Plan a Safari with Your Older Parents

One of the best things about being an adult is becoming friends with your parents and being able to go on vacation with them as equals. If you’ve been wanting to thank your parents for a lifetime of love and support by treating them to a vacation, then you should consider booking a once in a lifetime trip such as an African safari.
Going on a safari with your parents is an experience than none of you will ever forget, especially if you’re careful about booking your vacation. If your parents are a little older, for example, you want to make sure that you’re reserving a safari that they can enjoy safely. Here is some advice for booking a senior’s African safari where you and your older parents can create memories that will last for a lifetime.

Think About Health

Everyone needs to consider their health before booking an African safari, but this issue is especially important for older individuals. Before you book your next safari, you need to think about your parent’s health and how comfortable they are with physical activity.

For example, many older people have trouble walking for long distances, and if your parents have mobility issues, then you may want to avoid a walking safari. Avoiding safari areas with a high risk for malaria may also be a good idea, as older people can have trouble dealing with this disease.

Talk About Everyone’s Interests

Your goal when booking a senior’s African safari is to plan a vacation that both you and your parents will enjoy. Before you start making reservations, you should sit down with your parents to talk about what they’re looking for out of their vacation.

What type of vacations do your parents normally prefer? Are they the type of people who are always up for adventure, or is relaxation more their goal? Not every safari is perfect for every traveler, so you want to make sure that your trip includes a mixture of activities that will be enjoyed by both your parents and yourself.

Be Prepared for an Emergency

While everyone hopes that their vacation will go off smoothly, unexpected emergencies are a fact of life. Before you leave for your safari with your parents, you need to make sure that you have a plan in place for dealing with an emergency if one occurs.

Buying traveler’s insurance, for example, is a good idea. With the right insurance plan, you can avoid losing money if you miss your flight and will be covered if you or your parents need medical attention on your vacation.

While we’re on the subject of medical attention, you should think about going on safari near a major city if your parents have any ongoing medical issues. Traveling near a large city means you’ll have quick access to a medical facility if there is a situation that needs immediate attention. Taking the time to plan for emergencies means you’ll have a much safer, more enjoyable safari with your parents.

If you’re thinking about going on a senior’s African safari with your parents, keep this information in mind so that everyone has a great trip.

How to Stay Clean on an African Safari

If you’re thinking about going on an African safari, it’s likely that you have a few questions about what to expect on your trip, including how you can stay clean. After a long day of trekking through nature, you’re going to want to clean up so that you can feel fresh. As you might expect, however, staying clean on a safari is much different than with typical vacations, making it a good idea to examine this issue with a little closer detail.

Here are a few simple and effective tips for African safari hygiene that will help you to stay fresh and clean on your next holiday.

Dealing with Bucket Showers

While most safaris include modern amenities, some travelers prefer a more rustic vacation that includes camping in the bush. If you’re going to do a little camping on your next safari, then you should expect to take at least one bucket shower.

A bucket shower, as you might expect, involves heating water in a bucket and then hanging the bucket so that you can bathe. While it’s certainly different than a typical shower, you can easily get clean with a bucket shower by following a few tips. Basically, you need to make sure your bathing as quickly as possible. Your water will be limited, so you need to scrub yourself quickly. In particular, if you’re going to wash your hair, put in your shampoo on right away. If you wait to shampoo your hair, you may run out of water before you can rinse out the suds.

Packing Your Clothes

When it comes to African safari hygiene, one of the most important things to consider is your clothing. Although you will likely get the opportunity to bathe, you may not be able to wash your clothes until you return home. This means you need to be careful about what clothes you are packing and in what amount.

The best idea is to pack light, breathable clothing. Not only will this help you stay cool, it will allow you to pack more clothes so that you’ll always have a clean outfit at the ready. Packing multiple pairs of socks is also a good idea. You’re going to be doing a lot of walking on safari, and it’s likely that your socks will get wet and dirty. Having a few fresh pairs on hand will help you stay comfortable.

Other Items to Bring

If you want to stay clean on your safari, there are a few items you can bring on your trip that will help with this goal. First, make sure you have a travel toothbrush and some toothpaste. Simply being able to brush your teeth in the morning can help you feel much cleaner throughout the day. Second, if you want to be able to freshen up without going through the hassle of a bucket shower, you should consider investing in some wet wipes and dry shampoo. These items can help you quickly clean up in the morning so that you’re ready for a day of adventuring.

