The “Big Five “– lions, leopards, buffaloes, rhinos and elephants — get top billing, but you can also see a staggering number of smaller but equally interesting creatures, including wildebeest, baboons, giraffe, zebra, hyena and many different types of antelopes.  Plus, there are multitudes of birds including ostriches, cranes and hornbills.

The park is well-developed for tourism, with options ranging from lodges to tent camping. Camping, naturally, is the most economical way to go. Another way to cut costs is to avoid the park during the Great Migration, which happens from July to September. You’ll still see plenty of wildlife, though the chances of rain are higher in the off-season.

To get to Masai Mara National Park, you will need a Kenyan visa. You can get a visa at the airport, but expect delays if you do. You’ll get through immigration more quickly if you get a visa in advance, before you leave the US. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 Kenyan visa application form

• 1 passport photo

• A copy of your travel itinerary

When you apply in advance for a Kenyan visa, the information on the form is required to be typed. You’ll need to go to Kenyan Embassy’s website online, fill out the form, then print it.

RushMyTravelVisa makes it easy to get the visas you need for your trip. We’ll go over your itinerary and research it, making sure you have all the documents you need before you leave. Then, we’ll walk you through the application process and expedite your paperwork to get it processed as quickly as possible.

Ready to go on safari? Apply for your Kenyan visa today!

]]> http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/2011/04/get-a-kenyan-visa-for-a-safari-in-masai-mara/feed/ 0 http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/2011/02/travel-visas-for-the-tour-dafrique/ http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/2011/02/travel-visas-for-the-tour-dafrique/#comments Thu, 10 Feb 2011 02:00:10 +0000 admin http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/?p=1187 The Tour de France? That’s nothing! Try riding across the entire African continent on a bicycle! Since 2003, a hardy bunch of cyclists has been doing just that, as part of the Tour d’Afrique. The Tour d’Afrique crosses the entire African continent, from Egypt to South Africa, approximately 7,500 miles. While some participants are there to race, many others are just there for the experience and travel at their own pace, so people of all ages are welcome as long as you are in good shape and like to ride.

The Tour d’Afrique takes a good four months to complete, and like most epic-level travel experiences, it’s not cheap. The full tour will set you back €8,900, not including your bike, supplies for your bike, food on rest days, flights or visas. Fortunately, you can also sign on to just do a specific part of the tour.

As far as travel visas are concerned, the requirements vary depending on which country you’re looking at. Here’s a breakdown:

• Egypt: If you’re flying in, you can get a 30-day tourist visa when you arrive at the airport, or apply in advance if you’d like. If you’re entering by land, you’ll need one in advance.

• Sudan: US citizens should apply for a visa in advance at a Sudanese embassy or consulate.

• Ethiopia: If you’re riding in, you’ll definitely need to apply for your visa in advance. Theoretically, if you’re flying in, you can get a visa on arrival, but the US Department of State recommends against it as airport officials sometimes refuse to issue them. So, be a good Boy/Girl Scout and “be prepared!” See Ethiopian Visa Requirements for Tourists for more details.

• Kenya: US citizens need to apply in advance to enter by land. If flying in, you should be able to get a visa on arrival but be prepared to wait for the privilege. See Kenyan Visa Requirements for Tourists for details.

• Tanzania: You can get a visa on arrival, but it’s recommended that you get one in advance to avoid long wait times. See Tanzanian Visa Requirements for Tourists for more information.

• Malawi: US citizens can get a visa on arrival with a passport, an itinerary and proof that you have enough money in the bank account to support yourself.

• Zambia: You can obtain a single-entry visa on arrival. If for whatever reason you’d prefer a multiple entry visa, you need to apply in advance. See Zambia Visa Requirements for additional details.

• Botswana: No visa is required, just make sure your passport will be good for at least 6 months after the date you enter.

• Namibia: Visas on arrival are available as long your passport is valid for at least 6 months after the day you enter. Also make sure you have at least 5 unstamped pages in the back.

• South Africa: No visa is required for stays of 90 days or less, but you do need at least 2 blank pages in the back of your passport. You should also bring proof that you’ve been vaccinated for yellow fever.

RushMyTravelVisa can help you get the visas you need for this or any other trip. We’ll research your itinerary, walk you through the application process and expedite your applications with the appropriate embassies for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your travel visas with us today!

Right now, while it’s somewhat difficult to get around the country, there’s enough of a tourist infrastructure to make it doable as long as you’re willing to deal with occasional inconveniences like delayed flights and rough roads, and more than enough gorgeous wilderness and exotic wildlife to make it worth your while.

