what you need to know about Africa safaris
Going on safari for the first time you probably have many questions. There are hundreds of guides telling you where and when to go, so I’m not going to go into this. This post is intended to give you all kinds of practical tips which will help you prepare for an African safari no matter where or when you go.
From safari dos and don’ts, choosing between organized or self-drive game rides to safari packing tips. This post should answer all your African safari questions. Find out!
What you need to know before your first African safari
No matter how many pictures you have seen or what expectations you have, the very first moment you see African animals in the wild will be unforgettable.
I still remember ours as if it was yesterday. It was 10 years ago, on the very first day we arrived in Uganda. We landed in Entebbe in the morning and drove straight to MurchisonNational Park. In the evening a couple of hippos showed up at the river, just meters away from the terrace where we were having dinner. It was such an amazing experience!
Now that I told you how great it is, I also feel obliged to tell you that not every moment of every safari will be the highlight of your trip. Far from that! You might be driving for hours and hours with not much to see. But then you will, you always do, and it will all be worth it!
Oh, and back to the amazing part. You WILL want to stay longer. Take my word for it, you will. Book a few nights extra. Flying to Africa is not cheap, so get the most out of your trip!
1. Be open-minded and flexible
Every safari drive is unique and therefore unpredictable, so try not to stress about the things you cannot control. Sometimes you won’t see much, sometimes you’ll see a lot, sometimes the ride will take longer than expected, and sometimes it will be tougher than expected.
Be prepared for warm and for cold, for wind or sun, for mosquitoes and flies, and mostly for a rough ride.
While most of the time you will be driving on gravel or sand roads, sometimes the driver might decide to cross a river, drive through the bush, or cross a stone field… We did all of this when following a herd of desert elephants in Namibia and it was an amazing experience!
2. Obey the rules and stay safe
Stay in your car at all times, the rules are there for a good reason. Animals are very well camouflaged and often you don’t see them until it’s too late.
Don’t approach the elephants too closely, don’t make noise, keep your hands and your camera inside the car near the cats, and never stand between the hippo and the water. In fact, hippos are very aggressive and are the most dangerous African animals after mosquitos, so you don’t want to get them upset.
3. Ask questions
Most safari guides are very knowledgeable and you can learn a lot about animals and their behavior.
4. Ask to stop
You think you see something in the distance, but are not sure, or you want to take yet another picture of a zebra? Don’t be afraid to ask to stop the vehicle. The guides are there to give you the best safari experience.
5. Take lots of pictures
The first time you see a zebra you’ll probably take 25 pictures of it, the next time — 10, and by the end of the week you’ll hardly notice it. You can always delete the pictures afterwards and only keep the best, but take pictures when you can because you may not get a chance for a better shot.
Sometimes, you might get extremely lucky and see some incredible wildlife on the very first game drive. Don’t think that it will always be like that! Make sure to take pictures of everything you see because you never know if you’ll have another opportunity.
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