Saturday, March 26, 2011

African Safari Planning 101

If an African safari is included in your Bucket List of 101 things to do before you die, you'll probably have a mental picture of how this experience will unfold. The reality is that there are many different safari experience at your disposal and it will be well worth your time to familiarize themselves with what is possible - and only then decide what is affordable for some years, I compiled a list of ten criteria (the magic number) I personally apply when evaluating my own safari activities. The location and the rating is entirely subjective, but I'll throw them into the discussion, if you also find them useful.

Safari - meaning and interpretation

Let's start by defining what it means by "Safari." Swahili word roughly translates as meaning "long journey" has its origins in East Africa to describe long stays hunters take in the desert. Ultimately, it is a general term applied by the tourism industry is not for hunting trips, but for shorter trips to observe and photograph wildlife. In general, some of the safari adventure of ancient remains. However, some safaris can be quite mundane, others memorable. Each person is different, so mundane to what can be memorable to another. That is why I emphasize that my ten criteria are very subjective.

design criteria Safari - use them or lose them!

The relative importance of each one of them arbitrarily classified as follows, but is entirely dependent on individual interests and circumstances:

1. Discomfort and fatigue: Does a significant portion of their time on tour will be spent driving from point A to point B through the dust, rough roads locked in a hot car? This may affect your decision if you are traveling with infants or frail. Do you have lots of photographic equipment to drag? This can eliminate any notion of Walking Safari!

2. Environment: This is especially true for hostels and camping tour. Do you have a genuine safari look? camp (luxury or rustic) give a sense of oneness with the desert. Every sound and movement in the African night is clearly understood. The solid walls of the boxes muffle the noise at night and can provide a greater sense of security. I hasten to add that the tent camps have an excellent safety record and are still my personal preference for a better experience of adrenaline (# 5).

3. Variant: A safari includes a variety of activities and experiences so that each day is different and exciting. My personal rule of thumb is to not spend more than two to three nights in a camp or lodge. On a mobile safari will not be a factor in the need to take into account.

4. Safari at dawn and dusk: the wildlife is most active early morning and afternoon. Some game parks and reserves to close their doors at night, so if you're a mobile safari, our driver-guide is to hightail out of the park at that time, things get interesting on the ponds! Private concessions and safari camps do not impose this restriction.

5. Adrenaline experiences: Some journeys can limit yourself to observe wildlife from the roadside, through the vehicle window or roof hatch. Others may sit in a vehicle off-road safari with open sides, surrounded on all sides by a herd of elephants, which communicates deep growls, suitcases to tear the bark and branches. Walking safaris can also provide experiences close and personal with wild animals. Your choice will depend on the experience of your affinity for the occasional adrenaline!

6. Local expertise and local accommodation: Private camps and safari lodges provide their own safari guides and trackers, with an intimate knowledge and expert on wildlife and habitat within their local environment. They have the advantage of knowing the location of a den of hyenas with newborn puppies, or where the lions were eating the last time a killer. Mobile Safari can not have that advantage. This could be particularly important for wildlife photographers.

7. Location of the road: many camps and lodges located in the hunting concessions to private wildlife and wildlife will continue on the road. This is an adventure in itself and offers more opportunities for close encounters with wildlife photos and large.

8. Location: This is an important consideration when planning a safari. If you plan to attend the annual migration of wildebeest and zebras, if the investment is crucial (and depending on the time of year). If you prefer to see large herds of plains, savannas of the Serengeti or Masai Mara Safari prescribing options available to you.

9. Safari Season: Some Observations poor regions provide wildlife safari big five during the rainy season and an unforgettable experience during the dry season. It makes little sense to become familiar with this aspect of the region of your choice and plan your safari well in advance. Safari season can be fully booked a year or more.

10. Health, safety and reliability: This requires little explanation. Check the backup files and find online complaints. If traveling with children, safety considerations should include the risk of malaria, especially in regions of malaria during the wet season.

African Safari Options

There are tools to help plan your safari experience. Use the internet and research all the options you want from the list below (and other options I may have missed). I recommend the consideration of each option based on criteria that are important to you. Another way is obviously to go directly to a travel agent with your budget and request quotes on options for Safari. Unless you have studied and defined your needs, then you stand the risk of not doing what they want to sell you.

There are many safari experience in East Africa and the whole of southern Africa, all deserve careful consideration. Your choice will depend on the budget, the benefits, it is essential comforts of life safari, fitness level of individuals in his party, the time available and age of family members of his party.

Not all camps and safari lodges allow children to private, but there are many occasions where children are welcome and specially designed for. Options to consider in your planning:

* Pioneered walking safaris in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

* Check-planned or custom mobile safaris around Kenya and Tanzania safari circuit (minibus or Land Rover with a window seat guaranteed)

Safari * Comfortable family as above or locally hosted safari select leaves

* Luxury safari camps and lodges with quality accommodation (price), providing locally organized activities in the private concessions

* Mobile Safaris camping adventure ranging from basic camping nights in camps and luxury lodges

* Canoe and activities of water-based popular safari in Botswana and Zambia on the Zambezi River

* Safaris in Malaria-free reserves are recommended for families with young children that exist in parts of Southern Africa

* Walks Gorilla and apes in East Africa.

(Each is a subject in itself worthy of further discussion.)

The countries of Eastern and Southern Africa offer excellent adventure safaris, island, beach and recreational experiences. If Africa is not on the top of your Bucket List, it should be!

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