African Safaris
Specials:
Africa Travel
Information:
Subscribe
to our Free Newsletter Our FREE
bi-monthly e-mail
newsletter is the best way to keep you informed about
your favorite travel destinations in Africa. Subscribe and
receive tons of
tips
relating to African travel, exclusive up to the minute offers on
exciting
tours, safaris, hotels, car hire, general travel news and other
travelers
experiences. Do you know that some of our best
offers
are only available to subscribers of the newsletter? Just fill out the form below and be a
subscriber
today!
Note: We do not disclose
any personal
infomation of
yours to anyone and also do not condone spam or junk email.
 
We believe
in “Integrity in
Travel”
|
Email
this page to a friend Africa
Travel Newsletters > African Safari Planning in 10 Easy Steps
1. 10 Easy Steps for Planning Your African Safari
 Planning is one of the most important steps for ensuring you make the most out of your African safari. The following are ten steps that many visitors to Africa may find useful to follow. Go through them carefully before you take off on your adventure.
The first step is to decide where it is you want to go, and do the necessary research to gather as many facts and miscellaneous information about your destination as possible. These facts will come in handy as you find yourself thousands of miles away from home. There are several sources of information available for travelers. Check out online for destination reviews, hotel options, spas, resorts, national parks, nightlife and other recreational facilities you may be interested in. You may also want to talk to your travel agent particularly if he has some African knowledge or experience.
Once you have settled on a destination, what you need top see and the activities you want to do, the second step is to make a booking. Bookings are really important because the time of your booking and the specific routing you opt for could make a difference in how you enjoy your trip or how much you pay for it. Whether you self book online or use a travel agent, ensure that you get a good understanding of the local context so that you have a good value African experience. Be sure that your African safari is tailor-made to suit your needs and interests while meeting all your curiosity needs. Remember, your safari’s success is dependent on how authentic your encounters and experiences are.
The third step is to pick up a few words in the language of the people you will be interacting with. For visitors to the east and central Africa region, the Swahili language is a perfect starting point. Learn how to greet, request for something, and more importantly, learn how to say “no thank you”. These phrases will make a big difference to your experience. As you will soon discover, the locals will warm up to you if you show an interest in their language. But just how will you be able to learn these words? You have several options: the Internet, books or friends who know the language and are willing to teach you a few words.
To make your experience more culturally relevant, take the fourth step and familiarize yourself with the culture of the people you will be interacting with. This will not only help you to avoid major culture shock but it will also help you to understand and better direct your inquiries about cultural aspects you are not familiar with. Do not hesitate to ask questions and read up more on the cultural norms and practices of the countries and people you will visit. Discover their cultural and traditional heritage and, for a short while try to become one of them.
The status of your health is very important as some of the areas you will travel trough may be far away from an expert physician. Your health can be a huge determinant to the success of your African safari. So in the fifth step of your planning, visit your physician and obtain the necessary advice with regards to diseases, immunizations, and general preventive care while on your trip. You may have to carry allergy cards or collars, immunization cards, and a personal supply of medication.
In the sixth step, make the necessary and proper arrangements to acquire the right kind of visa for your trip. This will mean that you will need a valid passport and the contacts of the relevant embassies and consulates. Depending on your citizenship you may actually not need visas to enter some countries. In other cases you may simply be instructed to pick up your visa at your port of entry. However, no matter where you are from, make the effort to obtain the right information as this will save you a lot of trouble upon your arrival in the African country of your safari.
At this stage you are almost ready to take off for the great adventure. The seventh step is to ensure that you travel with the right currencies. You will usually have no trouble exchanging US Dollars, Euros, or Sterling Pounds into the local African currencies. Obtain the right information on exchange rates from your travel agents, the Internet, or your bank. Ensure that all your transactions take place in officially recognized bureaus; otherwise use banks. Furthermore, it is important for travelers with international debit or credit card to locate their Visa, MasterCard, or other debit/credit services ATMs and stores around the host country. Many airports and shopping centers in Africa will offer access to ATMs.
The eighth step is to pack the right kind of clothing. International visitors to Africa often make the assumption that every corner of Africa is warm and sunny all year round. This is a not always true. Do your research to ensure that the clothing you pack is suitable to the climate in the host country at the time of your visit. Depending on your destination you may experience an African winter or a warm sunny African summer. The seasons do not always match those in the northern hemisphere.
The ninth step is to ensure that you have all your accessories with you. These include plug converters, cell phone chargers, bug spray and repellent, medication and other items and accessories depending on your needs.
Finally, pack the right equipment for sharing your adventures once you get back to your home country. Do not forget your camera, your batteries, your additional storage devices, your laptop, and extra batteries. These will come in very handy as you snap away and record videos of moments that may forever change how you see the world. At this stage you are ready to embark on your lifetime adventure!.
Help and More
Information for Africa Travel Planning!
Are you planning
for an African vacation in any destination? Contact us
today and we will assist you in picking and booking the best hotel and
flight, and all
your travel arrangements in Africa including Kenya, Tanzania, South
Africa, Namibia, and Botswana.
|
Attentive service
