10 Questions To Ask Before Booking Your Safari - Forbes

Is it possible for a $300/day safari to be more expensive than a $400/day safari?

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You bet.

You get what you pay for.

Like all clichés, it’s a tired truth.

Most people become overwhelmed with all the safari options. It is far easier to compare apples to oranges.

After seeing the price tag, ask the following 10 questions:

1. What’s included?

Budget safaris, like any budget airline, only include the bare minimum. You might consider getting free access to a bathroom on a plane a right, but some budget airlines have thought of charging for that too. Fortunately, so far no budget safari company is asking you to pay to pee in the savanna.

In contrast, some “all-inclusive” safaris will cover your:

• food
• lodging
• beverages
• park fees
• game drives
• airport transfers
• tent and sleeping bag rental fees (if you’re camping).

Once you factor in all those amenities, that “expensive” safari may look like a bargain.

2. How accessible is the park?

At budget safaris, you can spend most of your safari just driving in and out of parks. Did you fly all the way to Africa to just sit in an uncomfortable car?

To save on overnight camping fees, budget safaris will sleep outside the park. This usually means that you’ll miss out on an early morning and late afternoon game drives since budget groups will spend that time driving into or out of the park.

Finally, budget safaris limit how many kilometers their drivers can go to keep fuel costs down. If there’s a hippo pool an extra 10 kilometers away, you may not get to see it.

Luxury safaris don’t impose driving restrictions. You sleep in the park itself, so you get the best photography opportunities at first and last light. Finally, some safaris will even fly you between parks. No potholed-filled roads. No traffic. No delays. You spend most of your time doing what you came here for.

3. Will I share your safari with strangers?

Most budget safaris will cram you into a car with complete strangers. What if they don’t speak your language? What if one of them has an annoying voice? What if they fart all the time?

Luxury safaris won’t pair you with strangers. You and your handpicked companions will have the whole, spacious luxury safari limo to yourselves.

4. Who dictates the safari pace and objectives?

With budget safaris, your desires count little. You and your spouse might want to focus on lions, but you may be sharing the car with some extreme birders. The safari operator may zip you through the parks to see the Big Five, when all your spouse wants to do is spend two hours observing a masturbating monkey.

With luxury safaris, you dictate the pace and what you want to see. Of course, just because you want to see a white rhino doesn’t mean you will see one, but at least the luxury safari operator will do everything it can to fulfill your wishes.

5. How knowledgeable are the safari guides?

Some safari guides are walking Wikipedias. They won’t just tell you the difference between a spotted hyena and a stripped one, but they’ll share the most arcane facts about the species.

Meanwhile, some guides can’t tell the difference between a lion and a leopard.

More importantly, experienced guides have an eagle’s eye; it’s uncanny how they can spot an endangered bird in a forest, while you have to spend five minutes to finally see it despite his helpful directions.

Experienced guides also know where to find the animals. It’s easy to find water-hungry animals—go to the water. But what if you’re interested in seeing a dik-dik that only drinks a few times per year?

6. How well equipped is the safari vehicle?

Luxury safari vehicles are roomy, comfy, air-conditioned, and have a refrigerator. A budget safari car has none of those amenities.

Furthermore, there’s an important feature that a luxury vehicle will have that can make or break your safari: a radio. No, not your disco-playing jukebox, but a CB radio.

The dirty little secret that high-end safari operators won’t tell you is that they collude with each other. When one of them finds a pride of lions that just tackled a giraffe, they’ll alert the other radio-equipped safari operators of his fascinating find. Upon hearing the breaking news, your safari driver will make a U-turn and head to the location so you can get the experience of seeing blood-soaked lions feasting on lunch.

Meanwhile, your radio-less safari driver will be turning around in circles 10 kilometers away hoping to find something more exciting that your 1,000th zebra.

7. How many souvenir shops will you be forced into?

Budget safari operators have razor-thin margins; some just break even. Where do they make their profit? Taking you to souvenir shops that give them a cut (up to 10%) of whatever you end up buying there.

Other companies don’t play those games. They’ll ask you if you want to go souvenir shopping, and if you do, then they’ll take you to the best ones. They’ll favor ones that cut out the middleman and help the local community the most. Secret commissions don’t cloud their judgment.

