African Safari Tips & Things to Know Before Going on Safari in Africa
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Going on safari for the first time you probably have many questions. There are hundreds of guides telling you where and when to go, so I’m not going to go into this. This post is intended to give you all kinds of practical tips which will help you prepare for an African safari no matter where or when you go.
From safari dos and don’ts, choosing between organized or self-drive game rides to safari packing tips. This post should answer all your African safari questions. Find out!
What you need to know before your first African safari
No matter how many pictures you have seen or what expectations you have, the very first moment you see African animals in the wild will be unforgettable.
I still remember ours as if it was yesterday. It was 10 years ago, on the very first day we arrived in South Africa. We landed in Johannesburg in the morning and drove straight to Kruger National Park. In the evening a couple of hippos showed up at the river, just meters away from the terrace where we were having dinner. It was such an amazing experience!
Now that I told you how great it is, I also feel obliged to tell you that not every moment of every safari will be the highlight of your trip. Far from that! You might be driving for hours and hours with not much to see. But then you will, you always do, and it will all be worth it!
Oh, and back to the amazing part. You WILL want to stay longer. Take my word for it, you will. Book a few nights extra. Flying to Africa is not cheap, so get the most out of your trip!
If you are traveling to Africa with kids, make sure to read this post as well: Everything You May Want To Know Before Taking Kids on Safari in Africa.
Safari Tips
1. Be open-minded and flexible
Every safari drive is unique and therefore unpredictable, so try not to stress about the things you cannot control. Sometimes you won’t see much, sometimes you’ll see a lot, sometimes the ride will take longer than expected, and sometimes it will be tougher than expected.
Be prepared for warm and for cold, for wind or sun, for mosquitoes and flies, and mostly for a rough ride.
While most of the time you will be driving on gravel or sand roads, sometimes the driver might decide to cross a river, drive through the bush, or cross a stone field… We did all of this when following a herd of desert elephants in Namibia and it was an amazing experience!
2. Follow the rules and stay safe
Stay in your car at all times, the rules are there for a good reason. Animals are very well camouflaged and often you don’t see them until it’s too late.
Don’t approach the elephants too closely, don’t make noise, keep your hands and your camera inside the car near the cats, and never stand between the hippo and the water. In fact, hippos are very aggressive and are the most dangerous African animals after mosquitos, so you don’t want to get them upset.
3. Ask questions
Most safari guides are very knowledgeable and you can learn a lot about animals and their behavior.
4. Ask to stop
You think you see something in the distance, but are not sure, or you want to take yet another picture of a zebra? Don’t be afraid to ask to stop the vehicle. The guides are there to give you the best safari experience.
5. Take lots of pictures
The first time you see a zebra you’ll probably take 25 pictures of it, the next time – 10, and by the end of the week you’ll hardly notice it. You can always delete the pictures afterwards and only keep the best, but take pictures when you can because you may not get a chance for a better shot.
Sometimes, you might get extremely lucky and see some incredible wildlife on the very first game drive. Don’t think that it will always be like that! Make sure to take pictures of everything you see because you never know if you’ll have another opportunity.
READ ALSO:
Best cameras and lenses for safari
Travel photography tips
Guided safari tours vs. self-drive safari
Depending on the country and the place you are visiting, you don’t necessarily need to partake in an organized tour in order to see African animals in the wild. Kruger National Park in South Africa, Etosha National Park in Namibia – these are just a couple of examples of the parks you can easily visit on your own. Often you will see animals just next to the road, outside the parks.
We have been on numerous safaris in South Africa and in Namibia, and we have done both – safari rides with a guide as well as on our own. My advice for you is to do both. None of these formulas guarantee that you will see more animals; you just have to be lucky.
The first time we were in Kruger NP, we saw Africa’s Big-5 (elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, and buffalo) on the very first day. While we saw lots of different animals during a guided tour in the morning, we encountered 3 out of Big-5 later during the day when driving in our own car.
Advantages of guided safari tours:
No driving. You don’t have to drive and concentrate on the road, so it’s much more relaxing.
Better visibility. You sit higher, there are no windows and so you see everything better.
