You May Ask What Do I Need To Know To Book A Safari

So you know you want to have the adventure of an African safari and you are not sure how to get started.

Sometimes, clients tell us they want to do an African safari and are not sure about what they want to see or do, other than wildlife viewing. Or they have Africa on their bucket list and they simply want to make it happen, especially after the last few years.

Here are some tips on things you need to know to book a safari in Africa. Then you will ultimately experience what you really want to see and do in Africa.

1. What part of Africa do you want to visit?

East Africa and Southern Africa are the regions with the huge numbers of wildlife. For example, people say they want to see the Big 5 of Africa, of course. They are lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo.  Many parks boast all of these big mammals, and many more species, although there is never a guarantee on what you will encounter.

What are your favourite animals? For instance, if you are wanting to witness the Great Migration, head to Kenya or Tanzania in East Africa. The Great Wildebeest Migration occurs every year when 2 million additional animals migrate between the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania. These are wildebeests, zebras and gazelles. So. you will want to consider time of year and weather patterns when choosing.

Some people say they want to include Victoria Falls in their holiday, so in that case you would concentrate on southern Africa.

Every game park and reserve has its own special features, like having an abundance of certain animals or hosting rare animals not found elsewhere.

Here are a couple of examples:

• Botswana boasts the famous Okavango Delta. Seasonal flooding makes it the world’s largest inland delta. Birding is spectacular here, not to mention the multitudes of other wildlife species, including the Big 5.
• Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania is regarded as a natural wonder of the world and has been declared a World Heritage Site. It is the largest intact crater in the world, being 610 meters deep, 16 kilometers across. Spend a day here and I bet you will lose count of the wildlife species you spot.

These are just a few game parks but you see they can vary greatly.

     2. What activities are you interested in?

Do you want to simply ride in a safari vehicle and observe and film wildlife? Don’t get me wrong, nothing is better; however, you may want to add on  something a bit more active as well.  Consider these:

• A Gorilla tracking experience. There are only 900 mountain gorillas on the planet and Uganda has half of them so there or Rwanda are the obvious choices. Gorilla tracking is one of Africa’s most thrilling wildlife adventures. I highly recommend it.
• Savour the savanna from a hot air balloon over the Serengeti or Masai Mara.
• Mountain trekking or climbing. Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest mountain and treks will take 7 to 10 days, depending on route. Mount Kenya is for more skilled climbers and is Africa’s 2nd highest.
• Kayaking or white-water rafting on the Nile or Zambezi Rivers.
• Or perhaps you would like to chillout on a beach in Zanzibar or Mozambique after your safari.
  

  3. What is your budget?

Do you want a private tour or would you like to join a small group? There are many choices. Sometimes, a private safari with just you and one or more travel companions can actually be cheaper than joining a small group tour.

While on safari, meals are normally included, and sometimes drinks as well.

For accommodations, choose from a variety of options from basic camping to luxury lodges with your own plunge pool. Tented camps give the feel of being quite authentic and are very popular. Many lodges have swimming pools, bars, gift shops and may offer additional activities like walking safaris or even helicopter excursions.

In addition to the cost of the safari, you will need flights, insurance, possibly visas, vaccinations, money for gratuities, extra meals and drinks that may not be included.

I hope this gives you some food for thought.  Here is a video recap.

Happy travels! For more information, contact us.

Chitwan National Park

Situated in south central Nepal, Chitwan National Park brings to mind rhinos and tigers. The park was named a rhinoceros sanctuary in 1963 and UNESCO ultimately declared Chitwan a World Heritage Site in 1984. So, whether you embark on a Himalayan trek or not, a safari in Chitwan is high on the bucket lists of the world.

Endangered fauna resident in the park are Greater One-horned Rhinoceros, Gaur (wild ox) and of course the infamous Bengal Tiger. Other captivating wildlife are Wild Asian Elephants, Four- horned Antelope, Pangolin, Golden Monitor Lizard, Python, Bengal Florican and Giant Hornbill, to name a few. Chitwan houses more than 50 mammal species, over 525 birds, and 55 amphibians and reptiles. During the winter months (Northern Hemisphere), migratory birds join the residential birds and create spectacular bird watching opportunities.

