African Safaris

Africa is fast becoming the favorite destination for holidays and camp outs. Tourists from all over the world travel to this amazing wonderland to have a glimpse at its natural beauty and wildlife. Wildlife safaris and nature walks are a prominent part of any vacation you might be taking in Africa. It is good to plan your Safari before hand and stock up all the requirements and thing you may need.

Let’s take a look at a few tips that are sure to make your African Safari a truly memorable experience:

Staying Connected – Have important telephone numbers at hand, such as numbers of tourist boards, various game reserves and national parks. It’s a good idea to have a mobile phone with a local number.

Planning Your Tours – If you are on a safari for the first time, make sure that you go along with a guided tour led by a professional and not venture out your self. Tour guides are experienced people who know their job as well as the territory and the climate conditions so let them decide on the kind of safaris to undertake and the places to stay. Besides the things that you might want to do, you need to know what not to do.

Boarding And Lodging – If you are not using a specialized tour guide, then you need to contact various game reserves and national parks for their brochures and catalogues in order to know their pricing.

Treating Wild Animals – Remember, that wild animals need to be treated with respect so don’t get off your vehicle and try to get too close. Animals like rhinos, giraffes, elephants and lions are ferocious and capable of killing mercilessly. Stay at a distance and do not make peculiar noises or sudden movements of any kind.

Bush Drives And Walks – Trust your tour guides, as they know their way around. Do not attempt to take detours, and stay inside your vehicles at all times. You might get lost while attempting to take shortcuts so beware.
Animals should always be approached downwind and special care should be taken as to not get too close to mothers and their little ones. Animals can get very dangerous if they sense danger.

Keep Your Surroundings Clean – Preserving wildlife is an enormous task. Please do not litter. Instead carry a bag along with you and collect disposables in it. The bag can then be taken back to the campsite and disposed off hygienically. Fires should be lit only at recommended sites and extinguished fires should be well covered with sand once you leave the site.

Lastly, remember to carry your binoculars and cameras. A torch will be very handy during night safaris. Dress up loose, comfortable and light. Africa is a sunny destination; so carry a pair of sunglasses and a good sun block if you may. Extra supplies like water, fuel, food, tyres etc should be taken along for longer trips. You may not see all the animals that you would like on your first trip so be patient.