Knowledge. You can learn a lot about African animals from the safari guides. You quickly feel like an expert by being able to tell the difference between all different sorts of antelopes.
Expertise. The guides have lots of experience. They know where and when to look for certain animals and they often see them long before you do…
Communication. Safari guides constantly communicate with their colleagues and exchange information so they can bring you to the centre of the action in no time.
Accessibility. In some parks, private vehicles are only allowed to drive on certain roads while guided tours have fewer restrictions.
Kids are more engaged. It’s easier to get the children engaged and interested in the whole safari experience on an open jeep safari ride than when driving in your own car. Don’t listen to the people who tell you that young kids don’t appreciate safari. They do. You just have to find ways to get them interested and engaged. Get your kids a good pair of binoculars and play a game of who sees a certain animal first, and you are all set.
Picnic in African savannah and sundowners. Some of the very best memories of safari experiences we had were the ones where we had breakfast, picnic lunch, or a sundowner drink in the middle of an African savannah. It’s just something you have to experience at least once.
Night drives. You cannot go on a self-drive safari at night. You are not allowed to drive at night in the parks and it’s not a good idea to drive in the dark in Africa anyway. If you want to hear lions roar or see them hunt at night, you’ll have to book a night drive. I still have to meet the first person who actually thinks that night drives are worth it, but it’s a very unique experience. Don’t expect to take any pictures at night, just enjoy the ride and hope that you get to see some action.
It pays to travel to Africa with a big family or a group of friends. You pay for a regular safari ride and end up with a private driver and a whole big jeep for yourself because they don’t necessarily fill the jeep if they already have 4-6 places sold.
Very often, young kids are free of charge or get a discount as well. It’s not always the case however, so don’t count on it. If you want to be certain that you will be on your own, you have to ask for it and probably pay much more.
Advantages of a self-drive safari:
Flexibility. You can decide where you want to go and how long you want to spend at a certain place and don’t have to worry about being stuck with a group of 10 other people who take 101 pictures of a giraffe in all possible angles and still complain when the driver wants to go on. OR you can stay longer, follow and watch the animals as long as it suits you without having to worry about other people or a schedule.
Better pictures. Usually, you will have better chances to take pictures of the animals if you don’t have to compete for the best spot with the other people in the same vehicle.
Cost. Needless to say, a self-drive safari is much cheaper than an organized ride. Safari rides, especially private ones, can be very expensive. Sometimes it might be cheaper to stay at a luxury lodge with all-in formula (food and safari rides included) than having to pay for a hotel and safari rides separately.
Heating and air-conditioning. This might seem irrelevant, but wait till you sit in the open jeep driving 40 miles an hour before sunrise or after sunset. Or when you find yourself in an open savannah in the heat of the day with no shade whatsoever.
Children’s age is not an issue. Some safari rides will not permit children under a certain age, usually under 6. This is mainly because of the safety concerns in the proximity of predators. In your own car, you can take children of any age on a safari ride and you stop as close to the lions or leopards as you wish. Just try to limit the noise and keep the windows closed.
Kids entertainment. If you are traveling with very young children, they might not have much patience during long safari rides. It might be easier to keep the kids entertained in your own car. I rather have my kids watching the animals than playing games on a tablet, but we often listened to some children’s music during safari rides as it kept the kids quieter.
Some things to consider when booking a game drive
Duration of the ride. Make sure you are well informed about the duration of the ride. Some will only last an hour or two, while some others can take the whole day.
Time of the day. The very best time to watch animals is usually early in the morning or in the evening around sunset. This doesn’t mean you won’t see animals during the day. We saw lions with cubs, rhinos, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, and many other animals in the heat of the day.
So my advice would be to go looking for the animals whenever you have a chance. After all, that’s the reason you go to Africa, isn’t it? You may even want to consider a night drive, but don’t expect too much from it.
Size of the group. If you have a choice, always go for a smaller vehicle and a smaller group.
What to pack for an African safari
Soft-sided travel bags. Whether you are planning on taking a small plane in Africa or joining an organized tour, you better pack light and take a soft-sided duffel bag. Don’t take hard-shell suitcases to Africa, they are not allowed if you need to take a small plane or a group tour.
