African Safari – I am in my element here. Going to safari in Africa has always been on the top of my bucket list. Seeing the BIG FIVE exceeded all my expectations. Now, this is ticked off the list and I am feeling blessed that I’ve been able to experience that escapade. All those animals in their natural habitat, doing their stuff and not caring about us. Spectacular! When I say that they don’t care, well it’s nature and you have to respect it! There are some rules to follow in order to keep yourself safe and not to disturb the animals. However, sleeping in a tent surrounded by the wildlife out there and hearing all those fauna noises and some lion roars every now and then – PRICELESS!
THE ULTIMATE SAFARI GUIDE
TYPES
There are different types of African safaris, the most popular of which is called game-drive. There are also walking and hiking safaris.
Our choice fell on the game-drive safari and this is why I will be explaining it here. We did a giant research and chose to do our safari with Easy Travel Tanzania, which I can’t recommend highly enough. They offer tailor-made safaris and are an award-winning tour operator, dedicated to their customer’s interests and bringing the experience to a whole new level.
WHAT IS GAME-DRIVE?
In the game-drive safaris, you are driven by a guide in a 4×4 vehicle with a pop-up roof. This is how you explore different parks for several hours. The driver will be helping you in the search of wildlife and whenever you spot an animal, he will stop, so that you can observe it and take pictures.
PRIVATE VS. GROUP TOURS
My boyfriend and I had a private safari tour. Although it is pricier than a group safari, the benefits are threefold. We had our private tour guide, who provided us with his giant African animal knowledge, who loves his job, the animals and respects 110% the wildlife. If you read that – thank you, Francis! Thanks to the tour we chose and our guide we were able to personalize our safari and choose at which spot to stay longer, when to go and what is the next animal ‘’target’’ to search for. It was so exciting and felt like a true expedition in the wilderness. I need to receive an explorer badge!
By the group tours, you can still realize your dream and save some money, because let’s be honest – the safaris are luxury not everyone can afford. Don’t hesitate to book any of the safaris mentioned above, because this is once in a lifetime experience and I am sure you won’t regret it any second. Exactly the opposite – I already dream of going to a second safari…
ACCOMMODATION / FOOD
There are 3 types of accommodations during a safari. We booked the mid-range one (comfort plus style). The meals are full-board. The lunch is provided in a picnic box and prepared in advance. We were always asked by the chefs of each of the camps about any special dietary restrictions and wishes. I had a complete vegan safari experience and I am so grateful for the impeccable service. There were dances and songs during most of the dinners and accompanying us to some of our goodbyes with the camps’ staff. Everyone we were in touch within Tanzania was so friendly. I felt a real connection and will never forget all those people who took care of us and who we met along the way.
So back to the different types of accommodations. The first one is a BUDGET accommodation, which is the most basic and affordable one. By choosing the budget accommodation you will be staying in either a tented camp or a budget lodge. There you will have the basic amenities and shared with the other campers bathroom.
MID-RANGE: This was my choice and the tents could be easily called luxury tents – spacious, well furnished and with own bathroom. There were a luxury touch and comfort in each of the tents we stayed in during our safari in Tanzania.
LUXURY: High-end-lodges and exclusive luxe tented camps with first-class amenities. Some camps offer private swimming pools and jacuzzis (which we also happened to have in one of our midrange tented camps).
NB! Depending on the location, the time of the day and the camp rules at some places you might not be allowed to go out of your tent without a staff member companion. You are given a walkie-talkie for communication and in case of emergency. In the evening they might even carry a weapon in order to protect you from an animal attack. This is very unlikely to happen, because the animals are not interested in a human unless they don’t feel endangered, but safety first. However, the lion roars are real and so is the danger if you are taking unnecessary risks.
HOW MUCH?
As I already mentioned above, there are different types of safaris and different accommodation options. They can suit almost every budget, but in general, a safari is a special event and it requires an investment. The profit of this investment will be building the best memories of your life. To the point – an African safari costs anywhere between 125$ and 1500$ per person, per night. A budget safari averages 150$, midrange – 350$, and luxury – 750$, and could exceed 1500$ per person, per night.
WHEN TO GO?
Tanzania is a year-round destination and you can visit it anytime you want and you will still enjoy a great safari. Some factors to consider, before choosing your actual travel time might be the rain and the big wildlife events such as the Great Migration. During the dry seasons, between June and October, there is less vegetation which means that you will be able to easily spot wildlife around you and it’s almost a guarantee that many of the animals are close to the water. The Great Wildebeest Migration happens during the dry season in Serengeti.
