that we could be so lucky. Luck was more than with us, for over the next two days, we saw not only the Big Five
(lion, leopard, rhino, water buffalo, elephant) twice, but also many, many more animals and birds way beyond our expectations.

(more…)

Show us a safari camp with a “star bed” option and we are sold. The night sky is one of the many wonders you can experience when on safari in East and Southern Africa. And so pleasant to lie in bed and gaze up at the free show. With very little light pollution, the stars are truly magnificent. The milky way is clear as daylight, as are several dwarf galaxies and planets. The Southern Cross is easily identifiable and has been used as a navigational tool for thousands of years.

Star Walk and Google Sky Map

Too often though, we will marvel at the starry night but have little clue as to what is what up there. You can download star maps from some web sites, but it’s unhandy to reference them in the dark. By far the most useful tool these days are apps: the “Star Walk” for Apple gadgets, and Google Sky Map for Androids. These apps literally make star gazing and identification a walk in the (safari) park. It’s now a “must have” on our safari packing list.

If you have an i-Pad or phone with a 3G connection you can utilize “Star Walk” anywhere in the bush that has a cell phone connection (more reliable than electricity in the African bush). It’s simply brilliant. You just point it at the sky and it will identify planets and constellations for you. Here’s one happy reviewer: “I have no idea what’s what in the sky at night, and I live in South Africa where we have the most fantastic stars. Downloaded this app two days ago and it is simply fantastic – it works, it’s simple to use, and I am hooked” – Ben.

Have any of you used this application yet? Tell us about it!

Every African country has their national museums, they tend to vary from excellent to somewhat rundown. But there are also plenty of art galleries that few have heard of outside the continent. You can see as well as purchase, excellent high quality, contemporary African art at the galleries listed below:

Art Galleries in Egypt

The Safar Khan Gallery in Cairo‘s trendy Zamalek district, houses some of Egypt’s finest contemporary art. The Gallery features regular exhibit openings for Cairo’s art scene and they’ve recently opened a second gallery in El Gouna, on Egypt’s Red Sea Coast.

Townhouse Art Gallery, Cairo – One of the leading independent art spaces in the region, the Townhouse Gallery exhibits artworks by contemporary Arab artists. The three-floor building also stages weekly film screenings, experimental theater performances, music and public lectures. Open daily except Thursday.

Art Galleries in Morocco

L’Appartement 22, Rabat – Founded by Dr. Abdellah Karroum, L’appartement 22 is an independent, collaborative project, based in Rabat, Morocco. It is the first such space in Morocco, and has since inspired a number of artist-run spaces and collectives. From its first exhibition in October 2002, L’appartement 22 has consistently featured challenging and exciting contemporary arts programming of international acclaim.

Matisse Art Gallery, Marrakech – Matisse Art Gallery is located at the heart of the Gueliz French quarter of Marrakech and presents works by Moroccan and international artists. It also develops and finances creative and patronage projects that serve as platform of production for contemporary artists. A second Matisse Gallery recently opened in Casablanca.

Galerie Rê, Marrakech – The Galerie Rê is exclusively devoted to contemporary art and shows the work of established and emerging artists from Morocco and the Mediterranean. The gallery includes sculptures, installations, photographs, paintings, and presentations, as well as occasional concerts, debates, and conferences.

Art Galleries in East Africa

Gallery Watatu, Nairobi – Gallery Watatu was founded in Nairobi in 1968, and aims to promote contemporary African art, paintings and sculptures. Gallery Watatu is home to the largest collection of originals of Tanzanian E. S Tingatinga, as well as many other works by emerging contemporary artists in East Africa.

AfriArt Gallery in Kampala (Uganda) – a focal point of Kampala’s artistic community and provides a wonderful space to showcase the exquisite art of Uganda. The gallery is open Mon – Sat, 9am to 6pm.

Art Galleries in Southern Africa

Matombo Gallery, Harare (Zimbabwe) – has some very fine Shona sculptures and has curated critically acclaimed international exhibitions exclusively featuring works by Zimbabwe’s major artists.

Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg and Cape Town – The Goodman Gallery is at the forefront of contemporary art in South Africa. Its focus is on artists – from South Africa, the greater African Continent, and other countries – who engage in a dialogue with the African context.

Gallery MOMO, Johannesburg – Gallery MOMO is a contemporary art gallery that launched in 2003 under the directorship of Monna Mokoena. The gallery represents a prominent selection of local and international artists, including artists from the Diaspora, who work across disciplines.

João Ferriera Gallery, Cape Town – The gallery was established in Cape Town, South Africa in 1998, and has gained a reputation for being one of the country’s leading galleries for artists and art collectors. The gallery specializes in contemporary South African art, with regular exhibitions of work in many media.

WhatiftheWorld, Cape Town – Whatiftheworld acts as a platform for a new generation of emerging South African contemporary artists, and was selected in 2007 by Contemporary Magazine (London) as one of the ‘Top 50 Emerging Galleries from Around the World.’ This fast-rising young gallery has become a destination point for curators and collectors to experience innovative work, and to become acquainted with some new names.

