Planning Your African Safari : 10 Things to Consider.

An African Safari is usually a once-in-a-lifetime bucket-list trip and Safari options are as varied and wide as the continent itself. Planning a Safari can be almost as fun as the Safari itself, if you have the right knowledge and advice.

In today’s modern world with the pressures of everyday life and the issues facing mankind, an African Safari is the perfect getaway from the world with your family and loved-ones, to the wide-open African Bush and the call of the wild, and it is something that every family should experience at least once.

An African Safari carries the reputation of being only for the wealthy, however that is untrue, with the right expertise a Safari can be designed for most budgets, but by nature of the destinations and the type of logistics involved it’s essential that you do your research and use local expertise to help you plan your dream trip.

1. Which Areas of Africa do you wish to visit?

Are you looking to have a rounded experience including cultural / city tours combined with a wildlife safari, or are you looking for a pure wildlife safari. Safari experiences vary to a degree depending on which area of Africa you are going to, however there are two distinct traditional regions for African Safaris, and generally Safari goers tend to so one or the other, although some guests do combine the two regions.

Southern Africa.

Southern African Safaris generally include add-ons to the traditional Safari such as Cape Town and Victoria Falls.The traditional Southern Africa Countries for Safaris are:

• Botswana
• Namibia
• South Africa
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe
• Mozambique

Eastern Africa

East Africa is the better known and traditional Safari destination, and really caters for pure wildlife Safaris, as well as “Bush and Beach” combinations with Interior Game Reserves and Coastal Beach add-ons.

Whilst there are other countries emerging as destinations for Safaris, the following are the traditional East African countries, with Tanzania and Kenya the wildlife and game areas, whilst Rwanda and Uganda are famous for the Gorilla experiences.

• Tanzania
• Kenya
• Rwanda
• Uganda

2. How long would you like to spend on Safari?

Your Vacation is often determined by the length of time you can be away from your business or your workplace, and this period of time is important to your Travel Designer as this can largely determine which area and what type of Safari will be recommended for you.

• We recommend no less than 9 nights on Safari, excluding international flights.
• We recommend no less than 3 Nights at each destination, as it really takes this period of time to settle, relax and get the full benefit of each lodge or destination.

3. What type of Safari suits you?

Safaris in Africa can take on many forms and options, the main ones are:

· Overland Safaris

These are adventure safaris perfect for the guests that enjoy the driving and camping experience, sitting around the campfire at night, and visiting locals along the way. The tours are done with specially designed vehicles and are usually done in groups

So if you are interested in interacting with other guests and don’t mind sharing vehicles, on a drive safari then a Scheduled / Small Group Option may be an option for you. Keep in Mind there are normally up to 7 guests per vehicle.

You have a dedicated guide who is with you throughout.

· Self-Drive Safaris

Self-Drive Safaris are similar in nature to the overland Safaris, however it is the guest at the wheel of the vehicle and as the name suggests, self-drive on a predetermined routes with a combination of camping and or Lodges along the route.

· Fly In Safari

Fly in Safaris as the name implies involves flying from Lodge to Lodge by, usually light aircraft rather than long and time consuming road transfers. This is probably the most popular tour type as it allows for a lot more flexibility, the possibility to visit more destinations, even different countries on your tour

4. Safari – Accommodation options.

The type of African Safari you wish to take will largely determine the type of Safari, Transport and Accommodation.

Overland / Small Group Safaris.

These types of Safari are more common in East Africa and can be more budget friendly than Private Safaris.

These Safaris normally drive between designated camps and lodges and the choice of the particular tour determines the standard of the camps and lodges, from budget level camping to lower – mid range lodges.

Self-Drive Safaris Accommodation

Accommodation can be arranged with Budget, Mid-Market or Luxury accommodation depending on tastes. So these can be adventure camping, or upmarket “Glamping”, but certainly this type of Safari offers a lot more flexibility of choice.

