If the idea of an African Safari and some research has left you a bit muddled for choice then we hope this highly opinionated and very biased primer will help.... whether you're a first-timer or old hand in Africa....
We've attempted to give you a short and simple guide to...
- Africa’s safari destinations: a review of the best safari spots in both East and Southern Africa, most of the "less-traveled" but also some of the "touristy" areas
- Seasons:
- if your annual break is already set then that timing may influence your decision on a destination
- if you're flexible then choose the best time to match your interests
- Types of safaris: debunking the terminology with some simple explanations on walking safaris, mobile trips, fly-in safaris, self-drive safaris, privately guided safaris, canoe safaris etc.
- Safari costs: the difference between cheap, affordable/reasonable and expensive is all about value...
- Does “special interest” sound expensive? How about "custom-made" safaris or "tailor-made" or even "bespoke safaris"? Well they shouldn't be expensive! Let's cut the hype - it's not a mission to put together a honeymoon safari, a family trip with kids or a photographic safari for professionals - without the premium...
Safari Planning: keep it simple and have some fun in the process - flights, logistics, insurance, paperwork, medical issues and more....
A footnote on expectations
If you're an old hand then much of the following might just be entertaining. If you've never been on safari or perhaps even visited Africa before then it makes sense to get an idea of what to expect....
...glossy brochures and novels...
Most movies, documentaries, novels, glossy brochures and adverts tend to emphasize only the luxury, comforts and easy-living associated with the romance of Africa. Its sun-drenched open spaces, huge herds of wild animals, magical sunrises and sunsets, its simplicity.
Rest assured that we have all of these but bear in mind that there're lots of warts that you're not necessarily going to be told about up front.
...Africa - warts and all...
Your first experience might be so exhilarating that you don't even notice them.
In case you do, remember that some of the following are really part of the territory (and sometimes the bane of our lives): dust, insects, heat, flights that don't arrive on time, vehicles that break when they're most needed, ATM's and phones that simply aren't available or when they are, don't work, a never-ending stream of touts wanting to change money or sell you crafts, border officials who won't budge or see reason, shops that don't sell the one item you need most.....
...the reality of an African safari...
Well at the top end if you have the bucks or know-how, every cog and wheel simply gets greased, at the bottom end you simply have to deal with things. The point is that all of these "warts" are there and will remain long after you've gone. As will the best and rarest finds on the continent....
None of us can individually do much about Africa's poverty, bad press, crimes and crime rates, lousy politicians/criminals, social ills or technological failings - to some extent you can choose whether or not to let them influence your safari decisions. It's an incredible place and it'd be very rare to receive anything less than a warm grin and gentle hand from the people...
All said and done, we've lived through some of the best and worst Africa has to offer and also played harp to different schools of African addicts
- Young adventurers, who saw Africa's busiest routes on overland trucks more than a decade ago with only a few pounds or dollars to spare. A small handful now returns every year to explore those remote regions reserved only for the wealthy (!?).
- Discerning travelers, who've been served the finest safaris at some point, struck a chord with something in Africa and now come back annually to experience the most rudimentary trips (?!).
There's nothing amiss with either of these groups and there's of course an even larger group in the middle.