Africa Safaris – All you Need to Know to Plan the Vacation of a Lifetime

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Africa Safaris – All you Need to Know
to Plan the Vacation of a Lifetime

This page gives you all the information you need to plan Africa safaris or Africa vacations. From the very first night you spend under African skies deep in the wilderness of this wild continent, you will be in love with Africa forever. You will long to go back for all your days. If you are very lucky, you will get to visit all the wonderful places discussed in this section of my website. On Africa safaris (especially self-drive safaris) you can get an extremely good opportunity to exercise nature photography. However, you must know where to go.

Most foreign visitors get the opportunity to visit Africa only once in their lifetime. You might be more blessed and go on Africa safaris more often, especially if you actively plan to get here while you are still young. However, it is still of utmost importance that you are well informed about your options beforehand, and get to make the correct choice.

The preparation and planning for your safari can be quite a challenge, but you will most probably find it very exciting because you are looking forward to it so much. Some careful research here and on other places on the web (see links later) will enable you to make a decision on each of the following questions:

1. Which countries offer the best Africa safaris?
2. Of those, which one do you want to visit?
3. What type of safari would you want to embark on?
4. What time of year will you be visiting?
5. What will you need to take?

I discuss each in more detail below.

1. Which countries offer the best Africa safaris?

There are, in my opinion, only a few countries in Eastern and Southern Africa worth spending money on for an Africa safari. In sub-sections of this page (coming soon – watch for links) I explain the attractions and considerations for each of the following countries:

Southern Africa:

1. Botswana*
2. South Africa*
3. Namibia
4. Zambia

Eastern Africa:

1. Kenya*
2. Tanzania
3. Uganda

Click here to see a Map of Africa. You can click on any of the countries for country specific map.

2. Of those, which one do you want to visit?

You will most probably already have an idea as to which of the countries listed above you want to visit. I hope you found this country in the list I recommend above. If you did not arrive here with an idea, you can read more on each country by clicking through to the country specific pages (under point 1 above).

Those marked with an asterisk are ideal for first time visitors to Africa, and offer you extremely good game viewing. South Africa also has much more to offer than the normal Africa safari itinerary, and you can consider visiting some of the other attractions on the same trip as your safari.

From a nature photography point of view, consider what each country has to offer. Botswana offers extremely good wildlife and bird photography opportunities, while Kenya offers similar opportunities (and the wildebeest migration) albeit in a totally different type of habitat. The whole of Eastern Africa offer good natural landscape opportunities, while South Africa offers arguably the greatest diversity. Namibia is certainly one of the world’s best places for desert photography. If you are looking for wild gorillas, you need not look further than Uganda.

Sundowners

Vehicles parked in a half circle for Sundowners near Kubu Island, Botswana
Copyright © Dries Cronje

3. What type of safari would you like to embark on?

Your answer to this question will most probably be influenced by your budget constraints. While all of us would like to visit one of the luxury fly-in game lodges in the Okavango Delta for four weeks, this is only possible for the extremely rich. However, Africa can be explored on a reasonable budget as well.

My preferred method of traveling is self-drive Africa safaris. The cheapest option is to be self-sufficient and prepare your own meals, have enough gas and pitch your own tent (easy with rooftop tents). It is however not necessary to be totally self-sufficient. There are organised self-drive tours available, where an experienced guide with an excellent crew looks after you while you just have to bring a vehicle, a passport and some drinks. You will still be doing quite a bit of driving though.

My most memorable safari was with Frank Carlisle, an experienced 4x4 tour leader and friend of mine. He has an excellent crew, will make you feel right at home, and remove all the fear surrounding your visit to Africa. He has recently started his own company called Bhejane 4x4 Adventures. I assure you that any trip you embark on with Frank will be a memorable and safe one. Unfortunately Frank does not at present offer any safaris to Eastern Africa.

Obviously, a foreigner going on a self-drive safari in Africa will need to rent a 4x4 vehicle, kitted with all the equipment necessary. Britz 4x4 Rentals for Africa safaris , based in South Africa, is one company supplying such 4x4s and have a very good reputation.

If you are keen on a safari at one of the luxury lodges in Africa, you can visit Bookeasy SA and go to their Safari Lodges or Game Reserves pages. You will find some really nice lodges and safaris here (including photography safaris).

For more information and bookings on camping and luxury safaris to Eastern Africa, you can visit Eastern and Southern Safaris.

4. What time of year will you be visiting?

My personal recommendation for the best time of the year for Africa safaris is in the local country’s wintertime. This is the best time to visit in my eyes since the discomfort levels due to heat is not as bad as in summer (Africa can get really hot!), and the risk of contracting malaria is smaller. However, people do embark on Africa safaris all year round. It is best to know what to expect of the different seasons…

The safari areas of Southern Africa experience rainfall mainly from November to March. May through to August is generally a very good time to travel, with May and June probably at lower rates. However, the Cape provinces experience winter rainfall, and spring or summer time is definitely the best time of year to visit. All the wildflowers of Namaqualand start blooming in spring, and this is worth seeing.

In Eastern Africa long rainfall occurs from April to early June and it can be less expensive to travel at this time of the year. Rainfall also occurs in November and December, but then mainly as showers that pass quickly. As in the rest of Africa, July and August are the most popular months for visitors. At this time of year it is easier to see animals, because the grass and bushveld is less dense and also because animals flock around water supply as it is not readily available in the open veld.

5. What will you need to take?

The following list is not exhaustive by any means, and should be confirmed with your safari organisers before you depart. The list also do not cover the items required for self-sufficient, self-drive Africa safaris, as this will be a much longer more involved list. I will add a list of items required for a self-sufficient trip shortly, as I am currently planning such a trip.

Clothing:

- Comfortable shoes (some form of hiking shoe is usually sufficient)
- A warm jacket (a light one and a wind proof one)
- Summer clothing for wear during the day
- Trousers for evenings
- Tracksuit to sleep in
- Sufficient underwear and socks
- A hat for all round sun protection
- Bathing suit
- Raincoat (when visiting in rainy season)
- Belt

Other personal items:

- Sun block (a complete block out of SPF 30 and SPF 15)
- Medication (usual plus precautionary for influenza and headaches)
- Band-aids
- Small flashlight or headlamp (especially important if camping)
- Pocketknife or multi tool such as Leatherman
- Sunglasses are very important (polarised lenses are recommended)
- Binoculars
- Camera equipment – enough said!
- Bird and Mammal identification books, recommended:

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa
Birds of Eastern Africa
Sasol Birds of Prey of Africa
Mammals of Africa
- Further reading for the evening – The Safari Companion

Toiletries:

- Toothbrush and enough toothpaste
- Shaving cream and razor
- Soap (citronella soap if possible for mosquitoes) and shampoo
- Washcloth
- Brush or comb
- Towels – one for bathing and one for swimming
- Anti-perspirant
- After sun soothing lotion

There are a lot of further important issues to be considered before jetting off on any Africa safaris. These range from taking along your offspring to malaria tablets to adapter plugs for charging your camera's batteries. I plan on discussing these issues and specific destinations of importance in articles as the site develops. Here is a list of articles on Africa Safaris:

The Kalahari - Information on Visiting this Photographer's Paradise

Return from Africa Safaris to Africa Nature Photography