8. Do you cater to special interests?

Budget safari companies have a cookie-cutter approach to safaris. They have to. That’s the only way to keep their costs down. And if you have generic, simple needs, then you’ll be satisfied.

However, what if you’re into birding? Or you’re just focused on primates? A budget safari won’t address these special needs. You may not need to go on a luxury safari, but you definitely need a safari operator that can customize your trip.

9. When is the safari?

Some rock-bottom safari prices will be for the unpopular rainy season. That may be good for you since you’ll feel like you have the park and accommodations to yourself. The rainy season is often the best time for birding, although some roads become too muddy.

Just realize that it’s unfair to compare a low-season quotation with a high-season one. For Tanzania and Kenya, March to May is the main rainy season.

10. Does the safari driver speak my language?

Does your group speak an exotic language like Icelandic? Make sure your safari can satisfy your group’s request. Test the guide by calling them and seeing how well they speak Icelandic.

Conclusion

There's nothing wrong with a budget safari. I've done them and loved them.

It's just a shame when some novices focus exclusively on price and forget to ask key questions before embarking on their African safari.

You’ve seen the photos and videos, so you know that an African safari is guaranteed to involve incredible wildlife encounters and sunset G&Ts overlooking a glorious landscape. 

But have you stopped to think about the practicalities? Where you’ll sleep, what you’ll eat, and how you’ll get around?

Safaris are run like a well-oiled machine, but some of the tricks they use to manage life in the middle of absolutely nowhere might surprise you. 

Here are 18 safari facts and practical things you might like to know before you go on your first African safari. 

About my African safari facts and tips

I’ve been on over a dozen African safaris, in Kenya, Botswana, Tanzania, South Africa and more.

During all those trips, I’ve learned a lot about going on safari! And I noticed there are a few common safari facts that many companies rarely tell you about in your pre-departure information.

Maybe these are minor details that they don’t think are important, or maybe they just assume everyone already knows, or maybe they just don’t want to overwhelm you with safari facts before you arrive. So some of this stuff just turns up as a surprise when you get there.

Obviously they give you all the vital information, don’t worry. But I thought I might as well share some less-vital stuff, so you can be fully prepared when you go on your first safari.

1. You’ll fly in the smallest plane you’ve ever been in

Distances in Africa are huge, and in most places the roads are long, unsealed, and very bumpy (that’s if there are roads at all!)

But don’t worry, you won’t need to spend 12 hours bouncing along a dusty track to get to your destination. 

Instead, you’ll likely travel by tiny bush plane, hopping between dirt airstrips in the middle of nowhere. 

These planes are usually 12-seaters with no frills – no cabin crew, no toilets, very strict luggage restrictions, and sometimes a bumpy ride.

The trade-off? An unforgettable journey, flying low over the savanna with a bird’s-eye view of meandering rivers, scattered acacia trees, and herds of elephants or buffalo dotting the plains. 

It’s a thrilling introduction to the wild even before your first safari begins.

Read more: A Kenya Safari Holiday: How To Plan The Perfect Trip For You

2. You get up before dawn

Yes, you may be on holiday, but you can forget that indulgent lie-in. 

Safari days start early, often before dawn, with a wake-up call at 5 am, when someone will bring a cuppa and a cookie to your tent.

This isn’t some kind of boot-camp punishment: the hours immediately after sunrise are when the animals are most active, while the golden morning light gives you the best safari photos. 

I know it sounds painful, but you soon get used to the rhythm, and you’ll get a chance for a nap later in the heat of the afternoon when the animals will all be snoozing in the shade too. 

Read more: Kenya Vs Tanzania: Travel Experts Decide

3. You’ll have breakfast in the bush

Another treat that helps take away the pain of that early start is the legendary Bush Breakfast. 

Midway through your morning drive, the guide finds a shady spot and unpacks a portable feast: fresh fruit, granola, yoghurt, eggs, bacon, toast and steaming coffee or tea from a thermos. 

There’s something magical about munching a bacon sandwich while sitting on a folding chair in the middle of the African wilderness, listening to hippos snort and splash in a nearby river. 

And believe me, it makes the food taste so much better too.

Read more: A Safari In Tanzania: A Sneaky Peek Behind The Scenes

4. Roads, who needs roads?

Those khaki-coloured safari vehicles aren’t just for show, they’re built to tackle the wild – and your driver won’t be afraid to prove it. 