Another part of the Great Migration of the wildebeest continues between late December and early March. This is the wildebeest calving season in Southern Serengeti. At this time of the year, the predator activities are pledged. We chose January for our safari, so we witnessed all this – the Great Migration movement of almost 2 million of zebras, wildebeest and gazelles. Meanwhile, the lions, cheetahs, leopards etc. are desperately looking for their prey. Usually, I am closing my eyes when I see a TV show which shows predator chasing another animal and it was hard to see it live in front of my own eyes, but I know that this is their way to survive and this is nature. However, we (the human) have a choice and can survive without hunting, killing and eating animals… Just saying.
HOW LONG?
Our safari in Tanzania lasted 7 days and in my opinion, this is a great safari duration and possibility to visit more of the beautiful national wildlife parks in Tanzania. If you have the possibility to spend 1-2 more days, this would be beyond perfection.
MAASAI TRIBE ASSEMBLE
During the safari and thanks to the private game-drive, we were able to realize another ‘to-do’ experience – to go to a Maasai village and have a close up meeting with their culture and beliefs. I suggest you if you want to do that and meet a Maasai tribe, to plan 8 days of safari tour (spend one more day in Ngorongoro). Be prepared to see a completely different world and way of life. Of course, to visit them you have to pay, which shows that the commercialization is taking over even there, but I completely understand them. However, the fact that the Maasai extraordinary nomadic culture continues to exist after hundreds of years is a reason enough for me to be astonished of the idea to have a close encounter with them and on top an encounter on their soil. Over 1 million of the Maasai continue to live and spread the knowledge of the Maasai tribe. They don’t eat any plant products. Their meals consist only of meat and blood, which is not what I stand for, but speaking to them and hearing their story and traditions from the source, brought me to another level of understanding, that in the end we are all just human and in each of us lies an entire universe, which doesn’t have to be the same as someones else universe.
SAFARI PACKING CHECKLIST
· A passport that has minimum 6 months validity after arrival to Tanzania – check for the visa requirements prior departure
· Cash – Tanzanian Shilling or US Dollar /the banknotes have to be issued after 2006/
· Sunscreen
· Insect repellant
· Earth tones clothing – layering tanks; T-Shirts; long sleeve shirt; comfortable, durable pants; utility jacket; light scarf, sunglasses; hat; closed-toe, flat shoes; pyjamas; bathing suit; underwear; socks
· Camera – extra batteries; extra SD card or many of them; lens cleaning cloth
· Power bank/s
· Multi-plug adaptor
· Binoculars – usually they are provided for the duration of the game-drive, but make sure that this is the case when you book
· Medical Kit – bandages and blister pads, drugs for headache, stomachache etc.
Before booking a safari, make sure that you are well informed about what you can and what you cannot do during the games. There you are not the king, but the flora and fauna are our hosts. Keep in mind that you will meet the ‘Lion King’ in person. He/they will be waiting for you in Serengeti National Park. Play by their rules, if you don’t want to be their next snack, do you?!
DO’S
· Check for the visa requirements for your country.
· Wear neutral / Earth tone clothes – get one with nature.
· Pack for a range of weather conditions.
· Stay hydrated.
· Wake up early and don’t miss a beat of the wildlife game-drives.
· Take a lot of photos.
· Do tip your safari guide/driver – usually, this is 25$ per day, per couple.
· Learn some Swahili greetings and words you will hear a lot during your safari adventure.
Greetings: Jambo – Hello; Habari Gani? – How are you?; Asante – Thank you; Asante Sana – Thank you VERY much; Pole – Sorry; Ndiyo / Hapana – Yes / No; Rafiki – Friend; Hakuna Matata – No trouble.
DON’TS
· Don’t try to attract the animals’ attention by clapping, whistling, banging on the side of the vehicle, or by any other means.
· Don’t dress flashy clothes – forget colors as red, blue etc. The blue and the black colors attract the African Tsetse fly and I believe you don’t want that. Some other colors also annoy the animals.
· Don’t litter.
· Don’t leave the roadways and drive into the bush.
· Don’t feed the animals.
· Don’t use GPS coordinates while capturing the animals, because poachers can use this information.
· Don’t take photos of people without asking them.
· Leave your camp or vehicle unaccompanied.