Safaris are one of the most beautiful experiences one can have, and there is only one place to go to experience unforgettable ones: Africa. In fact, safaris in Africa are one of the most desired trips for those who love breathtaking scenery and animals, because this land hides some of the most beautiful parks, lakes and landscapes in the world, as well as an extraordinary variety of animals.
There are hundreds of different places in Africa to go on safari, from Kenya to Tanzania, and each one allows travelers to experience anunforgettable adventure in close contact with nature and distant cultures. Experiencing and organizing a safari in Africa, however, is not a simple matter. One needs to know the prices, the costs of tour operators and of the stay, one needs to be able to choose the best itineraries and possibly be able to book low-cost flights, so as to experience a perfect and inexpensive trip to Africa.
Below you will find out all the information about it! Happy reading.
1. Where to go: the best safari destinations in Africa.
If you have decided to take a trip to Africa driven by love and passion for animals, then the best destinations to go to are definitely Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, where you can easily meet the Big Five. If, on the other hand, you are interested in seeing gorillas and conducting wilderness treks, then Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya should be your choice.
If, on the other hand, it was just about culture, the most suitable destinations might be Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; otherwise, if you are looking to try going off the beaten path, then try Cameroon and Gabon in Central Africa. If you want to visit Africa to meet distant cultures, one of our many itineraries in Tanzania, where we provide the opportunity to meet the Maasai tribes, may also be of interest.
Let’s look in more detail at where to go on a trip to Africa.
Safari in East Africa:
Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania offer a particularly African type of safari; the roads, services and cultures are more authentic than the southern African options. Going to these magical places will be like taking a dip into the past by immersing oneself in indigenous cultures with customs and traditions far removed from our own.
Africa’s most famous national parks are located here, such as Serengeti Park and theNgorongoro Conservation Area, two of the most sought-after safari destinations in Tanzania. Here there is also the tropical African coast of Kenya and the famous spice island of Zanzibar, which can also be visited with our Rino itinerary.
Safaris in East Africa, especially in Tanzania, Zanzibar and Kenya are the best ever, because they allow you to encounter the largest number of animals and see a breathtaking amount of indescribable scenery and sights.
Safari in South Africa:
Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa are much more western and comfortable than the East African countries, yet they tend to lack the atmosphere of “real Africa,” that air of magic and adventure that can be experienced in Tanzania or Kenya.
The most famous parks in this area are: Chobe, Etosha, South Luangwa, Delta and Kruger; the famous Namib Desert and Fish River Canyon to the Stellenbosch wine region. However, South Africa offers a very different experience from East Africa, and it is preferable to go there on luxury or very comfortable trips.
West Africa:
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ghana are good destinations in case you are not too culture-oriented and not worried about wildlife. Mali is famous for Djenné, Timbuktu, and Dogan Paese; Burkina Faso is well known for its music scene; and Ghana offers historic sites from the olden years, tropical beaches, and a few playgrounds with very few animals.
Central Africa:
Cameroon and Gabon are for the traveler a real adventure. A safari through these countries will take you to a different world composed of tropical beaches, pygmies, markets with bushmeat, surf, hippos, and thousands of lowland gorillas. This part of Africa is much less traveled by the average tourist and it can be difficult to find an English-speaking guide to accompany you on a trip to Africa in these areas.
2. Prices and Costs of safaris in Africa
Safari prices in Africa can vary widely based on many different factors. The costs of a trip to Africa depend on the lifestyle you want to adopt, the length of time you want to stay and the type of trip (a photographic safari and an African vacation on the beaches of Zanzibar have different costs). In general, costs are around €200 per day.
To get an idea you can take a look at our Tanzania itineraries and find out the costs of a trip to Africa.
Safari and luxury African travel
5-star hotels and luxury camping accommodations are all on offer in East Africa, Southern Africa and West Africa. In Central Africa, a minimum of 3-5 star lodging is expected.
Facilities are excellent and offer well-stocked bars/restaurants, swimming pools, hot showers, toilets as well as romantic African tourist cottages and colonial-style hotels.
Campgrounds have changed tremendously over the years. Gone are the days when there was no grass to pitch tents, cold showers (when water was meant for everyone) and hot drinks in the fridge. Most campgrounds in the East and Southern Africa are very well served and equipped and boast hot showers, drains, large bars and restaurants, and good clean room accommodations (in case the campground does not meet your need every night). Of course, the inconveniences are there too but the campsites offer excellent value for money and all the amenities the average traveler desires.
3. Transportation
In Africa it is possible to move around by very different means of transportation and costs. Depending on budget and personal needs there are those who choose the plane and those who choose the 4×4 Land Cruiser/Mini Van.
The most expensive, perhaps also the most practical, way for those with a large budget and no time to waste is to fly from destination to destination. In fact, most African parks and major tourist attractions are purpose-built airstrips that cater to the tourist. The downsides of flying on safari are the loss of local sites, the sounds, smells, and culture of a country.
The choice of 4×4 Land Cruiser or mini van is far more convenient than flying and allows for a much more real and indigenous experience.
Built and customized safari trucks are the most economical option. Most of the proposed safari truck tours are camped with the exception of a couple who are offered hotel/lodge accommodations. Traveling in a large safari truck gives you the best vantage point for your experience in Africa. The vehicles are totally self-sufficient complete with camping equipment and ample kitchen facilities. Traveling in groups of 13-25 people in shared living room style is especially popular with single travelers or older couples who want some security.
