Are you having trouble deciding where to go on this year’s vacation? Every member of your family probably has a different idea of what they want to do, and it may seem like you’ll never find a happy middle ground.
If you want to go on a bucket list trip that everyone will agree on, an African safari is your best bet. Let’s be real, who wouldn’t want to spend their days looking at lions and zebras?
But planning an African safari isn’t as easy as it seems. You’ll have a lot of options to choose from – sometimes an overwhelming amount. Luckily, there are some tips to help you organize your trip.
Keep reading to discover how you can plan the perfect African safari.
Choose Your Safari Type
Before you even worry about searching for Africa tours, start by deciding what type of safari you want. When you think of African safaris, you may immediately think of the Serengeti full of giraffes, lions, rhinos, and more. But that’s not your only options.
Some countries in Northern Africa, particularly Egypt and Morocco, offer desert safaris. While you won’t see many animals, you’ll get to ride camelback and look out at the vast sand dunes.
Both desert and traditional safaris give you a unique experience that will last a lifetime. Since they are so different, it’s important you decide which you want before making additional plans.
Budget Wisely
Now that you’ve chosen your basic safari type, you can begin to budget. While Africa may seem like a cheap vacation, safaris tend to be expensive. Before you get into the nitty-gritty of planning, decide how much you can spend.
Start by researching the average cost of African safari tours and airfare because these will be your two biggest expenses. You may find that longer or more luxurious safaris are out of the question. Then make sure you have enough money in your budget to cover food, activities, immunizations, tourist visas, new travel tech gadgets, and any miscellaneous costs that you may incur.
You don’t need to go into a lot of detail just yet – as long as you know you’ll have more than enough to cover your trip. The last thing you’ll want to do is be scraping by on vacation and have to drop some activities because you ran out of money.
Decide on Your Ideal Safari Length and Intensity
Once you’ve decided your safari type, you should think about how long you want it to last. Safaris can last anywhere from a few hours to several days. You should be as realistic as you can when deciding your safari length. A 10-day safari trek may sound great, but if you have small children who get bored easily, they may need more variety in their vacation.
You’ll also have many options when it comes to the intensity of your safari, especially with overnight or multi-day safaris. Some will have nice accommodation, while others will have you roughing it and request you bring your own toilet paper. Camping can be a great way to get the whole safari experience, but if you have back problems, picky kids, or have never gone camping before, you may want to opt for nicer accommodation.
You’ll also have many transportation options. The two most common are walking and driving safaris. While walking safaris can feel more authentic, driving safaris are more convenient and help ensure nobody will tire out during the day. If you want something more unique, looking into flying or hot air balloon safaris – now that’s an experience you’ll never forget!
Know What You Want to See
Not all African safari tours are the same. Know that you won’t necessarily see the Big 5 on every safari. Some countries have higher populations of certain animals, so your likelihood of seeing your favorite animal depends on your location.
Make a list of what animals you want to see and research where the best places to see them are. Know that tours in Tanzania tend to see more animals in general than some other African countries. Not only does this increase your chances of seeing your favorite animal, but the crowds surrounding you will be smaller with more animals to go around.
There are also many animal rehabilitation centers in Africa. While not the same as seeing animals in the wild, you’ll get a chance to learn more about them and any conservation efforts. You may even get to hold or bottle feed the babies!
Make a List of Other Activities You Want to Do
Did you decide you only want to spend half your vacation on African safaris? You’ll need to decide what you want to do during the second half of your trip. Africa is a huge continent and your alternative actives vary a lot by country.
If you want to see penguins on the beach, ride an ostrich, or go cage diving with Great White Sharks, you’ll want to look into South Africa. If you want to focus on Gorilla trekking, you may want to visit Uganda. If you want to hike Mt. Kilimanjaro or see the Wildebeest migration, Tanzania should top your list.
While your trip may be centered around an African safari, sometimes it’s the smaller activities that take your vacation to the next level. Take your time and see what each potential location has to offer. You may be surprised how unique Africa is and how many bucket list adventures are spread throughout the country.
Make Sure Everyone is On the Same Page
This may seem like a lot so far – and it is! But there is still a lot more to decide on. This is a good point to take a break from researching and think about your options for a while.
Your safari type, the length and intensity of your safari, the top animals you want to see, and the other activities you want to do are the 4 decisions that will direct you to your ideal country. Once you’ve settled on these details, you’ll find that things go a lot easier.
Talk to your travel buddies and pick a plan that you all agree on. One miserable person can drag the whole vacation down, so you’ll want to make sure everyone is happy with the final decision.
If you decided to go solo, take this time to research how safe your potential countries are. Then, follow some important safety tips for traveling alone to ensure your vacation goes smoothly.
Choose the Best Time
Alright, so you chose your ideal African country – that’s great! Now it’s time to fine-tune the details. Start by deciding when you want to visit.
Typically, June through October is a good time to vacation in Africa. It’s their winter, which is dry and much milder than the summer. Know that you’ll have to deal with more crowds during this time frame, and prices may be a little higher since it’s peak season.
Visiting during their summer may be cheaper and less crowded. However, it’ll probably be unbearably hot. Look at the average weather by month before settling on a time.
If you want to see any animal event, such as the Wildebeest Migration, take this into consideration, too. The best time to see this will depend on where you’re going, so plan carefully!
Find the Best Tour Operator
Now that you have most of your planning done, it’s time to find a tour operator that fits your needs. African safari trips have become increasingly popular. As a result, there is no shortage of companies and tours to choose from.
This is why it’s better to decide on your dream safari and then look for operators later. If you start by looking at operators you could miss out on some great experiences that you may not have thought about without doing your own research first.
When looking for the best African safari tours, find a few that meet all your needs. This includes things like length, accommodation, location, and price. Many tour companies, such as Earthlife Expeditions, have several different options to choose from.
Once you’ve found a few different tour operators, check online reviews. Your tour guide can make or break your trip, so consider axing any that have bad reviews. After a little back and forth, you should be left with your perfect tour company!
How to Plan the Perfect African Safari
If you’re looking for an unforgettable vacation, consider taking a trip to Africa. There are tons of different options, so you’ll be able to craft a trip perfect for your family. Just follow our tips and tricks to plan the perfect African safari.
Did you like what you read? Check out our travel destinations blog page for more great vacation ideas.
