How much does a private African safari cost?

Private safaris vary widely by camp, season, and route. As a guide, well-appointed private safaris generally run from about CAD 1,100 to 2,100 per person per night at premier private reserves, with exclusive-use camps and fly-in itineraries higher. A typical 7 to 10 night journey for two often reaches the five-figure range before international flights. Kris Hehl builds the itinerary to a defined budget and provides a firm quote, with the licensed operator billing clients directly.

How do I get to Africa from Vancouver?

There are no nonstop flights from Vancouver (YVR) to the main safari gateways. Most itineraries connect once through a hub such as London, Amsterdam, Paris, Istanbul, or Frankfurt, with total travel time roughly 18 to 27 hours depending on the routing. Kris Hehl routes through stable hubs, builds in sensible layover times, and can arrange premium-cabin travel for the long flights.

What is the time difference, and how is the jet lag?

East Africa runs about 11 hours ahead of Vancouver, and Southern Africa about 9 to 10. The eastward direction and the long flight mean jet lag is real, so Kris Hehl usually builds in a recovery night on arrival, often in Nairobi or Johannesburg, before guests continue to camp.

When is the best time to go on safari?

The classic window is the dry season, roughly June to October, when wildlife gathers around water and viewing is at its best. For the Great Migration river crossings in the Maasai Mara, mid-July through mid-September is the prime stretch. The best camps are small and fill early, so Kris Hehl recommends planning well ahead, and twelve months or more for migration dates.

Is an African safari safe?

Safari camps sit inside private reserves and conservancies reached by guides and light aircraft, and are among the more controlled settings in travel. Normal city caution applies in transit hubs. Kris Hehl works only with vetted operators and properties, and every itinerary includes the logistics and on-the-ground support that keep a trip running smoothly.

What vaccinations or health preparation do we need?

Requirements depend on the countries and the routing. Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry to some destinations, or when arriving from a yellow fever country, and malaria precautions apply across most safari regions. This is a medical decision, so Kris Hehl directs every traveler to a travel clinic or physician for current advice, ideally four to six weeks before departure. Comprehensive travel insurance that includes medical evacuation is strongly recommended.

Can we bring children? Is safari good for families?

Yes. Many camps welcome families, though some set a minimum age, often around eight, or ask families to book a private vehicle, and certain regions offer malaria-free reserves better suited to young children. Kris Hehl matches the route and the properties to the ages and the pace of the group.

Is a safari a good honeymoon?

It is one of the most requested honeymoons Kris Hehl designs. A safari pairs naturally with a beach finish such as Zanzibar or the Cape, balancing game drives with quiet, private time. Kris arranges the romantic touches with the camps directly.

Why book through an advisor instead of online?

Booking platforms sell rooms. They do not sit inside the camps, and they do not carry the relationships that secure space, timing, and the right guide. Kris Hehl designs the itinerary, vets every property, and stays reachable before and during travel, as an accountable, licensed Canadian professional: CPBC Lic. #65932, TICO Reg. T1450975, and IATA certified.

Who do we pay, and how does booking work?

Kris Hehl designs and coordinates the journey, and the safari itself is operated by a reputable, licensed operator with whom clients contract and pay directly. Kris is clear about this from the first conversation, so there is no question about who is responsible for what.

Private African Safaris, Tailor-Made

Arrive Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO), enclosed 4x4 transfer to your Nairobi hotel

Night 1

Nairobi

Hotel options such as JW Marriott Nairobi or Giraffe Manor

Day 1Land in Nairobi and transfer to your hotel. An easy evening to settle in and shake off the long flight.

Road transfer to Wilson Airport (WIL)

Light aircraft: Wilson (WIL) to Kamok Airstrip

4x4 transfer: Kamok Airstrip to Tambarare Camp

Nights 2 to 4

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Tambarare Camp, an A&K Sanctuary

Secluded 2-bed villa with its own kitchen.

Frequent animal sightings from your private deck.

Private open air safari cars for an intimate experience.

Ol Pejeta Private Conservancy with a dense animal population & fewer cars.

Participate in a private anti-poaching K9 tracking.

Night animal viewing from the porch such as hyenas.

K9 Anti-Poaching along many other sightings.

No other safari cars around, just you and the wildlife.

Flying private to and from each luxury camp.

5-Star Camp
12 Tented Suites
Full Board
Big Five & Birding

Set among fever trees in the shadow of Mount Kenya, Tambarare looks out over 90,000 acres where the Big Five roam, including the last two northern white rhino on earth. Ten airy tented suites, teak floors, billowing white canvas, and five-star service after long days in the field.

