The Best African Safari Travel Tips to Make the Most of your Holiday
Posted on By Blog Admin
Africa has everything to amaze you if you take a delight in the varied wonders of nature. Whether it’s a safari to the Serengeti in Tanzania or watching the great migration at Mara in Kenya, a cruise along the breathtaking Okavango Delta in Botswana or gaping at the majestic Victoria Falls on the Zambezi, Africa’s hidden gems only make us fall in love even more deeply with this majestic continent. There are a few things to keep in mind before you go for an African safari so here are a few travel tips that will make you enjoy your holiday even better.
Go for an experienced guide
Wildlife adventurers who are travelling to Africa for the first time on a jungle safari should consider taking an expert guide on the trip. It’s better to go with a guide who knows the area well and has all information on his fingertips. Be it Serengeti or Maasai Mara, experiencing the wonders of wildlife with an expert guide makes it all the more enjoyable. If you are taking kids on your jungle safari, your guide will take you with safety and at the same time, he will keep your kids entertained which is a prerequisite for taking children on a long journey.
Arrange your accommodation in advance
Staying close to the forest area is the most thrilling part of a jungle safari. Plan your accommodation well in advance, and make sure of what you want – a resort, a camp lodge or a completely private accommodation in the wilderness. Africa is known for its hospitality and safari organizers will go an extra mile to give their guests the opportunity of staying in the forest terrain. It may be a long drive from the residential areas but it is worth grabbing this opportunity and experience the adventure of staying amidst Africa wildlife. You can opt for tents or camps where you can enjoy communal dining along with many native travellers and get to know their culture more intimately. Staying in a hotel may be extravagant, but sharing a tent with fellow travellers is a bonus of an African safari.
Maintain personal safety
Safety and security is important in any trip, more so when you are out in the wild. It is safer not to carry large amounts of cash, carry your credit cards instead. If you are carrying cash, make sure you keep it in a safe place. Keep all your valuable belongings e.g. mobiles, camera, passport, air tickets in your room and put in a password in the safe. If you have a fancy for jewellery why not try some jewellery made by locals instead of wearing expensive gold ones? Also, a very important thing to keep in mind is not to travel alone at night no matter how adventurous you might be. After all “It’s better to be safe than to be sorry.” Drink bottled water that is available in the camps or lodges. Make sure you take all necessary vaccinations for yellow fever and check guidelines by the World Health Organization (WHO). Malaria tablets are also mandatory. Carry water purification tablets and make sure you are careful about hygiene.
Timing is crucial
To make the most of your African safari, make sure that you talk to your guide or do a bit of research about the best time to watch the game. Wild animals are mostly active during late night or early hours of the morning. An expert safari driver will be able to take you to the remotest corners of the forest where you can see the animals in their natural habitat and their activities. If you plan to go to Kenya the best time is between July and August when you get to see the Great Migration across the Mara River. For a wildlife safari in Tanzania, the best time is the months of August and September. It is the best time for the Great Migration here also. In all the other countries tourists usually prefer the months from July to September for an African Safari.
So, start making your safari plans and spend a few days in the bliss of nature, observing the wildlife in all its glory.
