A First-Timer’s Safari Medical Guide

Going on a safari for the first time can be one of the most exhilarating experiences of your life. However, before you leave on your trip, there are several preparations that you need to make, many of which involve your health. The environment in Africa is very different from what many people are used to, containing several medical hazards that you need to be ready to encounter.

Learning about a few of the medical issues related to going on a safari will help you prepare for your trip so that you can have a safe, enjoyable vacation. Here is a first-timer’s safari medical guide that you can use to get ready for your trip, and learn how you can enjoy the most exciting safari possible.

Buying Insurance

Buying medical insurance is one of the most important things you can do if you want to protect your long-term health. Securing an insurance policy is always a good idea, but it is particularly important when you’re planning to go on an African safari.

While on a safari, there will be times when you will be far away from a medical facility. This means that you may need to travel a great distance to receive medical attention if an accident occurs during your trip. Having a reliable insurance policy means you will be able to receive treatment as soon as you arrive at the hospital. Make sure your insurance plan is up to date and provides good coverage before your safari to ensure peace of mind on your trip.

Get Your Vaccinations

Experienced travelers know that getting vaccinated is a must before going on an African safari. There are a number of serious diseases that you can potentially contract while on a safari, but getting your vaccinations will make sure that you remain healthy for a safe and enjoyable trip.

However, you need to make sure you don’t wait too long to schedule and receive your vaccines. Many vaccines needed to travel to Africa, such as the yellow fever vaccine, take ten days to work. If you wait too long, you will not be able to receive your vaccine certificate and will likely be denied entrance into your destination country.

Clean Water

Making sure that you’re drinking clean water is one of the best ways to protect your health while on safari in Africa. Consuming contaminated water is unfortunately easy to do while on a safari, potentially resulting in conditions like traveler’s diarrhea or more serious diseases.

Before drinking the water at your lodge, make sure that it is being properly sterilized. When away from your lodge, you should only drink commercial bottled water or water that you know has been sterilized. Also, if you eat local fruit or vegetables, either peel the fruit and throw away the peels or thoroughly wash the produce with sterile water before eating.

Get a Physical

Traveling long distances can take an extreme mental and physical toll, even for the most fit vacationers. Going on a trip has the potential to exacerbate underlying conditions that you may not even know you have. It is for this reason that you need to be sure that you schedule a physical with your doctor before you go on safari. Undergoing a physical will ensure that you’re healthy enough for your trip and will help you to have a great time.

Follow this medical guide and you’ll be able to stay happy and healthy during your African safari.

Jill Liphart for Roho Ya Chui

2018 Safari Travel Trends

If you’re interested in a one of a kind vacation that will provide lifelong memories, there’s almost no better choice than going on an African safari. Going on a safari means being able to experience exotic wildlife in one of the most beautiful locations in the entire world. However, if you’re like most travelers, you want to be certain that your trip is as fun-filled as possible, which means you need to learn about a few of the hottest safari trends.

Here are a few African safari trends for 2018 that you need to know about so that you and your family can plan the most exciting holiday possible.

Immersion Travel

While on vacation, many travelers want a touristy experience where they can enjoy staying in a lush hotel and see all of the most popular sites. However, if you want your trip to be as memorable as possible, then the best safari trend for you is immersion travel.

Immersion travel, as you might expect from its name, is a type of vacation where you immerse yourself in a culture, learning about longheld traditions and connecting with the local people. Unlike typical vacations, immersion travel allows you to have a rich and rewarding trip that you’re sure to remember for the rest of your life.

Whole Family Safaris

A vacation is the perfect opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life so you can finally spend time with your family. If you’ve been thinking about taking an African safari as a family vacation, you should consider going on a multigenerational safari, one of the hottest trends for this year.

On a multi-generational safari, grandparents, parents and children/grandchildren can enjoy a unique vacationing experience. You can even choose a safari that is tailored to the exact needs of your family, whether you want an experience focused on your children or a trip that has something for all ages.

Adventure Safaris

If you’re like many people interested in going on a safari, then you want to be certain that your trip is as thrilling as possible. If so, then the ideal safari trend for you is going on an adventure safari. With an adventure safari, your trip will be filled with pulse pounding excitement, providing the getaway that you need and deserve.

When planning an adventure safari, you can match your activities to your skill level, ensuring that you have a great time while staying safe. Whether you choose a walking safari tour or a forest hike, an adventure safari is a great choice for thrill seekers everywhere.

Personalized Safaris

If you’re the type of traveler that marches to the beat of their own drum, then the top safari trend for you is going on a personalized safari. With a personalized safari, you’ll be able to pick the activities that interest you the most, ensuring a trip that you’ll remember fondly for the rest of your life. If you want a vacation that is tailor made for you, then a personalized safari is a great choice.

Think about the trends that best match your tastes, and you’ll be able to go on a thrilling African safari that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

Meta: Here are a few African safari trends for 2017 that you need to know about so that you and your family can plan the most exciting holiday possible.

Jill Liphart for Roho Ya Chui

 

Why You Should Go on a Christmas Safari Holiday This Year

Christmas is a magical time of year for millions of people throughout the world, and it also happens to be the perfect time to go on an African safari tour with your family or closest friends.

In Africa, some describe December as the “rainy season,” but don’t expect torrential downpours and mud everywhere you go. In fact, many locals call this time of year the “green season” instead as frequent rains mean more vegetation. Animals get to dine voraciously, and most use the opportunity to sire a new generation. Tourism is also down, so prices tend to be deeply discounted to attract more people. These are just some of the reasons why Christmas safari holidays are an amazing experience and an alternative worth considering.

