Planning a safari trip to Africa can be a little bit overwhelming. Africa to many is an unknown land there are things to consider when planning a safari trip to Africa. Here are the things to consider when planning a safari:
Which region should you consider when planning a safari trip to Africa?
You have primarily two regions for a safari trip. East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda) or South Africa (Zambia, Zimabawe, Botswana, Nambia, and South Africa). An East African safari is the definition of classic safari country. You may encounter the "Big Five" - lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and Cape buffalo, along with hundreds of other species, ranging from wildebeests and zebras to antelopes and cheetahs. East Africa also is where you may witness a great migration, where herds of animals make their annual trek in search of water and fresh grazing land. South African wildlife include iconic big cats - lions, leopards, and cheetahs. In Botswana, you may encounter hippos, giraffes, crocodiles, rhinos, and baboons. If you like food and wine, that is where South Africa has it advantages, providing first-rate culinary and winelands. I generally recommend South Africa for first safaris.
Using a trusted tour operator for your safari trip
There are advantages to using a tour operator recommended by a travel advisor. The tour operator will handle things such as airport transfers, transportation between lodges, hotel expertise, and actually booking the safaris. Although these may seem trivial, but it may be difficult to navigate in Africa. It's best to have a tour operator be your representation and arrange these for you. An added bonus of using a tour operator, they will be your person on the ground, giving you the assurance if you have concerns or if anything happens.
Lodging and traveling between lodges for a Safari trip to Africa
Are you make your way through to different safaris, in South Africa, you will travel through air between lodges, as a result, it is difficult really know what a specific lodge is like. The tour operators will be able to package something for you to your level of luxury. They have a "leg up" regarding hotel expertise.
Ideal age for a Safaris trip to Africa
Safaris are great for family trips, however, taking young children to a safari may not be ideal. I recommend ages 12+ so they would remember such a special trip. In addition, it will be a very educational trip. A safari to Africa would be an amazing graduation trip.
What to budget when planning a safari trip to Africa
You can go on a budget but you will feel it a little bit. The saying of you get what you pay for, applies. I recommend going 4-5* accommodations. The tour operators know how to cater to westerners and they will have preferred lodges they work with that accommodate a luxury 5* taste. With that said, I would budget around $1000/person/per day (for a 5-star safari trip to Africa experience). That includes meals, drinks, and touring. A nice price point would be around $10,000/person. Tipping is appreciated, allot about $75/day for tips. I do say that anything less than $1000 maybe roughing it. A lot of money goes to conservation initiatives.
If you are ready to discuss your plans for a Safari trip to Africa, email or schedule a discovery call to discuss your plans. There are plenty of tour operators to work with, but as a travel advisor I can recommend a preferred tour operator based on feed back by my network. That is one of the things to consider when planning for a safari trip to Africa.
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