October 2021
What to Expect: Africa Safari
Needless to say, we got a ton of questions about choosing this as a post-pandemic trip. I had always wanted to travel to Africa but I did not necessarily have a particular trip in mind. After watching the Bucket List Family spend their entire summer on safaris, I realized two things : 1) safari looks amazing 2) safari is a great COVID trip.
Why does safari make for a great post COVID trip?
- Everything is outdoors – Even your sleeping quarters are outdoors! The camp is outdoors, you eat outdoors, the vehicle you spend most of the day on is outdoors. You are outside 100% of the time.
- Limited number people – Unlike going to a big city, going on safari can be a limited interaction trip. While it is not a very common trip people go on, for those that do book over a year in advance to secure a tent as these bush camps are not large. The ones we chose only had six tents total.
- It is not easy to get to – Going on safari takes quite a bit of work so I could imagine many people who may have otherwise gone on a trip like this were turned off by the extensive amount of travel that is required. I was hopeful that pandemic and our ability to book this trip a month in advance that this trip was not on people’s radars and that we would not be at full bush camps. And not only was I right but on more than one night we were the only guests at the camp and had private safari experiences.
- COVID Testing – The countries we travel to (South Africa, Botswana and Zambia) all required PCR covid testing in order to enter so we knew that anyone we encountered traveling had to present a negative COVID test. And while this was certainly the more stressful part of our trip, our habits for COVID precautions did not change so we felt as long as we stayed safe and did not deviate from our practices, we would be able to navigate this.
- COVID test #1: USA to South Africa
- COVID test #2: South Africa to Botswana
- COVID test #3: Botswana to Zambia
- COVID test #4: Zambia to USA
How to Plan a Safari
This is a loaded question as there are so many different ways to “do a safari” so what I can share is our experience and how we decided on the safari we booked.
Where to Safari
Determining where in Africa you want to safari is probably the first step in the process. From Tanzania to Kenya to Botswana to South Africa and beyond – there are so so so many places to safari. If you are looking for specific types of animals, that can definitely help narrow your search. I was firm in wanting an organic experience that really focused on the animals without intervention (ie, do not feed or fence the animals to guarantee viewing). I also knew this trip would be pricey and I wanted to ensure the money was being well spent on areas that prioritize conservation of animals.
With all that, I found Botswana – the country in Africa most protective of animals and their conservation as well as the most aggressive stance on poaching. Though the size of Texas, there are only 2 million people in Botswana and most of the land is untouched. In reading reviews, it seemed like Botswana is one of the absolute best countries for safari for those reasons. It did not take long to convince me of that fact so I knew we would be going to Botswana. In Botswana, there are many regions to go on safari but I narrowed my search down to the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park. While we were in the area, I thought it would be awesome to add on a portion of the trip to go see Victoria Falls as well.
That is how I came up with this trip but as you can see, it really does vary in what you are looking for. If you really want to see certain animals, it is going to drive you to pick the country where to see them. Also, if you have specific accommodations in mind, that may be another factor in where you choose to go on safari. We were game to be in the wilderness but we will get to that in a bit.
How to Book
It is difficult though not impossible to plan a safari on your own so you will most likely be booking with a company. I wanted to make sure we had a great experience and with COVID, I wanted to have some level of protection in case we had to cancel or change the trip in any way. So I knew from the beginning I would be booking with a company to help arrange the trip. I did not want to use a travel agent or a third party to string the trip together and instead wanted to book directly with the safari company to ensure once again that if there were any issues I would be working directly with the safari. I will caveat that if you go to parks such as Kruger National Park in South Africa, self driving is far more prevalent and easier to pull off so again, these factors are dependent on where you plan on visiting. But from our limited experience, this is what can happen if you self drive and did not do enough research:
While researching Botswana safaris, I came in contact with African Bush Camps who operate several bush camps in Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. I was able to explain that we wanted to see the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, and Victoria Falls over a week. With some back and forth, they came back with a ten day itinerary that included three nights in each of those three areas, along with the transfers and COVID tests where necessary. It was so nice to have everything packed up in one bundle because I will tell you what, when we were there I am not sure how on earth I would have been able to coordinate the transfers between camps on my own from New Jersey.
I did not do a ton of shopping of tour companies – African Bush Camp was well rated and I did not want to over complicate the planning. The itinerary looked incredible and I did not look too much into the accommodations past that.
