Planning a safari begins with deciding on which safari to take and often is determined by interest, such as a photo safari or a hunting safari. Each of these types of safaris offers different levels of activity, wildlife opportunities and different accommodation standards. Safaris can also range from one of the most popular destinations to a secluded getaway to a remote wilderness area.
Timing has to the next consideration. When will the safari take place? It can be very important to decide on when to take the safari for several reasons, from discounted airfare to the types of wildlife to be hunted. Airfares, usually discounted more if they are booked earlier are one reason for planning. Another reason is that safaris can be available on first-come first-serve basis. Finally, considering safari seasons is a good idea when trying to decide on a date. Different seasons will find the wildlife in different areas, so this has to be a consideration also. Migratory birds move south during the summer months which are from mid-October to mid-March. The dry and wet season also effect wildlife tremendously, because the wildlife has to move to where they can eat and drink. The dry season is from May to October, which is from the southern fall, winter and into spring. In addition, a summer “wet” season begins with the fresh rains in November when the migratory birds move in and the mammals move on to find better grazing conditions. Torrential downpours followed by sunny days characterize wet seasons, flooding often occurs in January and February, leaving the remote areas inaccessible during this time. Seasons can be very important, choose which one the safari will take place in very well.
Insurance is a pre-requisite for a safari. Two main types are international Medical Insurance, which is short or long-term coverage that will reimburse medical expenses incurred while traveling. The other type insurance is Travel Protection Plans. This insurance covers the non-reimbursed travel expenses if an emergency, such as a death, sickness, airline strike, happens right before or during the trip and causes the trip to be cancelled, delayed or interrupted. Some people have a remuneration package, existing insurance policies or even credit cards that include international travel insurance. Carefully check these insurance policies prior to the trip; especially any small print, to ensure the insured person has adequate.
Medical matters are another consideration when planning a safari. Take a trip to the family doctor to discuss the plans of a safari. Be sure to receive accurate and current advice on all required inoculations such as hepatitis A and cholera. Also, pay close attention to any recently recognized medical precautions that may be necessary. There are also a few medical concerns that anyone on a safari should know about. These are malaria, diarrhea, and sunburn. A person planning for a safari should also be aware of the medical services available in the areas they will be visiting. Generally, camps are reasonably capable of handling minor emergencies, but emergencies that are more serious will need to be transported to a larger city, such as Johannesburg.
In addition, the final item to address is airfares. Although they are generally included in the expenses of the safari and taken care of by the guide service, it is possible to obtain airfares personally. As stated earlier, the farther in advance of booking the airfare the more discount is available.
Careful planning, which includes all these factors, often insures a more enjoyable safari than one that has been decided on at the last minute.
