predators

PREDATORS SAFARI CLUB: COVID-19

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 09:25:11 GMT

Predators Safari Club approach to COVID-19

With the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), we understand the concerns in planning travel right now. We’re aware of the current uncertainty we face in regards to the virus and would like to reassure you that we at Predators Safaris remain up to date and will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds. With the ever-changing circumstances, our focus is on the safety of our guests, both current and future.

In the interest of our staff’s wellbeing, our office in Tanzania (Arusha ) is temporarily closed until further notice. Because many of our staff don't have Internet or Wi-Fi facilities at their homes, it limits our options of working remotely from home.

This will be your point of contact during April/May 2020 for any new enquires or to discuss current bookings:

Please contact Predators:

Email: info@predators-safaris.com

WhatsApp and direct mobile : +255 754 562 254

EXISTING BOOKINGS:

If you are due to travel before the end of May and we have not been able to connect with you, please contact us immediately. We want to talk through all the possible options. We're doing everything we can to try and give you as much flexibility as possible, and we are currently negotiating with all our partners across Tanzania & Kenya.

NEW BOOKINGS:

As we liaise with our partners across Africa, we are also looking to give our new travellers as much flexibility as possible and as such have put in place the below policy, which will apply to most bookings. This has been secured with a number of our leading suppliers, and we are in discussions with many more. Your travel consultant will reconfirm the exact policy that will apply to your trip before it is confirmed.

Peace of Mind policy:

For all bookings made until 31 May 2020, should you decide it is not safe to travel as a result of the COVID-19 virus:

• You can postpone your booking to a future travel date within 12 months of the original travel date.

• You will be responsible for covering any variation in price based on the cost of your new dates as a result of availability and seasonality.

•. If you do not travel within 12 months of the original travel date, standard terms and conditions shall apply.

All safaris booked from June onwards are unaffected. If this changes, we will be in touch with you.

Travel insurance:

For those that have purchased or are considering purchasing insurance for your trip, we strongly recommend that you contact your insurer to establish whether you are covered as a result of COVID-19. Some insurers are now excluding COVID-19 from cancellation policies, so you would not be covered if you have to cancel your trip because of something related to COVID-19. Some policies purchased before these changes are unaffected.

Travel Advice:

Please use the following links for travel advise:

UK – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

US – https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/

Rest of the world – https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

We sincerely appreciate your support and understanding. We are committed to assisting you and your clients during these uncertain times .

Stay safe,

The Khan Family

TRAVELLING IN TANZANIA WITH KIDS

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 10:00:03 GMT

For those parents with a sense of adventure, Tanzania is a destination with beautiful attractions, including wildlife, sandy beaches, family-focused guides, superb lodges with swimming pools and good weather.

Best Regions for Kids

Northern Tanzania: is safari country and Maasai country. It's not cheap, but kids will love seeing the animals, as well as the many colourful cultures. A good selection of child-friendly hotels and restaurants completes the picture.
Zanzibar Island: the gentle beaches alone are enough to make the island the perfect family destination. Many hotels also have swimming pools (ideal for passing the time while the tide is out) and spacious grounds, and there's a wide choice of child-friendly cuisine.
North-Eastern Tanzania: Saadani National Park makes the northeast a child-friendly choice.

“ TANZANIA OFFERS WHITE SAND BEACHES, FAMILY-FRIENDLY CAMPS AND A WHOLE LION KING CAST OF WILDLIFE THAT WILL HAVE CHILDREN DANCING WITH DELIGHT.”

CHILDREN'S HIGHLIGHTS

Wildlife:

Saadani National Park - Beach plus wildlife.
Arusha National Park - Small and manageable; easy day trip from Arusha.
Ngorongoro Crater - Guaranteed wildlife; nearby family-friendly accommodation.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area - Maasai culture is fascinating, and they love kids just as much as the kids will adore them.
Southern safari circuit (Ruaha & Selous): Ideal for older children; also offers safaris in open vehicles.

Beaches:

Zanzibar Island - Lovely east-coast beaches with soft sand and gentle waters, plus many swimming pools at the resorts to while away the time while the tides are out.
Mafia Island - Small beaches, dhow rides and snorkelling.

