Victoria Safaris Strategy in the Emerging Disability(Wheelchair) Tourism Market in Africa

By James Asudi

Disability wheelchair travel in Africa is set to increase in the future with the efforts being put in place and one of the tour operators in Africa – Victoria safaris, specializing in this emerging market. We have several tailor – made disability itineraries meant for wheelchair clients.

Disability(Wheelchair Accessible) tourism in Africa has seen been ignored by tour operators due to in accessibility and accommodation facilities within the African hotels, game parks and lodges within the wildlife sanctuaries. Victoria Safaris, one of the adventure tour operators based in Nairobi Kenya has recently started an aggressive wheelchair accessible safaris into the famous Kenyan wildlife sanctuaries which include Masai Mara Game Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, Tsavo East National Park and Amboseli National Park. For beach holidays, we have arrangements with Turtle Bay beach club which is wheelchair compliant and  has four disability rooms facing the ocean front. Victoria safaris is doing its best to advice the various hotels in Nairobi city and other towns within Kenya and its environs to at least have one disability(wheelchair accessible) rooms. This conforms with the world over requirement for every hotel to be wheelchair accessible compliant.

There are over 500,000 disabled persons who are able to travel into Africa, but fears that, they may not be able to access the required facilities for their travel and accommodation. Victoria Safaris with the initiative of its General Manager- James Asudi has urged the lodge management in various parks in Kenya to establish atleast one room in every tented camp and one room in every lodge facility in Maasai Mara National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park,  Amboseli National Park and Tsavo East National Park. In all the named facilities the camps and lodges which has since established disability(Wheelchair) rooms are – Sarova Mara Camp in Maasai Mara, Sarova Lion Hill Lodge in Lake Nakuru National Park, Sopa Lodge in Amboseli and Ashnil Aruba Lodge in Tsavo East National Parks respectively.

Disability Safari Vehicles

Victoria Safaris has modified its Safari fleet vehicles to accommodate its wheelchair clients’ which include the 4×4 Land cruisers and the 7 seater Tour Safari Mini vans. We have since developed the wheelchair ramps which we use for transferring our wheelchair clients’ into and out of the appropriate safari vehicles. We have also supplied the straps for holding the wheelchair in position inside the said vehicles for comfort while our clients are on Safari.

Recently we have finished a successful 16 days wheelchair accessible safari into the Kenyan Wildlife sanctuaries for an Australian Hospital Accountant – Mrs. Kelly Green who is on wheelchair together with the husband, Michael who is physically fit. This was a test case for Victoria Safaris and for those who would want to confirm the trip facilities and comfortability, you may contact our recent clients on email: michael.green66@gmail.com

Collaboration

Victoria Safaris collaborates with Flamingo Tours of South Africa in this endeavor for making possible Wildlife and cultural Safaris for disabled (wheelchair clients) who would want to visit Southern African Wildlife sanctuaries and the East African Wildlife game reserves and game parks.

We invite individuals, Families with wheelchair family members, corporate organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGO’S), disability centers and organisations to book their disability members of society or join us in this emerging market by booking their disabled and wheelchair friends and family members for these memorable safaris and tours in Kenya,Uganda,Rwanda,and Tanzania.

Http://www.victoriasafaris.com

Penguins in South Africa

Penguins in South Africa Video taken in tour for disabled , arranged by Daniel Steinberg

Serengeti National Park in Tanzania Africa

If you are thinking of catching the February wildlife great migration in the Serengeti national park, now is the time to book.We spent our honeymoon in the Serengeti with 40 friends from around the world. We timed it just right mid February we arrived.
This is something that you must see for yourself the whole of the plains were crammed full of thousands of gnu and zebra’s it was the most spectacular sight I have ever witnessed my senses were tingling as I could see them migrate past me, the smell of wildlife added to the atmosphere and the sounds were over whelming with each animal calling out. As the new light dawned you could see all around us animals being born, with no time to stop the mothers only paused to give birth, as the herd moved off the mothers would too even if they were half way through giving birth.
Calves were born and from that moment the mothers are there encouraging them to stretch those awkward lanky legs, stagger to their feet and to move with the herd, as the mother knew staying with the herd will help their survival. With mixed feelings we watched animals being born, nurtured and encouraged to get up and move off with the herd while others were chased and eaten by stronger predators, not able to take our eyes away from the dreadful scene we knew this was the survival of the fitest.
We went deep into the Serengeti where the scenery was spectacular, but the biggest concentration of game we saw was near lake Ndutu. A vital part of the Serengeti and valuable to the wildlife that migrates through there is the stunning Lake Ndutu this gorgeous setting is surrounded by enormous acacia trees the lake itself is a long-awaited site to the thirsty animals.
We stayed two nights at Ndutu Safari Lodge which is quite small (I think we filled it) but was full of old style game lodge charm and is the only lodge where you can sit and watch the migration of the wildebeest as they give birth and feed on the grass. Upon leaving Ndutu Safari Lodge, Lake Ndutu and the Serengeti national park we found it was one of the hardest things we have had to do, our hearts wanted us to stay in Tanzania but we had to return home knowing that we will return to Africa and all of it’s wonderful splendour