general
The word Safari comes from the Swahili word for journey. When most of us think of a safari it involves viewing wild animals and birds in the wilderness, usually in a remote national park or reserve. There is a huge choice of styles and destinations and this can make safari planning a mind boggling experience. To assist in narrowing down on the right experience for you the best thing to do is to chat to a safari expert. Hopefully, however, the below information will assist in jump starting the planning process for you. This blog will come in two parts with part two being on Thursday.
The best place to start is to ask yourself, "What do I want to see?"
For the vast majority of first time visitors to Africa the focus is on the Big 5 - lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo. Safari operators have borrowed the term that big game hunter's used for their most desirable trophies. The Kruger National Park in South Africa for example is a great place to go in search of the Big 5 and for other mammals and birds.
The best sightings of white rhino are generally in South Africa and for the black rhino we recommend Namibia's Etosha National Park and Damaraland or the Lewa Conservancy in Kenya. Elephants are hugely appealing, some of the largest herds in the world can be found in the Chobe National Park and Linyanti regions of Botswana. If it is primates are you are after, the likes of gorillas and chimpanzees then your best bet is to head for the pristine forests of Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.
Predator sightings, particularly the big cats, are always a magical experience and a highlight of any safari. During the wildebeest migration in the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti National Park expect superb predator action, in particular lions and cheetah. Leopards are best observed on night drives in the Kruger Park in South Africa, the South Luangwa in Zambia and the Okavango Delta in Botswana.
The next question to ask yourself is, “What time of year can I go on my safari?”
What month you can travel in often determines which country and which region within that country that you visit. For example if you wish to travel in January it may be suggested to you that you consider the Serengeti in Tanzania with the wildebeest herds present in the southern plains and the babies all being born. If you wish to travel in March / April you may be steered away from East Africa due to the long rains and towards countries within Southern Africa. If you want to see the Okavango in full flood, head to the country from May to July. If you want a green desert experience in the likes of Botswana’s Kalahari, February and March are best.
If you have flexibility on when you travel, generally if it is a first time safari and you are out to maximise your sightings it is best to travel during the ‘dry season’ months from June to October. This is because the grasses are lower and the animals tend to congregate around water sources making them easier to spot. Dry season is generally the ‘high season’ in Africa for this reason.
If you are a birder, it is a second time safari or indeed if price is an issue, the ‘green season’ months of Nov – May do have their own rewards. The bush is alive with babies having been born, the migrant birds have all arrived, the scenery is lush and green and the light is incredible for photos. Generally rains fall in sharp, short showers in the afternoon, being a welcome relief to the hot summer days.
1. Knowing that whilst boarding your plane at the busy first world departure airport that within 24 hours you will be escaping the rat race, turning off your phone and indulging in the open spaces of this vast continent.
2. The feeling of the heat as you step off the plane and the fun, organised chaos of the airport and customs.
3. The wonderful welcome at your camp or lodge of a cool drink and wet cloth.
4. The anticipation of your first afternoon game drive usually begun with a much ‘civilised’ afternoon tea.
5. Climbing on up to your vehicle and meeting your guide for the first time.
6. Grabbing your binoculars and camera at your first sighting of your safari, eager not to miss anything.
7. The ‘sundowners’ experience. As the sun sets and the sky starts to turn a beautiful orange your driver will stop and ask the words you have been longing to hear, ‘Gin and Tonic Madam / Sir?’ It is usually at this point in the day when you breathe a huge sigh of satisfaction and thank your lucky starts that you are here enjoying this excellent African tradition!
8. Turning on the spotlights after dark and anticipating the nocturnal animals making an appearance and hearing the inevitable ‘whoop whoop’ of the hyena. If you are really lucky, you may see a leopard on the hunt.
9. Returning to the lodge / camp for a dinner in the boma around a huge campfire. At this point you will look up to a sky filled with stars you won’t see in any city and be awed by the size and scope of the universe.
10. Sharing campfire stories with other guests about your sightings for the day and enjoying an incredible meal which you cannot believe has been cooked in a bush kitchen.