Here you can read about the type of travel bags that we use for our trips. Also, your bags WILL get dirty, so don’t feel embarrassed to take old luggage on a trip to Africa. Nobody cares.
Camera equipment. Take the very best camera you have and the best telephoto lens you can afford. 200mm is a minimum. You can take some pictures of the animals with your smartphone, but you can’t compare the quality of those pictures.
Pack at least 50% more memory cards than for the other trips of a similar duration. Always have extra batteries and charge them every time you can. Don’t forget a tripod. It will be of no use during safari rides, but you’ll see animals at the waterholes and other places as well. Here you can find more advice in regards to the best camera equipment for safari photography.
Electrical adapters. There is not one standard electrical adapter in Africa, so you should check which one you need depending on where you are going. Here is a list of a couple of popular African safari destinations and the plugs they use: South Africa and Namibia type D/M. Kenya and Uganda type G. Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania one of the previous two – type D or type G.
Binoculars. You cannot go on safari without binoculars. Well, you can, but it’s more fun if you have a pair. As a minimum make sure that children have their own binoculars.
Mosquito repellant with DEET.
Sunscreen and sunglasses
Small backpack is very handy to store all your belongings during long safari rides. Make sure it closes well, otherwise you’ll have sand over everything.
Drinking water and light snacks. You should always have some drinking water with you. Organized safari rides will often provide water and other drinks and sometimes snacks as well, but you might need to wait till they stop somewhere, so it might be more convenient if you have your own, especially if traveling with children.
Flashlight (always) and/or a headlamp (if camping). You will use a flashlight all the time and a headlamp is extremely helpful when camping.
First-aid kit, medication and a good travel insurance are essential for any trip to Africa. If you are prone to car sickness, you may want to take some medication with you. African roads can be really bumpy. Always take medication against diarrhea when you go to Africa and make sure you are ok with all the vaccinations. Depending on the area, you may need to take malaria pills as well.
What to wear on safari and colors of clothing
Don’t pack too many clothes and don’t bother with brand new or special safari-style clothing. In Africa, you can wear pretty much anything. Whatever you wear, it will get dirty very quickly. You’ll get used to it.
It can get very cold or hot on safari, so make sure you are well prepared for both. Every time. It’s not because it’s hot when you leave for a ride at 3 pm that you will not be freezing cold on the way back after sunset.
Always dress in layers. I advise wearing closed shoes. Otherwise, your feet will be freezing cold in an open vehicle in the morning or in the evening. Most safari tours foresee warm blankets in the car, so don’t be afraid to ask for one if you are cold.
You don’t necessarily need to dress in khaki or light brown tints. Camouflage clothing should be avoided altogether as it’s considered military and is forbidden in some African countries. Wear comfortable clothes, preferably in neutral colors. But, as already said in my post about packing for Namibia, don’t worry about the colors too much, especially for the jackets as you’ll usually only wear them when it’s dark.
If you have to buy something new for your trip to Africa, then go for the neutral tints. Otherwise just pack what you have.
I saw people in pink, bright red, white, orange, and green jackets and sweaters on safari rides. In fact, I also wore a red jacket on safari in Namibia several times. It just happened to be the lightest jacket I own and I only wore it on safari when it was cold (=dark) so the color didn’t matter at all.
Safari clothing packing list
- Windproof jacket
- One or two (fleece) sweaters
- A pair of long pants, trekking pants are best, but jeans will do too
- 1-2 pairs of shorts or convertible pants as they give you more flexibility
- T-shirts or shirts for 7-10 days
- Sun hat
- Closed shoes
- Swimming gear
- You may want to pack one smart outfit to wear for dinner, but it’s not really necessary in Africa. We stayed at a couple of luxury lodges during our trip and usually just wore jeans and a shirt, a blouse or a light sweater in the evening.
So, these are our safari tips for your first safari experience.
One last tip. Go on every single safari ride you can and make the very best of your trip. If I had hadn’t joined the very last ride the night before we flew home, I would have missed the rare opportunity of seeing a pangolin and a couple of lions with their prey.
