Safari Guide

A qualified guide will be hugely important during your photo safari to Africa. Not only will your guide provide you with the safety and security of having someone who knows the country and the culture, but he or she will also provide you with a source of knowledge that can help to bring your safari adventure to life.

Safety

As beautiful and incredible as many of Africa’s creatures are, you must remember that they are also potentially dangerous. Elephants may look peaceful and graceful whilst walking across the plains in a herd, but if they feel threatened in any way then they can soon become dangerous. If you are in a vehicle then the threat will be minimal, but it is still important to have a guide who knows when to keep a sensible distance and when to steer well clear.

It becomes even more important to have a guide during a walking safari. Most guides will in fact carry a rifle on such a safari, usually as a deterrent but also for protection if needed, and they will know what to do should a situation become dangerous. Guides don’t just drive you around like a normal tour guide – they are experts in animal behaviour and they know how to act around the animals you will encounter.

Knowledge and Education

Your guide is more than just a person to take you from A to B. When you go on a photo safari, your guide will know the area like the back of their hand. They will be able to tell you all about the plant and animal life that you encounter, the history of the area and the local people. This will provide you with far greater insight into the country you are travelling in, and will provide you with so much more during your photographic safari.

Best Animal Spots

You may think that it doesn’t take much skill to spot an elephant when it is coming straight towards you. But there are plenty of occasions when your guide will be able to spot lions, leopards and other well-hidden animals well before you get the chance. They are trained to pick out the animals from great distances, and you simply won’t believe how sharp their eyesight can be. A safari wouldn’t be much fun if you didn’t see any animals, so a guide will prove crucial here.

Photography

When you go on a photo safari, your guide will be more than just an expert in the animals and the local area – they will also be a professional photographer with extensive experience of shooting landscapes and wildlife in Africa. They will be able to provide techniques to get the best shots, as well as taking you to the best spots for photos and providing you with expert advice to help you get the best results from your trip. They will constantly be thinking about opportunities for getting the best photo, just like you, so you can be sure that you are on the same wavelength.

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.

Richard Estes

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.

BBC documentaries

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

MASTA Travel

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.

1 – Don’t Buy Souvenirs Made from Animals

A powerful advertisement by WWF

Most people probably know that they should steer well clear of ivory products, but might not realise that poachers also pose a massive threat to other African species. For example rhinos may be hunted for their horns; gorillas, leopards and other animals are hunted for their skins; and marine creatures are harvested to sell as souvenirs.

One of the best ways that you can help conservation in Africa is to make sure that you never buy this type of souvenir. This includes steering clear of the meat of these animals in exotic restaurants, both in Africa and elsewhere.

2 – Donate to a Cause

There are lots of charities out there dedicated to conservation in Africa. This includes international charities such as the World Wildlife Fund or the Born Free Foundation, as well as smaller local charities.

Even a small donation to one of these charities can make a big difference. Next time it’s a friend’s birthday, why not adopt an animal as a gift for them? You’ll receive a great gift pack to give them as part of their present, and you will both be a little happier knowing that you are helping an animal somewhere in Africa. Check out one of our favourite charity the David Sheldrick Trust in Kenya for more information on how to adopt an orphaned baby elephant or rhino. www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org

David Sheldrick Trust

3 – Get Involved

If you don’t want to just donate money to a wildlife conservation charity, why not actually get involved yourself?

There are lots of charities which offer volunteers the chance to go and spend some time helping on a wildlife conservation project in Africa. Not only will you be helping the conservation cause, but you will get the experience of a lifetime. Projects vary from a week up to several months and are a great way to spend a gap year or a sabbatical as they give you something that is absolutely priceless.

Drop us an email and we can give you details of some of our recommended organizations in Africa and you too can start making a difference!

If you are the type of traveller who plans on going on a safari holiday for a specific purpose like photography safari, bird viewing, educational research on the characteristics of a certain animal, or for a romantic honeymoon, we would highly recommend you to hire your own vehicle and ranger. This will give you full flexibility when you are out in the bush and it will certainly guarantee you more enjoyable game drives.

Private 4x4 Vehicle

A standard 4×4 vehicle when you go on a safari in Tanzania can easily fit 6 to 8 people. It is of course, absolutely fun to make new friends and share the exciting moments together. But you also have to bear in mind that everyone inside the vehicle will have different interests. There might be first timers who want to see only the Big Five, bird lovers who would stop every time they see one of East Africa’s beautiful and colourful birds and there might be a photography enthusiast who wishes to stop longer than usual to capture the moment a male lion wakes up from its long slumber. Each sighting no matter how different your interests are will be very exciting for sure.

