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 Tours 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 treks 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 tours 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!