SOME TIPS BEFORE EMBARKING ON A SAFARI

Safari Tours are usually once in a lifetime adventure. For most people it will be their first time and they don’t know what to expect. We would like to give you advice on the things you need to prepare or to do before embarking on a safari tour.

CLOTHING

Packing your bags can be one of the most difficult things. What do l put? Is it cold or hot?. We are going to answer these questions in due course, however the most important piece of advice is that you need to pack comfortable clothes.

You need to carry warm comfortable clothes like jackets and hoodies. It is a bit cold during early mornings and in the evenings. Since we do game drives inside open 4×4 vehicles, wind generated by a moving vehicle can make it colder. The warm clothing must be easy to remove since as the day breaks it becomes warmer
Put on comfortable cotton clothing with dull colours. Bright colours can confuse animals and even cause them to be a little bit aggressive. I will vouch for neutral clothing although this is not an obligation
It’s important to include a cap or hat since we are going to be outdoors most of the time exposed to the African sun.
We are going to be driving on gravel roads most of the time, so expect a lot of dust. It is important to have the type of clothes suitable for these conditions. Sunglasses also we protect you from the sun and the dust.

OTHER ADDITIONAL STUFF TO CONSIDER

Safari is all about game viewing, so binoculars must be one of the most important parts of your luggage. Usually guides have some binoculars, but to avoid sharing you can just bring yours. Sometimes you need to have a better view of the animals from a distance.

You are going to spend a lot of time outside during your safari tour. Remember to pack suncream to protect your skin from the sun and insect repellent creams. There are really not many insects but just in case you are prepared.

Most safaris are all about immortalising what we saw during our tours. That means you will need to have a good camera. Luckily many phones have good cameras these days. If you want it to be memorable you can buy a professional camera to make great photos. One other important thing is a power bank. If you run out of battery in your phone you won’t find places to recharge until you reach your hotel room.

SECURITY

Taking part in a safari tour is different from going to a zoo. Here we have close encounters with wild animals in their natural habitat. It is natural they may be aggressive to protect their territory. There are some rules and regulations you will need to follow for your own safety.:

Wait for instructions from your guide at all times. The guides are experts and they are fully responsible for your safety
Do not shout or speak on top of your voice, this may disturb the animals or frighten them
Do not throw away rubbish or water bottles in the park. Keep them and only dump them in designated places when you go back to the camp
Remain inside the vehicle at all times, if you see an animal do no disembark or put any part of your body outside the vehicle
Do not get out of the vehicle at any time or do anything not approved by the guide

Here are some advice to help you stay covered in terms of security.

DO NOT CONCENTRATE ON THE BIG FIVE ONLY

The big five are the main focus of our safari tours, but there are also other animals, birds and plants you will discover on your tours. South Africa has many other animals like zebras, giraffes, wild dogs, kudus, impalas etc. Learn and observe all the other animals you will come across and the plants that are unique to this part of the world.