More travel inspiration & tips for Africa:
- Best Things to Do in South Africa
- South Africa Itinerary
- South Africa with Kids
- Best Places to See in Namibia
- Namibia Itinerary
- Namibia with Kids
- Namibia Travel Tips
- What to Pack for Namibia
- Safari with Kids
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Really helpful, thank you. We are off to Kruger in August x
Glad to help, Pol. Have a great trip!
Thank you so much for sharing all these precious tips to prepare foe a safari. I’ll be going to Kenya in mid-September 2024 and I have started to prepare mentally fort this trip. So your tips are greatly appreciated.
Glad to help, Suzanne. It will be an amazing trip for sure!
That was great!! So many good tips to know about. Thank you!
Glad to help. Enjoy your trip!
One of the best summaries I have read. Our safari has been cancelled twice due to Covid so looking forward to the tour later this year (2022).
Fingers crossed you can finally make it happen this year, Martha! Have a great trip!
Thank you for sharing this information. I am a tour operator in Uganda and this info is also applicable for safaris here.
Except I would emphasize neutral colors more and staying away from red as some animals see red as blood and may charge.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Simon.
As a south African and experienced Bush traveller your advice is spot on. Well done. The Bush is a life changing experience. The smell of a citronella candle will linger for years.
Thanks for this, Geoff. We always try to provide no-nonsense really useful advice to our readers!
Thank you so much to share this article and all the information which should keep in mind for the safari. I now feel better prepared for our trip to Kenya next summer.
Glad to hear you found it useful, Ken. Enjoy your trip!
Thank you for your wonderful post. Full of information that got my blood running with excitement for our 17 day trip to Kenya this July-August. I see now that I need a new camera … ugh $$$$ but your right it, if not now?? Looking at the EOS 80D DSLR bundle on Amazon or should I try a local camera store? I live in a very small town in Northern CA so I have few local choices.
I haven’t bought my plane ticket, prices go up and down, but have reserved a tour space with a small experienced group. How far in advance should I book, and any recommended airlines? They all seem expensive for my travel times. Thank you and I will continue to follow your blogs..
Hi Rebecca, we have some tips for camera equipment in this article (best camera and lens for safari). And yes, buying it online will often be much cheaper. Just one thing, I wouldn’t get such a camera just for one trip, unless you’ll also use it afterwards. Also, EOS 80D will require good lenses, so that’s an extra cost… It’s hard for me to advise, of course, not knowing your photography level or needs…
As for the plane tickets, I’d get them asap – your travel dates are fixed, so that leaves you with very little flexibility. My experience is that they just become more expensive as time passes. One thing – make sure that you clear all cookies on your browser or use incognito window when searching for flights. Otherwise, you’ll definitely overpay. By placing cookies on your computer, airlines know that you are interested in those specific flights for those dates and they’ll show you a higher price every time you look.
What also helps sometimes is look for flights from alternative airports near you.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!
I never knew that camouflage clothing is forbidden in some African countries. Our family is planning to go to Namibia for a safari next year and need to find the safe tours.
Hi Taylor, I don’t think there are any ‘safe’ or ‘unsafe’ tours. Namibia is amazing and we never felt unsafe anywhere there. There isn’t that much to research, actually. Most lodges organize sundowner safari drives and e.g. in Etosha, you can just go on safari on your own without any tour. Just follow the signs and don’t get out of the car in the areas where it’s forbidden, because you can never be sure that there aren’t any dangerous animals nearby.
Happy travels!
Hellow rafiki, thank you for your information,, i agree that Africa is a good place for visiting it have many attractions,when you visit u will enjoy
Just booked my first safari (& trip to Africa) as a surprise for my husband’s 6oth. So excited but not that sure what to expect & certainly not what to pack so thanks so much for this. Very useful.
Glad to hear that, Nikki. And – you’ll absolutely love Africa. Enjoy it!
Love your photos! Unique shots and beautiful. Thank you for the article.
Thank you for taking the time to leave this feedback, Acacia. Enjoy your trip!