In a recent article, New York Times’ travel writer Jeffery Gettleman explained the charms of Madagascar:

“Cut off from the mainland 160 million years ago, Madagascar is host to some of the rarest and most unusual flora and fauna in the world. There are hissing cockroaches, giant jumping rats, pygmy chameleons, moths as big as dinner plates, along with various kinds of lemurs. You’ll see odd, wavy plants growing out of the desert that look as if they belong underwater. In fact, there is so much uncharted life here that scientists are constantly discovering more…And there are also beaches, really good ones.”

Lemurs, beaches and a pirate graveyard? I’m in!

Before you go to Madagascar, you’ll need to do 2 things (not counting making travel reservations, packing, etc). First, check your passport. It must have an expiration date that’s at least 6 months after you plan on entering the country, plus at least one blank page in the back. Before your trip, renew your passport or add passport pages as necessary.

Second, do yourself a favor and get a visa ahead of time. Madagascar visas are available at the airport, but you should expect substantial delays. Mr. Gettleman of the New York Times described an excruciating wait at passport control, and offered the following advice to fellow travelers: “Get the visa ahead of time, even though Madagascar gives free tourist visas at the airport. We saw other tourists who had done this; they breezed right through.”

For instructions on how to get a Madagascar tourist visa, check out the instructions at the Madagascar Embassy’s website. Keep in mind that you may have connections in other countries and that they may also require you to have a visa. RushMyTravelVisa can research your itinerary and assist you in getting any transit visas you may need for your trip.

Need help getting a visa? Contact our visa experts today!

Also, some countries won’t let you get a visa if you don’t have the appropriate vaccinations. For example, yellow fever vaccinations are often required for travelers visiting countries where the disease, which causes flu-like symptoms and sometimes fatal liver damage, is present.

This guide will show you what shots you need to get a visa for each country in Africa. However, please talk to your doctor before your trip in case there are vaccinations that aren’t required but that you should get anyway.

Visa Vaccination Requirements for Countries In Africa

1. Algeria- None
2. Angola- International Certificate of Vaccination  for yellow fever
3. Benin- International Certificate of Vaccination  for yellow fever (The US Department of State advises you to bring the certificate with you to Benin, also).
4. Botswana- No vaccination requirements, but they advise travelers to get malaria shots.
5. Burkina Faso- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is not required to get a visa but IS required to enter the country.
6. Burundi- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever (also, bring it with you to get into the country).
7. Cameroon- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever
8. Cape Verde- Yellow fever vaccination is required if you are entering from areas in Africa or the Americas where yellow fever is endemic.
9. Central African Republic- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever required for everyone.
   
10. Chad- None.
11. Comoros- None.
12. Republic of Congo- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever required to enter the country.
13. Democratic Republic of the Congo- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
14. Cote d’Ivoire- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever (bring it with you to the airport or you’ll have to get vaccinated upon arrival)
15. Djibouti- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
16. Egypt-  None
17. Equatorial Guinea- Visas aren’t required for US citizens in most cases, but you do need an International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever to enter the country.
18. Eritrea- None
19. Ethiopia- None
20. Gabon- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever
21. The Gambia- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever
22. Ghana- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever
23. Guinea- International vaccination record (WHO card) including a current International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
24. Guinea-Bissau- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever
25. Kenya- None
26. Lesotho- Visas not required for US citizens staying less than 180 days, but you still need an International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever to enter.
27. Liberia- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
28. Libya- Ask the embassy you plan to apply at about what is required.
29. Madagascar- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever required if you have been in an infected area in the past 6 months.
30. Malawi- None.
31. Mali- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
32. Mauritania-International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
33. Mauritius- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever required if you are arriving from an area where the disease is present.
34. Morocco- None
35. Mozambique- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.  Have it with you when you arrive or you’ll be charged $50 for a shot in the airport.
36. Namibia- None
37. Niger- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
38. Nigeria- None
39. Rwanda- Visas aren’t required for Americans staying less than 90 days, but  an International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required to enter the country.
40. Sao Tome and Principe- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
41. Senegal- Us citizens don’t need a visa to stay less than 90 days, but they do need to present an International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever to enter the country. Also, if you have recently traveled to an area where meningitis is present, bring proof of a meningitis vaccine as well.
42. Seychelles- None
43. Sierra Leone- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
44. Somalia- None
45. South Africa- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever required if you are arriving from an area where yellow fever is present.
46. Sudan- None
47. Swaziland- None
48. Tanzania-International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
49. Togo- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
50. Tunisia- None
51. Uganda- International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
52. Zambia- None
53. Zimbabwe- None

Visa requirements are always changing, so make sure to check with the embassy or consulate for each country you plan to visit so that you know what is expected of you. Or, RushMyTravelVisa will be happy research the visa requirements for your itinerary for you and assist you in expediting the application process. Contact us today!