Special Interest Safaris

Looking for a little excitement? Diving with Great White Sharks in the cold waters off the Cape Peninsula has become one of the latest adventure activities in southern Africa. Add this to your wishlist (not for the faint-hearted)...

In a recent trend within the industry we are seeing a number of camps and lodges constructing a distinct Sleep Out platform away from camp - open to the skies in a lovely bush setting and offering the romantic (or intrepid) an opportunity to indulge in a little 'wild' Africa! No comforts are spared with a full bathroom, luxury linens, beds draped in mosquito netting, and dinner for two.

At other properties offer a rooftop platform (or patio) where your bed is simply rolled out for an evening under the stars (and referred to as a Star bed).

Let us know if this is something that appeals to you and take the opportunity to experience something different on your next safari.

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 (with new ballooning operations now available in Kafue, Zambia and the Okavango Delta in Botswana). 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$495 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.

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.

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.

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!

We have a range of LUXURY and SAFARI train options to choose from. Ask for details.

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. Whilst at a number of safari camps and lodges there is the opportunity to cycle as one of the activity options (although by no means commonplace), at other locations this tends to be more of a cycle trail that runs (or cycles) for 2/3 days and where you would sleep out using serviced fly-camps and be accompanied by an armed specialist guide.

We offer a number of select Hiking / Climbing and Mountain Biking 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.

Our photographic workshops and tours are designed with the requirements of a keen photographer in mind, with itineraries created to meet the needs of such a special interest group. This includes an experienced and knowledgeable guide able to help you achieve a higher level of proficiency with your wildlife, landscape and people photography.

Each of our workshops incorporate lectures and review sessions whilst our tours bring like-minded people together in a unique combination of not just the fabulous wildlife and stunning landscapes, but also provide the opportunity to meet the people and take part in some unique and exciting activities - ballooning over the Serengeti, canoeing down the mighty Zambezi river or perhaps star-gazing the vast skies of the Namib Desert.

At any one time we have a wide selection of photographic workshops & tours to a range of locations in Africa - including Kruger and Kwa-Zulu Natal in South Africa, the Masai Mara in Kenya, Chobe, Mashatu and Okavango Delta in Botswana. Most are hosted by professional wildlife photographers or offered by specialist photographic tour operators. All of the workshops & tours that we recommend have set dates, are limited in numbers and vary greatly in price depending on location, time of year and accommodation standard. The more you can let us know about what you are looking for the easier it will be for us to find you want you're looking for.

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!

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.

We have access to a number of 'top' private guides...so talk to us about a Private Guided Safari today!

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

We have a range of LUXURY and SAFARI train options to choose from. Ask for details.

African Encounter, in conjunction with our associated golfing 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. On our Golf Tours we arrange superb accommodation, select the very best courses, and will ensure an unsurpassed golfing safari.