What Else Do I Need To Know?

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What are the first things I should consider as I plan my dream safari?

There are many important considerations to keep in mind as you make your plans for your safari. Here are the top four things to consider.
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Do you have views on taking anti-malaria medication? Malaria, transmitted by mosquitoes, is a serious, and sometimes fatal, disease. Many safari destinations in Africa are located in malaria-free zones. Speak to your physician and explore the many reliable online resources for recommendations on preventing malaria. Most people have no problems taking the preventative medications. However, if you are pregnant, have existing medical conditions, are traveling with children, or just don’t like taking non-essential medication, you may want to limit your search to a malaria-free region, such as those in South Africa on Safari Wizard.
Who are you / what is your traveler profile? This larger question encompasses your personal tastes and interests:
- How picky are you about the type of game you wish to see, and the density of that game? If your safari will be incomplete if you do not see a leopard, then you need to make sure that you travel to a game lodge where leopard sitings are routine. If seeing a few elephants over the course of a couple of day is plenty, there are a wide range of destinations for you. On the other hand, some safaris have a high density of game which gives you the opportunity to see herds of hundreds of elephants.
- How important are your accommodations and food? On Safari Wizard, you have a vast range of choices. Most safaris are “all inclusive,” and for one price provide accommodation, meals, and two game drives per day. You can go on a mobile camping experience where you sleep on the ground, and eat around a camp fire. You can go on a five-star tented experience where you sleep in a luxury tent that has a private bathroom with a big soaking tub, “indoor” toilet, silk sheets, and you are served a gourmet dinner al fresco on proper linens, china, stemware, and silver – with a roaring fire by your side. You can also go on a safari out in the bush where the accommodations are hotel style, fully equipped with what you would expect in an urban setting.
What activities interest you besides the standard twice daily game drives at dawn and dusk? Some safaris offer extensive, world class spas. Others offer educational nature lectures, and walking tours of fauna and flora. There are safaris where you can take a hot air balloon, and still others where you can go out to view game on horseback or on a bicycle.
What is your view on transportation to your final destination? Do you wish to add a safari onto the back end of a business trip? Or are you planning the trip of a lifetime and allocating as much time as needed to reach your destination? Do you have an issue with small planes, prefer to fly in to a major airport and then transfer on the ground, or are you comfortable taking a 6-seater plane directly to the landing strip of your destination?

Once you answer the questions above for yourself, use Safari Wizard to narrow down the hundreds of safaris available throughout Africa to find just the right one for you!

How do I find the safari I want on Safari Wizard?

Not sure how to search for your dream safari?
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See our FAQs and Trouble Shooting sections for more information on using Safari Wizard.

What is the recommended length of time for a safari?

For international visitors, in general, you should plan to stay no less than three days and two nights.
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The typical itinerary would look something like this:

Day 1: Arrive sometime during the day, settle in, and then go for your first game drive at dusk, followed by dinner and then bed.
Day 2: Wake up around 5 AM on the second day for your first morning game drive, followed by breakfast, a day at leisure, and then your second game drive at dusk, followed again by dinner and then bed.
Day 3: Wake up around at 5 AM for your final morning game drive, followed by breakfast and departure.

This standard itinerary would get you two morning drives and two evening drives. With four game drives under your belt, you have had a good chance to see the “Big Five” animals on everyone’s list to see in Southern Africa, or the gorillas that everyone wants to see if East Africa. We advise that most novices will not be bored with this length of time. To stay longer, you should probably be a serious nature lover.

If you are pressed for time, there are game lodges within a short drive or quick flight from some major African cities. You can squeeze in a quick one night visit, or even a day trip from Johannesburg, Cape Town or Nairobi if you really want to fit a safari experience into a short itinerary.

What is the best time of year to go on safari?

Not sure when to go?
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See Where and When to Go?

How much should I be prepared to spend? Do I need to tip the staff at my lodge?

African safaris range from budget to luxurious and the total cost of your stay will depend on your destination, lodge and activities.
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There is a wide range of options from high-end luxury lodges to lower-budget options like mobile tents.

