| Safari is the Swahili word for | | | | trophy of your choice for your living |
| "journey." To most people, that journey | | | | room wall. |
| usually includes viewing wild animals in | | | | Finally, once you've chosen the type of |
| their natural habitat and hopefully | | | | safari you're interested in, your next |
| surviving to tell the tale. Before you | | | | step would be to choose the best way to |
| plan your safari trip, there are a | | | | experience it. Within most of the |
| number of things you need to consider, | | | | categories below you will be able to opt |
| from the animals you want to see, to the | | | | for luxury, basic and somewhere in |
| transportation you'll use to see them. | | | | between. |
| The variety of safari options and | | | | Traditional (Mobile) Tented Safari |
| combinations is truly mind-boggling, so | | | | A mobile camp is one that will travel |
| it will help to break the subject down | | | | with you as you move from location to |
| into a few important parts. | | | | location. Camp is often set up for you |
| Mammals, Birds or Reptiles | | | | in advance and at the luxury end of the |
| The first thing you need to do is decide | | | | scale, will come complete with hot |
| which animals you want to see. | | | | showers, gourmet food and plenty of |
| Big 5-- Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Rhino | | | | servants to cater to your needs. If you |
| and Elephant: If you want to see all of | | | | wish to follow in Hemingway's footsteps |
| these animals in one trip, the Masai | | | | this is the safari for you. Mobile |
| Mara in Kenya, Kruger National Park, in | | | | safaris also enable you to get to the |
| South Africa and the Serengeti National | | | | more remote parts of the African bush. |
| Park in Tanzania are good bets. | | | | Recommendations: |
| Gorillas: If you're interested in | | | | Nomad Safari Guides: Tented safaris in |
| gorillas you would want to head to | | | | Tanzania. |
| Rwanda, Uganda or Gabon. | | | | Abercrombie & Kent: Try their famous |
| Chimpanzees: If you're inspired by Jane | | | | Kenya Hemingway Safari Tour. |
| Goodall's work, your destination would | | | | Outback Africa: Participatory camping |
| be the Gombe Stream National Park in | | | | safaris. |
| Tanzania. | | | | Guided Safari |
| Elephants: For an abundance of elephants | | | | You will usually travel in a group often |
| the Okavango Delta in Botswana is | | | | using 4x4 vehicles or overland trucks. |
| probably your best destination. | | | | The itineraries will be set on a day by |
| Lions: To see the king of the beasts, | | | | day schedule which you will know in |
| the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro | | | | advance and includes meals, lodging and |
| Conservation Area in East Africa are the | | | | activities. A tour guide will stay with |
| best parks to view lions. In Southern | | | | you to coordinate and manage the trip. A |
| Africa, South Luangwa National Park | | | | guided safari is wonderful if you are |
| deserves a mention for its abundance of | | | | looking for a relatively hassle free |
| lions in a less touristy setting. | | | | trip. They are often well researched, |
| Black Rhino: To see the black rhino is | | | | the guides are very well informed and it |
| quite rare, but you still have a chance | | | | can make travel possible in some of the |
| to catch a glimpse in Etosha National | | | | more remote parts of Africa. |
| Park, Kruger National Park and Chobe | | | | Recommendations: |
| National Park. | | | | Taga Safari: Offers an excellent guided |
| Hippos and Crocodiles: Plentiful in | | | | safari in Malawi. |
| lakes and rivers throughout East and | | | | Explore Tanzania: A good example of a 7 |
| Southern Africa. The most I've ever seen | | | | day guided budget tour. |
| were on a Canoeing Safari in the Zambezi | | | | Magical Africa: Luxury guided tour |
| River, which runs between Zimbabwe and | | | | includes the best parks of Botswana and |
| Zambia. Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania | | | | a night at the Victoria Falls. |
| and Liwonde National Park in Malawi also | | | | Package Safari |
| offer fine viewing opportunities, but be | | | | Similar to a guided safari, a package |
| cautious, crocs and hippos can be | | | | tour offers a set itinerary with lodging |
| extremely dangerous. | | | | and meals included, but you do not |
| Birding: If ornithology is your passion | | | | travel in a group. Your bookings are |
| then you will be very happy to know | | | | made for you in advance so you don't |
| there are many birding safaris available | | | | have the hassle of planning your trip |
| in East and Southern Africa. | | | | but other than that you are an |
| Adventure Safaris | | | | indpendent operator. A package safari is |
| Next you need to decide just how close | | | | a good option for first time travellers |