MEET THE SMALL FIVE OF AFRICA

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 09:44:59 GMT

Let us introduce you to the lesser-known "Small 5", whose names relate to their bigger counterparts ("Big 5": the elephant, lion, buffo, leopard, and rhino).

ELEPHANT SHREW

The golden-rumped elephant shrew is endemic to Kenya; you find the grey-faced shrew in the Udzungwa Mountains of south-central Tanzania, and the black and rufous elephant shrew lives in both Kenya and Tanzania.

Definite resemblance to the Elephant nose and trunk
Feeds on small insects such as ants and termites
Up to 20 species of Elephant Shrew can be found varying in colour and size.
The newborn shrews will remain in their nests for a few days before venturing out.

*Elephant shrews are maybe the cutest of Africa's 'Small 5'. It measures 260 mm, and the tail is longer than the head and body length, and it weighs about 60 grams.

RED-BILLED BUFFALO WEAVER

The Red-billed Buffalo-weaver and the White-headed buffalo-weaver are found in Kenya and Tanzania. They are typically associated with dry savanna areas.

Natural Habitat: Dry Savannah
Feeds on insects, seeds and fruit
Leaving the nests between 20 to 23 days

*Female will take on more than a single mate (bigamous).

LEOPARD TORTOISE

The Leopard tortoise lives in the savannas of Kenya and Tanzania. The leopard tortoise favours semi-arid thorny to grassland habitats but seems to thrive anywhere from coastal to mountainous landscapes. It can cope with the heat as well as extreme cold, aridity as well as humidity.

Fourth largest reptile specie of tortoise in the World
Native to Southern and Eastern parts of Africa
Natural Habitat: Coastal plains and semi-arid grasslands and scrub-lands
Feeds on herbivore fruit, grass, succulent plants
Can survive between 80 to 100 years in the wild
The base of the shell is called the "plastron", and its shape differs between the sexes. A female has a flat plastron, while a male has a concave one.
The Leopard Tortoise is the only tortoise that can raise its head as it has no nuchal shield.

*Never pick one up during winter as it will eject it's stored urine and water as a deterrent. The Tortoise store water during the dry winter months and use it for hydration.

ANT LION

An ant lion is widespread in Africa and found in Tanzania and Kenya.

They are known for the fiercely predatory habits of their larvae which dig pits to trap ants or other prey.
The adult insect is less known and commonly referred to as dragonflies but are ant lion lacewings
Feed on predominantly Ants

*An average-sized Antlion larva digs a pit about 5 cm deep and 7.5 cm wide at the edge. Antlion larvae are capable of capturing and killing a variety of insects and can even subdue small spiders.

RHINOCEROS BEETLE

The Rhinoceros beetle is found, among other places, also in Kenya & Tanzania.

Harmless to humans as they do not bite or sting.
The horns are used for fighting (males during mating) and for digging. The horn size will determine the physical health of the beetle.
They are nocturnal , and an adult male can live up to 2 - 3 years while the female rarely lives long after mating.
Feed on nectar, fruit and plant sap
Predators: Snakes and Birds

* Strongest animal on the Planet proportionally and can carry 850 times its weight (An Elephant can only carry 25% of its weight.

So if you on safari, be sure to not only look out for terrestrial animals but also the Small Five that is fascinating as well.

THE GREAT WILDEBEEST MIGRATION

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 09:26:34 GMT

The Great Wildebeest Migration is one of the "Seven Nature Wonders of the World". It is also the largest single movement of wild animals in the world and the main reason why so many safari-lovers visit Tanzania & Kenya to see one of the world’s most thrilling, intriguing and spectacular displays of wildlife behaviour.

WHY THE MIGRATION OCCURS

Animals migrate because of rain or the lack of it. When a seasonal drought dries up grass and water supplies in a particular area, the grazing animals move on to the next area along the migration route where seasonal rains are falling.

THE MAJOR MIGRATING ANIMALS

Currently, an estimate of two million wildebeests participates in the migration. Hundreds of thousands of zebras and Thomson's gazelles join them. Although lions and other carnivores do not migrate with the grazing animals, they feast on them when their paths cross.

THE MIGRATION PATH

December – March (Ngorongoro Conservation Area & Southern Serengeti)

Highlight: calving season

Vast herds of wildebeest spend the short rain season in the open volcanic plains below the Ngorongoro Crater and in the southern part of the Serengeti where the grass growth is most productive and nutritional. This area is the starting point for one of the great wonders of the world: the Serengeti Annual Migration. Wildebeest have synchronized birthing, which means that about 90% of calves are born within three weeks.

