These are the five – okay, seven – mistakes first-time safari-goers make.
Going on a safari in Africa is not your ordinary holiday. It is often a bucket-list trip of a lifetime, which means you really do need to know before you go.
In the bush, you don’t want to waste time because you forgot something; there is wildlife out there you need to see, experiences you need to have.
But as with everything in life, mistakes are made. We’ve spoken to the experts, and gathered the wisdom of first-time safari guests, and these are the things they want you to know.
Do Your Research
Not all parks, reserves and lodges are created equal. If it’s the Big Five you want to see, you’ll be looking for a different park from a birder. Research the quality of game viewing, the qualifications of the guiding team, the standard of accommodation.
And remember, guides at a private lodge can go off-road any time while hours and access are restricted at national parks.
Our client, Jeffrey Speicher from the US, did his:
‘Anja is amazing! She made planning our 2 week trip a breeze including rental car, safari, flights, and booking our adventures. She is a wealth of knowledge and I believe we will get more out of our trip using her. I’d highly recommend using Safari.com, not just for your safari, but also to organize and maximize your entire vacation.’
Temper Your Expectations
The bush is not a zoo. It delivers what it delivers; on some drives you might see lions and leopards, on others you might see hippos.
Your guide and tracker will do their best to help you tick off your list, but some days, the animals or birds just can’t be found.
But even so, you’ll see incredible landscapes and be awed by the sounds of the bush, and learn more about the wildlife from your guide.
Packing is probably the number one mistake people make when going on safari. When it comes to clothes, you need the basics – even up-market lodges are fairly casual and there’s not much dressing up. Lodges also have laundry services.
And pack light, especially if you’ve booked transfers on helicopters or bush planes, like on our7-Day Chobe & Delta Fly-in Tour. But include something warm. Don’t underestimate how it can go from cold to hot on a game drive vehicle.
Avoid bright colours like red and pink. Khaki and neutral tones of dark green, brown and beige work best. White stands out, so it’s best to avoid. Tsetse flies are attracted to blue and black so avoid them if you’ll be in tsetse country.
Other tips: good walking shoes, sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and your camera. Don’t forget your binoculars.
There Are (Often) No Shops
Most safaris take place in remote areas, where there are no shops. Make sure you’ve got enough of what you need, especially medications.
Practically, pack spare batteries for your camera and a spare SD card. And a power pack because you don’t want your battery to die when you’ve at the sighting of a lifetime.
Our client, LM Archer from the US, kept this in mind:
‘Keith went above and beyond expectations arranging our holiday safari travels (for one vegan and one mobility-impaired traveller, no less:-). Safari.com is lucky to have Keith on board. He helped us feel confident in our choices, keeping us up to date with options, and finessing holiday scheduling issues with aplomb.’
Don’t Miss Out
Game drives run on the animals’ schedule. The morning drive starts very early, generally before sunrise. All the better to see the nocturnal animals as they shuffle off to bed and the diurnal wander down for a drink. Safari days are not the time for a lie-in.
You’ll can up for it with a nap before the afternoon drive, which generally stretches from tea-time til after sundown, again to catch the animals at the waterholes, the shifting light and the changing of the guard.
Listen To Your Guide
Ignoring your guide is the one mistake you don’t want to make. Guides are experts who understand animal behaviour. They have extensive training and their knowledge makes a critical difference to your safari experience and your safety. All you need to do is relax and follow their directions. And listen when you’re watching the animals – professional guides are full of interesting info and facts.
Mind Your P’s and Q’s
There are certain do’s and don’ts in a game drive vehicle that can make or break a drive for everyone.
Don’t wear perfume, don’t vape and don’t smoke: unusual smells can make animals nervous and harder to spot – and smoking is also a fire hazard.
Don’t bring any food and definitely don’t feed the animals: no one wants animals to associate visitors and vehicles with food. You do get snacks and drinks, at spots carefully chosen beforehand by the guides where there is very little chance of disturbing any animals.
Don’t call the animals: hard to believe, but some people do actually try to attract the animals’ attention by calling, whistling or making a noise.
Rule of thumb: don’t be noisy or loud, don’t stand up, don’t make fast movements, don’t touch the animals, no matter how close they are, and never, ever get out of the vehicle unless your guide expressly says you can.
‘We had the inclination to take Rovos Rail through part of South Africa and found Safari.com online. Nicole Van der Merwe, the friendly agent who connected with us was amazing! … As we have never been to SA, Nicole and Safari.com took away ALL of the concerns we had about making our trip a reality. to tell you the truth, it has been a long time since we have been treated this way by such a wonderful travel firm.’
Plan Your African Safari Now
Whether you’re looking to join one of our expertly curated safaris or prefer a bespoke journey, trust Safari.com to guide you through every step.
Our seasoned travel advisors can craft the safari of a lifetime tailored to your needs, budget and travel goals.