Who should go?
If going on an African Safari sounds appealing to you, start saving up to make this dream a reality. It was way more accessible than I expected and the experience itself exceeded anything I could have imagined. We saw people of all ages on this trip – couples, honeymooners, retirees, and even families. The reason I got this idea in the first place was watching The Bucket List Family go on safari with their three kids and I could not agree more than it makes for a great family vacation. Look for lodges that cater to kids and families as many exist.
When to Travel
This one is largely dependent on where you are traveling too and what you are traveling for. If you are really into birds, you are going at a different time than going to see mammals or the Great Migration. Generally speaking, the high season is June/July to September/October as it is the peak of the dry season. During dry season, there is less water around so the animals congregate around the limited water spots in the area, hence making them easier to find. Also the bush is very dry in the dry season so it is easier to spot animals through the bush as opposed to when the bush is lush with foliage. The time of year you travel does impact the price so keep that in mind as well.
The Price of Safari
I will not lie, the sticker shock when we got our first safari quote really made safari feel unattainable. While doing my research, it was not uncommon to spend $1000 per person per day which blew my mind. However, like most trips, there are levels of price ranges that can meet your budget so doing more digging can help save a lot of money and still have a great experience.
- Budget: Camping or moblie tents
- Midway: Stationary tents
- High: Luxury accommodations or private safari
The price is influenced mostly by the accommodations as everyone going on safari will have at least the safari activity of game drives and then potentially the option to add on additional activities from there. Budget friendly options do exist through more basic accommodations that resemble camping in the wilderness. Then there are stationary camps that have more formal facilities. And finally the comforts of home with a full private bathroom, air conditioning and more!
The price is also influenced by the time of year – going during peak season will fetch more money then going during low season but with the exchange of a more difficult time finding the animals in which you are going on this trip for in the first place.
African Bush Camp is probably in the midway price budget with variability on both sides depending on the camp. Unfortunately for you the reader, it is the only experience I have to go off of and we were told by one of the helicopter pilots (who gets put up in the camps) that where we were more modest camps so take that for what it is.
- Chobe National Park (Linyanti Bush Camp) – stationary tent, private bathroom, communal pool, no air conditioning
- Okavango Delta (Khwai Leadwood) – stationary tent, private bathroom, communal pool, no air conditioning
The price tag was still shocking to us but we are also not the people that go on cruises or resorts that are all inclusive where you pay for the entire trip up front. We usually are paying here and there and not ever seeing the grand total until the trip is already over. But safari is structured like a cruise or an all inclusive resort where everything is included when you arrive – food, drinks (including alcohol), everything at the camp, all the activities. So when you break down that price tag into what you are getting, it justifies the value. Comparing to a cruise or all inclusive resort, these camps accommodate extremely few people with only six tents at the bush camps we visited. And our total also included all the transfers (yes we had to fly from each camp to the next) and the COVID tests (the healthcare worker had to be helicoptered to the camp for the test).
Other accommodations to look for is cell phone or internet. The more off the grid and remote you go, the better the wildlife. We did not have cellphone coverage with Google Fi in Botswana which we did not expect to have. At the first camp, we had no wifi and at the second camp there was wifi but only in a specific spot in the main tent. We loved being disconnected and did not expect to have these services so if you are someone that needs this, make sure to add that to your list of requirements when looking for a camp or lodge and even further, make sure the internet reaches your room.
Medical Considerations
There are definitely some medical considerations for travel to Africa that will also widely depending on where and when you are traveling:
- Malaria – Malaria is certainly a concern in many parts of southern Africa where safaris take place. While there are some areas that more safe than others and times of year where mosquito risks are lower, it is important to weigh the benefits of taking malaria precautions. We were going to be on safari for ten days and before the trip, we did not know how rural and into the bush it would be so it was an easy decision for us to take malaria pills. As a pharmacist (this skill comes in handy from time to time), I picked Malranone for low side effect profile, ones a day administration, and need to take for a week after return. Each medication does have a difference in how to take it, when to start taking it ahead of the trip, and how long to take it once you return home. Please note that there is resistance to certain malaria pills in different parts of Africa so do a bit of homework – it is all outlined on the CDC website and consult with your physician.