As long as you follow these easy tips for African safari hygiene, you should be able to stay clean and fully enjoy your dream vacation.

Everything You Need to Know About Seeing the Big Five

There are several great reasons to make your next vacation an African safari. If you’re like most people, the only motivation you need is being able to see the Big Five, a group of exotic animals that include lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinoceros. If your main goal for your safari trip is seeing these well-known animals, then there is some information that you need to consider to make sure you’re booking your trip correctly.

Here is some advice that will help you plan an African safari that will allow you to spend some time with the Big Five and have a great vacation.

Time of Year to Visit

If you want to book an African safari where you can see the Big Five, the most important thing to consider is the time of year you’re traveling. In terms of seeing these animals, the best time to go on a safari is during the cooler, dryer months of winter, which is between July and October.

Seeing these big animals is much easier during this time of year for several reasons. First, because there is less moisture, the vegetation is considerably thinner than during other times of year, which means there are less places for these animals to hide from view. Second, animals tend to congregate more heavily around watering holes during these dry months, making it much easier for you to see multiple members of this group at one time. Booking your safari for the winter months in Africa is the best choice if you want to do some animal watching.

Where to Find the Big Five

In addition to booking your safari for the right time of year, you need to be certain that you are visiting the right location. Not every spot in Africa will feature every member of the Big Five, so you need to be careful about how you’re planning your trip if you want to see all of these animals.

Probably the best place to view the Big Five for first-time safari goers is Kruger National Park. Found in South Africa, Kruger National Park is a popular safari destination where you can see the Big Five in a mostly controlled environment. Madikwe Private Game Reserve, which is also located in South Africa, is another spot where you can see all of these magnificent creatures. When booking your safari, make sure you include a view of these popular game viewing spots.

Tips for Taking Pictures

Most travelers want to make sure they document their glimpses of these animals by taking photographs. If you want the best pictures possible of these beautiful creatures, there are a few tips you should follow. First, you need to make sure you maintain your distance to protect both yourself and the animal. Second, you should use a wide-angle lens so that you can capture both the animal and the surrounding environment. Third, take multiple pictures so that you can make sure you’re capturing the animal from different angles.

If you want to see the Big Five on your next trip, you must keep these important factors in mind when booking your African safari.

A Guide for Having Fun in Cape Town

When you’re booking your next safari, there are several locations that you could include on your trip. If you’re looking for the best time possible, however, then you should make sure that your next safari includes some time in Cape Town. One of the most exciting cities in South Africa, Cape Town provides a lot to see and do, making it a great base of operations for your next holiday.

If you’re thinking about going on a safari near Cape Town, it’s important to learn about some of the different ways that you can have fun in this city. Here is a quick guide to a Cape Town safari that you can use to plan out your next vacation so that it includes as much fun and excitement as possible.

Stroll Through the City Centre

When you first arrive in Cape Town, the best thing to do is to familiarize yourself with the community by talking a walk through the city centre. The Cape Town city centre is relatively small and easy to navigate, meaning you should be able to explore the town without needing to hire a guide. While you’re walking through the different neighborhoods, make sure to take some time to view the scenery, which includes both the Atlantic Ocean and the towering Table Mountain.

While you’re walking around, make sure to stop by Greenmarket Square, where you can browse interesting African crafts and the Company’s Gardens, where you can find museums and art galleries.

Have a Drink at the Waterfront

After a day of exploring the city, nothing is better than kicking back with a nice relaxing drink. If you want to unwind during your Cape Town safari, you should head over to the V&A Waterfront, which is one of the most popular sites in the city.

You’ll find a wide variety of ways to relax at the V&A Waterfront. In addition to a wide array of restaurants and bars where you can relax at the end of a long day, there are several boutiques where you can do a little shopping as well as interesting museums where you can learn more about African culture. If you visit Cape Town near the end of the day, you could even book a sunset cruise.

Spend Some Time in the Sand

When most people think of a vacation, they imagine soaking up the sun on a sand swept beach. Fortunately, if you decide to visit Cape Town on your next safari, you’ll be just a quick drive away from some of the best beaches in Africa.

The beach that you should visit largely depends on what type of fun for which you’re looking. Camps Bay, for example, is probably the best beach for families, as there are wide open spaces and several nearby shops and restaurants. If you want to do some swimming, then you should probably head over to Kalk Bay or Muizenberg where the waters are much warmer. Whatever your idea of fun, there’s a Cape Town beach that will be perfect for you.