Game Drives:

The most common way to explore Africa's wildlife and nature is a game drive. The vehicle disguises the human shape and scent which has the advantage that animals will let you get much closer than they would if you were on foot. Vehicles also make is easy to climb to viewpoints and there's plenty of space for storing photographic equipment and the ‘cooler box' for sundowners. Usually there are two game drives a day, with one starting at dawn, returning for a late breakfast, and another in the afternoon, returning at nightfall. Some private reserves also provide the opportunity for night game-drives which allows you to see nocturnal animals such as leopard with a spotlight.

The vehicles used are all specially adapted four wheel drive vehicles but the design and type varies between parks and camps. If you are on road safari where you travel between lodges with your own vehicle and driver guide or if you are staying in a larger safari lodge, the safari vehicle will have closed sides, but open roofs so you safely get a clear view for photographs.

In parks and game reserves with a warm climate, the vehicles of luxury lodges and camps are often open and give clear views on every side which gives you the feeling of being closer to nature and the animals.

Walking & Camel Safaris:

Walking safaris were the original form of safari as it was the only way to get around for the earliest pioneers. It is a great way to explore Africa's great wilderness regions as it allows you to get closer to animal and plant life. You will not get as close to predators as on a game drive but you have the opportunity of very close encounters with most other animals including elephant and rhino.

Kenya's camel safaris are walking safaris in all but name, as few people would wish to spend days on a camel when they could be strolling by their side at much the same pace. Distances covered tend to be quite low and the pace of the walk is normally dictated by the slower ones in the group and the heat and general terrain to be covered. You'll usually walk for two to four hours or so in the early morning and relax through the heat of the day, with the opportunity to stroll further in the afternoon and evening.

Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking:

Whether you would like to see Gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda, Enchanting Africa will help you to design your perfect Africa tour which will enable you to combine Gorilla Trekking or Chimpanzee Trekking with other safari activities. Your trip to discover these endangered Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat in the Bwindi forest of Uganda and the Rwandan Virunga Volcanoes will be an experience of a lifetime.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda is a real equatorial jungle, inhabited by four Gorilla groups, each led by a silverback male. The giant bamboo thickets which thrive in the humid atmosphere provide food to these primates. In family groups of 20 to 30, their chimpanzee counterparts also make their rounds searching for fruit and edible plants. This forest is a sanctuary for almost half the world's population of mountain gorillas; the rarest species of gorilla. Established as a safe habitat for several families of mountain gorillas it has grown to become an important scientific conservation area.

Horse Riding Safaris:

There is nothing more exciting than cantering alongside the elegant motion of a giraffe or galloping amongst the great wildebeest migration. In Eastern Africa, it is possible to ride for hundreds of miles without seeing a fence post. Horseback safaris are a fantastic experience and you will get extremely close to game as the movement and shape of the horse disguises your human form. Horse riding safaris also allow you to cover significant distances over remote regions beyond even the strongest four-wheel drive vehicle.

There are many places that offer short half-day rides, though serious equestrians can choose from specialist horseback safaris lasting days or weeks, fly-camping out under the stars and getting up at dawn for up to six hours in the saddle. The Rift Valley and Laikipia in Central Kenya as well as the Group Ranches bordering the Masai Mara are fantastic places for such long-distance horse riding safaris. Alternatively you can experience life on a farm where horses are a part of the daily routine, being used to muster cattle and even for spontaneous games of polo. Here you can ride if you want, or simply experience the very different experience of living in rural Africa.

Boat Safaris:

Africa's great waterways are lifelines for game, but have also always served as important transport routes. Even now water travel remains one of the best ways to reach remote areas, way beyond roads or even rail.

Rafting:

For a touch of adrenaline, whitewater rafting can be done on several Eastern African rivers. The most stunning and wildest white water in Eastern Africa is undoubtedly a 30 kilometer stretch of the Nile River in Uganda , just below its “birth” at Lake Victoria. As the river meanders through beautiful scenery, rafters encounter mighty challenges of some of the best grade V rapids in the world. Twelve major rapids are rafted plus lots of lower graded runs.

Kenya also offers several rafting opportunities, from grade II family float trips to exciting whitewater and expedition style multi day river journey's.

The Tana River is an ideal rafting option for people with a day or two to spare when visiting Nairobi, with a mix of high action whitewater up to grade V interspersed with scenic calm water where birdlife abounds.

The Mathioya River is one of the hardest rafting rivers in Kenya with over 450m of descent over its 22km length. This is a narrow, technical river. It is fairly low volume even during the rainy season but contains serious, sustained grade IV/V whitewater. Previous experience is required.

Flowing through Tsavo National Park, you can raft up to 80km's of the Athi River , Kenya's second longest river with three days and three nights on the river. The river combines relaxing calm water with game viewing and abundant birdlife interspersed and some great whitewater. Rafting the Athi River is a true wilderness experience with your guides providing all meals during your three days on the river.