I live in Africa and this is all you need to know whether for guided safaris or self drive safaris. For clothing carry a variety because weather changes and after the tiring safari activities you may need to relax. All foods and drinks can be gotten from the restaurants and cafes so no need to worry. Just plan right and have fun
Thank you for the local’s perspective, Samuel. It’s good to know we have it all covered!
Thank you for an awsome blog! I have been in Safaris on my own in Kenya and Tanzania but never in Southern Africa. I am now starting to plan a Safari with the family (wife + 3 kids age 17, 14, 8) from 20 to 28 April. They have never been on a Safari, but are adaptable, expeirenced travellers. Given the time of the year, I was thinking Southern rather than East Africa. What parks do you reccommend, and which country, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, ….? I have never been to South Africa so wanted to also visit Cape Town if it made sense, but I know we might not have much time. What would you recommend, to make the most of the time we have? Thanks a lot!
Hi Alberto, I really don’t know what to say as April is still rainy season in those areas. But since the roads in Kruger NP, South Africa, are paved, I think it’s always a good choice, no matter the season.
You could consider flying to Johannesburg, drive to Kruger (+-6hrs), then spend 3-4 days there. Drive back to Johannesburg, fly to Cape Town, and spend the rest of your vacation there. 8 days is really short, but I guess it would be doable. Here you can find our South Africa itinerary for 2 weeks, it might give you some ideas how to best plan your time.
Alternatively, if safari isn’t your main focus, fly to Cape Town and drive the whole Garden Route. April is a beautiful time to visit there! End your trip in Addo Elephant NP with a few days of safari. There are also some private game reserves along the Garden Route, so you could include a few additional game drives in your itinerary as well. I have some suggestions for that area in this post: South Africa with kids. You could fly out of Port Elizabeth airport, which would save you the trouble of having to drive back to Cape Town.
These are just a few ideas, of course, and there are many more options. Hope this helps.
I enjoy the information on preparing for an African safari trip. I agree that it is important to identify that not every single waking moment will be this amazing trip, someday it will just be boring driving. I would think that there are a lot of dull parts of Africa, but overall it is an amazing experience and one that you will remember.
Agree, African safari trips are amazing, if you know what to expect and are open-minded enough to take everything as it is.
Hi Jurga. First of all, thanks for all of thoses tips. My best friend and I are going to Kenya in november. We’re planning to do a safari in Masai Mara and Amboseli. Should we book before leaving or wait to be there and find something with locals?
Hi Daphne, I don’t know exactly what you mean? Book the safari rides themselves? Are you driving to those parks on your own?
If you are driving, then I guess you can just book the safari rides at your accommodation inside or near the park. I don’t have experience with this, but that’s how it works in Namibia or South Africa. You don’t have to book the rides for specific days in advance.
However, I know that most people traveling to Kenya for a safari experience actually book the whole trip upfront. So you look for a company that does the tour including the car with a driver, the hotels, and all the safari drives. I haven’t met anyone who has travelled in Kenya with a rental car; everyone I know was there with a private tour like I described, so all the planning and booking is indeed done upfront.
Sorry I can’t help you more.
Hi Jura, my adult daughter and I are wanting to go on a safari trip. Where would you suggest we go and what time of year would you recommend please? I’m not hugely able to walk far and also would prefer to be in a lodge rather than roughing it camping.
Thank you so much for any help you can give. I’ve made notes on all your hints and tips which are great.
Hi Pauline, there are so many choices when it comes to safari… If safari is the only thing that interests you (so no other sightseeing like e.g. in Namibia or South Africa), then one of the best destinations is probably Tanzania. Kenya is also a good option, probably a bit cheaper…
There are so many companies organising trips, you can book private tours, small group tours, etc. Small group tours are best price/quality wise and you don’t have to do much planning. Try and research some local tour operators; usually you can choose what type of accommodations you want to stay at, etc, but it requires more planning.
Hope this helps a bit.
