okay a few of you have been asking for safari tips so this post is for you! coming out of the safari of my dreams at Klaserie Reserve in Kruger, and following up with a magical few days at Roam Game Reserve in the Great Karoo, I’ve put together a master list of safari must-knows to share with you future safari enthusiasts!

if you’re still deciding whether a safari is for you… just… you just have to do it. if you can only go on one trip in your life, go on this one. if you’re choosing between 5 all inclusive beach vacations for the next 5 years or one safari, do the safari. i promise it will be one of the most special experiences of your entire life.

i could focus my travels around one thing and one thing only, it would be this. safari means “journey” in Swahili and i love that. it’s a journey for the soul. nothing compares. there’s nothing like being around those animals in the wild. africa just captures your heart a little differently. ahh my heart is too tingly thinking about it. i can’t wait for you guys to experience it!!! 🐘🦒🦏🦁🦛🐆✨.

onto the tips — let me know any questions you have and i’ll update with any missing information!

Choosing Your Safari

i have done a self-drive, budget safari, luxury safari with tons of wildlife, and luxury safari with minimal wildlife. each has its perks and each is very different.

a safari can vary based on your budget, needs, interests, time of year, etc etc. I’ve been fortunate to have made some amazing connections in the safari space and can do my best to set you up with the best safari, for the best budget, with my Adventurelust Trip Planning service.

Where To Go

here’s what a few of the safaris i’ve been on have to offer, based on my experience:

Klaserie game reserve in Kruger: this is my fave game reserve, it offers intimate experiences with the animals, including the big 5. this was my dream safari for so many reasons.
Kruger National Park also offers public access where wildlife viewing is supposed to be highly probable and epic.
Great Karoo, 5 hours outside of Cape Town: a magical, peaceful, serene semi-desert. I went on a coworking safari and stayed at Roam Game Reserve, which is absolutely STUNNING. it was a unique safari with less wildlife but some unique experiences like a cheetah walk and bird ringing, and you still get sundowners and the lux safari treatment :) more about this safari here.

Akagera Park in Rwanda: was very cool for a self-drive and where i first developed my safari obsession. Rwanda in general is known as the “beginner’s Africa” and i think this was a great beginner’s safari experience. camped overnight in the park and saw elephants, giraffes, zebras, baboons, antelope.
Masai Mara: your quintessential African park — stunning vistas and sunsets, you will most likely see the big 5. you will also likely see 12 other safari vehicles when you see that leopard so you have to weigh out what you want out of your experience. this is a place i would go back to in a heartbeat. i blogged about my experience here and tips for overlanding in East Africa here.

Serengeti is still on my bucket list! But similar to Masai Mara vibes.
Okavango Delta in Botswana is supposed to be amazing and is also at the top of my bucket list. AKA I will be going asap in the foreseeable future :)
Lake Nakuru in Kenya — you can see giant flocks of flamingoes here that turn the vista pink. also saw lots of rhinos here. it’s a smaller park so no elephants
Lake Naivasha in Kenya — did a walking safari near here, cycling safari in Hell’s Gate National Park (the inspo for Lion King!! it’s beautiful), and a hippo boat cruise on the lake which was epic, so many hippos.
Aquila outside of Cape Town — don’t go. they advertise as a Big 5 Safari but are a glorified zoo.
a hot air balloon safari — i did this in Masai Mara and you can do in Serengeti and I’m sure other places as well. you go up at sunrise and it really was special to see the herds of animals stampeding underneath you. you’ll have a lovely champagne brunch on the savanna as well, which makes the experience one for the bucket list.
a walking safari — very cool experience, it’s a different kind of thrill sharing the ground with rhinos or buffalo. you’ll probably see less animals but when you do see them, it’s a lot more thrilling and intimate. i would recommend doing this at least once!
gorilla trekking in Uganda is also the most incredible wildlife experience and probably the coolest thing i’ve ever done in my life.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, November 2017.

What To Pack

Gear

binocs are the unsung heroes of safari gear. i will never forget getting to look directly into that leopard’s amber eyes as it sat in the tree. also very cool for seeing birds and of course any animals far away. i love to play tracker so i love binocs.
obviously camera/phone
portable charger, just in case the power goes out
depending on your safari style, you may need camping gear etc

Clothing

wear neutrals for these reasons:
- bright colours may present a threat or even unfamiliarity to the animals that may deter them from approaching. even if you wear white, which is a “follow-me” sign on animals like kudu and giraffes, it can alarm the animals. wear beige, tan, or greens to camouflage into your natural surroundings
- some regions of africa have tetse flies that are attracted to blue and black
- to look the safari part, duh.
definitely bring warm layers, the temp can vary drastically from day to night!
a hat with a strap/one that is tight to your head, as it will fly off on game drives.
footwear:
- if you’re doing driving safaris, footwear doesn’t matter. i literally wore flip flops and would slide ‘em off on the drive.
- walking safaris obviously require a more sturdy shoe

Supplies

sunscreen
high deet bug repellent

Medications

visit your travel doctor beforehand to see what vaccinations you need for your chosen destination. if you’re going to need malaria tablets, opt for the expensive ones — can’t put a price tag on avoiding night terrors ;)

If you want a more comprehensive list on what i pack for a long trip, check out my blog here.

What To Expect

expect early mornings. wildlife are most active at sunrise and sunset. then you can probably nap during the day.
these are wild animals; no sighting is guaranteed. do not put too much hype on the Big 5 or any specific species. appreciate everything — my favourite birds are the queleas because they look like they’re twinkling in the sky, and seeing these just felt so authentically Africa to me. look for the little things.
the animals will come right up to your car but they aren’t inclined to hurt you. most animals are scared of you, or they are accustomed to the safari vehicle and consider it a part of the landscape. also your guides know the warning signs and will never put you in danger.
i don’t want to spoil any surprises but… sundowners. are. the. best. give me a glass of bubbly on the savanna to an African sunset with a chance of leopard and i’m a happy camper.
a good safari guide makes ALL the difference. make sure you’ve done your research and are setting yourself up for success — Adventurelust can help!
for the most part, even though you’re out in the African bush, you can expect working facilities, Wi-Fi, and regular standards of cleanliness. if you’re on a luxury safari you can expect a LOT MORE than that. my budget safari was a little less. so know what you’re signing up for and embrace it either way :)
don’t forget, no matter what happens: #TIA, baby. This. Is. Africa.

ya this was my face pretty much the whole time.

What to know for your first African safari