The word Safari comes from Swahili and means “long Journey” and has become synonymous with wildlife based holidays in Africa. So if you are planning an African Safari, it can be a significant expense and done correctly will no doubt be an experience that changes your lives and those of the communities you visit, but to avoid poor and unexpected experiences, here are some of the “out of the ordinary” questions you should be asking when you are planning your safari.

Ruckomechi Game Drive

1. Are You Clear About Your Safari Objectives?

Your Safari objectives should be clear and communicated to your Safari Planner as these will determine when you go, and where to go. For example if you want to see the unique Zebra Migration in Botswana, you need to be there between December to March each year, or for the Great Migration in Kenya, you would need to be there between July to October.

If it is your first African Safari and your main objective is to see the “Big 5” then not every reserve or Game park has this, whilst they may have other unique game experiences. Be clear about your objectives and communicate them to your planner.

matetsi river lodge Game Drive

2. National Parks vs Private Reserves and Budget vs Luxury

These factors are usually entwined but hugely important in your decision making. An African Safari is usually a bucket-list trip and you need to carefully consider the quality of experience and cost of a private reserve where you will get a luxury experience with very few other people around, vs a National Park which may well be good, but not likely to be exclusive. Again, your objectives need to be clear to make these decisions.

3. Visa requirements for the countries you are travelling to.

Most African countries require visas from foreign nationals. You need to understand:

• Do Visas need to be obtained prior to travel, and what is the process, on-line or at an embassy, or can the visa be obtained at the port of entry?
• What is the cost of the visa for each country to be visited

Bayethe Game Drive

4. Lodge / Camp Package Inclusions.

Be clear if the lodge package includes all your meals and if it includes beverages. Most bush lodges are on a “Full Board” basis, but non-inclusive beverages can be a significant expense and should be budgeted for.

5. Laundry Facilities.

What are the laundry facilities at the lodge. Many lodges only do limited laundry as it is usually done by hand. Sometimes they exclude personal items such as underwear, and if so do they provide detergents in the room for you to do this yourself, or do you need to carry a small packet of detergent?

Is Laundry included or an extra charge?

Chobe Game Lodge Room

6. Included Activities.

Are all the game viewing activities included in your rate, or are there optional activities which are charged separately. Some Lodges include 2 daily activities, whilst some may charge for a Private Game Walk Experience for instance.

7. Child Policies On Game Activities.

If you are travelling with children, check what the lodge policy is on children on game activities. Some lodges do not allow children under a certain age to be on activities, whilst in some lodges you have to have a private vehicle for your group with children which may cost extra.

8. What National Parks Fees or Conservation / Community Fees are not Included?

Some Parks do not allow the lodge or agent to collect and pay the Parks Fees, and want the guest to pay on arrival, you should know what these fees are and when and how they need to be paid.

Similarly a lot of lodges have a conservation or community fee that goes towards these good causes, and you should know if these are voluntary or compulsory and how much they are, and if they are included in your package.

9. Seating Policy on Game Drive Vehicles.

Does the lodge have a ‘window seating only’ policy or do they maximise the number of guests per vehicle. You may find that having travelled all that way for your experience you get it from the middle seat where the views are obstructed. 

You can also consider private drives for your group or family, there is usually an extra cost to this, but it can enhance your experience and be rewarding.

Little Vumbura Camp Game_Drive

10. Baggage Allowances.

Many lodges are accessed by light aircraft and have baggage restrictions, typically the suitcase should be less than 20kg, and be a ‘
“Soft Fabric” suitcase rather than the solid plastic type, you should plan in advance for this.

11. Transfers Between Lodges.

If you are doing a multi lodge safari, what is the transfer arrangement between lodges and between your port of arrival and departure. Typically these are light aircraft, but if there are any long and bumpy road transfers you should be aware of these.

You should also be aware if there are any Aviation Fees or Airport Departure fees payable at the ports.

12. Tips or Gratuities.

Tips or Gratuities are usually not included in any rate, and are at the discretion of the guest, but it is usually encouraged for good service. You need to have a good idea of how much to budget for this, and how to pay.

• Some Lodges have a policy of collecting tips and distributing to all the staff rather than tipping individuals.
• What is the normal tipping amount, a discretionary value or a % of service cost ?
• If the tip is usually paid in cash, then you need to have cash on hand, and what currency is acceptable?

13. What currencies are accepted?

You need to be aware of the currencies accepted in each destination and if there are for instance credit card payment facilities to pay for extras. Whilst US$ is the most widely used common currency in Africa, what is your home currency and is it accepted. How much will you need to carry, and we would advise to have it in smaller denominations as there may not be facilities for receiving change from a large denomination note.

El Karama – Activities – Game – Cheetah

14. Communication Facilities at the lodges.

One of the big advantages of going on an African Safari is to be in the wide open spaces far from the madding crowds, but the reality is that in the digital world you may need to be in touch with family or friends or even work while you are traveling. It’s very important to know where you will have signal / wifi or other communication facilities and which places don’t have them, and make a note of those dates and tell your family that you will not have normal communication over those periods.

For places that don’t have normal telephone or wifi facilities, find out how they can be contacted in an emergency, for instance via their head office, and leave those details with your relatives so they can contact you in the case of an emergency.

15. Medical Evacuation.

Does the lodges you are visiting have medical evacuation, if not this could be a very expensive cost if it becomes necessary and taking out adequate travel insurance is essential in these times.

