Safari travel guide

Tips & advice on planning your Africa safari holiday

There are many ways to discover Africa’s wildlife – from taster experiences to off-the-beaten track adventures, no two safaris are the same. Choosing your safari holiday can seem overwhelming at first, but deciding how, where and when to safari shouldn’t be a chore – you’ll find some of the main points to think about in our guide below. For more information, pick up the phone or pop an email over to one of our safari experts; they’ll be happy to help plan the safari holiday that’s right for you.

Getting there
You can easily reach East Africa with daily flights to Nairobi and Arusha (via Nairobi), where most guests will stay for a night ahead of their safari. East Africa’s national parks and reserves are then just an adventurous drive or light aircraft flight away. In South Africa, there are direct daily flights to Cape Town and Johannesburg. Southern Africa’s safari regions are then just a short flight away, with connections to Kruger, the Eastern Cape, Victoria Falls and Botswana.

Getting around
Your main decision is whether to travel by road on an overland safari or by air on a fly-in safari. Overland safaris are great value, and while distances can be long and road conditions can be poor, you’ll get to see more of a country and soak up the scenery. To travel in style, opt for a fly-in safari. Flying in a light aircraft also reduces travelling times, allowing for more time to relax at your luxury camps.

How long do I need?
This depends on whether you’re looking for a taster safari experience followed by time exploring a city or relaxing on the beach, or a more extensive wildlife-viewing adventure. Two to three nights in each of your chosen national parks or reserves is ideal, with a little longer in ‘destination camps’ such as Bushtops or Governors’ camps, or if you simply want a more leisurely pace. With so much variety in Southern Africa, we recommend focusing on smaller areas and giving yourself time to really explore each destination.

Where to stay
Our hand-picked accommodation ranges from comfortable lodges to the most luxurious camps under canvas. Think about whether you’d like the at-one-with-nature aspect of a tented camp or would prefer a more conventional lodge; whether you want to be inside the national parks or in neighbouring conservancies. For families, choosing the right accommodation is really important – our Safari Experts can help you choose lodges that are suitable for all the family.

National Parks v conservancies
The big-name National Parks and reserves deservedly attract the most attention − they are the most easily accessible and often have the widest variety of wildlife and accommodation. But there are great benefits to staying in private reserves and conservancies outside the parks. They’re quieter, and as activities aren’t constrained by park guidelines, night drives and walking safaris may be possible.