| Fancy a Kenya Safari or a Tanzania Safari? Then start doing some research. A trip into the wilds of a hostile country is not the same as booking a quick trip to Bognor. In this country, a nip from a snake can land you toes up before you have chance to look round. Safari holidays are a good way to broaden your mind, but if this is your first time, then you will need a guide and will need to book with an agency. All adventure holidays are supposed to have a little bit of risk, but running off into an African plain without proper training or a guide group is downright foolish.
A safari is not a tour in the strictest sense of the word. So do not expect to have the services of a guide who explains the sites or the country's history. Here, everything is visual discoveries, thrills and wide open spaces. It is mainly an African animal that you are there to discover. The whole point of safari holidays lies in the unexpected discovery of nature. Nobody can guarantee you you will see the "Big Five" animals, but a good tour guide will know the places that you are most likely to see them. The “Big Five” are the five most desirable large animals, which are the leopard, elephant, rhino, lion and buffalo. A good tour guide should put everything in place to allow you the biggest chance of seeing them.
The hotel industry in the bush and the accommodations are quite varied. Some offer accommodation in traditional lodges that are built tough with an architecture adapted to the landscape. They offer all the comforts of a traditional hotel such as bar, restaurant and entertainment. Some tour guides offer to provide housing in tents, which are sometimes as comfortable as the rooms. Some camps offer less capacity than lodges but some will offer the same comfort and the same service.
This is not a guide but you need a chauffeur who knows the country thoroughly, and has a map (usually a planned route) of the reserves most fertile bush to take you throughout your safari. This is where the best concentrations of animals lie, such as near water points or isolated areas where you may find a leopard. The best drivers are endowed with several years of experience and speak fluent English. Your typical trip in Kenya will have a safari bus with a removable roof. They are often equipped with eight seats plus the driver. For a better service for your Kenya Safari will preferred to limit the number of passengers to six per vehicle. Vehicles are in high demand and condition of the terrain wears tires tread prematurely. Make sure your driver is cautious and prepared for a car failure or a puncture! The discerning traveller will cheerfully tolerate these potential drawbacks and make maximum use their adventure holidays.
There are some companies that will offer you a custom-tailor made holiday, but these are often very expensive. The trip via an agent with a group is often expensive, but a private trip is liable to run into multiple thousands, if not tens of thousands. |
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