Your African Safari By Design

When you ask anyone you know about their last or most favorite vacation they will probably go into great detail about how wonderful it was. Most people will paint you a mental picture of the scenery and all the things to do. Of course, if it rained at all while they were there you will hear about that too. That kind of information may very well make you want to go there, but it doesn?t help you to plan and design a perfect vacation, like an African Safari.

You might think an African Safari is a vacation for a Teddy Roosevelt type person, but not necessarily. You have choices, lots of them.

The planning process for your trip to Africa is like other vacations only more intense. It is intense, unless you have a plan for how to make your plans. You just have to add a lot of special considerations when planning. For starters, why do you want to go? Is it something you have always wanted to do and are passionate about it? Is it a simple case of seeking adventure? Do you want to experience the animals and other products of nature? Maybe you never saw yourself on a safari until your research told you it is much more than hunting very large animals.

You know about the animals. What else do you expect to get out of your vacation? Probably most people think of lions and tigers when they paint their mental picture of Africa. You do have other options. Would you like your African Safari to focus on tracking? Maybe you would prefer a hiking theme. How about an astrological or a photography theme safari? Still not decided? How about a cycling or marine theme?

How much it will cost you varies. Although ?off-the-shelf? African Safaris are available, most safaris are customized for each person or group. The safaris are designed based on what season you are interested in and how long you will be staying. Of course, it also depends on the number of people in your group and what accommodations you want. Your lodging may range from military style tents and cots to pure luxury. What area of Africa are you interested in? Do you want to go to more than one country while you are there? It is your option.

You will have some decisions to make about what you want after you initially arrive in Africa. You may choose to fly into the actual area of the safari, or pick the more traditional over land and canoe route. If you wish the use of a motorized vehicle, you will have to include that in your planning. They are optional.

What about the time of year? You will want to consider the season and climate when planning your life-changing trip to Africa. Most likely, the climate during any given time of the year is not the same as your hometown.

So surf the Internet. Get some kind of a feel for all of things there are to do on an African Safari. Make a list of what is most interesting to you. Find out what time of year you will be going. What is the weather usually like there at that time? Of course, what do you take for clothing? How many people are going? What is the theme of your safari? Make a budget. Decide what kind of accommodations you want or need. What means of transportation will work for you when you arrive in Africa? What or how many countries do you want to visit as a part of your vacation? If you build your African Safari using a design based on good planning, it may very well change your life.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to African Safaris