Day 2Settle in at Tambarare, then head out on an afternoon game drive across the conservancy plains.
Day 3A full day on Ol Pejeta. Meet the last two northern white rhino on earth, visit the chimpanzee sanctuary at Sweetwaters, and search for big cats among the 130-plus black rhino the conservancy protects.
Day 4More time in the field, with your pick of the extras below before sundowners back at camp.

More to do on Ol Pejeta

See the Last Two Northern White RhinosStand with Najin and Fatu, the final two on earth.

Meet Baraka the Blind Black RhinoHand-feed the conservancy's gentle, much-loved ambassador.

Rhino Tracking on Footon requestApproach a black rhino across open ground with a specialist.

Anti-Poaching Dog Trackingon requestMeet the K-9 unit and watch the tracker dogs work.

Lion Trackingon requestJoin a ranger monitoring the conservancy's lions.

Night Game Driveon requestFind the nocturnal animals few visitors ever see.

Chimpanzee SanctuaryMeet rescued chimps at the Sweetwaters sanctuary.

Horseback Safarion requestRide out quietly among zebra, giraffe and rhino.

Run in the Wildon requestA guided run across open conservancy land.

Guided Bush WalkRead the tracks and signs on foot with an armed ranger.

Heli Safari: Mount Kenya Glacieron requestFly to the high glaciers of Mount Kenya.

Heli Trout Fishingon requestA helicopter trip to fish the cold mountain streams.

4x4 transfer: Tambarare Camp to Kamok Airstrip

Light aircraft: Kamok Airstrip to Keekorok Airstrip

4x4 transfer: Keekorok Airstrip to JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge

Nights 5 to 7

Masai Mara

JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge

Dining with a view of the baboons, crocodiles, and hippos.

Champagne greeting from your private flight.

Each luxury "tent" has their secluded view of wildlife.

Spa with a cold plunge, steam room, sauna, and massage.

Secluded high pressure bush shower almost as good as the indoor shower.

Hit the full sized gym after your safari.

Suspension bridge above crocodiles, hippos, and baboons.

24 Tented Suites
Private Jacuzzi Decks
Full Board
Canon Photo Studio & Spa

Woven into the banks of the Talek River, the JW Marriott is the brand's first safari lodge. Twenty-four canvas-topped suites, each with a private outdoor Jacuzzi and deck, a spa, an organic JW Garden, and a Canon photography partnership built for the Mara's light and its wildlife.

Day 5Fly south to the Mara and the JW Marriott. An afternoon game drive opens the plains.
Day 6A full day with the big cats, then your choice of the experiences below, from the balloon at sunrise to the photography studio.
Day 7A final morning drive and a last pick of the extras. The Great Migration crosses seasonally, typically July to October, and is never guaranteed.

More to do at the Mara

Canon Photo StudioBorrow Canon mirrorless gear and shoot with a resident photographer.

Sunrise Balloon Safarion requestFloat over the plains at dawn, breakfast on landing.

Private Conservancy Safarion requestExclusive game drives in Mara North, Olare Motorogi or Naboisho.

Bush Dining and SundownersTables set on the open savannah, cocktails as the sun drops.

Maasai Village Cultural VisitAn authentic visit to a neighbouring Maasai village.

Heli Safari: Natron and Suswaon requestFly to the volcanic craters of Lake Natron and Mount Suswa.

Bush BreakfastA full breakfast in the wild as zebra graze nearby.

BeadworkCraft traditional pieces with in-house Maasai artisans.

Archery and SpearsTry traditional Maasai skills under expert guidance.

Spa by JWTreatments and massages after long days in the field.

Guided Nature WalkExplore the local flora and fauna on foot.

JW GardenPick from the organic garden for your own salad or juice.

4x4 transfer: JW Marriott to Keekorok Airstrip

Light aircraft: Keekorok Airstrip to Wilson Airport (WIL)

Transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO)

Day 8Depart Nairobi on your onward flight home.

A sample shape based on a real route, refined with you and confirmed in writing prior to booking. Named properties are subject to availability and season. Wildlife sightings and the Great Migration are seasonal and never guaranteed. International and internal flights are quoted separately.

Africa, Designed Around You.

Closer, Quieter, On Your Time.

Where You Sleep Is Part of the Story.

Local Eyes Change Everything.

How Your Safari
Comes Together.

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