- Yellow fever – Yellow fever prevention is another item that is very dependent on where you travel. If you are travel to or through the yellow fever belt, then proof of vaccination is required. I do not know how diligent each country is on checking this but it is listed as a requirement if you are travel to a country in to the yellow fever belt or you travel through the yellow fever belt to a country outside the yellow fever belt is to required. So if we were to travel to Kenya then to Botswana, Botswana requires it (as well as Kenya of course). Since we were not traveling to or through the yellow fever belt, we did not need the vaccine and chose to not get it. The vaccine is a simple one step series that should be done at least two weeks ahead of the trip.
- Traveler’s Diarrhea – Always a risk when traveling to another country, especially in spots where the water is not safe to drink. After my experience in Galapagos, I brought all the things to keep myself with some medicine in the event one of us got traveler’s diarrhea. Luckily, African Bush Camps takes such good care of their guests that I cannot imagine this is ever an issue. Even at the most remote and rural spot we visited in Linyanti, the water situation was bottled drinking water that was always readily available.
- Consult the CDC website and your physician for any other travel considerations for your situation
- And of course… COVID it is very very VERY important to be well versed in all the countries you will be visiting – including the country you will be returning home to. The restrictions and rules are constantly changing to it is important to be diligent about check all the time. When we went, South Africa, Botswana, and Zambia all required COVID testing with a PCR test within 72 hours of arrival – regardless of vaccination status! Though I will plug (as someone that helped run a state MEGA site) that to best protect yourself and the people around you to only travel if vaccinated. Do the right thing folks! This was certainly a stress point of the trip but it does not have to be if you are organized and a check routinely if there have been any changes. If you use best practices and travel smartly and safely, you will minimize your exposure risk of testing positive during the trip that you work very hard or spend a lot of month to plan. Do not ruin your trip by engaging in risky behaviors – I would have been devastated if somehow we got COVID in Cape Town and could not go on the safari portion of the trip. I have lots of COVID travel tips that you can take advantage of as well.
What to Pack
I have a whole post on exactly what we packed and I can tell you even with my one carry on, I over packed. To start, if you are doing bush camp safaris, you cannot bring any luggage that has a hard case of anything heavy or large. You have to take tiny planes to the camps and there is simply no room for it. A duffel bag or backpack works great but it has to be lightweight and a soft bag. This was not a problem for us and our handy EBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender Convertible backpacks.
We went with our ebBgs backpack for clothing and our Walker Family Goods Valley backpack for valuables like electronics, the camera, chargers, etc. This worked well because the eBags backpack had to be “checked” (ie thrown under the plane) whereas the walker family goods backpack stayed on our bodies the entire trip.
You do not need to purchase a new wardrobe of expensive safari clothes and you also do not need to be bring a large amount of clothes – no matter how long the trip is for. Let’s start with type of clothing. You definitely want earthy colors to blend in with the environment. Certain colors like black and blue attract bugs so best to start away from those colors if possible. The time of year will help drive what kind of layers you need to bring. I will say, it was 100 degrees in the middle of the day so it was rather uncomfortable evening at night so perhaps earlier in the season may be more comfortable but I am sure that is region dependent as well. That being said, I read it can also get extremely cold at night so be prepared. We brought lightweight hiking pants that were quick dry active pants and those ended up being a godsend. Otherwise I was rocking a tank top and a cargo-like button down and that was my safari uniform.
Check laundry services at your camp – ours had a one day turn around for laundry and we took advantage of it at every camp. Because we added on South Africa and it was freezing there, we were basically packing two different sets of clothes for this trip which added to the weight but in the future when we do safari, I will be packing a three day supply of clothing only.
PRO TIP: When at a bush camp, because of the bug situation, we always kept our bags zippered shut with all our things inside it to avoid any surprised. We learned this storm chasing (ironically) when one of the hotels we were at had a not so clean feel to it – one of the photographers cautioned us to keep everything closed as so we did. That advice worked well for us on this trip as well. Even shoes – we brought our trusty Xero hiking shoes and they stayed under the mosquito net when we were not wearing them and we always gave them a good shake when we went to put them on.
Safari essentials in your day bag include water bottle, camera, back up batteries and / or external battery, back up memory if bringing a camera with a memory card, a notebook and pen if you are like me and wanted to document everything you saw and learned on each drive, extra clothes and buffs, and binoculars. One surprise to us is that we did not wear our contact lenses once! During the drive there were so many times where dirt or sand or bugs got into our eyes that wearing contacts was a non-starter. Definitely did not expect that but we were perfectly fine without them. We were under the cover of the vehicle so sun glasses were not needed and in the middle of the day we were on in the safari vans and rather relaxing at the camp.
