Embarking on an African safari is often viewed as a journey of a lifetime. However, for people with disabilities, the question has often loomed: is this mesmerizing adventure accessible to all? The wonderful news is that many travel suppliers are now taking the necessary steps to ensure nobody misses out on the chance to see Africa’s incredible wildlife up close.
We aim to provide rich, and extensive travel opportunities for all those who travel with us! An African safari is the life dream of many people, but unfortunately, they are often portrayed as being for non-disabled outdoor enthusiasts.
However, safaris and other adventure activities specialized for disabled people and those with limited mobility are a rapidly growing market.
There are some truly magical trips that have been created for clients with special requirements, including those with mobility-, visual-, and hearing impairment, as well as persons requiring oxygen or kidney dialysis.
We offer scheduled departure tours, where any individual or group is invited to join a set itinerary as well as custom-designed private tours and safaris that correspond with your personal requirements.
Mobility Impairment
There are a variety of wheelchair accessible tours in Africa. Whether you use a cane, crutches, have a slight limp, use a manual wheelchair or permanently use an electric chair.
Some of the activities that involve physical activities like walking and gorilla safaris in Uganda and Rwanda, there is more that is needed. People are carried in a customized chair through the rainforest to track the gorillas. We offer the best to take care of the clients. On the day of gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda, people with special needs are allocated the gorilla groups that are near.
Hearing Impairment
These tours have been specially designed to create an informative, holistic experience, very different in presentation to other mainstream tours, and we have aspired to interpret the African wildlife experience in a very unique way. Safety is paramount in our privately guided safaris, taking your hearing impairment into consideration whilst you are out in the African bush amidst its wildlife.
Visual Impairment
These tours have been specially designed to create an informative, holistic experience, very different in presentation to other mainstream tours, and again we have aspired to interpret the African wildlife experience in a very unique way. We use detailed descriptive techniques to paint mental pictures in order to enhance your wildlife experience. Where it is safe to do so, travelers and guides exit the vehicle in order to live any experience of interest via our senses of hearing, touch and smell, which when combined, provide a superior experience to that of sight.
Oxygen Users
There are safaris and tours in Africa for individuals who require permanent or semi-permanent oxygen supplementation. Oxygen supplementation is a logistical need, which modern medicine and technology have overcome, and your travel need not be limited by this factor.
Kidney Dialysis Requirements
Dialysis may be a big part of your life but it doesn’t have to stop you from traveling. Medical care in Africa is world-class, as are the dialysis centers that we recommend to our clients. There are various dialysis centers countrywide, and your trip can be arranged according to your specific needs, permitting an unrestricted holiday with your friends or family.
How have Africa’s travel suppliers catered to the needs of travelers with disabilities?
In its characteristic warmth and hospitality, the African travel industry has risen to the challenge of ensuring safaris are inclusive experiences. Here’s a snapshot look at what to expect when staying at a wheelchair-accessible lodge.
Ramps
Many properties have placed ramps across their venues, ensuring all public areas and accommodations are easily navigable. This simple yet impactful change opens up many experiences for travelers with disabilities, from getting cozy in a luxurious tented suite to enjoying a sun downer overlooking the vast plains.
Specialized Units
Some suppliers have gone the extra mile by constructing special units that specifically cater to the needs of travelers with disabilities. These units are thoughtfully designed for maximum comfort and safety. Features include grab handles in the bath and shower areas, wheel-in shower stalls, hand-held shower nozzles, and modified furniture that marries elegance with convenience.
Transfers and Beyond
The journey is as significant as the destination. Recognizing this, several suppliers now offer wheelchair-accessible transfers for a seamless adventure from arrival to departure.
Additional Amenities
In the realm of inclusive luxury, portable pool hoists allow guests with disabilities to take a refreshing dip, while shower seats and commode chairs enhance the comfort quotient. For wildlife enthusiasts, wheelchair-accessible hides have also emerged.
Travel Tips for disabled travelers
- Call ahead. Service providers are required by law in many cases to accommodate travelers with special needs. However, most need some time to make the necessary arrangements. Mention your needs at the time of reservation, and call the provider 24 to 48 hours before your arrival to confirm that proper accommodations have been made.
- Be specific and clear when describing a disability. Not all service providers know the “lingo” of accessible travel, or the medical terms for certain conditions. Give as many details as you can about what you can and can’t do, and don’t downplay the severity of the disability. The more information a service provider has, the better they will be able to accommodate you. If they promise you certain accommodations, try to get these promises in writing.
- Be specific and clear when describing the trip to your doctor. A doctor can often prescribe measures for coping with an unusually long flight, limited medical facilities at your destination, the unavailability of prescription drugs and other pitfalls of traveling.
- Take a doctor’s note and phone number. Travel with a statement from your doctor, preferably on letterhead, covering your condition, medications, potential complications, special needs and other pertinent information. Be sure you have a number where your doctor (or another medical professional) can be reached in an emergency situation at any hour of the day.
- Bring extra medication. Many experts advise that you travel with two complete packages of essential medication in case of emergency. Store all medications and other necessary medical supplies in your carry-on bag.
- Investigate physician availability where you will be traveling. Your doctor, health care provider, insurance company or local embassy can provide the names and contact numbers of physicians at your destination.
- Carry medical alert information, preferably in a place that a medical professional or anyone who assists you will find easily (wallet card, necklace, close to your identification).
- Consider using a specialist travel agent. Some agents provide stellar niche services; one might be very experienced in working with travelers with hearing impairments, another with developmentally impaired travelers. Since the requirements for these varied travelers can be staggeringly different, it helps to find someone who knows the ropes.
- Avoid connecting flights. Although wheelchairs are the last items to be checked into the luggage compartments, and thus first to be pulled off, flying direct can save you unnecessary time and hassle. One exception: If you have trouble maneuvering into airplane lavatories, long flights may become uncomfortable, so a series of shorter flights might be a better option. If you do choose to connect, be sure to allow plenty of time between flights to get from one gate to the next.
- Don’t forget about transportation to and from the airport. If you have a wheelchair, your tour operator will help you with the arrangement on how to move about from the airport.
- Bring spare parts and tools. Wheelchairs can take tremendous abuse while traveling; assemble a small kit of spare parts and tools for emergency repairs. You may also be required to dismantle a wheelchair for certain flights or activities.