But if you are looking for the total freedom to do whatever you want, to stop wherever you feel like or to have the privacy for you and your love one, then having your own vehicle will eliminate all the things I mentioned and you will be rest assured that your plan for the day will be just as how you want it to be. The ranger’s attention will be solely dedicated to you and your interests, and you can have the flexibility all day long. This may include starting earlier than usual to see the beautiful sunrise, or you can stop in one spot for as long as you want and patiently wait for the return of a leopard to have its fresh lunch that is visibly hanging on a tree branch. And if you are interested in photography, then having your own private vehicle will give you the total freedom to move around the vehicle so that you can position yourself well whenever you see an interesting subject to photograph. The list can go on but I am sure you know what I am trying to say here.

The only down side of hiring your own private vehicle is the cost as it can be an expensive option. Depending on the lodge you will be staying or the company you will be travelling with, the cost of a private vehicle will vary considerably and it can go up to £400.00 per day. It is a lot of money to pay on top of the total safari package costs but depending on your interests and goals, then this price might be easily justifiable and I can guarantee you that the monies spent will be worth it should you opt to take this route.

So before you go on a safari, it is best to think about what you want to do, what you want to see and think about what kind of safari holiday you want to have, and think about your goals. This will help you clarify, prioritise and decide on whether or not a private vehicle and ranger is good for your planned safari holiday.

For the photography enthusiasts out there, you can always join one of the photographic safaris we organize to be with like minded people and a professional photographer to guide you in taking your award winning safari wildlife photographs. You can contact us at info@aranetatan.com if you want to get more information.

Safari Companion

Safari Companion is a good reference book for any first timers or frequent safari visitors to Africa. It is a very detailed book that gives you all the basic information on how to better observe the animals and how to understand the different characteristics of each species.

It is a great read before your safari and even more interesting whilst you are on your holiday. After a game drive out in the bush, this is one book you look forward to reading back in your lodge. It will give you a clearer insight on the context and meaning of animal’s behaviour that you saw during the day. You will understand what it means when an impala is away from the other herds or be able to decipher and put exact meaning over the sound of a cheetah’s cry. There are invaluable information on the animal’s traits, how they move, how they communicate, response to danger and many more that you will absolutely enjoy discovering.

It does not have all the fancy pictures of mammals and it is quite a big book to bring with you considering the luggage restrictions imposed by the light aircrafts, but it is definitely a good companion and worth all the effort carrying.

You will be amazed on how all these new found knowledge brings all the excitement and the appreciation to another level.

Happy reading!

See our ESSENTIAL Safari packing list below.

What is the safari luggage alowance?

There is a 15kg maximum luggage allowance when you go on a safari that we strongly recommend you to  follow. The aircrafts are small and can only accommodate a small amount of luggage space and weight. So for your own comfort and safety, it is good to stick to the rules.

Soft duffel bags are preferred than the hard cases as it makes it easier to store and squeeze in both the light aircraft compartments and the vehicles that take you to your safari destination.

You are also allowed a small hand bag or back pack inside the aircraft as long as they are light and can be placed on your lap.

What to wear on a safari?

Comfort is paramount when you go on a safari so always bear this in mind.

Neutral colours are also very important and again, one we highly recommend you to follow. So please stick to colours like beige, brown, khaki, grey and olive.

Most lodges offer complimentary laundry services and you get it the next day so you can really get away packing very little clothing with you.

• 1x Hiking shoes or walking shoes
• 1x walking sandals or flip flops – you can also wear this in the hotel/lodge
• 1x Hat – full bream hats with strap to keep it in place
• 1x Fleece or vest
• 1x Light water proof jacket
• 1x Polarized sunglasses
• 2x Long sleeved shirts
• 2x Cotton t-shirts – long sleeves are better than short sleeves especially in Tanzania to give you extra protection from tsetse flies
• 2x Zip-Off trousers or normal cotton/linen trousers
• 1x Short pants
• 2x Pajamas
• 3x Socks
• 1x Swimwear
• 1x Scarf *

* Optional

What medicines to bring on a safari?

Please consult your GP or go to travel health clinics like MASTA Travel for advice on what to bring. The following are just guidelines on top of your other personal medications.

