When you go to the beach, you would know what to pack. But would you know what to pack, which clothes to wear when you go for a wild safari experience? Before reading any further, read more about safaris, click here.
Consider the following when you go on a trip:
Bring items that have multiple uses. Travelling light is the best way to go on a safari trip. To travel light means you carry with you only the staples and basics that you can wear for multiple purposes. Zip-off convertible pants, lightweight skirts and slacks, clothes made of quick-dry fabric. While most camps will have a laundry service, dryers could be uncommon. Hence, the quick-dry clothes will be a convenient way of staying clean and fresh while on camp.
Jeans, flannels, and delicate items are not advised. Jeans may be the best item to pack for a getaway but in safaris where dryers may not be available, it is not advisable. Jeans take time to dry, they are heavy, and could take up so much space. Flannel fabrics also are the same. Flannels could be very useful in the cold but it is heavy and could take up so much space. To keep you comfortable in the cold, fleece in solid color is more of an option than flannel fabric.
Aside from lightweight, choose clothing with light colors. Most safaris have warm and sunny weather, so light –colored clothing will help keep you comfortable more than the dark ones that absorb heat. Black and dark blue clothing attracts tsetse flies; and these places are dusty so white clothes may not be a very wise choice to take.
Animal prints are a no-no. Safaris are about protecting the wildlife, animal prints may be offensive. Some parks ban visitors who have donned such clothing when they visited. It is also for the reason of not confusing the animals. Zoos also discourage wearing such clothes when planning to visit a zoo. It’s better safe than sorry; some animals might think of you as dinner.
Do not bring expensive items with you; only take essential electronics with you. That stuff is safer left at home. Besides if you go to an eco-friendly safari you should only take the essential electronics. Hair dryers, laptops, and other gadgets will only take up so much space in your bag, but you will not be able to use them; might as well leave them at home.
Now that you know what to take and not take with you when you go to safaris, it is also important to understand that safaris are endless. So it is best that you first decide on what you want to see and experience. You might also want to consider the mode of travel and how much budget you are willing to spend on your trip.
What you would want to see?
You must plan this carefully. These places have so much to offer and finding a perfect destination suited to your expectations may be difficult. So first is you should think about what you would want to see? What animals do you want to see – this is important because there are animals require a special habitat and they can only be found in certain countries. If you would prefer these types of animals then you must go to the right country. Core safaris are anywhere though; they are those where the iconic animals can be found, such as leopards, lions, tigers, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes. If Gorillas is a must see for you, you may be limited to specific regions only. Parks have different habitats and that would translate into different behaviors and different inhabitants, just like when water is scarce then buffaloes are not to be expected. You must plan this carefully in order not to turn your experience into a disappointment if you will have must-see animals and pick the wrong region. Sites like https://www.sunsafaris.com/blog/2019/01/5-types-of-safari-experiences-to-explore-in-2019/ gives insights on what to expect.
What is your mode of transportation?
Open hood 4x4s are mostly the premium mode of transport, but walking safaris also has its own benefits. It allows you to enjoy the beauty of nature with your guide. For people who find birds interesting, water safaris are recommended.
In wildlife safaris, however, there are also transports such as elephants, camels, fenced cars, and others. Imagine the excitement when you are enjoying the scenery and all of a sudden your vehicle is ambushed by a streak of tigers and the only barrier between you and them is the steel fence. That must be loads of adrenalin rush.
Level of independence
Is travelling with a group okay with you? You have options to travel in a group with a private guide, but you also have the option to travel on your own. A privately guided tour saves you the hassle of having to organize your reservations, bookings, etc., and you will be benefitted with the help of an expert during your tour in the safari. However, travelling with a group does not give you much freedom as to your itinerary is everybody else’s. You do not have the freedom to stay much longer in a place you want to stay longer, or cut short a visit in a place where you do not find interesting at all, or change your itinerary any time. Self-service safaris give you as much independence as you want. You can go wherever you want to go and take your time.
What is cultural experience is a must?
One of the most vibrant experiences of going into a safari trip is not just the wild animals and nature, but also the local people and their culture. Africa who is perhaps the most diverse in culture offers a deep sense of cultural experience. Tribal groups are also a thing to consider; regions that are home to the best wildlife are also home to rich cultures and amazing stories that need to be experienced.
Enticing Landscapes
What would entice you most? Do you like majestic mountains, rolling grasslands, thick jungles, coastlines, sand dunes, dramatic landscapes, etc.? Refining your search for the best trip to make is to consider also the landscape you want to experience and engulf yourself with.
What time of year?
Do some research based on your must-sees and check out which time of year it is best to go. Agencies like Wyoming Wilds Wildlife Tours can help you plan your trips and assist you on what time of year to go. Timing is significant in the level of experience you will have. First and foremost, you have to consider when the dry and wet season would fall in a certain country or region. The presence of animals in particular regions may depend on the kind of season there is, they may be plenty in one region at dry seasons or on wet season, depending on the kind of animal and characteristic of the region.