16. Covid 19 Protocols and requirements.

It is an unfortunate reality that Covid protocol is a major part of any travel planning, so you need to be very informed of the regulations and facilities of the destinations you will be visiting.

• What tests do you need to enter that country i.e. a Negative Covid PCR test not older than 72 or 48 hours? 
• Vaccination proof – is this required?
• For your departure you will probably need to be retested for entry to your next country destination, where will you be able to get this test done, and in what time frame so that you can have this for your departure
• What are the costs of these tests?

On the other side of the coin, what are the transfer services and lodge Covid Policies and procedures, are they providing you with a safe and sanitised environment.

17. Ecotourism practices.

Do the properties and lodges that you will be visiting have an ecotourism policy and program, and do they have a social responsibility program. It is becoming increasingly important to support environmentally conscious safari lodges and hotels and  include wildlife conservation and community upliftment activities to your itinerary.

By supporting these operators, you reduce the carbon footprint, contribute to wildlife conservation and help provide employment, education and facilities in the local community.

There are certainly a lot of things to consider when you are planning an African Safari, but by partnering with an expert travel planner you should have all your answers, and better planning means less stress and worry, and a more enjoyable safari.

If you would like to have a look at some of our suggested Safari and Tours click here : Safari and Tours or if you would like one of our travel designers to contact you to help you plan a tour, just leave us a few details here : Help Me Plan

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

The following is a circular we have received from Botswana Tourism introducing a $30 tourism levy for entries into Botswana from June 1st 2017.

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT LEVY

The Levy Background
The Ministry of Environment Natural Resources’ Conservation and Tourism through the Botswana Tourism Organisation wishes to announce the introduction of an obligatory Tourism Development Levy (TDL)
 
Purpose of the Levy
The objective of the Levy is to raise funds for conservation and national tourism development in order to support the growth of the industry and broaden the tourism base, resultantly improving the lives of the people of Botswana.
 
Who is eligible to pay?
All visitors to Botswana in exception of residents and citizens of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states
 
Where is the levy collected?
The Levy is payable at all ports of entry including airports and border posts, starting 1st June 2017
 
How is the payment done?
Payments are done at the ports of entry through electronic payment machines through cash (US Dollars), debit and credit card. After the payment, a unique receipt corresponding to the passport will be automatically generated. The receipt should then be presented to Immigration Officials. The passport and the receipt will be stamped and handed back to the traveller. The receipt will valid for a 30 day period and can be used for multiple entry.
 
How much is the levy
Travellers to Botswana will pay USD30.00.
The Botswana Government remains committed to growing the contribution of tourism to the national economy as well as economic diversification and employment creation.
 
For further information please visit the BTO website
www.botswanatourism.co.bw/tourismlevy.
For enquiries please email: tdl@botswanatourism.co.bw or call +267 391 3111

The new Victoria Falls Airport, which now has the capacity to handle 1.5 million passengers per annum, tripling its previous volume, and is capable of landing some of the world’s largest aircraft, was officially opened on Friday 18th November 2016.

The airport features a four kilometer runway, state of the art control tower, which is one of the most advanced in Africa, and a fire station, equipped to respond to fire and medical emergencies.

Facilities at the international terminal include 14 check-in counters, 9 boarding gates, three baggage carousels, a dozen shops, two restaurants, 28 aircraft parking bays and parking facilities for roughly 400 vehicles.

The domestic terminal features six check-in counters, two passenger security screening facilities, one restaurant and three coffee shops, eight other shops and a business class lounge.

Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe confirmed that the authority is excited about the launch of Ethiopian Airlines’ services in 2017. Ethiopian Airlines will introduce flights into Victoria Falls International Airport from its hub in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from March 2017. The route is expected to be serviced by either an Airbus 350 or a Boeing 787.

The travel industry is very excited by the opening of the new Victoria Falls International Airport as well as the newly secured airline as this opens many new possibilities not only for tour operators through new markets, but also for travelers wishing to visit Southern Africa as a destination.

Please note that as of the 1st October 2016, the Botswana Government updated their laws concerning traveling with minors. The Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs informs the general public and travel industry that it has imposed requirements for minors (children under 18) traveling through the country’s ports of entry.

Minors traveling through Botswana’s borders will be required to produce certified copies of unabridged birth certificates in addition to their valid passports. In the event that one parent is not traveling with the child, the other parent’s affidavit consenting to such travel should be presented. However, an affidavit will not be required if the father’s name does not appear on the child’s birth certificate.

One of our suppliers has spoken directly with the Director of Immigration and Citizenship, Mr. Mabuse Pule, and whilst there is yet to be updates to various government websites, it has been communicated in an official letter they received from the Botswana Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, it was stated the decision is due to an enactment of the United Nations Anti Human Trafficking Protocol:

The following documents will be required when traveling to Botswana with minors (18 years and below):

• Valid Passport
• Valid VISA, if required
• Unabridged Birth Certificate (Birth Certificate containing the particulars of a minor and those of the parents)
• A letter of consent from the other parent should the minor be traveling with one parent

These requirements are similar to the ones introduced by South Africa in June 2015, and as such, should not affect guests traveling through South Africa to a great extent as most of them should already have the correct documentation. If you are unsure of the requirements, please get in touch with your home country Embassy to discuss in further detail.