April – May (Central Serengeti & Western Serengeti)

Highlight: Seeing the herds on the plains

As the grass gets depleted in the Southern Serengeti, herds move to the plains and woodlands of the Central Serengeti. The mortality rate is quite high due to injuries and fatigue, motivating large numbers of griffon vultures to follow the herds on their journey. The zebras join the migration as well as a scattering of Thompson's and Grant's gazelles.

June (Western Serengeti)

Highlight: Scenes of the Grumeti River

The Grumeti River is northwest of the short grass plains. This watercourse is their first real obstacle, and gigantic Nile crocodiles (up to 6 metres in length) are waiting for the hesitant wildebeest to stumble at the crossing. Their livelihood is inextricably linked with the great migration. After moving westwards, the migration divides by some uncanny instinct, one group turning northeast and the other due north.

July - August - September - October (Northern Serengeti and Masai Mara)

Highlight: River crossings

Following the rainfalls, the migrating animals move north and will stay in the Masai Mara National Reserve and the Northern Serengeti. Nothing stops the stampeding hordes. Tempted by greener pastures, the wildebeest arrive at the Mara River around July and cross over onto the Masai Mara plains. During these four months, many animals cross and re-cross the Mara River several times following periodic rain showers. Crossing points form bottlenecks in which thousands of animals perish through trampling or drowning. Not surprisingly, hyenas, lions, leopards, crocodiles and even cheetahs capitalize on this glut of fresh meat. Typically, the wildebeest remain in the Masai Mara until October when they start returning to the Southern Serengeti.

November (Southern Serengeti)

Highlight: Seeing the herds on the Serengeti plains

The army of animals returns southward to the replenished grasslands of the southern Serengeti, thereby completing the migratory cycle.

The migration is rarely ever precisely the same in terms of timing and direction, as local conditions influence grass growth. The wildebeest might start moving away from the open plains earlier in some years and remain in the northern woodlands for longer in others. But as our guides say, "We trust Serengeti". You can trust the Serengeti to open the treasure chests of Africa to show you transcendent beauty and abundance like nowhere on earth.

TANZANIA OFFICE & OPERATIONS

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 09:15:31 GMT

Predators Safaris' primary business is incoming tourism from all over the world to Tanzania & Kenya in the form of individual travellers, groups and incentives – and we have been doing safaris successfully for over 50 years. We are leaders in the East Africa tourism industry and known for our high levels of service and exceeding expectations. Established in Tanzania in 1964, Predators Safaris is a family run business since 1964.

“A safari is more complex than a trip to a beach or city, and our safari specialist team offers far more knowledge and experience than a general travel company. We have vast experience in Tanzania and Kenya. For over 50 years we’ve designed and arranged East Africa’s finest safaris for incentive groups and discerning individuals. We’ve earned our reputation as one of the world’s leading safari specialists. Every trip is uniquely designed with flair and imagination and executed with meticulous attention to detail.”

CEO - Predators Safaris'

We offer unlimited kilometres to make sure you get the best game viewing opportunities while on safari.

Reliability – 5 Star service – Quality - Value for Money

SERVICES OFFERED BY PREDATORS SAFARI CLUB

Incoming DMC
Airport Transfers
Meet & Greet
Safaris
Hotel Reservations
Mountain Trekking
Incentive Travel
Cultural Tours
Business Travel
Meeting & Events
Car Rental

“My wife and I have just returned from the ultimate Bucket List visit to Tanzania. We can't praise more highly the team at the office who handled our booking, our tour leader, our drivers and the staff at the various lodges. We had a truly wonderful time in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro and experienced an amazing array of animals, some in particularly close encounters”.

Nick Winearls & Rosemarie Saunders (France)

Tanzania Wildebeest Migration Safari

"All arrangements were perfect, and everything went like clockwork. Thank you all for a fabulous trip… it's one I will remember all my life."

