8 Tips Before Booking a Safari
Going on a Safari for the first time? Herewith are 8 Tips Before Booking a Safari into Africa.
8 Tips Before Booking a Safari - Overview
Africa is an incredible continent and is home to an abundance of wildlife, magnificent people, landscapes, and beaches. Going on a Safari for the first time is quite fantastic, it is something that everyone should enjoy once in their lifetime. However, when the bug bites it is difficult to get rid of.
With this in mind, how would one go about booking their first Safari? Numerous questions need to be asked first and answered properly.
Before Booking any Safari - Destination
The destination accounts for what could possibly be the safari of a lifetime. The destination, access thereof and what specific wildlife can one possibly see in the particular area?
Knowing where one would like to go on safari too is pretty much the biggest question that needs to be answered first. Be it a Gorilla Safari in Rwanda a Walking Safari in Zambia or watching Elephants in Botswana from a boat Africa pretty much offers it all.
Should you be considering South Africa it is amongst the most popular safari destinations on the African continent. This is primarily due to the ease of access to these game parks be it private or public. Other contributing factors would also include other destinations that may be included with a safari while in South Africa such as Cape Town Table Mountain.
South Africa offers of the most iconic Game Parks in Africa one being the Kruger National Park, Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park the oldest proclaimed game reserve in Africa, Addo Elephant Park and the list just goes on.
So our No. 1 Tip Before Booking a Safari is knowing where you would like to go.
Before Booking any Safari - Wildlife
Destination has to include the types of wildlife that you would like to encounter while out on safari. Contrary to belief you will not be able to see the same wildlife in all of the other parks or game reserves. The destination therefore would have to include the specific types of wildlife that you could see while out on a safari. This process of determining a destination is further complicated when wanting to see the African Big 5. A True African Big 5 Park includes Black Rhino, White Rhino, Lion, Leopard, Elephant, and Buffalo.
The top destinations in Africa having the African Big 5 include South Africa, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana and Kenya.
So our No. 2 Tip Before Booking a Safari is knowing what wildlife you would primarily like to see.
Reputable Safari Operators
It would go without saying that you must or should book with a reputable Safari Operator. This however has become quite a bit more difficult over the past few years. Gone are the days when one simply researches on TripAdvisor.
Online Booking Platforms, Social Media Bookings, Direct Bookings, Whats App Bookings, Email Bookings, and good old Telephonic Bookings. There is most definitely a way to make a booking today. But before making that all-important Safari Booking, we would suggest that you do some research.
The internet allows us fortunately the ability to do some proper research. TripAdvisor is still a very good source of information when it comes to reputability, standards of service, and of course surety.
When having a look at TripAdvisor, try and establish when the company was started or at least when was the 1st TripAdvisor review written. That combined with the number of years in business versus the amount of reviews should give you a good sense of what the company stands for. How high are they ranked in their specific region or area that they operate in versus any competitors.
A lot of new companies try the old trick by saying that they have x amount of years in business or experience. Or that they have a combined amount of years of experience in the industry. If this is the case then the company in question should have the appropriate amount of reviews on the platform, eg 23 years of experience should reflect quite a few reviews from clients.
Also, follow the safari company on all social media platforms to see just how active they are and if they do upload frequent updates regarding the activities that they sell.
Google Business is also a great way to research any safari company, have a look at the amount of Google reviews, when was the company registered as well as the replies from the owners. The name of the game is consistency has the company all of a sudden received numerous new reviews over a short period of time or has it been consistent?
Comunicate, communicate as much as possible and ask as many questions that you feel need answering.
When it comes to making payments, do not be pressurised. Some companies could offer you a special deal, pay now and receive a discount, pay now, and only go on safari next year. These types of deals and specials tend to always have a twist.
So our No. 3 Tip before Booking a Safari is making sure that the Safari Company is reputable.
Safari Booking Budget
Keep to your budget, make sure that the safari company has quoted you and make sure what it includes and what is not included.
- Transfers
- Meals
- Gate Fees, Conservation Levies
- Flights
- Insurance
Private Park Safaris are costly and usually include accommodation and a specific amount of safaris and meals. Always ask to make sure exactly what is and what is not included.
So our No.4 Tip before Booking a Safari is to keep to your Budget.
Season or Time of the Year
When to book your safari? Would a winter or summer safari be better? This would depend on the area that you propose to visit, in certain Parks during winter there is less water thus the watering holes become the top attraction with magnificent wildlife sightings.
In other larger parks the wildlife may have migrated, parks do occasionally also do controlled burning so one should reply all of these questions to the company that you propose to go on safari with.
So our No.5 Tip is to know the difference in seasons.
How to Prepare for your Safari
Irrespective of whether it is only a day safari or an overnight safari package, preparation is always key in making your outing memorable.
Research the park or area that you will be visiting, knowing what you could see or what makes the area so important is also nice to know beforehand.
So our Tip No.6 is to do a little research.
What to take along on your Safari?
For a Day Safari, one should if possible try and take a camera along. Check the weather the day prior especially if it may rain, and pack a light jacket. If it's going to be hot ask if the company includes bottled water and refreshments and maybe take a hat along as well as sunblock.
Always wear comfortable clothing and worn in shoes.
So our Tip No.7 is to be comfortable.
8 Tips Before Booking a Safari
What to expect on any Safari?
Most Safari Operators big or small would like you to have a mesmerizing time with them. The African continent is truly an incredible place to visit, the wildlife and people are amazing.
All in all it's about bragging rights, no matter who you go with the specific safari company wants you to have the time of your life. memories for a lifetime.
You will most definitely know that you have had a great time on safari when all you want to do is come right back to Africa on Safari.
So our Tip No. 8 is Knowing when you had a great time out on safari in Africa.
Heritage Tours & Safaris
We truly hope that this article is of some help. Heritage Tours & Safaris offers both Day Safaris and Overnight Safari Packages in the area of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
Departing daily into the oldest proclaimed game reserve in Africa the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park and South Africa's very first world heritage site the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. The company manages numerous concessions and we would be delighted should you like to join us in the area that we call home.
