Not everything you see in the news is true. We have all watched the news and the images portrayed of Africa may seem direr then they actually are. Like every other continent in the world Africa is as safe as any. In fact Africa has some of the safest travel destinations around the world to visit with family, friends or just by your lonesome.

Just as you would take extra precautions to ensure your safety in other countries the same goes for African ones. Be vigilant and seek advice from travel experts about the location you want to visit.

Depending on your level of comfort and what you are looking for in a lodge or campsite, the time of the year you visit as well as the rating of the place you shall stay you will find all of these things are taken into consideration when it comes to costing.

If you want an average estimate of what your African Safari will cost you, take the following things into consideration:

The type travel agency you hire: Whether you are going for a Family Africa Safari or a tailor-made African safari, the travel agency of your choice will affect how you are quoted and the deals you will get, so be sure to research and compare quotes

What shall be you travelling style: from large groups to tailor made safaris this all comes at different rates with different deals so be sure to take a look at this and pick the one that will suit your pocket most.

A tailored-safari gives you the freedom to create your own departure date or add specific experiences to the agenda. If you want to push the limits of how you experience what Africa has to offer, you have the freedom to modify or re-define your entire trip! If your idea of an African safari doesn’t involve long waits at the Airport or being crowded in a 4×4 cruiser then you might want to consider tailor-made African safaris.

When one travels you have to take into consideration the culture/people, weather and Safari you are embarking on. With that in mind below is a list of things you should have with you on your African Safari:

Clothing: First things first, keep your luggage light. This is because most lodges and campsites provide their guests with a laundry service that will immaculately clean and press your clothing, so do keep it light.

Also dependent on the time you visit have these staples with you: long sleeved tops, socks, a pair of good pants and comfortable shoes. Also ask your travel advisor to assist you with information about the area so you may know what is appropriate and what is not.

Toiletries: In the spirit of keeping it light, carry with you small packs of your essential must haves with one pack of backups just in case like conditioner or deodorant.

Safari: to make your game drives or just your downtime much more enjoyable, have with you a pair of binoculars, some reading material, charges, sunglasses, camera gear, a water proof bag to protect your gear from rain, sand or dust etc.

All year round you can get some pretty good deals on African Safaris but we find that the best time to get cheapest accommodation would be during the low season, that is April (except Easter Weekend), May and June. However while the low season might bag you a deal, poor weather and closed attractions could derail the best of plans.

So what’s the sweet spot? The Shoulder season. This seasons comes around October, November until December 15^th. The beauty of shoulder season is that while prices have fallen, there’s still great weather, most restaurants and attractions remain open and the bulk of the holidaymakers have moved on.

It is human nature to try and get the best value for money and sometimes you just want to save a few bucks here and there but still have a great adventure. Below are two things you can do or consider in order to do just that:

The more the merrier. A great and easy way to reduce costs is by going on an African Group Safari. This safari is tailor-made to help you save some money with things such as cost sharing of a room to supplements being much more reduced.

Consider the option of self-driving. By doing this you will reduce the added costs of having to pay for things such as a guide or the like.

When you embark on your African Safari or opt for a tailor-made African Safari, you want to make sure you have the best guiding your every step and experience. So with so many guides out there what exactly should you look for in guide?

Is he/she well informed? Ensure to have a list of questions with you that they shall answer to help you figure this out.

Does he have the right references and are they reputable? Ensure the references stated on the site or that you have been given are correct.

Can they handle all your needs? You do not want to hire someone who falls short. So look at customer feedback to get an idea of the services they offer as well as the experiences other adventurers have had with them.

Your safety is important. While going on an African Safari may be fun and games, when you come face to face with a lion, the whole story changes. It is normal for one to fear for their safety when in the wild but while you embark on your game drive you will have expert guides that are trained for such instances. They are also well equipped to protect you in case the situation is critical.

*Note: most animals are not used to the scent of humans and when faced with one most will flee out of fear but precautions are made to ensure your safety is top priority.

With all the health scares reported it is no surprise this is the number one asked question by many travellers. In terms of what inoculations or shots you should get this is all dependent on the area you are visiting, but the essential thing one would need is malaria tablets.

But apart from that we advise that you seek your medical practitioner’s advice as well as your travel agent.

Experience the best. Unless you are going to be partaking in a lot of street food, you will find that the food provided in lodges, restaurants and the like are ok to consume. We say this for these establishments take care to ensure that the food served is of the best quality and that it was handled with care.

In the case of water everywhere you go you will be able to find safe bottled water for you to consume.

All across the continent you will find a large number of the population speak English and have it as a part of their national language, so you do not have to worry about communication when planning for an African Safari.

Also most Safari travel guides or agencies offer a guide who is fluent in more than one language if need be.