Planning an African Safari Trip Part 2: 10 Essential Steps

Below you can find Part Two of Sandy Salle’s great guest blog on planning a trip to Africa. As you might remember, I’m planning a 2011 African Safari honeymoon and these tips have been aces at helping me figure out what I should be doing. Whether you’re an adventurer who is booking alone, or someone looking for an all service agent, these tips will steer you the correct way. Don’t forget to see part one, and if you have any other questions, please feel free to contact Sandy at www.hillsofafrica.com. Thanks Sandy!

• Make proper arrangements to obtain a visa or valid passport: All travelers going to Africa need to have a valid passport that doesn’t expire for at least six months beyond the length of stay. Currently, American’s with passports don’t need visas to enter South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia. Countries that do require visas upon entry are Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, but these visas can be purchased at the point of entry. Also make sure that your passport has plenty of pages for entry stamps, for example South Africa requires that you have at least two free pages for their stamps.

It’s advisable to inquire with the consulate of the country you plan to visit about traveling papers, visas, and passports required upon entry, and to check on current restrictions, as they are subject to change without warning.


Here is a link to a list of African embassies.


• Arrive to your destination with various forms of money: The best money to travel with when going on an African safari vacation is the U.S. dollar and the European euro. Depending on where you go, you may want to consider purchasing currency used in the country you intend to visit before leaving. Many countries in Africa have their own forms of currency including South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, although most countries do accept the U.S. dollar as a form of payment.

Bring several forms of cash with you to ensure you don’t run low on cash. Bring cash as well as a debit / ATM card and credit card. Most major cities and large airports have ATM’s to withdraw money from. Hills of Africa Travel strongly recommends you find a list of ATM’s before departing.

Try this Visa ATM locator or this MasterCard Global ATM Locator.

A word of caution: Do not exchange money on the street. This is an illegal scam. Also, don’t forget to call your credit card company before you leave for Africa to inform them you will be using your credit card while abroad.

• Pack according to the climate of the destination you plan on visiting: Know the season you’re traveling in so you can be prepared for temperature changes. Temperatures fluctuate from month to month, so it’s important to pack accordingly to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable Zambia safari trip. Bring durable shoes, airy long sleeve shirts, and pants for mornings and evenings, a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Many camps also offer complete complimentary laundry services, which permits you to pack less. Bring neutral colored clothes to protect yourself from the hot African sun, and pesky mosquitoes. It’s also a good idea to bring one or two nicer outfits in case you decide to dine at a fine restaurant. Depending on the climate, it would be advisable for you to pack a sweater, jacket, rain coat, hiking shoes, and socks.

• Bring essential accessories: Pack bug repellents, Advil, analgesics, antipyretics, anti-diarrhea meds, antiseptics, and a small first aid kit. To eliminate excess weight from your bags, purchase travel size bottles of the above essential accessories. This will cut down on space used in your bag and weight.
  

• Pack a camera and extra batteries: Africa boasts some of the most spectacular photography opportunities in the entire world, which is why it’s crucial to bring a working camera with you. A camera with a zoom lens is suggested for bush walks, and other safaris with large game and fantastic bird viewing, but many times you will get close enough to the animals to get a great shot without a zoom lens. It’s always good to be prepared though.   Also make sure to take your own pair of binoculars, safari guides have their own but you don’t want to miss out on viewing that elusive leopard.

Bon Voyage!

A little more about Sandy Salle and Hills of Africa Travel: When you work with Hills of Africa Travel, you can be certain you’ll have the African safari vacation of a lifetime. We ensure each client is fully prepared to embark on their trip to Africa and have a completely detailed itinerary planned to their liking. We pride ourselves on exceptional customer service, a highly knowledgeable staff, and the ability to find you the best rates, accommodations, and activities for your individual preferences. Contact us today at (877) 845-4802.