When to go on a Classic Africa Safari?
Certainly one of the first decisions when looking at a safari trip to Africa is when to go. Broadly speaking, if you are travelling during the northern hemisphere summer period, between June and November, you can take your pick out of any of the countries East and Southern Africa.
The “name of the game” in safari comes down to water. If you choose to holiday when the parks are drier you will find that the non-predatory animals (such as the wildebeest, zebras, giraffe etc) have to convene around the main water sources and so become that much easier to see and, in turn, attract the infamous predators such as lion and leopard.
This is not to say that a safari outside of this window isn’t possible but the weather variations between destinations start to get a bit more complex. (which is where we can step in and help you to make sure you get the most out of your safari trip) See our “best time” guide below.
What is the “Big 5” and why is it important?
The term “The Big 5” refers to some of Africa’s more famous residents, namely the rhino, the elephant, the leopard, the lion and the Cape Buffalo. This collection of animals were, historically, known as the hardest animals in Africa to hunt (back in the 1970s when an Africa safari was the reserve of the super wealthy).
Often the animal sightings that are the most rewarding are when you are trying to find one of the above and you encounter another animal altogether and get to understand how they interact within this complex and fascinating environment.
Some parks and areas of Africa are better for certain types of animals (such as elephant in Chobe or wildebeest in the Serengeti) so if there are any animals you are particularly keen to see let us know and we can guide you.
Do you want to include some beach time?
This is often a question that dictates the rest of the holiday. The reason being that, even though the continent of Africa is surrounded by oceans, it is only really the coastlines of Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and the very northern part of South Africa that are suitable for a white sand/azure water type of holiday.
It is possible to fly through either Nairobi, Kenya, or Johannesburg, South Africa, to the luxury islands of the Seychelles and Mauritius but, with the added cost and logistics, most will steer towards the above.
Roughly speaking, due to the ease of getting from the safari areas to the coast in Kenya and Tanzania, many who are looking to keep the cost of their Africa safari lower will consider those countries over the southern African countries of Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia where the options become more expensive.
Please see some safari options below.
How long should I expect an Africa safari holiday to last?
Whilst there is no specific time you should spend on classic safari, the average amount of time for most safari trips is between 3 and 6 nights, depending on how many destinations you are combining.
If you are then looking to add on some time on the beach afterwards then anything between 10 and 15 nights is a reasonable timeframe. Again, a good starting point would be to either arrange a chat with one of us to talk through the options or to take a look at our itineraries below where a range of suggested itineraries are featured.
How much will an Classic Safari cost?
This is the final and probably most relevant question in this section. Because an Africa safari is dependent on so many factors (time of year, destination, camp, size of your party etc.), there is, annoyingly, no set price of a safari to Africa.
Basic tented camps will start from around USD $700 per person per night which will include all of the park fees, game viewing activities, accommodation and food. These tented camps will more often than not have running water, ensuite bathrooms, flushing toilets and comfortable beds and so are, by no means, “basic”.
If you are looking for something more luxurious, with amenities such as swimming pools, free standing bathtubs, private verandas, private plunge pools and stunning interior designs, then of course, the price goes up quite rapidly with prices in the most expensive properties easily now reaching over U$D3,000 per person per night.
Get help planning your ultimate Classic Africa Safari in africa
As much as AI has changed the way we all approach our lives, there is still no substitute for picking up the phone and having a chat through the options with one of us on +44 1525 840 149
This allows us to completely tailor the property choices, costs and itinerary length to your needs…but we also understand that this is not always possible with the busy lives we all lead.
With this in mind, we have also put together a safari finder tool that should help you to narrow down the initial stages at which point we can jump in to “round off the edges” as it were.
Alternatively please feel free to send us an email with your timings, group size and rough likes and dislikes and we can get the ball rolling.
Where to go in africa
Classic Africa Safari
