Everything You Need To Know To Plan An Amazing Southern Africa Safari in a Nutshell.
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At the African Safari Guru Travel Company, we love ambitious, far-ranging trips, but they can be difficult to plan and may require a liaison and fixer who really understands the lay of the land for foreign travellers. Expert travel advice from Matthew Grace, Owner and Founder of the African Safari Guru Travel Company, tackles the Southern African safari — where to go, when to go, and how to do it.
Planning a safari can be intimidating. We’re here to help you Live, Share and Capture your experience! As an expert travel consultant, can you tell me a little about your trip-planning viewpoint?
I really only try to sell what I know, and I have spent a lot of time over the last two decades and each year on the road scouting locations, meeting new people, and getting to understand these experiences for myself. I pride myself on being an authority on each destination which is why most of my clients have been with me for years. The experiences I promote in Africa, from safaris and beyond safaris in Southern Africa, tend to be focused on involvement, with an adventurous component by day and relaxing place to lay your head for the night.
A safari is a once in a lifetime trip usually handled best by an expert. What’s important for people to know as they embark on the trip-planning process?
First off, it can be incredibly complicated charting a course of action in Africa, especially for the first time.
Many properties won’t accept bookings from individuals, and Google Maps won’t get you very far because road conditions are often questionable, so I always recommend hiring a travel expert when planning a safari. If there’s one time in your life to let someone craft the experience for you, this is it. How do you even begin to narrow it down? I like to say that crafting a safari program is like conducting an orchestra, you should try to build upon each destination or property with unique experiences that complement one another. This is why it’s a good idea to work with someone who’s seen more than just the printed pictures.
What are some of the most common questions you get asked by people planning a safari?
A big one is “How long should I go for?” A lot of people don’t realize that Africa is bigger than the United States, China, and all of Europe combined! I have people who tell me they want to see 4 countries in 14 days from East Africa to Southern Africa, that’s just not feasible. I like to suggest focusing on Southern Africa as the connecting flights to neighbouring countries is first class and not too long and doing it for a minimum of 12-16 days with no more than three-five stops. Trying to squeeze in more starts to feel like the Amazing Race and there’s just no point in rushing what will be the most fantastic trip of your life.
I also get asked about malaria a lot. The disease is very real and very serious. Most of sub-Saharan Africa has some level of the mosquito-borne disease, but there are pockets of so-called “malaria-free areas” in South Africa, which are an attractive option, especially for families travelling with young children (however, in these cases, “malaria-free” really means “very low chance of malaria”). The best defence? Talk to your doctor about prescribing malaria pills, which are incredibly effective to allow you the freedom to travel where ever.
Speaking of travelling with young children, do safaris make good family trips?
Yes, if the kids are old enough — I typically recommend safaris for children ages 6 and up. Each property has their own age restrictions (so be sure to check before you book!) and some are more child-friendly than others. Look for a lodge that offers child-focused programming, like Lion Cubs Program or the outstanding Ulusaba Lodge properties in Sabi Sands, South Africa in “low-malaria” or Madikwe Safari Lodge, Lelapa, Madikwe Game Reserve (Low Malaria) as examples, we have all the knowledge and experience to assist with the best possible lodges to meet your needs. The reality is that safaris can be tiring: You’re in the open game viewer vehicle on rugged roads for three to four hours in the morning and then for another three to four hours in the afternoon/sunset, so working in relaxation time and splurging on a lodge with great kids activities is well worth it.
Do you recommend private or sharing travel?
At the four and five-star level, there isn’t much cost savings by being with a group, since all properties price on a “per person, per night” basis, so if you’re looking for a more general experience and have the budget, you’ll have more flexibility on a private tour and the chance to fully tailor your trip with us at the African Safari Guru Travel Company. It should be noted, however, that unless you spring for a private guide and open game viewer vehicle at each property, be prepared to pay +-USD500.00 extra per day, otherwise you are going to be paired with other travellers at each lodge you go to however 99% of our preferred lodges only allow 6 x guests per vehicle. So, for private safaris, I recommend travelling with six people or fewer if sharing is not an option.
Right, so let’s get into specifics here: Can you break down a few top safaris for me?
Absolutely. When you’re planning a safari, the first question you should be asking is: Should I visit South Africa, Zambia, Botswana or Zimbabwe?
South Africa is the better option if you’re looking for an inexpensive, well-rounded experience that doesn’t just focus on game viewing. It’s one of the most diverse Travel Destinations on the African continents and one where you can find a little bit of everything from stunning sightseeing attractions, culture, history, adventure to incredible Big 5 game reserves. Spend time with elephant researchers at White Elephant Safari Lodge on the Pongola Game Reserve, visit the high animal-density Sabi Sands Game Reserve however if time allows we love to also allow our guests to experience some diversity and therefore offer safaris in our neighbouring countries too which are all unique in their own way and only a short flight from South Africa with the logistics of connecting flights making it possible to fit into your itinerary.
Also, with the Victoria Falls, this is just another spectacular experience where you can view one the worlds Three Great waterfalls with many adventure activities to choose from and more…
We love to combine and experience if time allows and as mentioned above. It seems like a lot of travellers (particularly honeymooners) want to pair a safari trip with a beach retreat to top it off. What are your thoughts on that? That all depends on the season and the weather, but in general, If you’re in Southern Africa and enjoy diving, go to Mafia Island, or if you prefer something a little more luxurious stay at AndBeyond Mnemba Island, off the coast of Zanzibar however the options are really endless end of the day and we can certainly assist with options best suited for your needs.