Judy Johnston

Kenya Masai Mara Safari

AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 10:01:15 GMT

WHY VISIT AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK (PROS):

Excellent wildlife viewing
Four of the Big Five are easily found (rhino excluded)
Outstanding elephant sightings
Views of Kilimanjaro on clear days
Excellent birding, especially water birds in swamp habitat
Good range of accommodation catering to different budgets and styles

BEST TIME TO GO:

June to September AND January to February

HIGH SEASON:

December – March AND July – October

The park has a dense population of the big five species. The park's most famous residents are its herds of free-ranging elephants, but it is also home to many other rare species which makes it the most interesting thing; the diversity of flora and fauna, within the park and around it.

Amboseli National Park is located in Loitoktok District, Rift Valley Province of Kenya. The park is 392 sq. km in size at the core of an 8,000 sq. km ecosystem that spreads across the Kenya-Tanzania border. The park is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to free-ranging elephants among other wildlife species. Other attractions of the park include opportunities to meet the Maasai people and also offers spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest freestanding mountain in the world. Amboseli is a very fragile ecosystem, submitted to great seasonal variations. The overall sensation is of a dry land with an annual rainfall of between 350 - 400mm. During the wet season, the rains flood the lakebed and the surrounding area. Because of the high salt deposits in the lakebed few trees grow in the park, with only small patches of acacia and some palm trees far off the lake. Salt-rich pastures are appreciated by the herbivores. Despite the first impression of a dusty and arid land, Amboseli is actually overflowing with water all year round below the ground surface. Waters converge into various underground streams that rise in two clear water springs in the centre of the park, giving birth to large marshes like the Loginya Swamp where elephants, hippos and buffalos find shelter.

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

Although Amboseli can be visited at any time of the year but the best time to visit is during dry months, which are June to October and January to February. Wildlife watching can be better during the dry season and the visitors have a better chance to view the abundant wildlife that the park boasts. During July to October wildlife gather around watering holes in Amboseli.

ACTIVITIES:

GAME DRIVES

Game drives in Amboseli allow the visitors to get up close and personal with the wild animals and provide a truly refreshing and exceptional encounter to a traveller while watching the sunrise and sunset in exceptional tones of colour change over the horizons.

MOUNT KILIMANJARO VIEWS

Amboseli National Park is towered by Mt Kilimanjaro which stands 5896m high and is the highest point in Africa. The picturesque view of Kilimanjaro makes it a perfect tourist destination in Kenya attracting a large crowd every day.

OBSERVATION HILL

Situated in the west part of the park, Observation Hill is a cone shaped hill where you can get out of your vehicle and take a walk. It is one of the famous places to visit in Amboseli that offers a stunning view of the surrounding plains and swamps, as well as Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance.

MAASAI VILLAGE

To witness the cultural side of Kenya, the Massai community is the perfect place that showcases the best of Kenya. They lead a tribal way of life, which is worth exploring especially their traditional dances and clothing.

BIRDING

Bird watching is best between October and January if you want to see Kenya's migratory birds, including African skimmers, red and yellow bishops, goshawks, buffalo weavers and palm nut vultures, to name a few. It is home to more than 400 species of bird.

SAMBURU 5

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 09:56:00 GMT

WILDLIFE HIGHLIGHTS:

Several dry-country adapted mammals that don't occur in most Kenyan parks can be found here. The Reticulated giraffe has a more striking pattern than the common Masai giraffe. Beisa Oryx is particularly well adapted to arid conditions. The Gerenuk, with its elongated neck, is able to stand on its hind legs to reach sparse leaves. Both the common Burchell’s zebra and the bigger Grevy’s zebra are found alongside each other.

THE SAMBURU 5:

THE RETICULATED GIRAFFE

The reticulated giraffe makes its home in Somalia, southern Ethiopia, and northern Kenya. There are only about 8,500 left in the world. Shorter than the more common Masai giraffe, the reticulated giraffe’s spots are easily identifiable. They are shaped like polygons with straight, smooth sides, and are lighter brown in color.

GREVY’S ZEBRA

With only about 2,000 left in the wild, the Grevy’s zebra, which used to inhabit the plains of Somalia, Ethiopian, Djibouti, and Kenya are now confined to Southern Ethiopia and Northern Kenya. They are the largest of the wild equines and has a more mule-like appearance than the other zebra species. Their black and white stripes are narrow and close together, but their belly’s and base of the tail lack stripes – a characteristic unique to the Grevy’s zebra.