11. Falling asleep to the sounds of the bush – most certainly crickets; depending on your area, grunting hippos; hopefully roaring lions or wailing jackals and if you listen very carefully, the sounds of bush babies, nightjars and owls.
12. Jumping out of bed early the next morning, still dark and eagerly accepting that much needed cup of coffee to jump start the day. Half asleep you jump in the vehicle and wait for the sunrise which is shortly to follow with the incredible morning light casting its shadows on the bush. Every animal sighting is an excitement, particularly those where you can simply sit and observe the animal in its habitat and engage with your guide asking questions and learning.
13. Spending the heat of the day lounging by the pool or catching up on some sleep or on that book you have been meaning to read for ages.
14. Taking the ranger up on a walking safari experience – to walk is to remove yourself from the noise of the safari vehicle as well as the noise and turmoil of modern society and re-connect with the sounds of nature. To walk is to follow tracks, feel the tingle of your own senses, and hear the beating of your heart as you edge closer to a herd of elephant, feeding in the river.
15. Many will say that a safari is a ‘spiritual’ experience – something our busy lives require to remind us of why we exist. You will likely be hit by this feeling at some point on your safari and when you do you will know that you have been bitten by the Africa bug and will have to return!
Photography by: Norman Carr Safaris, Shamwari & Karen Blixen Camp
Contact a specialist about a Safari Holiday
1. Seasonality – Southern and Eastern Africa generally has two seasons, "dry" and "wet". The dry season usually falls between June and October and is characterised by droughts, very little vegetation and large numbers of animals concentrated around any remaining water. For this reason the game viewing during the dry season is at its best. The wet season, commonly called the "Green Season", usually falls between November and May. The green season is when life in Africa blooms. The grass grows, the rivers fill and the animals bear their young. Some view this season as the most beautiful, the only drawbacks are that the animals disperse into the lush green foliage and game viewing becomes more difficult and you get the occasional afternoon rain shower, though this rarely affects your safari.
2. Price – Price varies between countries, for example Botswana Tourism operate a "low volume high yield policy" making it comparatively expensive to visit but also making it appealing to those who prefer something unique and exclusive. The best value for money in the current economic climate is the Kruger Park in South Africa. Seasonality also effects price, the dry season commonly referred to as the High Season can be twice as expensive as the Green season. The green season can offer amazing value for money, especially in places such as Botswana where the Okavango Delta offers amazing water based safaris and bird life.
3. Style – Every persons vision of a safari is different, some imagine the vast plains and large herds of animals in the Serengeti or the Masaai Mara whilst others imagine the ultra Luxury lodges in the Kruger Park. A safari in East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania) is generally more populated with more vehicles in the National Parks. More personal safaris can be found in Botswana and within areas of the Kruger Park. Water based safaris are a little less known but prove very popular. These safaris enable you to view the wildlife on the banks of the river from the comfort of a mekoro (traditional dug out canoe) or a motorboat.
4. Accommodation – There are three main styles of safari accommodation, Mobile camps, Tented Camps and Lodges. Mobile camping, sometimes referred to as "classic camping" due to the similarity with the early African explorers provides the most basic of the three accommodations, but due to its mobility often provides the best game viewing. Tented camps, mostly found in Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and Zambia, in contrast to the word "tented" generally provide the most luxurious of accommodations and are more like tented hotel suites. Lodges vary in size and quality, the most luxurious of the lodges are generally found in South Africa.
5. Relaxation – Generally clients visit two distinct areas on holiday, one for the adventure and wonder of a safari, the other for relaxing or visiting an area of interest such as Victoria Falls or Cape Town. Choosing somewhere to relax usually involves a sun lounger, white sand and personal bar service. For this experience, depending on logistics you will head for an idyllic beach by the Indian Ocean. The choice of exotic beach usually boils down to Mauritius, Seychelles, Zanzibar, Kenya, Mozambique or South Africa.
6. Families – Most areas cater for children on safari but some do it a lot better than others, for example, some lodges provide unique educational children’s activities such as learning African bush skills, whilst other lodges prohibit children of a certain age. Many families choose to safari in South Africa in one of the Malaria free national parks.
