As I’ve always said, a trip to Africa is the journey of a lifetime.
Since you’ll be taking a 16-hour flight to get there, you want to make sure you’re getting the most out of your trip. But, when unanticipated stress starts to creep up, it can turn a dream vacation halfway across the globe into an all-out nightmare.
So, how can you reduce the potential for unnecessary stress on your African safari vacation, before you even hop on the plane? I have a few secret tips for you below:
Tip 1: Try to pack everything into a carry-on bag and personal item (such as a purse or camera case). Notice, I said “try.” If you’re going to be in Africa for several weeks then bringing just a carry-on bag might not be realistic for you. But, if you are planning a two-week trip and you pack smart, I assure you, all you need is a carry-on bag. I’ve traveled to Africa enough times to have mastered the art of packing a carry-on! I even created a packing guide for a trip to Africa, which you can download here.
When you don’t have checked luggage, you don’t have to worry about it arriving to your final destination. That right there is a tremendous relief!
For tips on packing just a carry-on bag for your trip to Africa, view our past blog post on 6 Tips for Efficiently Packing a Carry-On Bag for an African Safari Vacation.
Tip 2: Get all required vaccinations and medications filled ahead of time (at least one month prior to travel). Depending on which countries you visit in Africa, you may be required to get certain vaccinations, or your healthcare provider may strongly suggest you receive specific vaccinations to prevent disease. Certain vaccinations and medications can take several weeks to begin working, which is why we suggest visiting a local Passport Health or your family medical practitioner at least one month before your departure.
Yellow fever vaccination is one of the most common vaccinations required in certain African countries, so it is important to check with your Africa travel specialist prior to departure on whether or not the countries you are visiting requiring proof of yellow fever vaccine.
It’s also important to note that some countries have a high risk of malaria, so you may choose to bring prescription malaria tablets with you. You will want to get these filled in advance to ensure you have them for your travels. In fact, on a past trip to Africa, I had my doctor call in malaria pills to a local drugstore. It took them a week to finally fill them because they kept saying they never received the prescription. As you can see, these types of situations happen, which is why I strongly suggest taking care of all medical needs well in advance of traveling.
Tip 3: Check to see which countries you are visiting require visas and how to obtain them, as well as how much each country’s visa costs. Some countries do not require visas for United States citizens visiting on holiday. Others do require visas for free, while others require visas at a cost. It all depends on which country you are visiting as each has different regulations. Some visas can even be acquired in the airport, upon arrival to that particular country. Check with your Africa safari travel agent to see which countries require a visa.
Tip 4: Turn off your phone! Work is stressful, so why on earth would you bring work on vacation with you when you are trying to relax–especially in such a remote and stunning place as Africa! Besides, many of the places you will most likely be visiting are remote and many do not even have Internet access. Also, when you’re busy emailing, tweeting, Facebooking, Instagraming (or whatever it is you do on your phone), you miss out on the greatest thing of all about Africa: its captivating and soothing spirit. So unplug from your computer and phone and simply enjoy the tranquility of Africa’s wildlife and people.
Tip 5: Don’t skimp. You’re flying halfway across the world, which isn’t cheap and is by no means how you want to spend an entire day, I’m sure. So make sure your trip to Africa is worthwhile by booking higher end accommodations and activities in advance. Wouldn’t you hate to get all the way to Africa to find that your accommodations are uncomfortable and dirty?
When you try to do Africa on a budget, you’ll miss out on personalized experiences, comfortable and relaxing accommodations, fantastic safari experiences, and delectable cuisine. Although you can have some nice safari experiences on budget travel, it is by NO MEANS what you could experience if you booked at a four- or five-star property. Plus, budget safaris often include droves of tourists, so you’ll be sitting in a vehicle with dozens of other people, trying to get a look at a leopard and end up only getting to see its ear! This can be super frustrating because sightings are so exciting and if you can’t see anything you’ll stress that your trip was all for nothing.
I always say that the greatest things in life aren’t cheap and the cheapest things in life aren’t great. That’s just the bottom line!
Tip 6: Book your trip through a reputable Africa travel specialist. If you book with a great safari specialist they will be there with you every step of the way. Because they know your itinerary, they’ll be there to help you, should something go wrong. If your flight happens to be canceled or delayed they are there to help ensure that you get on the next available flight. Not only that, but safari specialists often have staff on the ground in the countries that you will be visiting, and will know that you have been delayed. They will be waiting for you, you won’t have to go find a taxi and make your own way to your destination. Having a travel agent working with you, can prevent you from having a serious mental breakdown and save you time and money when something goes wrong.
But that’s not all. When you book your African safari vacation with a safari specialist, he or she will prepare you for your trip from the moment you leave home to the moment you return. You are their responsibility once you get on that airplane, and so it is important for them to make sure you are well prepared. For example, at Hills of Africa, we send you a Question and Answer document which answers every question you might have about an African safari vacation, from how long your passport needs to be valid after entering the country to what type of inoculations and medicines you might need for Africa, to whether or not you should take a hairdryer with you. We also prepare destination guides for the countries you will be visiting, which will include restaurant reservations and suggestions, tours, bank hours, markets worth visiting, a personalized tipping guide, and SO much more. Travel agents leave no details out and our mission is to help prepare you for your vacation so that you will be able to enjoy yourselves without worry or hassle—completely STRESS FREE!
Tip 7: Triple check your passport. As soon as you begin planning your African safari vacation, check your passport to ensure that it will be valid for at least six months AFTER you return home from you trip to Africa. Also be sure that there are at least TWO blank pages available in your passport for each country you will be visiting. If you notice that your passport will expire soon after you return home or you don’t have enough blank pages in your passport, it is essential that you begin ordering your new passport as soon as possible to avoid any additional stress and expediting fees.