| you want to get. If you're not satisfied | | | | to Africa and those on a budget since |
| viewing wildlife from a 4x4 vehicle, | | | | they are often a little cheaper. |
| there are plenty of alternative options | | | | Recommendations: |
| available. | | | | Classic Kenya: 7 Day package to Kenya's |
| Elephant Safari | | | | prime wildlife parks. |
| The best offer I can find for an | | | | Northern Tanzania: A 2 week tour of |
| elephant back safari is at Abu Camp in | | | | national Parks and a climb up Mount |
| the Okavango Delta, Botswana. There are | | | | Kilimanjaro. |
| some elephant rides available in | | | | Kaingo and Mwamba Safari: The best of |
| Zimbabwe but not an entire safari. Since | | | | South Luangwa National Park in Zambia |
| elephants generally crash through the | | | | including a walking safari. |
| bush you may not see a lot of game, but | | | | Independent (Self-Drive) Safari |
| the experience of sitting high up on | | | | You basically plan your own trip, rent a |
| this great beast would be worth it. | | | | car and drive yourself through whichever |
| Walking Safari | | | | game park you choose! It is a good idea |
| If you are fit and appreciate an | | | | to research and perhaps copy some |
| adrenalin rush, then go on a walking | | | | itineraries that are to your liking. |
| safari. The Guides are extremely | | | | Parks and Reserves are often in very |
| knowledgeable and being on foot will | | | | remote locations so always bring an |
| enable you to get truly close to | | | | extra supply of food, water and |
| experiencing the sights, smells and | | | | gasoline. It is worth using a travel |
| sounds of the African bush. | | | | agent or tour operator to help you book |
| Mountain Bike Safari | | | | your lodges and rent your vehicle in |
| An excellent option for cycling | | | | advance. Self-drive safaris are great in |
| enthusiasts, the bike safari offers | | | | South Africa, Botswana and Namibia but |
| excitement, flexibility and exercise! | | | | countries like Malawi and Zambia really |
| Canoeing Safari | | | | lack the infrastructure, petrol and even |
| Floating along the Zambezi River among | | | | roads to make this a good option. Unless |
| the hippos and crocodiles; camping under | | | | your idea of a fun drive includes |
| the stars and listening to lions roar | | | | dodging potholes the size of trucks, |
| deep in to the night; seeing elephants | | | | strolling people, goats and dogs it may |
| cross the river trunks held high - that | | | | be better to go with a tour. |
| in a nutshell was my canoeing safari | | | | Recommendations: |
| experience. Magical. | | | | Wildlife Africa: Self-drive tours in |
| Balloon Safari | | | | South Africa. |
| Not for the budget-conscious, but a | | | | Namibian.Org: See Namibia in your own |
| balloon safari is a once in a lifetime | | | | time and at your own speed. |
| experience and most large National Parks | | | | Safari Drive: Covers Safari-drives in |
| are offering this popular option. The | | | | several African countries and highlights |
| best place for it has to be the | | | | Kenya. |
| Serengeti Plains watching the annual | | | | Fly-In Safari |
| migration of Wildebeest. You will be | | | | For the ultimate convenience charter |
| pleased to note that all balloon flights | | | | operators can now fly you directly to a |
| include champagne. | | | | game park. Fly-in safari's enable you to |
| Camel Safari | | | | visit reserves and parks that are |
| The good thing about a camel safari is | | | | inaccessible by road, offering a true |
| that your guides are likely to be local | | | | adventure in to the wilderness as it |
| tribesmen. Less gainly than a horse, a | | | | were. Flying around obviously saves you |
| camel is nevertheless a fun and relaxing | | | | travel time on the ground and allows you |
| animal to ride and there is something | | | | to not waste a second of wildlife |
| romantic about camping next to your | | | | viewing fun. |
| steed at night. | | | | Recommendations: |
| Horse Riding Safari | | | | South Africa Fly-in safaris: Plenty of |
| You can race zebras and antelope on | | | | optons available all including Kruger |
| horseback - what fun! A great way to | | | | National Park. |
| experience the African bush but you have | | | | Skeleton Coast, Namibia: Experience |
| to be quite fit and an experienced rider | | | | shipwrecks in the desert, it's a little |
| to enjoy these safaris. | | | | eerie but fascinating at the same time. |
| Hunting Safari | | | | Not a lot of wildlife viewing on this |
| If you wish to travel to Africa and | | | | tour. |
| shoot with a gun rather than a camera, | | | | Botswana Fly-in safaris: A good way to |
| there are lots of options available. For | | | | get around quickly and some of the best |
| the right price you are guaranteed a | | | | camps are only accessible by air. |