SAFARI, “TRAVELING WILD AFRICA”

BY CLAY LARROY

We lead such busy lives working, going to school, taking children to different activities that often we do not stop and talk to our children. We usually do not have time to sit around the dinner table and ask our children what they did today. Family vacations are so important, as it gives us a way to connect with each other in a stress free relaxed environment. Families that take vacations together build memories that will last a lifetime. Family vacations and travel can be a most rewarding experience.  When you are ready to plan a vacation contact me!

The word safari is Swahili for travel, trip or journey. In the travel industry, safari refers to a type of travel that typically involves these elements:

• At least one country in Africa
• Extensive sightseeing, with an emphasis on wildlife sightings
• An expert guide (although some self-guided safaris can be arranged, it is not recommended)

For animal and nature lovers, few types of travel are as rewarding as a safari. Many who have been will tell you that the countries of Africa connect with the human psyche like few other places... Africa is not a destination - it is a point of origin.

An African safari is a trip like no other. On safari you come face to face with creation in all its glory, with nature at its most untouched. Few people come away from a safari the same as they first arrived. A safari is an opportunity to travel off of the beaten path, creating memories that last a lifetime. Like any specialized trip, the key to a successful safari is education, preparation and planning.

You will enjoy a safari if you:

• Are passionate about nature
• Enjoy wildlife
• Can handle modest discomfort
• Enjoy traveling to uncommon, undeveloped, or unique locations
• Enjoy an active vacation

You’ll have several options when choosing a guide, as well as the degree of comfort on your safari. A guided safari is best for most travelers, particularly if this is your first safari. You can arrange an independent, self-drive, safari through a tour operator, however, who can provide a vehicle, maps, itineraries, provisions, tents and park passes.

There are two very important notes regarding independent safaris:

1. Not every country or park allows self-drive safaris
2. Many locations require guides for safety and to assist with navigating the infrastructure. Self-drive is inherently more risky! The roads are often in poor shape, animals view anything that moves as dinner, gas stations can be difficult or impossible to find along the way, and the local population speaks no English.

These considerations are merely to educate, not to discourage. Travel is a matter of well-informed choice, and if you have some experience, you can surely find a comfortable program with the right tour operator.

Guided safaris involve the presence of a trained, experienced guide who accompanies travelers (as a group or privately) throughout the itinerary. Guides are typically very knowledgeable about local animals, plants, and weather conditions. A good guide will know the best locations for animal viewing, which saves a lot of time and makes the trip much more efficient. Many guides are trained botanists or zoologists and have a sharp eye for animals and plants that the untrained eye might miss. Finally, guides usually speak both English and the native language, a skill that will come in handy time and time again! (Be sure to check with your travel consultant to learn specifics about the guides a safari company uses). Guides are also charged with obtaining park and camping permits, in addition to setting up and breaking down any camps.

Travelers also have their choice of accommodations while on safari. Some camp grounds and accommodations are in the game parks, while others are outside of the boundary of the officially designated parks.

Tented safaris are camping excursions with tents and mobile locations, usually in well-defined tent areas where the parks allow it. Tour operators sometimes offer varied luxury in tents, from bare canvas tenting to deluxe, permanent tent structures. Camping is part of the traditional "mobile" safari, where travelers cross the countryside in a four wheel drive vehicle supplied by a safari operator.

Lodge safaris offer several accommodations throughout the itinerary that can range from rustic to the ultimate in luxury. If you are looking for luxury, it is possible to arrange Fly In safaris where the tour operator uses small aircraft to airlift travelers to vehicles in game parks for a day or more of animal viewing.

Not all types of safaris are offered at all parks or by all companies, so it is important to ask about options and plan for what will make you most comfortable and excited about the trip.

In addition to the general safaris already mentioned, you can also choose from a great variety of specialized safaris. For example, Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania and Liwonde National Park in Malawi offer canoe safaris to view hippos and crocodiles. Rwanda, Uganda or Gabon offer opportunities for gorilla safaris.

As you can see, part of the fun of planning your trip can be choosing your safari. Safaris can also be as luxurious or rugged as you’d like - which is why the assistance of a good travel consultant is highly recommended for a safari, especially. Trained travel consultants typically have inside knowledge and a variety of resources to find you the best value and safari company, based on what you want from your trip.

Most travelers go on a safari for the opportunity to see the amazing wildlife of the African landscape. The most commonly sighted animals include the "Big 5": lion, elephant, cape buffalo, leopard and rhino. However, a multitude of other species is a part of the safari experience - including zebra, giraffe, cheetah, baboon, wildebeest, and gazelle. In some areas, gorillas, chimpanzees, crocodiles, hippos and other more exotic animals make their homes.

Spotting wildlife is a matter of luck, patience and a good guide. Especially in the dry season, animals tend to gather around waterholes, which make excellent viewing spots. On rare occasions, you might spot a lion or cheetah stalking a gazelle or other plant eater - a spectacular sight.

Most animal viewing is done from the safety of a four wheel drive vehicle that animals largely ignore. Seldom in the parks are visitors allowed to get out of their vehicles, except in specially designated areas.

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

“I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move.” 
― Robert Louis Stevenson

Live life and travel often, the more you travel, the more memories you create!