There's a lot of pressure when it comes to a . The average vacationer spends between $5,500 and $6,500 on a safari, according to travel company . Many North American travelers who travel to popular safari destinations like Kenya, Tanzania, , and Botswana spend 30+ hours getting to the destination.
And trips are typically planned months — if not years — in advance. The effort means that, naturally, there's hope the trip will go flawlessly. While Meg van Niekerk, a safari planner for , said that's not always the case, she added that it's impossible not to fall in love with the vacation style.
and Shaun Stanley, the owner and founder of the luxury safari planning company , shared with Business Insider some common mistakes travelers can avoid on their first safari vacation. When it comes to planning, don't do it by yourself get to destinations all around the world, but a safari, in particular, benefits from the help of an expert. That's because planning a safari involves endless options and often confusing logistics.
Stanley said that working with a travel planner allows you to curate the best vacation for you. That might mean a trip centered on adventure and adrenaline or relaxation and . "We don't send out a quote to a guest unless we've spent time talking to them and understanding who they are," Stanley told BI.
"And that's what gives us that opportunity to really offer them that personalized service." Beyond finding the best lodges for a traveler, travel agents know which.