Tips for a Perfect African Safari Holiday

Whenever people talk about an African vacation, images of the open savannah, spectacular landscapes, free roaming wildlife, proud tribes, and exhilarating safaris come to mind. To most, Africa is a mysterious place, a continent full of many strange secrets that yet have to be solved.

The call of the wild has lured many, and for most travellers, their African safari holidays are some of the best they ever experienced. They were adventuresome, eventful and delivered everything they promised. Regardless if they were splashing in lagoons, flying low over the sand dunes of the Skeleton Coast, observing the great wildebeest migration in Tanzania, or witnessing a beautiful sunrise over the world's oldest living desert at Sossusvlei (Namib Desert); whatever activities they had planned, they all turned out and created unforgettable memories.

African safari holidays can become an incredible experience, as long as you follow a few simple rules.

• Know what kind of vacation you want. Africa is the second largest continent in the world and offers many tourist attractions. Having your objectives in place when you head to your expert safari travel agency will save you lots of time. It also helps to narrow down the countries - or areas - you should consider.

• Book your trip through a reliable and experienced African safari company, one that focuses on your needs, rather than their profits. Find multiple reviews online and carefully read what other holiday makers experienced using the safari agencies you are considering.

• Collect as much information as you can about your travel destinations. This includes matters such as appropriate clothing, which medications, insect repellent, or sun screen lotion you should take as well as local customs, etc. Do not hesitate to contact your safari provider if there are issues you do not clearly understand. The more you know before your departure, the better.

• Always inform your tour operator if you are dealing with medical concerns. Ask your health care provider for vaccinations, as well as detailed instructions on what should be done in case a health problem arises while away from home. Pack plenty of medication, and add some spare in case of a travel emergency. It would not be the first time passengers are stranded at the airport.

• The clothing you should be wearing on your African safari holidays is lighter, less colourful and made from breathable materials. Ask your safari provider which shoes are appropriate for the kind of trip you reserved, and don't forget to pack a hat.

• Once your adventure has started, always carry a sufficient amount of food and water with you. While observing the leopards, elephants, giraffes or other wildlife, drink as much fluid as possible to stay hydrated. Keep yourself covered at all times to avoid annoying insect bites and painful sunburns.

• Keep your precious belongings, like you passport, cash and other important documents on you, or have them locked up in a safe, if you are staying at a respectable hotel. Photocopies of your important paperwork should be kept separately - you can also save them in a secure internet file, which you could access from a local computer, in case the originals are lost or stolen. Thieves are everywhere, no matter where you are.

• If your journey was planed in advance, observe the local currency so you are familiar with its fluctuations. Calculate in these 'ups and downs' when exchanging your money, so you know with certainty that you will have sufficient spending money for the entire trip.

• Ask your safari provider if you require certain permits or permissions to visit certain places. The last thing you need, while on your African safari holidays, is to end up in jail, simply because you were unaware of certain restrictions. Ignorance is no excuse, not at home, and not in Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, or any other African nation.

• Leave your worries at home and enjoy your safari!