Hello Jurga. I’ve been to South Africa, Kruger Park, Cape Town and Johannesburg with family and we rented a car for all our driving in June. But now I’d like to go back on my own from USA! I’d be traveling on my own as a senior female (72!) in excellent health and stamina. I won’t be driving on my own. I definitely want to stay two weeks minimum and see as much as possible, mainly safari. What time of year and what do you suggest as far as getting from place to place and safari parks? I want to make the most of a magical place. What do you think?
Thanks!
Hi Allie, I think a lot depends on where you go. But in general dry season is best for wildlife viewing as there is less vegetation to hide and animals go looking for water at the waterholes, etc. The best season for safari in Africa is therefore probably anywhere from May to October.
Hi Jurga, enjoyed reading all the information and a bit about your personal account. Springbok’s photo is amazing. Watching those wild animals stirs something deep inside the heart, we saw tigers in December and can recall every detail. You have put together all the information in such concise manner, thank you. We are considering South Africa and Namibia during summer break. Everything seems very exciting except those pesky insects, I had a painful experience with sandflies in NZ. What months would you recommend out of June, July, and August? Do you think one month will be fair for both these countries? Do you recommend any safari company? I guess I have asked many questions. Thank you so much for your time.
Hi Binny, we visited South Africa in July once and only saw very few mosquitoes in Kruger NP. The rest of the country was too cold for that. Same in Namibia – we went in July and didn’t really have any issues apart from a few mosquitoes in Etosha NP. No annoying flies like in Australia’s Red Centre where they crawl in your ears and nose 🙂 I think any of the winter months (June-August) will be the same.
I don’t really have a safari company recommendation since we did a self drive trip in both countries.
Firstly. What an awesome blog. As a South African whom has been going on safari all her life, you covered many points necessary with great insight!
To Nerissa,
I hope that you enjoy your time in our beautiful country.
With regards to Malaria, Kruger is not high risk, however, there is always a low risk in the north near mozambique.
Mosquito repellent is readily available i would suggest tabard if you are buying such in south africa. The weather will generally be hot and with a few storms if you are lucky.
Kruger is a magical place, i would suggest booking a night drive with the park.
Please do not get oit your vehicle, the animals can surprise you with how close they get. Especially monkeys and baboons who can be very brazen. And steal your food…
Good luck with the springbok, a very special animal, as Jurga mentioned, they are skittish and often dart off so you need to be quick/stealthy when you spot them!
Your drive to Cape Town will be beautiful as you see the complete changes in scenery as you travel. As a South African i advise to you to try not stop along the sides of the road. The petrol stations are equipped with ablutions and shops throughout the country. Keep car doors locked and just remain vigilant. Try not to converse with people begging etc at the traffic robots especially in jo’burg.
I trust you will love our country as much as we do!
Thanks for sharing all these tips. Insights by a local South African are very useful for our readers planning a trip to Africa.
The tips are so amazing with a lot of advice and I liked the way how you compare between self-guided and a tour drive and this is helpful for me whenever I plan for a safari in the future.
Thank you heaps for additional infos. I will take note everything you said and we will just stay in malaria free areas for safety reason. Just followed in Instagram ?. Safe travels!
What an amazing information and photos you have! We are planning to go on safari end of November up to beginning of December. We have a three year old daughter (she’ll be 3yrs 9ms at that time) and our worry is the malaria. On that dates/month I have mentioned, does she need a malaria pill if we go to Kruger? We might be renting a car from Joburg to Cape Town, is it safe to drive in SA? Thank you.
Hi Nerissa, from the information that I have, yes, Kruger is malaria area in that period. Talk to a doctor, I really cannot recommend what to do. I hear there are special malaria pills for kids, but we have no experience with that (always avoided malaria areas/seasons with kids). Good mosquito repellent is a must in any case!
As for driving. The first thing you see when you leave Johannesburg are numerous warning signs next to the road telling you that it’s a highly dangerous area and you should never stop, etc. So it definitely doesn’t feel safe there. But a few hours later you are in Kruger and you forget all about it. We never felt unsafe anywhere else, nor had any problems driving in South Africa. But, of course, you have to be careful and use common sense. Don’t leave any valuables in the car (better still, don’t even pack anything that is not absolutely necessary), just as you would do in other places I suppose. Don’t drive after dark (this has more to do with the animals, but also people walking on the roads, etc). In Kruger stay in the car at all times even if you think there are no animals nearby.
