The best way to start is by reaching out to us though our contact page. Each inquiry is handled by founder Jenn Stodt – who will work with you to personally curate your perfect itinerary based on safari dreams and budgets.

We recommend you book 8-12 months in advance of when you want to travel to ensure you have the best selection. If you are travelling during North American summer months it is recommended that you start planning a year out. Please keep in mind that it will take approximately 3 weeks to complete all of your travel planning. We pride ourselves on getting all of your travel wishes fulfilled!

The short answer is as long as possible, but rarely less than two weeks not including flights to and from Africa.

A well-rounded trip to Africa usually includes a safari lasting 3-4 days to see the big 5 (lions, leopards, rhino, elephant, buffalo), followed by a domestic flight to another part of the country where you can adventure to find lesser seen animals (for example: gorilla or chimp trek, or flamingos at Lake Turkana) finishing with a few days at the beach for some rest and relaxation. For those less interested in beaches, you can finish the trip with a rich cultural experience at one of the lodges or camps located on a conservancy focused on community and education.

Canada’s summer and winter months are the best choices for travel to Africa.

Canada’s summer months are the winter months in East Africa – which is perfect weather for safari. Cool mornings and evenings with warm sunny afternoons.

Our winter is their summer and also an excellent time for safari. This is also a great time to visit the beaches as the winds and ocean currents have calmed opening up spectacular diving, snorkelling, and every ocean adventure imaginable.

If your hope is to see the big 5 – our spring and fall months are not recommended as it is their rainy season and the animals tend to be less active, laying low in the rain.

Africa has something for every budget from the backpacker to the luxury traveler. African travel is all priced and sold in USD, so when checking prices remember to do the conversions.

Safari is a very safe way to travel because every detail is well considered, planned for and taken care of. From the accommodation, to the domestic flights, to the transfers in between and every guide along the way. That being said, exercising smart travel etiquette and caution is still very important.

When in cities and towns be respectful of the local cultures and dress accordingly (women cover shoulders and knees, men wear long pants), don’t walk alone after dark, always make copies of your travel documents and store in a separate location. Avoid ostentatious displays of wealth and wear a money belt that detects pick pockets.

Of course, while on safari on the plains or in the bush, these precautions are unnecessary. Your Horn + Crane travel package will include detailed information about the country and the specific cities and towns you are visiting and will provide you with expert travel tips

Geographically it is far from Canada but very accessible. There are multiple flight options with stops in Europe (London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Belgium or Paris) or Dubai or Turkey. Many choose to spend a few days enroute to get over the jet lag before flying to Africa to begin their safari. We will help you navigate and select from all the available options!

Absolutely! The beaches of East Africa are unparalleled and are an exceptional way to finish safari. Trade the khaki’s and hiking boots for a sarong and flip flops. Beautiful boutique hotels line the white sandy beaches of East Kenya, Tanzania and the Seychelles where African spiced seafood and tropical drinks are served with the same warm hospitality as on safari.

We curate the best East Africa has to offer in every budget range. Our first objective is to get a clear understanding of your wishes and what is important to you while on safari. Once we’ve established the wish-list, we work together with our partners on the ground in Africa to craft the perfect itinerary.

You can feel confident that our hand-picked lodges are industry leaders in sustainability and every dollar you spend with these partners goes back into conservation programs, employing members of the local communities and educating local children.

An African safari is one of the best family holidays you will ever have! To really take in all the magic of Africa we recommend children are a minimum of 5+ years old. Nature and culture in wide open spaces is a dream come true for kids. The locals are warm, welcoming and are always delighted to engage and teach them about their world. The incredible landscape and wildlife will keep everyone engaged and creative additions such as scavenger hunts, photo challenges etc. can add some extra fun.

Safari’s offer something for everyone and are therefore the perfect destination for multi-generational age groups. There are many activities in addition to game drives as most lodges have beautiful pools, bon fire pits, games in the dining rooms and guided walks around the property. Picture a very serene all-inclusive, where every detail is looked after. Africa has been known to stir and awaken the soul so many clients also enjoy having time to journal and review photos of their incredible daily experiences.

Because of its long travel time from Canada, small aircrafts on domestic flights and bumpy dirt roads (to name just a few) it is recommended that you are in good physical condition. A gorilla trek in Uganda or Rwanda or a walking/biking/horse safari will require excellent physical fitness.

East Africa requires one Visa for entry. If travelling to Tanzania an additional Visa is required. Visas are valid for 3 months and take an estimated one week to acquire at a cost of approximately $100 USD. If using a third party you will pay more but can acquire a visa within 24 hours.

You should plan to visit a travel clinic at least 6-8 weeks prior to departure to get any new vaccines and/or update any existing vaccines. Yellow fever is required for most of East Africa and malaria pills are highly recommended. Making sure all your travel vaccines are up to date is important as visiting a doctor while travelling can be expensive and time consuming, taking away from your safari experience. A good probiotic three weeks before departure is also great preparation. Clients may also want to ask their doctor about Dukoral, which can be purchased without a prescription at any local pharmacy. Your Horn + Crane travel package will include a list of recommended medications to take along as a precaution.

Swahili is the primary language of East Africa and in all but most distant locations, English is widely spoken. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda are GMT + 3 hours and Rwanda is GMT +2 hours.

Yes, there is wifi at all the camps and lodges but it is often very limited. Many lodges will have one central area where there is good wifi.