• Malaria tablets
• Yellow Fever vaccination certificate
• Mosquito repellant
• Paracetamol
• Diarrhoea tables
• Antihistamine tablets
• Motion sickness pills
• Antiseptic creams
• Plasters
• First Aid Kit
• Eye wash and eye drops
• Sun block
• Lip balm with SPF
• Wet wipes
• Pocket tissues

What gadgets to bring on safari?

• Camera – a good SLR is worth the investment and worth the weight carrying
• Zoom lens – a good zoom lens 300mm, 400mm to 700mm ideal
• Extra memory cards
• Binoculars – 8×42 or 10×42
• Video cameras
• Electrical plugs – 230AC, 50HZ, round pins or 3 square pins
• Camera chargers
• Laptop chargers*
• Memory card readers*
• Torch
• Dry bags to protect equipments from dust and/or rain

What documents to bring on a safari holiday?

• Passport + visa
• Yellow fever vaccination
• Insurance details
• Lodge/hotel confirmation
• Flight tickets
• Emergency contact details – family and agent
• Credit cards
• Sterling pounds, Euro, USD are accepted everywhere in Tanzania

Happy packing and enjoy your safari holiday!!

Safari Hat

Here are some tips to help you find the perfect safari hat for your holiday in Africa.

1. Wide brimmed hat

We highly recommend buying a wide brimmed hat for your safari trip. This will give you full protection on your face, ears, neck and also nape which other standard hats can’t do. The sun in Africa can be quite strong and it is always good to protect yourselves from it.

2. Breathable fabric

For the absolute comfort during your game drives, we strongly advise you to buy a safari hat that is breathable. It is normal to feel really hot during the day when you are out in the bush and sweating will be part of it. So having a breathable hat will ensure you get enough air circulating in your head to help you cool down especially when the heat is at its peak.

3.  Adjustable strap

Having straps on your hat is one thing we strongly emphasize to all our clients, family and friends. Going on a safari in Africa is one of the best things you can experience in life and you want to enjoy it as much as you can without having to worry or think about anything. We have seen many people or first timers on a safari with their hands constantly holding their hats in place so that it does not fly away. It is very restrictive so please do not overlook this and do not make the same mistake. Get a safari hat with an adjustable strap and enjoy your safari drive.

4. Waterproof

It can rain really heavily in Africa so it is always advisable to have waterproof hat to protect you from the deluge should it happen when you are out in the bush.

5.  Soft fabric

A safari trip means limited luggage space with only 15kg maximum baggage allowance. Because of this fact we usually prefer buying the softer hats available in the market. Not only are they light, easy to pack, easy to wash, breathable but they also do the job perfectly well. It will save you from worrying it will get creased or out of shape when you squeeze it in your tiny bag. So it is definitely a good option to get!

Safari hats are widely available in the market today. You can get it in any sports shop in U.K. like Decathlon, North Face, Snow and Rock to name a few. Shopping centres like Harrods and Selfridges also have a few in their sports department.

Enjoy shopping for your perfect safari hat and hope you find our tips useful.

British Passport

There are two ways to apply for a tourist visa to Tanzania:-

1. Personal Application

This is a very straight forward way to apply for your tourist visa. Payments are cash basis only and it takes about 3 days to process your application. They also offer a 1 day service at an extra cost of £5.00

2. Postal Application

This will take about 10 days to process providing you have all the supporting documents. Payment methods are as follow and ensure to enclose original receipt with your visa application and a self addressed envelope.

• Barclays Bank – payable to High Commission of the United Republic of Tanzania
  • Sort Code 200-47-35 Account Number 50914126
  • Please include the following details on the payslip: date, name and passport number
• Postal Order – payable to High Commission of the United Republic of Tanzania

Visa Requirements:-

1. Application form – must be signed and completed accordingly

This visa application form can be downloaded on the website or it can be obtained directly at the embassy.

2. Passports – expiry should be no less than six months from date of entry

3. Two passport size photographs

4. Supporting letter – company letter, university letter or invitation from hosts

5. Visa Fee – £38 for single entry only

If you require more information, you can get in touch with the High Commission of the United Republic of Tanzania directly. Their details are as follows:-

3 Stratford Place

London W1C 1AS

Tel: + 44 (0) 207 569 1470

E-mail: visa@tanzania-online.gov.uk

www.tanzania-online.gov.uk
Visa Application : 10:00 to 12:30

Visa Collection: 14:00 to 15:30