The best day of my life was the day I booked my very first safari tour. I was beyond ecstatic. After I hit the ‘book now’ button, I called my friends and family to share my excitement. And the best part? I managed to convince a friend to join me on this adventure.
The second best day of my life was the day I joined my tour. At 6 pm in Kippeo Beach in Tanzania, my friend and I met our trip leader, Sammi, our driver, Julius, and our small group of just nine other travellers from across the world. It might have only been a short welcome meeting, but for me, this was where the adventure started.
If you’re curious as to what the third best day of my life was, you’d be right in guessing that it involved spotting a hungry pack of lions chasing a lone zebra as we cruised through Tanzania. After all, there’s no greater experience than watching elephants splashing around in watering holes, observing a cheetah climbing a tree in search of the best vantage point, or seeing wildebeest galloping alongside our overland truck.
If the best day of your life (in other words, day one of your first safari tour) is fast approaching and you’ve already booked a safari adventure-of-a-lifetime, allow me to share with you the best tips for your first safari.
1. Wear your shoes in before you go
If you plan on wearing hiking boots (good move!), you’ll need to make sure they are as worn-in as possible to reduce the chance of blisters. If you’re not planning on purchasing a pair of hiking boots, or even borrowing a pair from a friend, don’t stress; I just wore a pair of Nike sneakers the while time and they were completely fine to wear.
2. Stick with the ‘less is more’ rule when packing
Don’t go overboard with excessive amounts of clothing for your safari adventure, as there will be plenty of opportunities to wash your clothes as you travel. Don’t forget, you’ll have limited luggage space on the truck, and there’s nothing worse than cramming all your clothes and belongings into a tiny locker.
When considering what to pack, you’ll want to pack plenty of warm layers to wear when the temperature drops in the evening, along with pieces to protect you from the sun including a hat, a few t-shirts, lightweight long-sleeve shirts, and comfortable shorts or pants. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen, too, as you’ll spend a large part of each day exposed to the sun.
As for wearing a head-to-toe khaki outfit, don’t bother. Of course, you are entirely welcome to don your best khaki-coloured pants and matching khaki shirt, but it’s by no means compulsory to go out and purchase a new outfit just for the sake of it.
3. Pack a deck of cards or a book to read during long drive days
I’m not kidding when I say that we travelled in the back of a truck across Africa, and while the scenery is impressive, a deck of cards or a book to read won’t go astray. To paint a picture for you, our safari truck vehicle was essentially a twin-cab truck, with 22-seats and tables in the back, and as you’re driving, you are free to move around the truck. Everything else; camping equipment, cooking gear and evening food supplies were stored under the truck. The one thing that was missing? Air-conditioning. If you need some air, you’ll have to roll your windows down and risk a dust storm flying into the truck.
The style of vehicle you travel through Africa in will vary significantly between every tour operator, so be sure to check out what vehicle you’ll be travelling in before you go.
4. Brace yourself for all types of weather
Across Africa, and no matter where you travel, the seasons will vary greatly, as will the weather patterns or conditions. Before you travel, make sure you read up on the expected weather conditions for when you’re due to visit, but also prepare for adverse weather conditions such as the possibility of a massive downfall in the middle of the dry season.
5. Don’t forget to pack a small medical kit
Your safari truck or vehicle will have some basics on board, but it never hurts to have your own supply of band-aids, tweezers, bandages, and bug spray, among other essentials.
6. Binoculars are not essential
If you’re an avid birdwatcher or a nature enthusiast and already own a pair of binoculars, you should, of course, pack these and carry them with you at all times. But if you don’t own a pair, don’t worry. If there is an animal on the horizon, your local guide is likely to have a couple stored in the truck that you can borrow for a quick look.
7. Keep your camera close by
You never know what creatures will pass you by during your safari adventure, so you’ll want to keep your camera or smartphone nearby to capture the perfect shot. In saying that, make sure you take a break and enjoy the sights and experiences with your own eyes to ensure you stay in the moment.
8. Be prepared to wake up early
During our safari tour through Africa, most mornings involved a 5-or-6 am wake up call so we could cook breakfast, pack up the tents, and hit the road bright and early to go animal spotting. The number of early mornings will vary between most safari tour itineraries, but as a general rule, animals are most active at dawn and dusk, so be prepared to wake up early.
9. Ask a million questions
If you have a burning question that you’re dying to ask, just do it! No matter how silly the question might be, if you’re feeling curious, this is the best place to learn.
10. Respect the animals
Don’t yell at the animals, or anger the animals. Forget about dangling your arms out the window trying to lure the animals nearer to you. Think about your actions carefully, and don’t do anything that will put you (and your group!) in danger.
11. Don’t be disappointed if you don’t see the Big Five
Letting go of any expectations might sound like pretty standard advice, but it sure rings true. Living in the moment as you cross through various national parks is the number one way to ensure for a memorable experience.
Once you remove the pressure on yourself to spot the Big Five, you’ll find the experience just as thrilling, but without the added fear of disappointment. I never spotted a rhino during my safari tour, but the number of giraffes, hyenas, antelope, wildebeest, and flamingos more than made up for that.
12. Make sure you have cash on you to tip local guides
As with many service industries around the world, tipping is customary. This includes everyone from your chefs on tour, guides, drivers and anyone else involved in helping to ensure your safari runs smoothly. Be prepared, and make sure you carry enough cash on you to cover a few tips here and there.
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