Is it possible for wheelchair-users to enjoy an African safari? According to Gordon Rattray, it is. And he should know, as he once worked as an overland safari guide, before an accident left him a C5/6 quadriplegic.

Says Gordon, “On returning to Africa post-accident I could see just how possible it is for people with restricted mobility to enjoy a safari, yet there was a glaring lack of information and advice.” So he set out to remedy that oversight; and early this summer he released Access Africa: Safaris for People with Limited Mobility; the first safari guidebook with information about wheelchair-accessible outfitters, safari camps and accommodations throughout Africa.

Access Africa
Filled with tons of useful information and handy resources, Access Africa: Safaris for People with Limited Mobility covers everything you need to know to put together an accessible African safari. From the basics of planning an accessible safari and contact information for accessible tour operators, to information about wildlife and the history of the area, Gordon left no stone unturned.

Part one covers all the basics, while part two contains detailed access descriptions of nearly 300 camps lodges and hotels in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. It’s a great resource, as the detailed accommodation descriptions make it easy to find lodging options suitable for a variety of access needs.

Gordon’s accessible Africa website also contains a large photo gallery of accessible safari accommodations throughout Africa; and it makes an excellent appendix to the book.

Gordon's Recommendations
Surprisingly there are a wide variety of accessible safari accommodations in Africa, from basic camping and fixed tent camps to rustic lodges and hotels. Says Gordon, "The majority of accessible accommodations -- those including wide doorways, roll-in showers and support rails -- are found in the mid-range lodges and hotels, but specially designed mobile camping safaris are also a possibility." He adds, "But a roll-in shower of some kind -- either custom built for wheelchair-access or just a shower without a retaining wall -- can be found in every National Park covered in my book."

He also stresses that accessible travel in Africa is not just for folks in manual wheelchairs. "With a power wheelchair the big restrictions are having an accessible vehicle and accommodations. That said, there are operators covering Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and South Africa with vehicles with ramps or lifts and clamps or tie-downs." Specifically he recommends Kruger or Etosha National Parks in South Africa for power wheelchair-users, because of the accessible accommodations and the quality of the roads. "In East Africa, a trip incorporating the Kenyan coast, Tsavo and Amboseli National Parks would also be perfectly feasible," he adds.

Although Gordon is a veritable fountain of information about accessible African safaris, there's one question he just can't answer -- he can't name his favorite safari destination. "That's impossible to answer," he replies. "I guess any wild area. There's no feeling quite like leaving a campsite at dawn to drive, roll, walk or paddle into nature's newest day."


See Related Accessible Travel Articles
Read about Karen Darke's first-hand account of her accessible adventures in Tanzania.

And for more guidebooks on accessible travel, check out Accessible Travel Resources: Guidebooks for People with Disabilities.