Rafting the Ewaso Ng'iro River is a similar trip to the Athi, with three days and nights on the river. The river runs through Samburu National Park in Northern Kenya, where both the animals and river are wilder.

Paragliding:

Paragliding is in its infancy in Eastern Africa, with the number of local pilots countable on two hands. Nevertheless, there are breathtaking flying sights in both Kenya and Tanzania that are so far have hardly been explored.

Balloon Safaris:

A balloon safari in the Masai Mara or the Serengeti is one of the most beautiful balloon flights in the world and will show you a different perspective of the spectacular nature and wildlife. You will be picked up around 5:00am from you lodge or camp and transferred to the launch site where you will meet the pilot, receive a briefing and watch the inflation of your balloon. At dawn you take off, rising as the sun rises and float in whichever direction the winds of the morning take you. Your pilot can precisely control the altitude of your balloon: sometimes flying at treetop height, sometimes lower, offering a unique perspective and great photographic opportunities of the wildlife below. At other times he will ascend to 1000' or more to see the enormity and wonderful panorama of the land below. Apart from the occasional hiss of the burners, the flight above the vast plains below is magically silent. Especially during the time of the migration this is an experience not to be missed as only from the air you will be able to grasp the real dimension of this spectacle.

The flight lasts for about one hour depending on wind conditions, on landing you will be greeted with a champagne breakfast (well, an excellent sparkling wine), with china, crystal and linen set out on the table in the shade of an acacia tree.

Sailing:

The East African coastline with its long history of seafaring is dotted with fascinating places and islands to visit, all best approached by sea. We can arrange sailing trips all along the Eastern African coast, ranging from sundowner cruises to trips lasting several weeks. Sail to remote and unspoilt reefs, watch schools of dolphins swimming alongside the boat and be mesmerised by migrating Whale Sharks.

Many yachts have diving equipment on board and are a great base from where to explore the rich and turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, white sandy deserted beaches and palm fringed islands.

Diving & Snorkeling:

The Indian Ocean contains some of the world's finest coral reefs, that can be explored snorkeling while many of the upmarket lodges and resorts have diving schools to help you learn to dive or explore. Several marine parks and reserves line the coast of Kenya, continuing down to even more spectacular diving off Zanzibar , Pemba and Mafia Island . The Bazaruto and Quirimba Archipelagos in Mozambique offer truly world-class dive sites.

Pemba is still relatively untouched by tourism and yet is a first class diving destination offering a wide variety of dives suitable for all divers from beginners to the more experienced divers seeking a challenge. The surrounding waters contain some dramatic dive sites including walls that drop off into 800m deep water and channels through into the lagoon. Many of the dives are drift dives along walls of hard and soft corals where close encounters with giant Napoleon Wrasse, Barracuda, reef sharks, Hammerhead Sharks, turtles and clouds of reef fish can be expected. Also to be seen are giant Manta Rays, other rays, and Dolphins. The occasional Whale Shark has been known to pass by as well and we see wonderful displays by Humpback Whales at certain times of year. Pemba's one accessible wreck, at Panza Island, lies in 12m of crystal clear water providing a wonderful dive for new or experienced wreck divers alike.

Zanzibar's reefs are shallower in comparison to those of Pemba Island, with clear and calm water. Large numbers of colourful tropical fish inhabit unspoilt coral reefs.

Fishing:

Birdwatching:

Africa's colourful birdlife is an enchanting feature of the bush, and for many people spotting the individual species adds a fascinating extra layer to their safari experience. Almost all African countries have plenty of bird species to boast about, but for the sheer number of species it's hard to beat Uganda and Rwanda, with their combination of habitats ranging from snow-capped peaks to lakes the size of Ireland, swelled by annual migrants that fly in from as far away as Siberia and Norway.

Trekking & Mountain Climbing:

Golf & Polo:

You can combine a polo holiday with a safari in Kenya and base yourself on a farm in the Great Rift Valley where horses are trained for polo and you can join a local team for games of polo. There are also several polo clubs in Kenya, for example in Nairobi, Naivasha, Nakuru and Timai.

Biking:

For the fit and adventurous, biking through Eastern Africa is truly an exciting experience! See Africa, the people and wildlife from the ground as you cycle through deserts, forests, up mountains and down valleys. Wind your way through tiny villages and bustling market towns into a true wilderness where you cycle past herds of antelope, graceful giraffe and inquisitive zebra.

Kite Surfing:

The Kenya coast is undeniably one of the best places in the world to learn to kiteboard. Shallow, warm, reef protected water, perfect side-shore winds and lots of super wide beach to make you enjoy this exciting sport if you are already an expert or alternatively will make your learning experience pleasurable. Friendly instructors will make sure your experience is both fun and safe. It typically takes a few days to teach you the basics and get you up and riding across the Turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. It’s not as hard as it looks but definitely as exciting as it looks!!