7 mistakes to avoid Part 1: Planning your Safari
1. Choosing a Safari Based on Price Alone
One of the biggest misconceptions about safari is that all lodges within a reserve offer the same experience.
They don’t.
Factors such as your guide’s experience, traversing rights (where they’re allowed to explore), how many guests on a game vehicle, wildlife density and location within the reserve will have a far greater impact on your safari than a lower nightly rate.
2. Underestimating Jet Lag and Travel Fatigue
After you’ve flown for over 24 hours, been in airport queues and transfers, most travellers are not at their best. It might be that after all the travelling, you discover that a 5am wake-up call feels significantly less exciting than you imagined.
Whether you’re in your 20’s or your 50’s, jetlag hits us all. Adding a buffer night near your arrival airport can dramatically improve the quality of your safari experience and allow you to start refreshed rather than exhausted.
3. Overpacking Your Itinerary
We understand. It’s far to travel to Africa and you have limited time. So you want to pack in as many bucket list items as you can.
The result?
Too many flights, too many transfers and not enough time enjoying the wildlife. Safari isn’t about rushing from place to place. Some of the most magical sightings happen when you’re relaxed, settled and spending enough time in one area for the bush to reveal itself.
4. Not Using a True Safari Specialist
Booking through a generic travel website or a non-specialist travel agent can be an expensive mistake. Safari is highly nuanced.
A specialist safari consultant has personally visited the camps, knows the strengths and weaknesses of different properties, understands seasonal wildlife movements and can match your expectations with the right experience.
No online booking platform can replace genuine destination expertise.
5. Trying to Visit Too Many Countries
The temptation to combine Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and South Africa into a single trip is understandable.
But in reality, you’ll spend more time in airports than on safari. Depth almost always beats breadth. A carefully planned itinerary in one or two countries will usually deliver a far richer experience than a whirlwind tour across the African continent.
6. Ignoring the Shoulder Season
Peak season is popular for a reason, but it’s not always the best option. The shoulder months before and after peak season often offer exceptional wildlife viewing, dramatic scenery, fewer vehicles at sightings and significantly better value for money. Many safari veterans actively choose shoulder season over peak season.
7. Skipping Comprehensive Travel Insurance
Would you travel without your cell phone charger? Well, travel insurance is the charger to your Safari. These destinations are remote. Medical emergencies, flight disruptions, baggage delays and evacuation requirements can happen unexpectedly.
Medical evacuation from areas such as the Okavango Delta or the Serengeti can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Travel insurance isn’t an optional extra, it’s an essential part of every safari budget.