SOMALI OSTRICH

In 2014, the Somali Ostrich was declared a distinct species of ostrich, setting itself apart from the common ostrich.The large flightless bird is identified by its gray-blue neck and thighs. During the mating season, the blue on males becomes a bright blue. While its numbers are shrinking, it can still be found in the Horn of Africa.

BEISA ORYX

There are two subspecies of the beisa oryx – the common beisa oryx found throughout the Horn of Africa and north of the Tana River, and the fringe-eared oryx found south of the Tana River in southern Kenya and Tanzania. Its coat is gray with a white belly and legs separated by a stripe of black, and thin, straight horns that are found on both the males and females.

GERENUK

The gerenuk is an antelope with an exceptionally long giraffe-like neck. It feasts on leaves and shoots, flowers, fruits, and buds and can go its entire life without drinking water, enabling them to survive in dry desert areas and scrublands. Currently, there are around 95,000 gerenuks among four countries.

ACTIVITIES IN SAMBURU:
GAME DRIVES

The lush vegetation along the Ewaso Nyiro River attracts plenty of wildlife. There are several weird and wonderful wildlife species endemic to this area such as the gerenuk, oryx, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, and the endangered Grevy's zebra.

BIRDING

The park has over 450 bird species. The lesser kestrel and the Taita falcon are species of international conservation concern and they are both found in the reserve. Other endangered species found here are the African darter, great egret, white-headed vulture, martial eagle and the yellow-billed ox-pecker.

CULTURAL TOURS

Visit the local Samburu villages where you can get a chance to interact with the colorful Samburu people in their traditional setting and experience their culture. This is an excellent opportunity to purchase traditional Samburu souvenirs, art and collectables.

OL PAJETA – NORTHERN WHITE RHINO

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 09:47:53 GMT

Ol Pejeta is home to two of the world's last remaining northern white rhinos , and a sanctuary for over 110 critically endangered black rhinos . The Conservancy employs highly trained rhino protection squads, partners with international veterinary experts and ensures data is gathered regularly on each individual animal.

You can also meet Baraka – the blind rhino at Ol Pajeta.

Visit the graveyard of the rhinos.

WHY VISIT OLPAJETA:

Exclusive chance to see the last two northern white rhinos on the planet
Great Wildlife Sighting
Family Friendly Fun
Affordable Prices
Conservation leaders
Unique activities
Breath-taking Views on Mt Kenya

BRAND NEW OFFICES OPENED IN KENYA

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 10:01:35 GMT

The Predators Safari Group is one of the foremost Destination Management Companies (DMC’s) and Tour Operators, focusing on safaris in East Africa ( Kenya & Tanzania ). We are a full-service tour operator with our own fleet of vehicles and experienced guides.

Predators Safaris managed MANY KENYA SAFARIS in the past, but in 2019 we opened a fully operational office in Kenya (Nairobi) with permanently employed office staff, guides and our own fleet of vehicles for Kenya . You can now enjoy the Predators personal service touches on the same level as in Tanzania .

OUR KENYA OFFICE BOAST WITH:

3 office staff
4 permanently employed guides
4 brand new safari vehicles (extended land cruisers)

SPECIALIST SAFARI GUIDES:

Our guides are permanently employed and of the best calibre. They are born and spend their entire life's in Kenya and are equipped them with immense knowledge of local conditions, customs and people. They are naturalists who know and love their country and wildlife. The benefit to the client regarding enjoyment and an intensified personal experience of their African journey is invaluable. We at Predators Safaris choose our guides very carefully and believe in their excellent ability to provide superior quality service to our clients.

PREDATORS SAFARI FLEET:

Predators Safaris utilises a fleet of modern vehicles consisting of mainly 4X4 Land Cruisers. Our Kenya vehicles are all brand new! As the safety of our clients is very important to us the vehicles undergo an extensive pre-safari inspection in our workshop before every safari. Vehicles accommodate up to 6 clients in 3 rows of seating (guaranteed window seat for all) with a pop-up roof that can be raised for wildlife viewing. Our Land Cruisers are equipped with a mini-fridge, reference books on African mammals and birds.

We offer unlimited kilometres to make sure you get the best game viewing opportunities while on safari.

“All arrangements were perfect and everything went like clockwork. Thank you all for a fabulous trip… it’s one I will remember all my life.”