SMAC Gallery, Stellenbosch – The Stellenbosch Modern and Contemporary (SMAC) Art Gallery has earned acclaim for successfully hosting a series of thought-provoking exhibitions accompanied by well researched publications. SMAC is primarily concerned with the significance of historical and contemporary art movements in South Africa such as the modernist abstract era, the protest era and the neglected contribution of African artists in the post-war period. A branch of SMAC recently opened in Cape Town.

If you are planning to visit Africa, add an extra day at any of these destinations to check out the contemporary art scene. There’s also the Jo’burg Art fair, held annually, that showcases some of Africa’s finest, contemporary artists. Contact us, we’ll get you there!

We are not surprised that Prince William proposed to long time girlfriend Kate Middleton while on safari in Kenya. The combination of luxury lodges, romantic tented camps, incredible amount of wildlife, and gorgeous landscapes, makes Kenya the perfect destination for couples in love. William and Kate had spent time together in Kenya on previous vacations. Prince William also spent time in Kenya and Tanzania after graduating from high school, and he even speaks a little Swahili.

Lewa Downs

On this particular (now famous) vacation, William and Kate stayed with friends at the Il Ngwesi, a luxury, community-owned lodge in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. The Conservancy was a project started in the 1980′s by the Craig family and Ana Merz. Their objective was to save the rhino from being poached into extinction. They’ve been so successful that today, Lewa employs more than 300 people and encompasses the 40,000 acres owned by the Craig’s, an additional 8,000 acres owned by others and 14,000 acres of national forest. The reserve supports over 440 species of birds and more than 70 different mammals. Its rhino population has grown steadily.

There are several accommodation options in the Conservancy, we recommend Lewa Safari Camp. Besides spotting animals, highlights in this area include spending time with the local Samburu, camel riding, hiking, fly-fishing and dining on delicious homegrown food prepared by expert chefs.

Celebrity Romance in Kenya

Did you know Prince William’s grandparents, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, spent their honeymoon at the foot of Mount Kenya? Unfortunately it was cut short by the death of Elizabeth’s father which meant she arrived in Kenya as a Princess, and left as Queen. Other famous couples who have enjoyed a blossoming romance in Kenya include Karen Blixen and Denys Finch Hatton, well known for its portrayal in the ultimate romantic movie “Out of Africa“. William Holden and Stephanie Powers played out their romantic involvement at his Mount Kenya Game Ranch. Clark Gable and Grace Kelly enjoyed a romantic affair while filming Mogambo in Kenya – “”What else is there to do if you’re alone in a tent in Africa with Clark Gable?”.

Of course the problem with citing celebrity romance is that the couples often get divorced! Tiger Woods proposed to his ex-wife in South Africa and Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman honeymooned in Morocco. Brad and Jen spent their honeymoon in the The Seychelles, as did Paul McCartney and Heather Mills. But of course, none of their consequent issues had anything to do with the location of their honeymoon! We’ll keep our fingers crossed for Chelsea Clinton and Mark Mezvinsky who spent their honeymoon in South Africa.

Have you experienced your own love story in Africa? Let us know and leave a comment below!

An African safari is not the type of vacation you plan at the last minute. Because of this, we’re often asked “when is the best time to go?”. It’s a loaded question since it really depends on what you would like to see and do. We can probably all agree that the weather is a big determining factor.

The Rains
Many of Africa’s most popular destinations are close enough to the equator that cold weather is not an issue. It’s the rain that we keep track of in East and Southern Africa. The dry season generally falls from January – March and July – October. This differs depending on how close you are to the coast, where it is often wetter. If you plan a beach holiday and/or safari in the more remote parks, then it may pay to stick within the dry season. On the other hand, there are still plenty of places that make the “green season” particularly rewarding. Babies are born when the grass is green and wild flowers bloom in the desert. Of course the biggest benefit is that it makes your safari more affordable..

The Cold
It does get cold in South Africa during the winter months from June – August, especially around the Kruger National Park area. But it is dry and the days are never too chilly. Winters in Morocco (December – February) can also be a bit chilly and rainy, but it is the best time to visit the Sahara desert, which gets too hot in the summer months. Egypt is best overall in the winter months, the coast is still sunny and you won’t melt while checking out ancient Egypt’s tombs and temples out in the desert.

The Heat

Africa has a steamy reputation and it is well deserved, especially during the Christmas months in East and Southern Africa. The closer you get to the lower coastal areas, the warmer and more humid it gets. Morocco and Egypt can get very hot during their summer months (July – September) and it is almost impossible to enjoy the desert during those times. But the heat can be beat by running for the hills. There are several safari destinations at higher elevations that are still comfortable during the peak of summer. And when the sun goes down, it always cools down.

The Festivals
Besides the weather, a good reason to plan your trip is to enjoy one of the many major festivals that take place throughout the continent. We keep our eye on festivals on this blog, other sources include:

• Africa Travel at About.com
• Africa Guide’s Festivals
• South African Festivals and Events
• Frommer’s Whats on When

There is no bad time to visit Africa, the worst you can do is to not visit Africa. Call us, we can help you figure out what to do and when to do it.