Important Issues To Consider During The Planning Of An African Safari

By Dorothy Stone


Africa is home to many wild animals, beautiful vegetation and scenery. For many centuries, visitors have come to the continent for a number of reasons. Early visitors, in the thirteenth century, came on hunting expeditions and took home trophies of their kills. Today, visitors come to marvel at the beauty of nature and end up taking home videos and photos of their visits. African safari is a truly memorable adventure where one can see all of the big five members in their natural habitats.

This is the main reason why each year, thousands of tourists come to Africa to visit its national parks, game reserves and see spectacular sites like the Victoria Falls and Mount Kilimanjaro. However, there is a lot more to consider while planning this trip. This is because it entails visiting a new country so a visa is required as well as financing. It also requires one to take precautions for health and safety purposes. So during planning, consider getting a good guidebook and visiting travel sites to check for the experiences and reviews of other visitors.

There are different types of safaris each with different costs. This is why it is important to do some research and find which package you can afford. Some factors that affect the cost of your trip include length of stay and luxury accommodations. Most packages are priced according to double occupancy so if one is travelling alone, it is important to pay for a single supplement. Luxury packages are quite expensive and allow for comfort accommodations in the wild. Mobile safaris are the cheapest, participatory packages where a group of tourists travel together and share costs and other experiences. Adventurous people may opt to drive themselves personally throughout the tour.

It is important to have a clue on where exactly you want to go. This decision is based on what game you want to see. Different countries have different animals. Popular destinations on the continent are East African countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and Southern African countries like South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. Kenya and Tanzania are famous for the Wildebeests migrations while Uganda is famous for its primates. The south is known for its impressive elephant population.

Timing of the trip is everything. This is especially so if you plan to see a specific event like the wildebeest migration. Animal behavior is affected by weather, climate and other natural phenomena. It is generally better to visit during the dry season.

Since the continent is prone to diseases, make sure to get vaccinated at home before the trip. Make an appointment with a specialist in this field and get all the relevant shots. These include typhoid, yellow fever and hepatitis. Malaria is given a treatment and protected against by nets and repellent sprays.

Be very careful when booking and paying for a safari because there are many fraudsters and scams out there. Always verify the legitimacy of a travel agent before paying them. Check ratings on TripAdvisor and other relevant sites and read their reviews.

Be sure to remain safe during the trip and stay in communication with your family and the embassy. Before and during your trip, check for any updates and travel advisories from the State Department. Get medical cover and travel insurance.




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