Experience an African Safari
AN AFRICAN SAFARI OFFERS BREATHTAKING EXPERIENCES
The sunrises and sunsets! They are simply incredible, no matter where you are in Africa. With backdrops of crystal clear Okavango Delta waterways, to the dusty dunes in Namibia, the colours are incredible. We could wax lyrical about sunrises and sunsets for hours.
Africa is home to numerous gorgeous countries, with spectacular scenery and views.
Rolling misty hills of Rwanda, the ice-capped Mount Kilimanjaro seen from Kenya’s Amboseli National Park, the rolling savanna of the Serengeti or the thundering Victoria Falls, there is no question that Africa will take your breath away at least once a day while on safari.
With little to no light pollution in the wilds, you can expect the night sky to be ablaze with stars and the milky way shining brightly. Stargazing is one of the best activities you can do on safari. Some lodges even go so far as to give you a star bed which gives you a unique sleep out under the night skies experience.
Hot air balloon rides as the sun rises is awe-inspiring, tranquil canoe trips through the Congo’s incredible ecosystem, adrenaline-filled white water rafting or gorilla trekking through primordial rain forests, the activities you can enjoy in Africa are endless.
SEE ANIMALS IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT
Home to the Big 5 and so much more, your African safari will show you it all and you will feel like you are watching Nat Geo live! The Big 5 are made up of lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo and viewing them in their natural habitat is incredible. Immerse yourself in their world while you learn their behaviours and watch as they go about their day. Watch lions lazing in the afternoon sun, cheetahs surveying the savanna from a termite mound, follow our closest relatives on a chimpanzee trek or watch a family of elephants enjoying a bath in a waterhole or river. The options for wildlife viewing are endless.
And don’t forget the very photogenic zebra, the deceptively yawning hippo and the towering giraffe, always the most popular animals to see. And gaze in wonder when you come across some of the most endangered animals in the world, such as the pangolin, the wild dog or the rhino.
One of the most amazing natural spectacles is the Great Wildebeest Migration in East Africa. Every year hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra migrate from the grassy plains of southern Serengeti, where they calve in February, north and westwards through the Serengeti towards Kenya’s Masai Mara. Dramatic river crossings in the middle of the year over the Grumeti River and from July through to October the herds have to cross the Mara River, sometimes twice! A great wildebeest migration safari is not to be missed, at least once in your life!
Breathtaking experiences and to see animals in the wild are at the start of our Top 10 Reasons to Travel to Africa for good reason! These are the two most evocative reasons to go on an African Safari!
EXCELLENT WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY MOMENTS
Africa turns everyone into a photographer! With cell phone camera’s as excellent as they are you are sure to have more than a few Instagramable moments on safari. We do suggest that it is worthwhile bringing a proper camera, with a lens that can zoom in on the animals as well. Even an entry DSLR kit will bring you endless wildlife photography fun. Look into hiring a camera or a telephoto lens for your trip! Your guides on the game drive are often photographers themselves and know how to position their vehicle to get you the best light for that perfect shot.
Many safari lodges have photographers in residence that can teach you a trick or two. And for the more avid photographer, consider a photographic safari. You head out into the bush in kitted out vehicles with camera mounts, swing seats and a professional photographer guiding your every shot. After returning to your lodge you are then taught the finer points in editing your raw photo and even printing your favourites.
MOST OF YOUR TIME ON SAFARI IS SPENT OUTDOORS
Safaris are socially distant by design. Your time in Africa is spent outdoors, soaking up the glorious scenery and the cacophony of sounds from the African bush. There are no crowds on your African safari and the only queue you may encounter is your turn to watch a pride of lions in your private game reserve! Your accommodation is secluded, your meals al fresco and your activities are mostly outdoors. Game drives are the most popular activity on your African safari, with four to six people maximum to an open game drive vehicle. Bushwalks and walking safaris are also very popular.
PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION
Safari lodges and camps tend to be on the small side. Seldom if ever do you stay in a large hotel or resort with hundreds of rooms, which are generally connected. Your safari lodge tent or suite are spaced out from each other to ensure privacy and now adds to the safety of travelling.
The staff to guest ratio is high meaning that all safety protocols are strictly observed all the time and rooms are thoroughly cleaned. So often your room will have large doors and windows, or tent sides that open up, ensuring a good flow of air through the room. The main areas of lodges will always have multiple sitting areas, each group dines with each other and most of these areas are not closed in. While we do love a communal dinner table, especially in the smaller lodges, this style of dining will take a while to come back.
