Everything You Need to Know for an African Safari

Getting ready to go on your first African safari? In this post, we share our all-time African safari tips. Nosotros'll never forget our first safari in Africa. It was our 3rd day on the continent and we drove off headstrong into Kruger National Park at sunrise blasting The Circumvolve Of Life.

A lot has changed since that day and we've now spent plenty of fourth dimension in game viewers, walking, and driving ourselves around the wilds of Africa. We've been on safari in only well-nigh every state in Southern and Eastward Africa. And then, what all have we learned from our beginning safari experiences? Hither are our best outset time safari tips.

Our Best African Safari Tips for First Timers

First Time Safari Tip #1: No Yelling!

Shhh… You aren't in a zoo and the animals are not domesticated. When safari goers are visiting animals in their natural habitat the excitement tin can be overwhelming. The urge to get upwards, wave your arms, and yell is non something we would ever recommend. When on safari humans are just guests in animals home and should act accordingly.

Many of the safari animals are dangerous and it doesn't matter if y'all're in a truck if an elephant decides to charge. In fact, while elephants may be some of the most incredible animals on this planet, they're as well immensely dangerous and a member of the big five animals.

First Time Safari Tip #2: Dress The Part

Non merely is it fun to don the safari get up, but those green and khaki clothes actually serve a applied purpose as well. Safari clothes are purpose built and made to be comfy, blend in with the environment, and hold up to the elements of the African bush. That doesn't mean you need to become full blown leopard print or get a monocle, but it does mean wearing clothes that are appropriate to the safari environment.

At that place's as well the statement that yous tin can habiliment whatever you want for safari wearing apparel since yous'll be in a car, that is unless y'all're going on bush walks when you don't want the animals spotting any odd colors! If you're doing some bush walks we recommend packing a good pair of safari boots to habiliment.

Cheque out some of our other safari gear posts

The All-time Safari Shirts for Men and Women
The Best Safari Bags to Take to Africa
How to Option a Nifty Safari Lid
Ultimate Women'southward Safari Wear Checklist
The 11 Best Binoculars for a Safari in Africa
Best Cameras for Safari
The Best Safari Jackets
Fantastic Safari Dresses!
The All-time Safari Pants!

Outset Time Safari Tip #iii: Now! Now!

Anyone who is familiar with "Africa time" will sympathize that at that place are several meanings to the word at present. There is "now," "just now," and "at present now." "Now" could mean anywhere from five minutes to two months afterward. "Just now" ways in the next hour or so. And "now-at present" actually means now – the moment. Then, when you're on safari it'due south all-time to put the applied science away and enjoy the now-now. There is never a better time to experience in touch with nature than a digital detox in the bush.

First Time Safari Tip #4: Get a Telephoto Lens

Although you're going to go closer to the African animals than ever before to really capture them on camera requires a telephoto lens. Something around 200mm plus should do the job. Want to know what some of the best wildlife photographers use? Bank check out our guide to a photographic camera for safari.

The doesn't hateful you lot're going to demand an 800mm lens, that costs as much every bit a machine. Even so, get prepare for lens envy while on safari because some take photography pretty seriously. We travel with a Fuji X-T3 with a 200mm lens.

Photographic camera Gear We Use

Fuji 10-T3 – Chief Travel Camera // (on B&H)
Fuji X Serial Lenses
- 18-55mm lens // (on B&H)
- 16mm 1.iv Lens // (on B&H)
- 55-200mm Lens // (on B&H)
- Fujinon XF8-16mmF2.8R LM WR Lens // (on B&H)
- Fujinon XF200mmF2 // (on B&H)
Sony RX100 V // (on B&H)
Fuji X-T20 – Backup Camera // (on B&H)
GoPro Max // (on B&H)
DJI Mavic 2 Pro Drone // (on B&H)
Lowe Pro Whistler 450
Acme Pattern Camera Sling
Elevation Design Travel Backpack
Peak Design Clip
Rode Video Mic – For Vlogging
For Cinematic Shots: Zhiyun Crane V2
Summit Designs Travel Tripod
For Storage: LaCie Rugged 4TB USB-C
For Editing: Macbook 15″ Pro Retina

First Fourth dimension Safari Tip #5: Wake Up Early

It'south something you're going to have to acquire to live with in Africa. Animals are most active in the morn and evening, as the mid-day is likewise hot for them to be moving around. This is why near safari days consist of two game drives, a morn one and an evening i. The morn typically involves waking upwards at the crevice of dawn and having java on the go. Evening game drives are our favorite since they leave in the afternoon and end with a cold gin and tonic.

First Time Safari Tip #6: Relish Sundowner Time

The best fashion to end a safari day is without a doubt with a beautiful sunset and a drink. Or in other words a "sundowner." Are you familiar with the term sundowner? No? We would suggest you familiarize yourself with the ritual of having a beverage at sunset to celebrate a long African day'south end.

First Time Safari Tip #vii: Bring Binoculars

Identifying birds or spotting what animal is on the horizon requires some bang-up optics or a good pair of binoculars. Since near of united states do not have the eyes of an eagle we'd say a pair of binoculars is crucial.

We recommend you pick up a decent pair that will concluding longer than one trip. Hither are our 10 favorite safari binoculars with in-depth reviews.