What to Expect on Safari
While I read lots of travel blogs on what the expect on safari, it is a bit different depending on where you go by country and by company. The general strokes are the same to include game drives that start early, a break in the middle of the day, and another activity in the evening. For us, the days were very structured and regimented – which I loved. It was just great to know exactly what to expect at all times and know the flow of the day to prepare.
- 5AM wake up call, 530AM breakfast 630AM departure for game drive
- Return from game drive between 1030 -1130AM with lunch to follow
- Afternoon rest
- 330PM high tea and snacks
- 4PM departure for game drive
- Return from game drive between 7 – 8PM with dinner to follow
Activities vary at different safaris – ours included game drives, bush walks, mokoro (traditional canoe ride) and a scenic helicopter experience. Make sure to look into what is included or what is an added expense your safari.
The food with African Bush Camps was exceptional all the time and every time. This was something we really did not expect but everything from breakfast, to snacks on the drives, to dinners at night were all wonderful. And the span of beverage selections was so impressive – it was pretty much open bar all the time and that we definitely did not take advantage of (though I am not sure how anyone can with the days as early and long as they are!). The wine predominately featured South African wines which was such a fun throwback to our time in Stellenbosch earlier in the trip. Honestly, we went in with no expectations and came away absolutely loving every aspect of the trip.
Tipping
I did a bit of research on this topic as well and I felt unprepared for this when we arrived some I am dedicating a bit of time to share our experience to help you make your decisions on tipping. Let me explain. Safari is a service based trip so tipping (while no one will right out tell you to do it or require) really should be done. The staff live at the bush camp for weeks to months at a time away from their families to make sure you have the best safari experience possible. This coupled with the fact that we were pretty much given a private experience during the entire trip meant that we felt the general guidelines for tipping was really not enough – especially once we were there and saw the service for our ourselves. Also, the volume of tourism is not even close to the typical year so there is not the tipping amount that was usually brought in. This was peak season and we basically had a private safari at two lodges. There were a few different groups that required tipping:
- Safari Guide – $10 / person / day
- Host of the Camp – $5 / person / day
- Staff – $5 /person / day
- Other – Mokoro guide, driver to the airstrip if not the guide, helicopter pilot, etc – activity and time dependent
There is no where to take money out when you get there so the concept is to bring it all with you and at the camps we visisted, can be done so in USD. So ahead of the trip, I made envelops for each group and we divided up the money that way based on the general guidance I read online and from African Bush Camps (as outlined above). Well when we discovered we wanted to tip more, we had to reallocate funds, borrow from the money we set aside for tipping in Zambia, and then take out money when we arrived in Zambia (asked our guide to drop us at an ATM but this would not have worked had we been going to another bush camp). Luckily it all worked out but it was certainly a stress point as we really want to make sure we were tipping appropriately especially since these people are making your entire safari experience what it is. All this to say bring extra USD for tipping. For me, the tipping is non-negotiable and if you can, be generous to the people that are making your safari the best experience possible.
Other Planning Elements
- Language – English is readily spoken everywhere so you should be good there.
- Tipping – Can be in the local currency or USD but double check with your safari to confirm.
- Plugs – Will be dependent on what the safari has at the camps. I had to ask the camps what to bring and I was told to bring a universal adapter but at the camps was simply European outlets.
- Travel insurance – Was required by African Bush Camps and during this day and age with COVID, is an essential especially for bigger trips. We used World Nomad that would cover the trip if we tested positive ahead of the trip.
- Visas and Passports – Don’t forget to do a thorough visa check! For us traveling from the US, South Africa and Botswana did not require a visa but Zambia did. In my opinion, if there is any leg work you can do ahead of arrival, do it. We were able to apply for the visa, pay for it, and get an approval letter so that when we arrived we just got our stamp. Always make sure there area t least six months valid on your passport before traveling internationally.
Phew, I think that is it! I certainly learned a lot about safari through this experience and hope I was able to help you if you are planning to go on safari as well. If you have even thought about an African safari, I cannot recommend enough to just do it. There are so many ways to do one so definitely do your research but I can absolutely recommend African Bush Camps and Botswana. I can only hope that another moment in life will allow us to return to this wonderful world and perhaps even experience other bush camps as well.