Planning an African Safari – What you need to know

Our experience has shown that most visitors to Africa value the assistance of a recognized travel company that can provide expert advice and the necessary step-by-step guidance to plan the perfect vacation in Africa. Even seasoned travellers rely on the buying-power of travel companies to get the best rates, advice and assistance when planning to travel to Africa.

We have broken it up in 7 steps to plan the perfect African Safari Vacation – This is the most important information you will need to know before booking your trip to Africa.

Step 1 - Select your destination and date of travel

You need to decide which attractions in Africa you would like to visit. Africa is a vast continent and not always that easy to get around. If you are not sure you can do some research on the attractions and areas you would prefer to visit. Decide on the time of year you would like to travel, taking into account the holiday seasons, weather and costs (low-season vs. high-season)

Step 2 - Acquire the services of a professional travel company

Africa is best travelled with the help of a professional travel company. Here are some of the most important reasons why this is a good idea.

  • Your money is guaranteed – Utilizing the services of a bonded travel company ensures that you get what you paid for, keeping the risks involved to a minimum.
  • Lower Costs – Due to the buying power of larger travel companies you can get it cheaper through them than through the hotel or lodge directly.
  • Local knowledge – Travel companies often specialize in certain areas (like Africa) and you can be assured of their careful attention to every aspect of your trip which may easily be overlooked if you book this yourself.
  • Visas & Vaccination Requirements – Travel companies will know exactly which visas will be required for each country. Certain countries in Africa require vaccination certificates for some diseases – your travel company will give you the best advice.
  • Safety – In Africa, safety is a big factor and travel companies know which areas to avoid. They also offer 24 hour local assistance in case of emergencies.
  • Best Travel Program – You can be assured that the travel program will be carefully planned especially in respect of seeing the best attractions in each area, and getting from one point to the next on time for flights and check-ins.
  • One Contact – You only need to communicate with one person. This person will make all your arrangements and if there are any problems you know who to talk to.

Step 3 - Decide on your budget

This is a very important factor. A trip to Africa can be very expensive, yet it’s not always the case that the most expensive is the best option. Decide on how much you can afford or would like to spend including your flights, accommodation, transportation, meals, activities and spending money. This can be a complicated exercise, so maybe discuss this with your travel consultant and look at estimates first.

Step 4. – Make final decisions

Once you have received proposals from the travel company, you will need to make final decisions on your choice of accommodations, flights, transportations etc. Once you have picked your favourites, the travel company will then reserve the services on your behalf and then send you a formal Travel Confirmation Document, which will form the binding agreement between the parties involved.

Step 5. - Pay your deposits

Once you are happy with the travel program and have in your possession a formal travel confirmation document you will now be required to make a deposit of some kind to secure your reservation. This is standard procedure in the travel industry and this ensures that the travel company cannot cancel your reservation. Most companies require a 20%-50% deposit at the time to secure your reservation, with the balance required 60-30 days before departure. Paying by Master or Visa card might even include free travel insurance !!

Step 6. - Double-check your reservations (2 weeks before departure)

Before departing on your trip to Africa speak to your travel company again to confirm every segment of your trip. This is to ensure that everything has been booked and confirmed as per your travel documents and also to confirm that scheduled flights, trains and transfers have not been changed.

The last thing to do is to enjoy your trip and take lots of pictures!