Hope this helps you a bit. Don’t worry too much, South Africa is an incredible country. You’ll love it!
I appreciate the information on preparing for an African safari trip. I agree that it is important to remember that not every single waking moment will be this amazing trip, sometime it will just be boring driving. I would imagine that there are a lot of boring parts of Africa, but overall it is an amazing experience and one that you will remember.
That’s definitely true, Ben. It wouldn’t be a true safari experience if you wouldn’t have to look for animals first, would it? 😉
This is super helpful! Africa is pretty high on my list of places to see, and this will definitely come in handy closer to that! I love the pictures, too!
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, Megan. Glad you found this post useful for your trip to Africa.
Hello. I´m Flavia Zenke and i`ll try to speak in english. I would likie to travel with my husband and my baby (three years old) in febrary to Kruger Park. My sun is very young to go in Safari? Thanks
Hi Flavia, It’s really difficult to say. First, Kruger Park is malaria area in February, so that’s something to consider when traveling with such a young child. Second, many organised tours will probably not take a 3 year old on safari rides. On the other hand, you can definitely visit Kruger with your own car with a child of any age, just keep the windows closed. 😉
If your travel plans are not fixed yet, you may want to consider the Southern part of South Africa which is malaria free. There are some private game reserves there and Ado Elephant National Park close to Port Elizabeth is also nice to visit. Hope this helps.
Your article was a fount of knowledge! And your pictures were amazing!
My hubby & I are going on a safari this coming December. It is summer in that part of the world — any additional tips?
Having read the pros & cons between a private game drive & a self-drive safari, I am glad we are trying both!
Have you tried going in a hot-air balloon around KNP? I still haven’t decided if it is worth it or if I should do the balloon ride in Cape Town.
Hi Cathy, glad to hear you found this info useful. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
Additional tips for Kruger in summer? You probably need malaria pills, even more insect repellent and sun protection. If I’m not mistaken it’s the rain season there, so maybe a light rain jacket as well.
As for hot-air balloon rides, we haven’t done that – neither in Kruger nor in Cape Town. I’d imagine that Cape Town should be more spectacular, in Kruger in december you’ll probably only see green trees. But I might be wrong, so try to google for more information or check on the TripAdvisor for reviews of people who have done this.
Have a wonderful trip!
Oh wow, this is amazing! Heaps of great advice – didn’t know camo coloured clothing are forbidden in some countries.. I liked how you did a comparison between a self guided and a tour drive, helpful for when I ever plan on doing a safari 🙂
Your photos are stunning.. Almost didn’t spot the lion in the photo!
Thanks Caroline! That picture of a lion was intended to show how difficult it is to spot the animals. It’s really not a good idea to get out of the car when driving through a safari park. It amazes us every time how the animals blend into their surroundings!
This is such a great comprehensive guide. We are looking into doing a romantic safari getaway and this will definitely come in handy. Thanks for pointing out the benefits of both self-guided and organized tours. I think that we would’ve thought it would be too complicated to even consider a self-guided tour but you have reassured us!
In some countries you cannot really do a self-guided safari, but for example Namibia or South Africa can perfectly be explored individually. Make sure to do some research for your destination before you go, Kelly.
This is a fantastic post! We did a self drive and a guided tour through Dinokeng park in South Africa! We only saw 3 out of 5 of the big 5. I guess that means I just have to do it again!
Ha ha, there is always a good excuse to go back on safari.
Have you been to SA? We’re traveling to Krueger park in January as a part of self drive trip. Do you recommend an organized safari ride or is it not necessary?
Hi Andy, yes we’ve been to Kruger National Park once for 3 days. We booked a safari ride on one day and afterwards explored the park on our own. We liked both and we saw just as many animals (maybe even more) from our own car. There are several advantages of a safari ride in Kruger though: they are allowed to go on gravel roads which are off limits to tourists, the drivers communicate with the colleagues all the time so they can bring you straight to the centre of the action, and you don’t have to drive. If you have time, try both.
