Low-Budget Safaris

To my knowledge there is only one local travel company that offers low-budget, game-viewing safaris to East Africa. Tusker Trails of North Hollywood is small and schedules infrequent trips but they are of high quality at a bargain-basement price. These are strictly no-frills tours but you will see all the game species.

Owner Eddie Frank knows Africa well and puts in 18-hour days while in the bush, making sure each traveler is informed about the game and their habitats, terrain and rival cultures, etc.

Good binoculars and a telephoto lens (300 millimeter minimum) for your 35-millimeter camera are musts.

Hint: Budget at least an extra week in Kenya to see the coastal areas. The game parks are great but you will want to rest and see the tropical beaches and Arab culture of Lamu and Mombasa. Train, air and road transportation is convenient, comfortable and inexpensive between Nairobi and Mombasa and other coastal towns and cities.

Tusker Trails is at 12504 Riverside Drive, North Hollywood 91607, phone (818) 762-0112.

RICHARD D. STORY

Northridge