So
Many Safaris, So Little Time – A Simple
Safari Planner
So Many Safaris,
So Little Time – A Simple Safari Planner
With a continent so vast and geographically varied
as Africa, you might be overwhelmed to realize how
many different game parks, safari camps, and tour
operators there are if you are researching safari
information. In fact, Africa offers hundreds of various
types of safaris to accommodate all budgets, activity
preferences and ages. Planning your safari and making
all the necessary arrangements requires careful consideration
and communication with your travel company. This
article discusses some helpful topics that you should
consider before making a final decision about where,
when and what you should do when you go on safari.
What Are Your Interests?
Assessing your interests is the best way to determine
what type of safari experience will be most satisfying
for you. For example, do you want to see
lions? Or are you interested in trekking to see
the mountain gorillas of Rwanda and Uganda? Would
you like your adventure to primarily involve hiking
and walking or would you prefer to take in the
sights from a vehicle? If you prefer to travel
by vehicle, there are many kinds of safari vehicles
to consider including closed-roof mini-vans (or
comb’s) to open-air 4WD Land Rovers.
In addition,
you should consider how much of the local culture
you are interested in experiencing. Are you interested
in water activities like canoeing down the Zambezi
River or game viewing by canoe (mokoro) in the
Okavango Delta? Have you always wanted to experience
first-hand the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti,
see the Victoria Falls, fly or balloon over the
Masai Mara, or climb Mount Kilimanjaro?
Since every
safari has unique features, you’ll
want to pinpoint the locations that provide all or
most of the things you want to experience, depending
on where your interests lie.
When Would You Like to Travel?
Different seasons offer different activities and
experiences on safari, but regardless of which
season you choose to visit Africa, you will want
to ensure that you plan your trip well in advance.
Early booking will increase your chances of reserving
the specific safari camps you would like to visit,
as well as air tickets to Africa. A couple of important
points to make note of in terms of Africa’s
seasonal climate follow:
• The southern hemisphere
winter runs from around May to early August. For
those who dislike the hot weather, this is perhaps
the best time to visit southern Africa.
• Game movements
are generally determined by the availability
of fresh grazing and browsing sources. Rains
will generally disperse browsers and the attendant
predators, whereas, dry seasons inevitably lead
to larger concentrations around remaining water
sources.
What Is Your Budget?
Be sure to make a realistic assessment of your budget
relative to the actual costs of the trip. The total
cost of a safari is based upon a wide variety of
factors, including length of time spent in the
bush, the quality of your accommodations, the remoteness
of your camp, the quality and type of vehicle you
select, the level of experience of your guide,
and extra costs.
A lower cost safari could take you to the best
places, but expenses like game park fees, meals,
bottled water, alcohol, airport transfers, and so
forth can all be extra. Be aware that these costs
can add substantially to your costs when you are
considering whether or not to take an all-inclusive
tour.
What Type of Accommodation Do You Prefer?
When considering what type of accommodations you
want for your safari, remember that luxury in Africa
doesn’t always equate to luxury in a 5-star
hotel.
However, a luxury safari typically includes superb
food and wine, small, exclusive safari camps established
in the most desirable game viewing, fewer guests
to a safari vehicle, knowledgeable guides and a high
ration of camp staff to guests.
Alternatively, “roughing it” generally
indicates a participation safari which means doing
your own cooking with modest food, limited fresh water
supply, camp areas that are sometimes crowded with
tourists, less knowledgeable guides, and paying for
park fees and other extra costs along the way.
Eyes
on Africa,
an African safari company, boasts an extremely
knowledgeable team of staff members, who are
passionate about every aspect of travel to Africa, including its wildlife and safari destinations.
When you're ready to plan your African safari,
a holiday in Africa, or if you just have questions,
please feel free to contact us toll free at 800-457-9575
or visit our web site at http://www.eyesonafrica.net/contactus.htm and
complete an information request form.
 |
Eyes
on Africa was selected most knowledgeable
Regional Expert for Southern Africa / Safaris by
National Geographic Traveler Magazine,
20th Anniversary Special Issue. |
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