How to Get the Most Out of your Safari

in Safari Planning & Tips by Araneta&Tan — August 6, 2009 at 10:50 am | 0 comments

So you’ve booked your trip to Africa to go on safari. There’s no doubt you will be excited – it will after all be the trip of a lifetime. So what can you do to really make sure that you get everything out of the trip which you hope to? Well, here we give you our top tips on what to do to prepare.


1 – Buy at Least One Good Companion Book

If you’ve booked your safari through a reliable provider then you will no doubt be able to tap into the expertise of some really helpful and experienced guides while you’re there. It is still a great idea to read up before you go though, as this will give you a much better idea of what to expect when you actually get there.

In particular, look out for things such as:

a. Weather conditions – plan your clothing and other items around this

b. Wildlife – learn about the wildlife and their basic characteristics so you will know what to expect when you arrive at your destination

c. Types of photographic conditions you might encounter – this will help to plan which equipment to take

There are different books for different countries, but one of our favourites is the Photo Safari Companion.

2 – Watch Some TV

Another great way to get prepared is to watch some of the fantastic documentaries which are out there – especially those made by the BBC, such as Planet Earth or Wild Africa – and these can be even better preparation than reading a book. These documentaries will give you a great idea of what kind of animals you are likely to see on safari, and what kind of things you would expect to see them doing. This will prepare you so you can understand when you are going to get the best photographs and can plan your trips around this.

3 – Make a List and Plan Your Packing

If you’re anything like me, you probably tend to leave your packing until the last minute, but it’s really important that you don’t do this when you are going to Africa for the first time. If you’ve invested in a good safari companion guide, this might give you a pre-prepared packing list. Otherwise, think carefully about what you will need when you are there – nothing ruins a safari quicker than realising you’ve forgotten something important. Planning your safari packing will also make sure you don’t take too much.

4 – Sort Out Your Health

Nothing will ruin a safari quite like being ill, so make sure that you pack everything you think you might need, especially if you are on medications. You also need to make sure that you get all of the appropriate travel vaccinations for the area you are going to, and some good travel insurance in case anything does make you ill. MASTA Travel is one company we always recommend our clients to go to if their local GP does not offer a travel clinic. You will be welcomed by knowledgeable physicians who will make you even more excited about the trip and at the same time ensure that they can assist you in making this a wonderful holiday from start to finish.

The real key to getting the most out of your safari is to research and plan, which I’m pretty sure you will be only too eager to do if this is your first time. We regularly run photography safaris to Africa, so if you’d like any more info from us about planning your trip, please get in contact with us.

Tags: Africa safari tips