The Chitwan valley consists of both tropical and subtropical forests. Sal forests cover the majority of the park. The leaves are used locally for plates in festivals and religious offerings. 50 different types of grasses, cover almost all of the remainder. Elephant grass (Saccharum), is known to grow up to 8m in height.

The park consists of a diversity of ecosystems. There is also a range of climatic seasons.  The months of October through February offer the most comfortable and enjoyable climate with average temperatures of 25^oC. In late January, local villagers are allowed to cut thatch grasses to meet their needs, which provides a better viewing of wildlife. From March to June temperatures can reach as high as 43^oC. During the monsoon season, June through September, causes rivers to become flooded and roads become impassible.

Public buses, tourist coaches, and airlines service link Chitwan.

For Nepal adventures that include Chitwan National Park, below are a few of the many on offer.

Delhi to Kathmandu Adventure – 15 days, from $1614 CAD ($1221 US approximately). This trip contrasts the colourful culture of India with the pristine serenity of Nepal’s Himalayan mountains. From the ghats that line the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi to a 4×4 safari in Chitwan National Park, our expert CEOs will take you through a region of unsurpassed natural beauty and spirituality before revealing to you the rugged Himalayan landscape of Nepal’s magical capital, Kathmandu.

https://benefactours.com/tour-detail/?tour=delhi-to-kathmandu-adventure&id=24314

Nepal Adventure Plus – 10 days, from $1232 CAD ($993 US approximately). From the colours and magic of Kathmandu’s markets to the serenity of Himalayan trails, this 10-day adventure offers an intriguing blend of well-paced excursions. The rugged foothills of the Annapurna Range will reward those willing to break a sweat with stunning views of mountain vistas. Experience Nepal from a different perspective as you explore Chitwan National Park on a 4×4 safari.

https://benefactours.com/tour-detail/?tour=nepal-adventure-%E2%80%94-plus&id=25465

Private tours in Nepal with BenefacTours are customizable.

For more adventures in Nepal or elsewhere, Contact Us.

A World Heritage Site, Serengeti National Park is undoubtedly one of the most famous wildlife sanctuaries in the world. Covering an area of 14,763 sq km, it is the largest national park in Tanzania.

The Great Migration

The phenomenal display of The Great Migration occurs annually, when 2 million wildebeests, zebras and gazelles begin migrating in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area of the southern Serengeti in Tanzania and loop through the Serengeti National Park and north towards the Masai Mara reserve in Kenya. This event is a natural phenomenon determined by the availability of grazing.

Between May and July, when drought sets in, Serengeti is the site of one of the most breathtaking events in the animal kingdom – the migration of thousands of wildebeest heading southwest, north or west in search of water and greener pastures. The Lobo area remains rich in wildlife during the dry months of August to November when most of the game has moved from the grass plains in the south. This is also true of the Western Corridor towards Lake Victoria when the migration usually lingers in the area between June and July. Serengeti provides sanctuary to the highest concentration of plains animals in the world. Survey estimates indicate an animal population of over 4 million including 3,000 lions, 1,600,000 wildebeest, 300,000 Thomson‘s and Grant‘s gazelle, 500,000 zebras, not to mention over 400 species of birds in the Serengeti.

Crossing the great plains of The Serengeti allow you a chance to spy all big 5 – lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo as well as giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, warthog, topi, hartebeest, impala, Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelles, hyenas, jackals, serval, caracal, baboon, large cobras, monkey, eland, bushbuck, dik-dik, waterbuck, reedbuck, hippos, crocodiles, Patas monkey, turaco, antelope, oribi, grey bush duiker, black-and-white colobus, flamingos, Kori bustard, secretary bird, ostrich, and much more.

Tanzania Safaris