You’ll bounce over rutted dirt tracks, plough through rivers, and climb steep hills in search of wildlife. 

Drivers expertly navigate terrain that seems impossible, bumping over barely discernible roads, carving through spiky acacia bushes or even creating paths where none exist, while in the back you get a famous ‘African massage’.

The experience can feel like a rollercoaster – one moment you’re leaning sideways as the jeep tilts on a rocky incline, the next you’re holding onto your stuff as you splash through a shallow river. 

It’s thrilling and occasionally nerve-wracking, but it’s all part of the adventure. 

Don’t forget to hold onto your hat – or anything else that might fly out.

Read more: The Big Five Animals: My Photo Guide And Favourite Facts

5. Prepare to get stuck

With all this crazy off-road driving, getting stuck at some point is almost inevitable, whether it’s in squelchy mud, an unexpected ditch or anteater hole, or a tricky river crossing. 

But rather than being a disaster, getting stuck on safari can be a highlight. 

Guides turn problem-solving into a team effort, jumping out to dig, push, or use planks to free the vehicle, turning what could be a frustration into an adventure. 

Break out the beers from the cool box and enjoy the sights and sounds, and keep your camera handy to record the mini drama.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Spark Glamping.

And when they finally free the car – or you’re rescued by a passing vehicle with a tow rope – there’s a shared sense of triumph and a great story to tell later. It’s all part of the unpredictable charm of safari life.

Read more: What Happens On An African Photo Safari: Are They Any Good?

6. You can get extremely close to dangerous predators

You might think all those close-up photos you see of lions were taken with big zoom lenses – and many of them were – but very often the wildlife will get much closer than you might expect!

Predators view safari jeeps as part of the landscape, so they’re unbothered by your presence. 

You might find yourself holding your breath as a lioness saunters past, her golden eyes locking with yours momentarily. Or a cheetah might use your car for cover, or a herd of elephants might graze peacefully all around you. 

Sometimes the animals come so close you can reach out and touch them – though of course you absolutely must not do this (if you want to keep your hand).

So while a big zoom lens is very useful to have, you may find yourself capturing heart-stopping moments with just a smartphone.

Read more: Using The Canon R5 For Wildlife Photography: A Full Review

7. You might get stuck in a traffic jam

When there’s a big cat sighting, vehicles appear from every direction. A crowd of cars means ‘something’s happening’ – which in turn attracts more cars. 

Before you know it, a leopard lounging in a tree can suddenly become the centre of a traffic jam, with jeeps jostling for the best view. 

When this happens, it’s best not to become part of the problem. Ditch the crowds, leave the animals in peace, and head off in search of quieter encounters elsewhere.

Sometimes the best sightings happen when you let nature surprise you – and sitting in a pile-up of belching diesel engines with cars getting in the back of your photos is no fun anyway. 

Read more: 41 Safari Photography Tips For Stunning Wildlife Photos

8. Animals make weird noises

Do lions roar? Do elephants trumpet? Well, yes, but you’re far more likely to hear sounds that surprise you. 

Most commonly you’ll hear elephants’ low-frequency rumbling, a noise that some might mistake for a lion’s growl. This is how they communicate, sending messages over long distances. 

On a quiet evening in camp, you might hear the sharp cracking of branches as elephants feed nearby, punctuated by those resonant rumbles.

Meanwhile, hyenas aren’t the cackling villains Disney makes them out to be, and they don’t bark like the dogs they resemble either. 

Their eerie ‘whoop-whoop’ calls sound more like a wind instrument than laughter. These calls help clan members locate each other and can often be heard echoing over the landscape at night.

Learning so much about these incredible African animals is one of the best things about going on safari.

Read more: 46 Amazing African Safari Animals – A Photo Guide

9. Some of the animals wear collars

Spotting a majestic big cat or elusive painted dog is one of the highlights of any safari, but you might notice that some of them have collars. 

No, these aren’t pets or tame animals – the collars are GPS tracking devices used as part of vital conservation efforts, helping researchers monitor the animals’ movements and protect them from threats like poaching. 

While the collars may seem out of place in the wild, they’re a reminder of the ongoing work needed to ensure these incredible creatures survive.

Read more: Olderkesi In Kenya: The Maasai Mara’s Newest Conservancy

10. You don’t need smart clothes

Yes, you’re going on holiday, and yes it was probably expensive. But while you might feel like such an occasion merits dressing up, you don’t need to bring pretty or glamorous clothes to wear. 