First Time Safari Tip #viii: Don't Forget Nigh the Birds

One of our favorite activities we've learned well-nigh on safari is birding. Yeah, that's right we've become those people… Birders. We use to brand fun of them. I even replaced my mother'due south binoculars and bird book bag with potatoes one time. However, afterward seeing our thousandth elephant we realized it's time to look for something new. Enter the birds.

There are thousands of variations of birds and species. Some are physically beautiful, some have fantabulous calls, and others are just fascinating similar the motion picture below. Information technology is a pied kingfisher. One of our favorite birds who hangs our around rivers and lakes in search of its next repast.

Get-go Time Safari Tip #9: Ask Questions!

Don't be afraid to inquire questions. I may be guilty of wanting to know information technology all, only showing some curiosity creates for a amend safari and will probably brand your guide happy. The safari guest learns more and develops a better understanding of African wild animals and what they are seeing. We find that the curiosity brings the passion out of our guides and enhances our whole game bulldoze experience.

Starting time Time Safari Tip #ten: Stay Healthy

This one covers a lot, but you are spending a lot of time in the bush and a lot of fourth dimension sitting. Here'southward how nosotros advise mitigating the health risks of both.

Potable plenty of water from 1 of these travel water bottles.
Go on yourself covered from the lord's day. I'll never forget the mean solar day, I was burned so bad that I had blisters on my face. Bring some sunblock and a hat!
Stay limber. In between game drives brand certain to walk some, do some yoga, exercise, or stretch.
Have antimalarial medicine if y'all are a worrier. We are not your physician, but we recommend taking doxycycline. We have periodically taken it, but due to the amount of time we take spent in Africa we have called to avert long term doses of the antimalarial medicines and apply the musquito avoidance strategy. Cover up at night, article of clothing insect repellant, utilise a mosquito cyberspace, and be enlightened of environment.
Get some shut heart. This one shouldn't be besides hard, merely you'll demand to become to bed early safari since you'll exist ascent at the cleft of dawn.
Take it easy on your stomach. Nine months in and we're used to the local leaner. All the same, we've met many a traveler who have stomach issues eating the same food we do. We advise taking information technology piece of cake to begin. Watch out for the skins of fruits and veggies, avoid large quantities of meat, and avoid spicy food and check where ice is coming from. That being said the majority of safari lodges are exceptional at taking the proper hygienic steps when it comes to preparing food.
Bring a modest medical kit with some basic needs for emergencies.

First Time Safari Tip #11: Tip Your Guide

Linyanti-Expeditions-Walking-Safari-Botswana

To be a safari guide in Africa is a coveted chore. A expert guide is responsible, knows his or her safari animals, has aplenty knowledge of the bush, and many times has grown up in the environment he/she works in.

A guide is up before you are and goes to bed after you do. They are switched on all the fourth dimension and answer all your questions that they accept without a doubtfulness been asked over hundreds of times.

Working in a safari lodge is a great job to have and well-nigh accept information technology very seriously, however later on talking to some of the guides they still don't make what you may recall they are making and very much rely on tips.

Tipping a guide and other lodge staff is like tipping your server at a restaurant in the Usa. It's not mandatory, merely is almost expected and appreciated. These people work very difficult to ensure you are having an enjoyable vacation and information technology's important to advantage them if you lot think they are doing a expert job.

I know African safaris are expensive and y'all probably don't desire to dish out more cash after dropping so much on the holiday itself, just it is important to budget for tips.

A standard guideline for tipping is $10-$fifteen per person, per twenty-four hours for your guide, and anywhere between $5-$15 per person, per day for the general employees. However, many safari companies will accept a booklet or send you a pre checklist PDF with all of this data and what is standard at their lodges.

Bring USD or the local currency (USD is preferred) for tips as many lodges won't accept a credit card machine.

First Time Safari Tip #12: Don't Expect WiFi

Nosotros're always surprised by other guests on safari that become into the bush and are surprised when in that location is no WiFi. Many safari lodges are quite literally in the middle of absolutely nowhere, meaning there is no WiFi. Or if at that place is, it is incredibly slow and not even worth trying to get on anyway as y'all'll exist spending your precious Africa time trying to send an email.

It's all-time to go into your safari not expecting connection. There volition be downtime, simply this is for napping, reading a book, or chatting with others. We live in such a digital and continued world nowadays I really enjoy being in the bush and knowing that I cannot become on the internet to check things.

Book A Safari in Africa

Traditionally if you wanted to volume a safari yous'd have to go to a travel agent and accept them book your safari for you. They made suggestions for camps and lodges then presented you lot with a large bill. Most of the manufacture still operates in this style.

However, Timbuktu is a new platform that allows you to select the lodges y'all'd like and see the pricing per day that way you can select the best itinerary for yourself. They volition then contact the lodges and help you through booking your safari. With experts on staff, they can too provide suggestions and accommodate the little details much like a travel agent.

What to Pack for an African Safari

Packing the correct safari clothes is ever a good thought, only it's never essential because you can article of clothing whatever you desire. We also become in-depth on the best women's safari clothes!

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Source: https://theworldpursuit.com/african-safari-tips/