W hether on drives, on foot, on horseback or by boat, safaris definitely deserve a place on your bucket list, offering exquisite wildlife experiences in the natural world. These are once-in a-lifetime trips that take you to the most beautiful places on the planet where you’ll see wildlife at its most incredible – whether that’s thousands of wildebeest thundering across the savannah , rare mountain gorillas frolicking in the rainforest, or big cats aplenty prowling for prey. You’ll then relive these experiences around the campfire under a sky full of stars, or dream about them tucked up in tents against a soundtrack of laughing hyenas or lions roaring into the night.
But a safari is like no other holiday you’ll ever go on so they can take some planning. There are lodges to book, game drives (or walks) to organise, and a safari wardrobe to pack. To help you get started, below are answers to the key questions you’ll need to ask when planning your trip.
Let’s be honest, safaris are complicated. Faced with a bewildering array of destinations, accommodation styles, seasons, and wildlife wonders, how do you choose the right one for you? Focus on three simple questions: what’s your budget, when can you travel and – crucially – if this was your only safari, what would you really want to see? Botswana’s Okavango Delta is renowned for romantic, luxury camps and huge herds of elephants in its watery wilderness, while Tanzania ’s Serengeti and Kenya ’s Maasai Mar.