If you have always wanted to trade in a white Christmas for a green one filled with stunning wildlife and peaceful beaches, consider the following 5 reasons why you should go on a Christmas African safari holiday this year.

Less Crowds

In Southern and Eastern Africa, most safari game lodges and private reserves shut down to the public around mid to late January. This time of year coincides with the heaviest rains, which make roads muddy and difficult to traverse, even in the best of 4x4s.

In December, however, rains are frequent but light. Lodges, parks and reserves are all still accessible, yet bookings have already started to slack off. What this means is that you are far more likely to book a room at your favorite lodge during this time of year! You can also enjoy having fewer people on game drives as well as at airports and elsewhere near typical safari destinations.

You and your family can enjoy privacy and a more intimate experience at your lodge thanks to the thinned crowds and the eager staff ready to please their smaller pool of guests.

Cheaper Rates

As demand slows, prices go down in order to spur more business. Luxury game lodges near famous safari parks like Kruger, Mana Pools and the Serengeti tend to offer discounted rates, especially for big families. You can also receive special add-ons, like complimentary sundowners or a no-charge-added Christmas feast filled with African and European delights.

If you have always wanted to experience an African safari trip but were worried about your budget, Christmas time is the perfect period to visit most places at an affordable rate.

Tons of Adorable Newborn Animals

As greenery becomes plentiful, many animals in the bush take the opportunity to breed. Parks teem with adorable baby animals, like elephant calfs, lion cubs, wild dog pups, warthog piglets and more. Spotting these animals in the thicker, green grasses can be difficult, but many guides and trackers make it their specialty to locate young animals during the low season.

Incredible Greenery and Migratory Birds Galore

The rains and extra greenery create spectacular landscapes that truly show how Africa’s savannas and wetlands come alive. Migratory birds especially love this time of year in central to southern Africa, so bird lovers will get their fill of unique, exotic and spectacular birds at places like the Okavango Delta.

Milder Weather

Weather cools down during the rainy season quite a bit. In fact, many of the top non-safari destinations like Cape Town’s beaches and Lake Victoria resorts tend to have some of their best weather. The occasional thunderstorm is often followed by periods of blue skies, light breezes and plenty of sun.

Special Events and Celebrations

Game lodges know how special Christmas is to visitors, so they usually pull out all of the stops to prepare special holiday feasts or activities. Cities also often hold special events, like Johannesburg’s Christmas markets for gifts, crafts and seasonal treats. Events like these happen at no other time of the year, making Christmas a special and unique time to visit Africa on safari.

Book Your Christmas Safari Holiday in Africa Now!

Now is the perfect time to plan your trip to Africa for a special Christmas holiday adventure. Contact us today to book a custom Christmas safari vacation package, or look at our many available pre-planned African safari tour packages to get your season started off right.

Also, stay posted for a list of the absolute best things to do and places to visit on safari in Africa during Christmastime!

Jill Liphart for Roho Ya Chui

Experience “Africa On Foot” at the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve in South Africa

If you are the type of person who prefers camping to hotels and hiking to scenic drives, Africa On Foot just might be the perfect South African walking safari tour experience for you. This small camp, located within the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve near Kruger National Park, contains five chalets, a cozy campfire boma and a small pool.

Most importantly, the camp is prized for its guided bush walks, which promise to bring guests as close as possible to Big Five animals and other majestic wildlife within the park. You can rest your feet during evening open-air game drives, allowing you to get a closer look at predators like Kruger’s famous lions.

Learn more about this incredible camp experience and why it is one of the most unique safari camps near Kruger by reading on.

Getting Up Close With Exotic Wildlife on Walking Safari Tours

Mornings at the Africa On Foot camp start before sunrise. You eat a light but nourishing breakfast to give you energy before embarking on an intimate walking tour. Just as the sun begins to emerge, a hubbub of activity happens in the bush. Many animals are just going to sleep or emerging from their holes. Many small predators also use this time as an opportunity to catch their own breakfast!

Walking tours last two to three hours, and include lectures and shared knowledge from our experienced guides. You get to learn how to recognize subtle things only those who have lived near the bush for decades pick up on. Spot lion tracks fresh in the mud from the night’s hunt, or track down wildebeest by the way the grass bends.

Walks end while the temperature is still cool, allowing you to enjoy a hearty meal followed by a late morning siesta or mid-day relaxation as you read and converse with fellow lodgers by the pool.

Lunch Time and Leisurely Evening Game Drives

In the late afternoon, game drives depart from the camp to give you a personal guided tour of the more remote trails around the Klaserie reserve. During these drives, you get to see species like lions emerge for their nightly hunt. Your knowledgeable trackers will be able to provide you with the best viewing and photo opportunities possible, and they sometimes even encounter the Big Five within just a few feet of the 4×4!

In the middle of your evening game drive, your guide will provide a snack in the bush along with a cold beverage. You return to the lodge before sundown, giving you time to wash up before a filling, authentic African dinner served family style in the lodge.

Comfortable Nights and Well-Deserved Rest After Your Walking Safari Tour

After dinner, you can retire to the comfort of the campfire boma or your own lodging. Accommodations consist of five different chalet types in addition to an open-air treehouse, the latter of which is perfect for adventurous couples who want to spend the night under the stars — with mosquito nets, of course!

Altogether, Africa On Foot offers a singularly romantic and immersive way to experience a South African safari. You can book your stay at the camp as part of a custom safari tour package or find an equally amazing place to stay as part of our South Africa safari tour packages. No matter what experience you choose, Africa is waiting to show you its incredible beauty!

Jill Liphart for Roho Ya Chui