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