Book a Luxury Safari on a Budget

If you’re like many travelers, you prefer luxury vacations where you can enjoy one-of-a-kind experiences, which is exactly what you’ll get on an African safari. One of the great things about choosing a safari for your next vacation is that, with the right tips, you can easily book a luxury trips — even if you’re dealing with a tight travel budget. Find out how you can book a luxury safari on a budget so that you can enjoy a high-quality vacation at an affordable price.

Plan for the Off-Season

As with any popular travel destination, the best way to save money on your trip is traveling during the off-season. If you’re interested in a luxury trip to Africa but don’t want to break the bank, booking your holiday for the low season is the best idea.

When we talk about low and high seasons in Africa, what we’re discussing is the amount of rain. The high season is the highest time of year, which means there will be less vegetation and easier game viewing.

The low season is the greener, wetter season, and because of the increased rain, this time of year doesn’t draw as many travelers. Because there will be fewer tourists, prices will be a lot more affordable, making it easier to book luxury experiences for an excellent price. Also, while there will be thicker vegetation, you should still be able to see exotic animals on your vacation.

Choose a Self-Drive Safari

If you’re interested in going on a luxury safari on a budget, one of the most effective ways to save money is by booking a self-drive safari. Instead of booking a guided safari tour, which can get expensive, you can find an affordable rental car and drive yourself around Africa.

Before you book your self-drive safari, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. For example, the ease with which you’re able to drive yourself around depends on the country that you visit. In some countries, such as South Africa, driving yourself around should be very easy, as there are major roads that are well-maintained. In other countries, you’ll need to navigate remote, bumpy trails, which can be difficult, especially if you’ve never visited Africa before.

Work With the Right Company

Although there are several ways you can save money while booking a luxury experience for your safari, your best option is working with the right safari travel company. If you’ve never been on a safari before, booking a trip on your own can be tricky, and you may end up paying a lot more than you should.

Working with an experienced safari company means you’ll have access to the best safari activities, and you should also be able to find great deals on your trip. You can even get advice about what activities you should book and which aren’t worth the time or money.

If you’re looking for a high-end holiday, booking a luxury safari is an excellent idea. With a little preparation and the right advice, you should be able to book a trip filled with exciting experiences while staying within your budget.

 

Benefits of Going on a Guided Safari Tour

If you’ve never had the pleasure of going on an African safari, there are several factors that you should consider when booking your trip. In addition to deciding which countries you’ll visit, you must also choose whether you’ll drive yourself or reserve a guided tour. While self-drive safaris do provide more freedom, guided safaris provide a number of benefits that you should keep in mind. Check out these enticing benefits of going on a guided safari tour so that you can decide what type of safari is right for you.

A More Relaxing Trip

One of the primary benefits of going on a guided tour on your next safari is that it will be a lot easier for you to relax and enjoy your vacation. On one of these tours, you won’t have to do any driving, which means you can concentrate on the breathtaking landscape that makes Africa such a popular travel destination.

The safari vehicle that you ride in on your tour will also provide you a significantly better view of your surroundings than you would get in a rental car. In a safari vehicle, you’ll sit much higher than in a normal vehicle, which means you’ll have an unobstructed view of the scenery.

Learn Something New

If you’re like most people visiting Africa, you’re probably interested in learning something new, and accomplishing this goal is a lot easier when you book a guided safari tour. On your tour, you’ll be accompanied by an experienced tour guide who can tell you everything that you want to know about your surroundings. You can ask as many questions as you want, so there’s virtually no limit to what you can learn on your trip.

Traveling with a tour guide is also beneficial because they’ll have inside knowledge that will make your trip more enjoyable. For example, an experienced guide will know exactly where to take you to see certain animal species, such as lions and elephants.

Better Access to Activities

Another benefit of booking a guided tour instead of going on a self-drive safari is that you’ll have better access to the interesting sights and sounds in Africa. Many of the most popular game parks in Africa restrict where private vehicles can drive, so if you’re driving yourself in a rental car, you’ll only be able to visit certain areas. Guided tours generally have fuller access to these game parks, making it easier to see exotic animals.

If you’re interested in going on a night drive in a game park, for example, a guided tour is your only choice. No parks allow you to drive yourself at night because it would be a safety issue. On a safari tour, your guide is allowed to take you into some areas of game parks at night, meaning you may be able to see lions on a hunt and a variety of other events that only happen after the sun goes down.

As you can see, there are numerous benefits to reserving a guided safari tour instead of choosing a self-drive safari. On your tour, you’ll be able to enjoy Africa to a fuller extent than you’d be able to while driving yourself.

Advice for a First-Time Safari Goer

The days leading up to your first-ever safari can be a very exciting time. In addition to packing your clothing and making sure you have all your documents in order, you’re probably doing as much research as you can so that you can have a great trip. A safari is a one-of-a-kind vacation, and if you’ve never been before, getting a little advice can help maximize your enjoyment. Here is some safari advice for first-timers that you should be sure to take to heart so that you can have the exciting trip you deserve.

Give Up Control

With a typical vacation, you’ll have almost complete control over what you get to see and do. On an African safari, however, things rarely go according to plan, so you should be sure to be as flexible as possible and keep an open mind.

Safari drives can be unpredictable, and while your guide will do their best to help you see interesting sights and sounds, sometimes nature simply won’t cooperate. On some drives, you’ll need to wait to see exotic animals, and on others, the animals may not come out at all. If you give up your preconceived notions of what a safari should be, you’ll have a much better time on your trip.

How to Stay Safe

Helping you stay safe is the basis of most safari advice for first-timers. Because you’ll be in close proximity to wild animals, there is more risk involved with a safari than with a traditional vacation. Fortunately, it is very easy to stay safe on safari as long as you keep a few things in mind.

First, and most importantly, you should obey all the rules your safari guide gives you, without question. Your guide is familiar with the process of exploring Africa, and their instructions are meant to keep you safe, not to interfere with your good time.

Second, you must be certain to keep your distance from the animals. While it’s understandable that you would want to get as close as possible for the best view, this can also be very risky. Before your trip, buy some high-quality binoculars so that you have a clear view of the animals from the safety of your safari vehicle.

Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Up

If you want to get the most enjoyment possible out of your first-ever African safari, the most important thing you can do is to ask your safari guide as many questions as you can. Your guide is a font of knowledge when it comes to the sights you’ll see on your safari. They can tell you about the different animals that you encounter so that you’ll have a richer experience.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask the guide to stop your vehicle, particularly if you think you’ve spotted an animal. Regularly engaging with your guide will make your safari one of the most memorable vacations of your life.

Keep in mind this safari advice for first-timers, and you’re guaranteed to have the thrilling vacation that you’ve been waiting for. You may even enjoy the experience so much that you’ll want to book a safari for all of your holidays.