Monday, January 4, 2016

Important Issues To Consider During The Planning Of An African Safari

By Dorothy Stone


Africa is blessed with a vast population of wildlife that has fascinated travelers for centuries. In the earlier centuries, the continent was a popular destination for hunters who thronged the plains in search in search of game trophies that were hung on walls. Today, this trend has changed because more and more travelers come to the continent in search of memories and photos of spectacular game activity. Many travelers come on an African safari in search of the big five land animals including buffalo, leopards, lions, rhinoceroses and elephants.

However, planning a trip to Africa is nothing like the typical trip to the zoo. The chance to see animals within their natural habitats is an experience like no other. Safaris are physically strenuous and taxing. As most of the popular destinations are in developing African states, a few precautionary measures need to be taken like health and safety precautions. So while preparing for the trip, find good guidebooks, read many reviews on travel websites and blogs, talk to friends who have been to the continent and get a reliable travel guide.

There are different types of safaris each with different costs. This is why it is important to do some research and find which package you can afford. Some factors that affect the cost of your trip include length of stay and luxury accommodations. Most packages are priced according to double occupancy so if one is travelling alone, it is important to pay for a single supplement. Luxury packages are quite expensive and allow for comfort accommodations in the wild. Mobile safaris are the cheapest, participatory packages where a group of tourists travel together and share costs and other experiences. Adventurous people may opt to drive themselves personally throughout the tour.

Every trip must have a destination in mind. This will allow individuals to effectively plan for a specific trip. The southern part of Africa is famous for its large population of elephants. Kenya is famous for flamingoes in Lake Nakuru and wildebeest migration at Maasai Mara. Uganda is popular for its huge number of monkeys, gorillas and other primates.

Make the timing of your trip perfect to enjoy the show. It is advisable to come during the dry season so that one can get to see animals in the open. If one is aiming to see the wildebeest migration, they should time it by checking for the migration patterns of animals.

It is important to be properly vaccinated before coming to the continent. This is because it is prone to many diseases like malaria, typhoid, hepatitis A and B as well as yellow fever. Most of these diseases, exclusive of malaria, have vaccinations. For malaria, one is given a treatment and advised to protect themselves using mosquito nets and repellent sprays.

Beware of scams and conmen especially when selecting a package. Research the prospective provider, ask for references and look for any relevant reviews online on sites like TripAdvisor. Also, ask for cancellation and refund policies if any.

Always stay safe throughout the trip and stay in constant communication with people at home. Stay in contact with the State Department and check travel advisories. Also, get a medical cover and travel insurance.




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