7. Speak to a specialist – It is extremely important to speak with an expertly qualified safari consultant to get the best experience at the correct time of year within your budget. Mahlatini African Travel’s staff have all lived and travelled extensively throughout Africa personally visiting the camps and lodges that they sell.
Contact a specialist about a Safari Holiday
An amazing holiday to a range of exotic destinations in Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands is more accessible than you might think. Follow our Top 10 tips to ensure your holiday adventure is one to remember, for all the right reasons…
1. Research the range of African destinations on offer well in advance of your planned departure dates to make sure you choose a safari or beach holiday that meets your specific requirements. Indulging in a spot of escapism by reading up onyour preferred locations and looking at photos is a wonderful way to get you through the winter months.
2. Make better use of frequent flyer points and airline award programmes that you may have built up over years but never redeemed – putting these to good use may make a long-haul destination more viable than you had previously considered.
3. Visit South Africa. Whether you love or loathe football, you can’t have missed the beautiful imagery of this amazing country being beamed into your living room from the recent World Cup…book up fast to avoid the stampede!
4.To get the best rates travel Off-Peak, that is if you are not restricted by school holidays! It may mean you can enjoy a luxury, 5-star experience, previously considered to be out-of-reach. For example, the tropical paradise of Mauritius offers year-round sunshine and fantastic value outside of peak months, especially May and June.
5. For most of us, we save all year round for our annual summer holiday. For financial peace-of-mind, make sure you only book with a travel company who is properly licensed e.g. by ATOL or TTA to ensure you are 100% protected. Also, make sure you have your travel insurance in place before you book your holiday as you are generally entitled to a full refund if an unforeseen event prevents you from travelling.
6. Don’t waste precious days of your all-too-short holiday break suffering from jetlag, especially if you are travelling with children. Fly south to avoid traversing time zones and enjoy your holiday from the moment you land. Any African country is no more than 2 hours ahead.
7. Don’t take any risks – check with your GP at least 2 months ahead if you and your family require any specific vaccinations for the countries that you plan to visit. There are a number of malaria-free safari destinations if this is a particular concern – speak to an expert travel consultant who will advise you.
8. Break out of your usual travel patterns and welcome new destinations for an enriched experience – you will reap the benefits of a break from the old routine. Add at least one emerging tourist destination to your travel wishlist for 2011. The rewards of travelling to countries such as Mozambique, Namibia or Uganda before tourism develops on a larger scale are manifold.
9. Remember to not just rely on your camera when travelling – take time to soak in the scenic landscapes, sunshine and unique cultures of the locals. This will truly enrich your overall experience and you can call upon these happy memories to help get you through the dreary days back home.
10.Perhaps our most important tip, we highly advise that you trust your travel planning to a reliable expert tour operator. They will have in-depth knowledge of your chosen destination and be equiped to give you first hand advice. If you are interested in visiting Africa or the Indian Ocean Islands contact Mahlatini and let them plan your dream holiday in 2011.
View more on South Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands Holidays
Three golf estates in the Waterberg Mountain, in Limpopo have joined forces to offer Waterberg Golf and Game packages to the South African market. Zebula Golf Estate and Spa, Euphoria Golf Estate and Hydro and Elements Private Golf Reserve will offer packages that include bed, breakfast and unlimited golf-cart hire and use of the driving range. The courses are in close driving distance of each other, with Elements Private Golf Reserve 25 kilometres from Zebula Golf Estate & Spa, and Euphoria Golf Estate & Hydro one hour and fifteen minutes from Elements.
The strategy also includes joining forces with the recently opened Legends Golf & Safari Resort, situated 45 minutes drive from Euphoria, to offer Limpopo Golf & Safari packages internationally. The appeal of these packages is the golf and game experience, where golfers can enjoy golf on premier golf courses while watching game, followed by a Big 5 Game experience. The combination of golf and game is unique to South Africa and has been identified as one of the key selling points for the packages.
The standard eight-day package includes two nights at each of the four resorts, with unlimited golf-cart hire and use of the driving range as well as two Big 5 safaris. The launch of the international packages will take place on March 17-19.