5 Types of African Safaris You Need to Book This Year
May 22, 2019
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For most travelers, the idea of going on a safari conjures images of spotting lions while driving in a jeep around the Serengeti.
While this can certainly be a nice way to see wildlife, safaris in Africa can be so much more diverse and exciting.
From getting up close and personal with the animals on a walking safari to capturing gorgeous shots during a photography safari and exploring the best of what the African continent has to offer, in this article, we’re sharing five types of safaris that any traveler is going to love.
Budget Safaris
Photo credit: Safari With Us
When thinking about going on a safari, most travelers come face to face with the biggest misconception of all: safaris need to be glitzy and expensive. But that’s far from the truth.
While there are luxury safaris which come with both a hefty price tag and an abundance of amenities, it is very much possible to go on affordable safari and still have a great time.
It is, however, important to know exactly what to expect from a budget safari in Africa. An affordable choice can be a tent with shared bathroom facilities or a basic lodge. It may mean choosing a tour bus for wildlife viewing and traveling outside of the high travel season.
Ultimately, choosing the best safari for you is always going to be about balancing your budget and your needs.
If you love to be in the midst of nature, a tent is a perfect choice; but you may prefer a lodge if you need the security of real walls. Large tour buses are the cheapest option, but you may want to pay a bit more to be seated in a jeep and get a much better view of your surroundings.
And when it comes to the best time to travel, low season travel doesn’t necessarily mean unpleasant weather. There are still some months when you can avoid the peak travel season high prices, but you can still get good weather for exploring.
Rest assured that there are plenty of budget safari options for all travelers whether you prefer a short safari, a jeep safari, or a birding tour.
Multi-Country Safaris
Africa is a large continent which makes it quite difficult to choose among the best countries for your safari. By choosing a multi-country safari, however, you can enjoy a dreamy trip across multiple African countries.
One of the most popular options is going on a Kenya-Tanzania safari. Both countries are vast and covering the distances between them takes quite a lot of time. Therefore, choosing a multi-country safari when planning an itinerary to visit Kenya & Tanzania will save you plenty of time and ensure a budget-friendly vacation while being able to take in the most amazing sights in both countries.
Other popular combinations of countries to visit together include Botswana – South Africa and South Africa – Namibia.
Photography Safaris
Are you a budding photographer or just someone who likes to play around with a camera? Or maybe you’re a professional photographer in need of some inspiration. Whichever it is, a photography safari will be an amazing experience that will leave you with not just great memories, but also stunning photos!
The best locations for wildlife photography are the African national parks. There is a certain degree of control, you’re under the supervision of a guide and there is everything you can think of, from animals to trees and insects, available for you to photograph.
Walking Safaris
Photo credit: Joe Ross
This type of safaris is for those who prefer to stay active even on vacations. Walking is the best way to get a feel for the place you’re at. Feeling the dirt under your feet, the sun on your face and the wind in your hair just makes everything so much more intense and authentic.
Don’t get us wrong, a jeep safari is great, mainly because you get to cover a lot of ground and see many more things than you would while walking. But it also makes you feel like a visitor, a tourist. When you’re out there in the African plains, walking along with like-minded travelers from around the globe, the experience is so much more powerful.
Big Five Safaris
If you’d like your trip to be focused on certain animals in particular, then know that it’s possible to go on an animal-oriented tour. Without a doubt, most travelers head to Africa to embark on a Big Five safari to catch of a glimpse of the African lion, the rhino, the African elephant, the African leopard, and the Cape buffalo.
If you fancy focusing on a particular species, then you’d be happy to know you can choose a safari specifically designed to spot that animal.
Do you feel the call of the lion and need to see as many as you possibly can during your short visit to Africa? Then book a lion safari and you won’t be disappointed. Are you curious about rhinos and how they live, eat and even mate? Go on a rhino safari and you’ll be provided with not just sights of the animals, but information about them.
These specific animal-oriented tours are great for folks with a passion for wildlife!
Ready to go on the adventure of your dreams? Strap on your adventure boots and take your pick from our extensive African safaris selection!