A safari can cost anywhere from $150 - $2,000 per person per night. This typically includes overnight accommodations, selected meals and activities, such as daily and/or nightly game drives. In most cases, you can add on other services for an extra fee, such as spa treatments, romantic dinners, or excursions. You should also allocate a separate budget toward your international flights and local transportation, which varies depending on where you are traveling from and to. In many cases, your lodge can advise you of the best transportation options and help you select the best one for your budget.

In most African countries, a tip of 10-15% is customary. Ask your host what the appropriate tip is for your game ranger or guide. Most properties accept major credit cards and require a deposit or payment in full in advance of your arrival. Ask your lodge about their specific payment and cancellation procedures before completing your booking.

How do I get to my destination?

Most of Africa’s capital cities and popular tourist destinations are served by air. Once you enter your destination country, you will most likely need to take a connecting flight or drive considerable distances to get to your safari.
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Your lodge will advise you of the best airport to fly into and the best way to reach your final destination. In some cases, they may also arrange the necessary domestic transfers for you. For more information about traveling to and around each country, check out Where and When to Go?

Do I need a visa? Do I need to show a yellow fever card at the border?

Some countries may require you to obtain a visa and/or prove you have been vaccinated against yellow fever before entering the country.
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Below is a list of our top safari destinations and their visa and yellow fever requirements.

	Traveling From
Destination	US	Canada	UK	Yellow Fever
Botswana				Required if arriving from infected areas
Kenya	Visa Required	Visa Required	Visa Required	Required if arriving from infected areas
Lesotho				Required if arriving from infected areas
Malawi				Required if arriving from infected areas
Namibia				Required if arriving from infected areas
Rwanda				Required
South Africa				Required if arriving from infected areas and Kenya and Tanzania
Tanzania	Visa Required	Visa Required	Visa Required	Required if visiting Zanzibar or if arriving from infected areas
Uganda	Visa Required	Visa Required	Visa Required	Required
Zambia	Visa Required	Visa Required	Visa Required	Required if arriving from infected areas
Zimbabwe	Visa Required, May obtain on arrival for a visa fee	Visa Required, May obtain on arrival for a visa fee	Visa Required, May obtain on arrival for a visa fee	Required if arriving from infected areas

Other than yellow fever, what kind of vaccinations might I need?

It depends.
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There are game lodges close to major cities in South Africa where you don’t need to get any vaccinations at all. On the other hand, many safaris are deep in the bush, and require vaccinations and anti-malaria medication on a preventative basis.

To find what the Center for Disease Control suggests, visit Africa.com for Travel Health recommendations for each country.

Is it safe to travel to African countries from a political perspective?

First, Safari Wizard advises that most safaris are far from urban areas, and unlikely to be affected by political unrest. That said, you probably want to avoid traveling to a country on the verge of a military coup, or where democratic freedoms are generally not observed.
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One efficient way to capture the political risk associated with your travels is to understand how the country rates on the Ibrahim Index. The Ibrahim Index, developed by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation in connection with the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, undertakes a rigorous analysis to rate each of the fifty three African countries on the basis of safety and rule of law, citizen participation and human rights, sustainability and economic opportunity, and human development. Look at where the country you are interested in visiting ranks on the Ibrahim Index, as a relative measure of the political risk.

Other ways of assessing the political risk include visiting the U.S. State Department’s Travel website to see what, if any, travel advisories exist for the country you plan to visit. Seasoned world travelers advise us that they would never leave the US or Europe if they limited their travels to countries in which the State Department has no warnings. To put this in perspective, millions of American, European and Asian citizens safely visit the African continent each year. This includes thousands who fly in each day for tourism, business, volunteerism, or study as well as thousands of foreigners who live in Africa.

To gain a deeper understanding of the destination you plan to visit, you may also want to follow the local news as it develops. Visit Africa.com’s News and click on the African country whose news you wish to monitor.

What should I pack?

