The most common mistakes people make on their first safari holiday

• Two safari travel agents shared common mistakes travelers make on their first visit to Africa.

• Mistakes include sticking to overcrowded destinations and overpacking your itinerary.

• Experts have urged travelers to think outside the box and approach their travels with an open mind.

There’s a lot of pressure when it comes to safari holiday.

The average vacationer spends between $5,500 and $6,500 on a safari, according to the travel company Go2Africa’s 2023 safari report.

Many North American travelers to popular safari destinations such as Kenya, Tanzania, South Africaand Botswana spend more than 30 hours to reach the destination.

And trips are often planned months, if not years, in advance.

Effort naturally means that there is hope that the journey will be perfect.

Safari planner Meg van Niekerk Go2AfricaStating that this is not always the case, he added that it is impossible not to fall in love with the holiday style.

Van Niekerk and Shaun Stanley, owner and founder of luxury safari planning company Stanley SafarisHe shared with Business Insider some common mistakes travelers can avoid on their first safari vacation.

When it comes to planning, don’t go it alone

Travel agencies help customers It’s possible to reach destinations all over the world, but safaris in particular benefit from the help of an expert. That’s because safari planning involves endless options and often confusing logistics.

Working with a travel planner allows you to choose the best vacation for you, Stanley said. This is an adventure and adrenaline driven trip or relaxation and extreme luxury.

“We don’t send a quote unless we spend time talking to a guest and understanding who they are,” Stanley told BI. “And that’s what gives us the opportunity to really provide them with that personalized service.”

Beyond finding the best accommodation for a traveler, travel agents know which places positively impact surrounding communities and ecosystems and the best times to visit to see certain animals.

Travel agents will also coordinate transfers and work with budgets. safaris often have hidden costsLike conservation fees, parking fees, and tip expectations.

Van Niekerk added that the travel agency’s support goes beyond securing the right itinerary for the traveler.

An agency will ensure that clients don’t forget about timely tasks as travel approaches, including obtaining visas, making vaccination appointments, and sharing packing rules.

Finally, your agency is there if part of your trip doesn’t go as planned. Van Niekerk connects with his clients via WhatsApp, so if my flight is delayed or something goes wrong, he’s just a message away.

Some guests don’t consider off-the-beaten path destinations

Many parts of Africa are overcrowded with tourists. Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve park entrance fees increased To discourage overtourism. Other places, such as Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservancy or South Africa’s Sabi Sands, also experience overcrowding.

Not only does it do this Overtourism causes negative stress It harms the environment but is often not an ideal place for a holiday.

“There are some really great places that aren’t in the mainstream,” Stanley said. It encourages travelers to look beyond Africa’s most popular parks and destinations and consider places with fewer tourists.

Stanley might recommend the Republic of the Congo to a traveler focused on adventure in more popular destinations like Kenya or Tanzania.

If you insist on traveling to a popular area, consider where you’ll stay. Many luxury lodges operate on private game reserves, protected wildlife areas or private concessions.

For example, TAASA AccommodationIt’s located on the edge of the Serengeti National Park, in a private game reserve where travelers can go offroading, go on night game drives, and avoid overcrowded animal viewing.

Don’t try to fit too much into your trip

Both van Niekerk and Stanley encouraged slow travel for first-time visitors.

“You don’t want to spend half your trip on transfers,” Van Niekerk said.

Instead, he recommends evaluating your top vacation priorities and setting aside enough time to truly experience them. If you really want to see a leopard or cheetah, make sure you spend enough time in the area where these animals live. This might mean visiting just one country for a week-long safari rather than checking out two or three.

“We’re trying to tell people to slow down, spend time wherever you are and get to know it,” Stanley said.

Travelers will leave feeling more connected to a place, its people and animals, Stanley said. Avoiding timely transfers and flights will also make the trip less stressful.

Don’t just stick to safari driving

While it may be tempting to stick to a daily game-trip schedule, Stanley encourages travelers to try other ways to explore the forests.

For example, a safari lodge may offer walking safaris. Here guests can hike into the bush with a guide and gain a new perspective on the landscape. They can learn about medicinal plants, spot insects and new creatures up close, and see animal behavior that can’t be seen from inside the car.

“To bring all of this to life is incredible, and you can miss that in a vehicle,” Stanley said.

Beyond guided walks, Stanley said visitors should also consider overnight game drives, boat safaris and village visits where travelers can interact and learn about new cultures.

“I try to make guests understand that there is more to Africa than seeing the big five, sitting in a vehicle, checking boxes and trying to find the animals,” Stanley said.

Van Niekerk said he also encourages travelers to learn what hostels offer.

Some luxury hostels include massages or sauna visits in their rates. Other lodges may offer jungle sunset drinks or laundry services.

“Take advantage of everything you paid for,” he said.

Unrealistic expectations may disappoint you

Finally, van Niekerk and Stanley emphasized that visitors should enter with an open mind. They encouraged visitors to be aware of their expectations and spend time in the forest, as aspects of safaris such as animal sightings and weather are unpredictable.

“This starts with a once-in-a-lifetime journey, but you will come back,” Van Niekerk said. “There is something incredibly special about Africa.”

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