Thousands of people head to Africa each year in search of a truly unforgettable safari experience.
Whether you’re travelling in luxury, or looking for something slightly more modest, you’ll likely be parting with a substantial amount of cash so you want to rest safe in the knowledge that you are dealing with a reputable and trusted safari specialist.
With that in mind, before you travel keep in mind the following tips and your dream safari should run smoothly:
Booking
There are numerous ways to book a safari and lots of it depends on your budget, destination and size of your travelling party.
Tailored Safaris
If you’re planning on heading to Tanzania for example, you’ll find a number of tailored Tanzania safari options at tanzaniaodyssey.com, where unique itineraries that include transfers, accommodation and activities can all be requested.
Keep in mind however that the more bespoke you want your adventure to be, the more consultation there is likely to be and you may be spoilt with too much choice!
Most leading specialists offer a range of choices that include walking safaris, mobile camping and even self-drive safaris so make you ask plenty of questions so you can secure that dream getaway.
Private tailored safaris
Some holiday providers offer private tailored safaris that offer all the features of a tailored safari but with a more exclusive touch. If you chose to go down this route you will experience private game drives and even private transfers but be aware that prices do generally tend to be higher for this type of experience.
Travel
Before making any booking and parting with your cash you need to establish your protection rights in the event that the safari supplier fails to deliver a service.
If for example your chosen accommodation is full, it’s important to have protection. Some tour operators incorporate a default insurance rate into your quote but it’s imperative you find out before you book.
Booking flights
Travelling to another continent always throws up logistical headaches but to ease the pressure of scrambling for last minute flights find out if your supplier will book flights for you.
When an agent books both your accommodation and air ticket, you are also protected if any problems occur and you could even receive compensation under certain circumstances.
Although you make back yourself as a savvy deal hunter also be aware that some places in Africa are remote and you may made need to fly locally in order to reach them. In some cases it’s far easier to book via the supplier so you can avoid the hassle.
Read the reviews
Just as if you were purchasing another product or service it’s important to find out what other people are saying about your chosen safari specialist. Independent review platforms like Tripadvisor and Feefo can give you a good indication about what to expect.
Customer support
In order for you to achieve complete piece of mind you want to know that your holiday specialist is on hand and available to answer all your questions and concerns. Always ensure there are solid customer service procedures in place and all good agents should be available to contact via telephone and web/email assistance.