We are going to South Africa in July with our two girls 12 and 9. I just bought a bigger zoom lense for my camera, just wondering what you used as a camera body and lense for the shot of the springbok? That is an excellent shot!!! Hoping I get something that good. We will be on safari for three days at Kapama. Did your kids take malarial pills? We are going in (their) winter and were told by our travel agency that it is very low risk…………but I still am nervous about not giving my kids the malarial pills.
Hi Tammy. We haven’t been as far North as Kapama, but we were in Kruger for 3 days in July and we didn’t take any malaria pills at that time. We didn’t take them in Namibia in July either. In Namibia we didn’t see any mosquitoes at all, in South Africa there were some, but they say it’s too cold and too dry for malaria mosquitoes… So yes, it’s indeed very low risk in that period in those areas, but the decision to take the pills or not is totally yours. Talk to your doctor if you are not sure.
As for the camera and the lens. Photography is my hobby and I usually carry my best camera and lenses when we travel. The springbok picture was taken with Canon 5D Mark II and Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5,6L IS USM lens. This picture was a real challenge as springbok starts to run the moment you approach and by the time the vehicle stands still enough to take a picture they are usually gone. But most animals are not jumping around like that and you should be ok with any DSLR camera and at least 200mm zoom lens. Don’t count on taking good safari pictures with your smartphone or a pocket camera though, you really need a camera which is fast enough to capture the action. Take some time to read a bit about your camera settings and try to photograph in Aperture mode – it gives you more control over the settings so you can get a picture you want. If you are not sure about the settings, don’t worry and use Automatic mode – recent cameras can handle most situations pretty well. Have a good trip! You will love South Africa!
Hello Jurga !
I enjoyed reading your post on “All you need to know before going on safari in Africa”. I am going to Uganda for a two week safari beginning of June. Very excited.
I’ve read so much stuff about avoiding black and dark blue colors – supposedly mosquitos are attracted to black (and other dark colors) and the tse-tse flies are attracted to navy blue or such. Have been going to the second hand stores to get neutral colored t-shirts and long sleeve shirts. All the “technical” clothing these days are brilliant colors. That’s all I have.
Our safari is lodge to lodge, so no camping. I suppose while being in a jeep for safari drives, the color of your clothing will not deter the animals?
Hi Tanis. I can imagine how thrilled and excited you are about the upcoming trip to Africa! I’m sure you’re gonna love it!
As for your question regarding the flies and the mosquitoes… I honestly don’t have the perfect answer. Make sure you are ok with all the vaccinations and malaria pills, that’s the most important thing.
Regarding colours. Mosquitoes seem to be attracted to darker colours and strong smells, so shower often, avoid using perfume, use DEET spray, and stay inside as much as possible after dark. Sleep under the net (most lodges in Africa have it installed). You could also consider using permethrin-treated clothing, but I don’t think it’s really necessary since you are not camping.
The tsetse fly is attracted to bright colors, very dark colors, metallic fabric, and the color blue. Not much left, right? 🙂 The problem with tsetse is that it bites during the day, and you really want to avoid that one! I think that covering your body is more important than the colours. You may want to use a head net if there are many flies around.
Some wild animals seem to be upset with bright colours, but since you’ll probably be sitting in the jeep most of the time, that should not be a big issue.
My advice is to try to avoid bright (red, orange, blue ..) and black colours during the day and cover up as much of your body as you can. I don’t think it matters that much at night though, so if you need to take a sweater or a jacket for in the evening and have one in black (or red, or whatever), I wouldn’t worry too much about it.
If you are planning on getting new clothes for the trip, buy them in somewhat thicker materials and neutral colours. Think long sleeves, thick socks, and long pants. You can certainly find neutral-color clothing. Try amazon, you can even search by colour. I’d get 2 long-sleeved shirts, a pair of light brown or khaki pants, and 2-3 pairs good quality trekking socks. You can wear a t-shirt under the shirt to absorb most of the sweat, that way you can use the same shirt longer and only switch t-shirts every day. In most African countries you can have your laundry done at the lodges at a very low price, so don’t pack too much.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!