These safaris often blend animal viewing and community projects with adventure activities, appealing to the older 20-40 year old traveler. These tours are becoming increasingly popular, especially among the over-50s who are looking for a more adventurous style of travel. There is nothing like open-fire cooking, shopping in local markets and socializing with locals.
4. Individual or group safaris?
A number of tour operators offer private tailor-made safaris. For a certain price you can have your own vehicle, your own tailor-made itinerary developed for your needs, and a private driver/guide, such as the one provided by our staff. The options are not only limited to camping, but that is precisely why they are so coveted. These options are popular for honeymoon couples and business people with limited time and tight dates.
Group safari can be very rewarding. Itineraries have been developed to include the highlights of each region and are more economical than private tailor-made safaris. The biggest concern with a group trip is whether all participants get along, in most cases if there is some fellowship, then the Africa destination becomes a coveted trip. Otherwise, things go wrong when certain clients are sold a safari that does not meet their expectations.
5. Expectations and the level of participation
It is important to book a safari in Africa that meets your expectations. The great thing about Africa is that it fits all personal needs and budgets. It is important to know what you want and what you are getting into, so look for a tour agency that provides that level of safari and service.
Different safaris offer various levels of participation. The most expensive luxury safaris are those in 5-star hotels, very different from truck safaris where clients are expected to help with the day-to-day running of the safari.
If you want to participate in the day-to-day running of the safari, you will have to help cook and buy fresh food for the group, so book an Overland Truck Safari. Most companies offer a cook among their services, so the client’s participation is limited to helping prepare meals, rather than taking responsibility for the final product. These safaris work on a client rotation system, so it may be that over the course of a 3-week period you only have to attend 3-5 times; enough time to learn how to barter for fresh fruits and vegetables at local markets and how to cook over an open fire.
There are a couple of Overland Truck Safari operators where shopping and cooking are entirely up to the groups. This could be a great way to take full advantage of the Africa experience. While rewarding, this could be quite stressful especially if you have never cooked for 20 people before, let alone cooked over an open fire.
6. Time
How much time do you have to do a safari? An itinerary that includes many stops in a short time may not be the best solution for a good safari in Africa. Ccùconsider asking the tour operator how much time you spend on the trip depending on a few points.
Time after time, customers compare itineraries from one company to another and choose the company that offers the Safari with the most highlights only to realize on the second day that it all adds up to: breakfast at 5 a.m. each day and not arriving at the final destination by 8 p.m. This means to destroy the purpose of a vacation!
Being realistic about what is achievable, the safari industry is very competitive, so operators tend to increase stages to make their product more attractive and saleable to potential customers.
Council:
Take a good look at a map of the countries you wish to visit; Africa is a huge continent. Evaluate well the condition of the roads, which are not up to Western standards, so, do not expect to cover 500 km stopping at several tourist sites in a single day.
7. All Inclusive versus Pay-As-You-Go.
Choosing all-inclusive over pay-as-you-go has many advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of all-inclusive lie only in paying for visas and personal expenses. The disadvantage is that you might pay for activities that have no interest, for example, forest walking or canoeing along the Zambezi.
Pay-as-you-go offers the flexibility in paying only for the activities that interest you resulting in better value for money. The downside is deciding before you start your safari what activities you do and do not want to participate in. It is always best to overestimate what you can do on safari making sure you do not run out of money.
8. Internet flyers and reservations
Over the past 2-3 years there has been a trend of following brochures, as more and more people are confident in booking excursions on the Internet. Also, as a society we are aware of wasting valuable resources such as paper. Most websites (like ours) have detailed information on safari taking away the need to evaluate a brochure.
9. Ask yourself the right questions
Before booking a safari in Africa first ask yourself (and be honest) the following question: What kind of safari would I like to do? To follow:
- Where do I want to go?
- What do I want to see and experience?
- How long should I stay?
- What do I expect?
- Do I want a private or group safari?
- How much do I want to spend?
- Do I want all-inclusive or pay-as-you-go?
- What kind of transportation do I want?
Once you have asked yourself these questions and answered them, you can begin your search for a suitable operator that will meet your expectations. Personally, among the many tour operators that exist, we recommend our staff, namely Safari Avventura, a tour operator specializing in safaris in Tanzania and Zanzibar that offers you an incredible number of different itineraries of great quality.
What is the best safari in Africa?
There is little you can do, when you want to experience an unforgettable trip and be able to book the best safari in Africa, you have to look among the Tanzania travel itineraries that we at Safari Avventura make available to our clients. In fact, Tanzania is the most beautiful safari destination there is, both in terms of landscapes and in terms of the enormous animal biodiversity and the amount of animals that can be crossed.
Therefore, the best safari in Africa is one among our many itineraries. Some of the best itineraries are: the best-selling Cheetah Safari, the Rino Safari, which also includes a trip to Zanzibar and Tanzania’s seaside resorts, and finally the Kudu Safari, an unforgettable 11-day trip to Africa. You can also check out our offers, where you will find amazing promotions and discounts for unforgettable trips and safaris.
Safari in Tanzania on offer
Discover the best deals for a Safari in Tanzania, discovering the most beautiful and evocative Parks in East Africa; you will travel the savannah discovering the Big Five while observing the great migrations in a unique setting