ALL YOUR AFRICAN SAFARI ARRANGEMENTS ARE TAKEN CARE OF
A safari will save you travel planning time. Why? Using a trusted and experienced tour operator like Explore & Travel Africa ensures that all the logistics of your trip are taken care of. All you need to do is choose a country to go on safari in, book your flight there and buy travel insurance!
We take care of the rest. This will include all internal transport from transfers, flights or even light aircraft transfers between remote airstrips. We make sure that all your park and conservation fees are prepaid where ever possible, that as much is included at the lodges as we can so you do not need to be reaching for your wallet much. We partner with amazing lodges, airlines and transfer services around the African safari areas to ensure that you can simply focus on enjoying your holiday.
RECONNECT, RECHARGE, REJUVENATE
If like many of us, you are yearning to travel again, to put the confines of the last year behind you and to get back into nature, an African safari should be your next vacation. As you arrive at your destination, your stresses begin to disappear and in no time they have become a distant memory. The African bush is seldom quiet, with the chatter of birds and insects going about their business, creating a sense of calm and peace. Almost immediately you begin to recharge.
While many lodges around Africa do have WiFi, it is often in a specific area or only your room, helping to keep you off your devices for long periods and giving you that much needed digital detox. Quiet sitting areas are dotted around the camps, some overlooking an active waterhole allowing you to simply be in a marvelous setting. Immersive game drives, indulgent spa’s, delectable cuisine and even yoga will ensure you leave Africa rejuvenated and reconnected.
CONSERVATION & COMMUNITY UPLIFTMENT
There is often a lack of awareness by travellers who come in an African safari as how much of their travel spend is directly used to support conservation and communities in the areas they visit. Reserves around Africa have skilled armed rangers who patrol the area and protect the wildlife which are funded by your conservation fee.
Conservation programmes, upskilling rangers and educating communities about conservation and why it is important, all cost money. Much of your travel spend at your lodge goes directly to these initiatives. Many lodges lease land and work with the local communities, providing employment, clinics and schools. Often one person working in a safari lodge supports 10 or more people in the village.
Guests out on a game drive are a critical part of the conservation efforts, just by having vehicles in the reserve is a deterrent to poaching. While on your safari you can visit the local communities to learn more about their way of life. It is worthwhile to check if your lodge subscribes to Pack for a Purpose or needs anything for their school or clinic. Nothing beats the look on a child’s face when given a new soccer ball or toy.
You can be assured that as you embark on your African Safari that you are making a valuable and important contribution.
SPECIAL OCCASION SAFARI
Celebrate life with your partner, friend or family in Africa while you reconnect with each other and share in the delight of your trip. You will leave Africa richer for having been here. Birthdays, anniversaries and honeymoons are just some of the special occasions you can celebrate on an African safari. Romantic vacations in Africa are sublime with private dinners and little special touches making it even more special. Intimate family gatherings, birthday cakes and joyful songs from the local teams at the lodge make a safari a perfect idea to celebrate any special occasions.
ALL INCLUDED SAFARI
An African safari is unlike other vacations. Aside from all the other Top 10 Reasons to go on an African Safari, this last one, All Included, is important! You should have prepaid as much of the costs before you even leave home.
Park and conservation Fees should be prepaid, only a handful of reserves in Africa want cash on arrival, most will allow the lodge to get the fee on their behalf before.
Exciting game drives and activities are included. Depending on where the lodge is located you can enjoy a drive, a walk, a boat cruise or a canoe trip. Expect 2 activities to be included at most lodges. Optional extra’s like hot air ballooning is extra but can be prepaid.
All your meals are included. All safari lodges will offer amazing meals three times a day. You will not go hungry on safari! Some meals in major cities where you stopover for the night, like Nairobi or Victoria Falls, will need to be paid for on-site, but these cities have credit card machines and ATM’s.
Laundry is often included, which is great as you will have stringent luggage restrictions if you are taking any light air flights.
Retox with a G&T at sunset! Your drinks are included on your African safari. At worst this means your tea and coffee and filtered water and at best, imported whiskey’s, French Champagne and a wine cellar complete with a sommelier. Most lodges sit in the middle, including bottled water, local beers and wines and a few spirits like gin for your all-important G&T!
All your transport on safari is included. Using a tour operator like Explore & Travel Africa ensures that all your taxis, transfers, light aircraft, boat transfers etc are all prepaid and arrive at the right time and place.
What is not included? You will need to tip along your trip. Ask us for our gratuity guide but generally, you will need to budget for about $20-$40 per person per day on safari, split between guides, trackers and back of house staff. Visas, travel insurance, curios and getting to your country of choice is not included.