Private and Fly In Safaris

Private Safaris are more customised and generally are more luxurious and stay at higher end LodgesThe Flights to the Lodges and the Game Activities at the Lodges however are normally shared unless special arrangements are made which will cost extra.

Mombo Camp Bulls

5. What is the prime motivation of your African Safari?

The simplistic perception of an African Safari is staying at a safari Lodge and doing a series of Game Activities with the aim of seeing the “Big 5” in their natural environment. Safaris however have become much more than this, there are a host of special interests Safaris to choose from, and becoming increasingly vital is the level of consciousness of the Safari and its contribution to the ongoing sustainable tourism and the community in which it operates.

A true African Safari is not a “DIY” project, with complex logistics and choosing the right service providers. Your special interests are a major factor in choosing which country, Safari Area and indeed the type of Safari and Lodge.

Here are some ideas of special interest activities to be incorporated in a Safari and would largely determine which countries or areas to visit.

• Day tours in Cape Town, voted the most beautiful city in the World,
• City, Cultural and Art tours in Cape Town.
• The Zebra Migration from the Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana.
• Exploring the Okavango Delta, Botswana in a traditional Canoe (Mokoro).
• A Hot Air Balloon flight over the Okavango.
• Visiting the Chobe National Game Reserve, with the highest population of Elephants in the world
• Walking through the rainforest and viewing the biggest curtain of water in the world, Victoria Falls.
• Taking a helicopter or microlight flight over Victoria Falls.
• “Tracking” the endangered Rhino on the Stanley and Livingstone Game Reserve in Victoria Falls.
• Living “A day in the life of a Zimbabwean” on a cultural village tour in Victoria Falls.
• Doing a historical tour of Livingstone the original Capital of Zambia.
• Witness the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth – the Great Wildebeest Migration.
• Visit a Maasai Village in Tanzania.Explore Stone Town on the island of Zanzibar

6. How Many of you will be on the trip?

The number of guests traveling together in a party, and the ages of the guests influences the type of itinerary, the individual lodges and activities that are experienced.

The larger the family or group, the longer in advance we need to secure rooms at the lodges due to availability, and if the lodges can accommodate the size of the group.

Some Lodges have restrictions on the ages of Children they allow, and this needs to be planned carefully.

7. What is your Budget?

Safaris can vary widely in price and content, and an idea of your budget per person is key to designing the program and it determines the types of Lodge, transport and activities.

Examples (Excluding international Flights and Insurance)

– Budget: US$275

– Luxury: US$550

-Premier: US$ 750 – US$1400

8. Your Preferred type of accommodation?

Types of accommodation vary dependent on a variety of factors.On Safari would your lodging preferences be budget, middle market or luxury, permanent lodges, tented camps or mobile tented safaris. Whilst in cities or destination cities or resort towns, would you prefer a formal hotel or a smaller boutique property.

9. Additional Experiences you would want to do.

Safaris are not just about Game Drives, many of the lodges have a variety of activities to choose from, drives, walks, canoe safaris, horseback safaris and cultural and community tours.

Whilst, when you are in the cities or resort towns the choices are numerous and can be broadly categorised into:

•  Adrenalin,
• Historical,
• Art and Cultural,
• Cuisine,
• Special Interest Day Tours.

Making it clear which areas are of interest to you greatly assist the travel designer to craft an itinerary that really suits your wishes.

10. Flight booking and arrangements

Flight schedules, arrival dates and times can influence the itinerary substantially. The arrival time of the international flight can influence if there is time to transfer from the port of arrival directly to the first Safari Destination, or if it is necessary to overnight in the arrival destination.

Often you will have had a long-haul flight to Africa and so would actually prefer to overnight in the port of arrival, this is what makes Cape Town for instance the perfect gate way for a Safari, as it provides an amazing one or two night rest and experiences, before heading on Safari.

Similarly the departure flight back to your home destination influences the timing of the transfer back from your Safari to the port of departure.

Plan your Southern African Safari with Where To Africa