Whether this is your first time or you’re experienced in the African Bush, here are a few packing reminders to make sure that you have a glorious time.
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Sense of Adventure: If you don’t start with this, then you will not enjoy your safari to the fullest. You should expect the unexpected and be delighted when it presents itself!

Patience: When you’re on a safari, you are not in a zoo. Don’t expect to tick off the animals you have requested to see on a list. Your guide will do everything in his/her power to satisfy your requests by tracking the animals but life moves at a different pace in the African bush than in a city. Type A personalities may be challenged!

Binoculars: On a game drive, most of your animal encounters will be up close. However, there are times when you spot something from afar and will want to determine whether it is worth investigating closer up. Binoculars are also great for checking out those special features like the tufts on top of the giraffes’ horns which identify whether the animal is male or female.

Camera: If you need batteries, remember to bring spares and also a Ziploc bag to protect your camera from the dust. The ideal, all round lens for a trip such as this is probably a 28 - 300 mm zoom. Take lots of spare memory. You will definitely take more photographs than you would ever imagine! However, also take the time to look and enjoy the animals you encounter and experience them without your camera. A lot of your African Safari will include memorable moments of being so close you can smell the animal in its natural habitat. You cannot replace these memories or explain them to anyone with a photograph.

Sunglasses: The equatorial sun is harsh on the eyes. The glare can be intense and it might be advisable to bring along eyedrops.

Warm hat: Depending on the time of year, you might need a hat on your early morning and night drives.

Shorts and cotton t-shirts: Try not to blind the animals. Stick to neutral colors. Neon yellow will scare the animals away!

Swimsuit: No explanation needed here.

Water tablets: Most lodges supply bottled water, but bring along water tablets, if you do not want to bother and are willing to try the local water.

Brimmed Sun Hat: You want to blend in, so bring a hat in a neutral color. White is not recommended. Your hat must be tight or have a tie. Otherwise, it will fly off when your open vehicle is going at high speeds.

Long trousers: If you really want to travel light, buy the ones with the legs that zip off so you’ll have shorts and longs in one. Although laundry facilities are normally available, 100% nylon is strongly recommended because it dries immediately in the heat. Denim is far too heavy and you will cook in jeans.

Solid walking shoes: For the walks and at night, it is not a good idea to sit round the camp fire with open shoes. Watch out for scorpions! Make sure that your shoes are broken in and that you bring appropriate socks.

Good book, Ipod or Board Game: There are quiet moments between drives and walks where you get to have “ME” time. Better still, drink in those moments and marvel at the sounds and sights of the African bush.

A Small Journal or Diary: You will want to record special moments! We believe in journaling and reflecting back on those experiences in life where you had some personal insights that shifted your thinking or direction in life. This happens naturally in the African Bush and you may want to read your thoughts and observations later on to remind yourself of those “A-HA” moments.

Flashlight/Torch and Spare Batteries: Sometimes your lodge will supply them, but it’s always a good idea to have your own.

Fleece or Rain Jacket and /or Sweater or Warm Jacket: You’ll want a bit of warmth for game drives or cool evenings.

Personal Toiletries: Your normal toiletries but note sun block is a must, as are lip balm and insect repellent!

Book on Wildlife: You will want to be able to identify the animals you see. Make sure your book is in color, since many of the differentiators are in the color of the animals.

Medication, Malaria Vaccinations etc.: You will not have access to a pharmacy while in the bush, so take with you all of your current medication. If you a traveling to a malaria area, seek advice from your doctor and bring medication with you, if needed. Also, seek medical advice on which vaccinations are needed for the particular African country that you are visiting. You can find that information in other parts of What else do I need to know?

I am traveling with children. What do I need to know?

If you are traveling with children, we recommend that you travel to a non-malaria area.
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Several areas in South Africa are malaria-free and offer wonderful safari experiences. Protect the whole family from the African sun’s strong rays with hats and lots of sunblock. Some lodges do not allow children, so be sure to choose a family-friendly lodge with accommodations and activities for your little ones. Check out our recommendations for the Family Traveler.

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