Safari in Southern Africa
There are countless ways to go on safari in southern Africa. The first question you should ask yourself is:
- What kind of safari trip do I want?
By that I mean:
- Do you want a raw, exciting experience (sleeping in unfenced camps, staying in places only reachable by 4×4 — here we ask: “Are you prepared to rough it up?” — maybe no water for showering and a campsite with no toilet …)? You might wake up because lions have wandered into camp — you could get hurt.
- Do you want to experience the same remote landscapes and wildlife, but in relative luxury (your tent and even a bush toilet set up for you, hot water prepared for washing, meals cooked for you, and you sit down at a table with a white tablecloth in the middle of pristine wilderness)?
- Do you want to travel in a ‘safe’ area (Kruger Park, private reserves), where you can choose between camping and a solid roof over your head, but cook your own food (or eat at a restaurant) and do the game drives with us yourself?
- Or do you want to stay in a lodge and experience the game drives with a ranger, all meals included? Carefree, in a malaria-free area?
We can offer you all of these options 🙂 though we sometimes bring other tour operators on board, especially for trips outside South Africa.
People who have run a tour operating business in one place for many years know the local conditions best — and which animals to find where.
Which brings us to the next point:
- What do you want to see?
- Do you want a wilderness experience with no guarantee of animal sightings (well, you can’t really see no animals here — thank goodness!)
- Do you want a Big Five guarantee and just tick them off: lion — check, elephant — check
- Do you want an educational experience — a guide who can answer all your questions about the local flora and fauna?
Most important of all is that you talk to us completely openly — not just about what you want, but about your budget too. Option 1 is affordable compared to option 2, because campsites are much cheaper and there’s no exclusive service, just the basics: planning, driver, guide (usually the same person), food, and accommodation. Option 2 is the most expensive and most luxurious version — a beautiful, glossy-magazine kind of experience, best had in Botswana or Zambia. Options 3 and 4 are the norm — what most first-time visitors ask us for.
But why not start out a little more adventurously?
A trip into the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, for example, is real adventure and affordable — but needs to be booked well in advance, since the few campsites fill up quickly, especially with locals, as this park is a bucket-list trip for South Africans too. Driving a 4×4 on dusty tracks gives you the real Africa feeling, not to mention the evening silence broken by lions roaring (hopefully from a distance) and a sundowner drink. We travel with rooftop tents, so the kind of things you see on YouTube don’t happen to you. These vehicles also need to be booked ahead and cost a bit more than a normal rental car. If you’d like to drive yourself, we can organise a convoy trip, which is safer than driving alone — for example if you get your vehicle stuck in the sand or break down and need help to keep going.
You’ll certainly find the most luxurious version of a safari in Botswana or Zambia. We have contacts there 🙂 and it’s always wonderful to organise and accompany a trip like that. When you get back to camp after a full day’s walk or a mokoro trip through the Okavango Delta, hot water is already waiting outside your tent, a fire is crackling, the food smells irresistible, and the sun is low — there are few moments quite like it.
The best time of year?
…is always when the trees are bare and the grass is dry, because that’s when you see the animals best. Depending on the region, that also means cold nights and mornings.
In the southern hemisphere’s summer, when it’s hot and green, there are also more insects — which has spoiled the mood for one or two people — but fewer tourists.
The best time of year is simply whenever you happen to be travelling. There will always be something special to see, no matter when you visit southern Africa.
What do you need for the perfect safari?
- Bush-coloured clothing, especially if you’ll be out on foot
- Binoculars — an absolute must-have
- Sturdy ankle-high shoes and, depending on the region, gaiters — they protect you from snake bites, but also keep sand out of your shoes!
- A hat — better than a cap — with a wide brim and neck protection
- Sunscreen — whatever season you visit, since a South African winter is still sunnier than a European summer
- A water bottle you can carry over your shoulder (for bush walks)
If you have questions about safari in southern Africa — send me an email: more@africanrovers.com