I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but a trip to Africa is the ultimate trip of a lifetime. Everything from the stunning landscapes to the fascinating wildlife, the lavish accommodations to the impeccable service, and the beautiful cultures to the adventurous activities, Africa literally has it all.
With that said, you want to plan your trip to Africa RIGHT the first time. It’s a big trip with a big price tag, so it’s important to get the most out of your experience because many people never have the opportunity to return.
When planning your African safari vacation, make sure to avoid these top 4 biggest mistakes that people make when planning their trips to Africa:
Mistake 1: Thinking you can experience Africa on a budget. Sure, you can plan an African safari holiday on a budget, but I promise you, you will not enjoy your experience. First off, the international flights alone can cost anywhere between $1,400 and $2,000 per person, round trip. Then, you’ll need to book your accommodations and safari experiences. The safari accommodations that provide excellent service, clean and comfortable rooms, great safari guides, and delectable cuisine are going to cost you anywhere between $350 per person / per night to $2,000 per person / per night, which is on an all-inclusive basis. If you skimp on accommodations you run the risk of having to stay in unclean facilities (and once you’re there, you can’t simply hop over to the next lodge or camp) and also run the risk of having a less than mediocre safari experience.
So, before you begin planning your trip, we recommend coming up with a budget that you are willing to spend and contact an African safari specialist to see if your budget will work for a trip to Africa. Realistically, your total budget will need to be between $5,000 and $10,000 per person if you want to experience a wonderful African safari vacation (and that’s not even including the top notch properties, which can run you between $10,000 and $20,000 per person).
Mistake 2: Buying into myths and misconceptions about Africa. The media absolutely loves to position Africa as a dirty, disease-filled continent. But it is so important to remember that Africa is a HUGE continent, comprised of individual countries. Yes, there are some countries we would highly recommend not visiting due to poorly managed governments and economical issues. However, the destinations we send our clients to (which include southern, eastern, and central Africa) are some of the most beautiful places on earth and home to some of the finest accommodations that are extremely safe and simply wonderful.
Click here to check out some of the common myths and misconceptions surrounding Africa.
Mistake 3: Planning visits to multiple countries during your stay. Getting from Kenya to South Africa is not a 3-hour car drive. It’s actually a four-hour flight. So when you plan your trip, make sure to include 1 – 2 countries in your itinerary and don’t try hopping from country to country. The flights can add up really quickly and can cause you to feel exhausted and rushed. We highly recommend visiting 1 – 2 game reserves and 1 – 2 countries during your stay, but make sure you’re not visiting too many different places back to back.
Mistake 4: Booking an African safari vacation on your own. We’ve seen it time and time again. People book their vacations to Africa on their own and end up in below-par accommodations and missed airline connections, all while stressing out about the logistics of their trip. They feel cheated, frustrated, and even sometimes a bit frightened. Don’t let this be you. Instead, book with a reputable African safari specialist who will plan all the details for you and be with you every step of the way during your journeys, making sure you are well looked after.
Click here to read about what exactly and African safari specialist can provide for you.