Safari style isn’t about Instagram-worthy outfits – it’s about practicality. Pack comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting dusty, and leave the heels and jewellery at home. 

In the flickering light of a campfire, no one cares (or can even really see) what you’re wearing, and after an early start and a day of thrills and adventure you’ll probably be too tired to bother anyway.

Read more: What To Wear On Safari: My Detailed Safari Packing List With Photos

11. There’s free laundry

On the same subject, you also don’t need to bring much. Remember those tiny planes? Your luggage allowance is limited, so you can’t pack a new outfit for every day. 

But don’t worry, you don’t need to. Most camps offer a daily laundry service, a lifesaver in dusty, sweaty conditions. Just chuck yesterday’s clothes in the basked in your room, and they’ll come back fresh and pressed that evening. 

It’s free too – so no need to panic about those outrageous ‘$2 per sock’ charges you get in some hotels. 

Though note that they usually won’t wash underwear, so be prepared to do your own handwashing with the laundry soap provided. 

Obviously you’ll end up wearing the same outfits day after day, but it does make getting dressed at 5 am a whole lot quicker – and seriously, no one cares. 

Read more: Botswana Rainy Season: Here’s Why It’s A Great Time To Visit

Want to see more of my photography or travel writing? Have comments or questions? Come follow me on Instagram, Threads or Bluesky and share your thoughts!

12. Maasai men wear red

Everyone will tell you to wear neutral colours to blend in with the bush, so if you’re going on safari in Kenya you might be surprised to see your Maasai guides defying this rule with their bold red (or sometimes bright pink or blue) shukas. 

The vibrant fabric is both cultural and practical. The most dangerous thing you can do is startle or threaten an animal, so red has traditionally been used by the Maasai to announce their presence.

Just as you want to blend in with the bush in your khaki clothes so the predators don’t see you, the Maasai, living and working amongst these dangerous creatures, want to be seen. 

Red traditionally deters predators, making it a logical choice for herders tending cattle in lion territory. 

But this is a practice you will only see in Kenya and Tanzania, in Maasai areas. Other Kenyan tribes do not wear red, and in other safari countries like Botswana or Zambia the guides will usually wear typical safari colours.

Read more: Hiking Kenya’s Beautiful Loita Hills On A Walking Safari

13. It can be cold

Africa is hot, right? Well yes, but not everywhere, and not always.

While days on safari are often warm and sunny, nights can be surprisingly chilly, especially in the dry season or at altitude. 

As the sun sets, temperatures drop quickly, and by dawn, you might find yourself shivering in your tent. 

To combat this, beds are usually piled with thick blankets, a hot water bottle may be slipped between your sheets while you’re having dinner, and blankets are also provided round the campfire.

On early morning game drives, you’ll be grateful for a fleece or jacket, and many lodges provide ponchos or blankets to keep the chill at bay. 

Read more: Gorilla Trekking In Uganda – The Real Inside Story

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14. Camping, but not as you know it

Forget sleeping on a roll mat in a tiny two-man cocoon – safari tents are nothing like the tents you’ve seen before.

Step inside, and you’ll find a spacious room with king-sized beds, an en-suite bathroom, and sometimes even a lounge area or desk, all under a sturdy canvas roof. 

Depending on the levels of luxury you may find hand-woven rugs lining the floors, outdoor showers, a private veranda with sun loungers, exquisite art, luxury toiletries and more. 

Although you’re in a ‘tent’, in a ‘camp’, these are really more like luxury 5* hotel rooms (often with the prices to match). 

Read more: Which Is The Best Botswana Safari Lodge? My Favourites With Photos

15. There are no doors or locks

For people used to bolting their hotel room door as soon as they step inside, the relaxed security around safari camps may take some getting used to. 

Your tent’s door is usually just a zip (or zipper, for my American readers), and there’s no key or security system. At first, this might feel unsettling, but you quickly adapt. 

Camps are small and everyone can be trusted. If anything did get stolen, it wouldn’t exactly take long to find the culprit – and camp staff value their precious jobs far too much to risk it. 

If you are worried about any personal items, you can always put them in the main office for safekeeping. 

As for the animals – they see the tents as large objects, completely oblivious to the people inside. But don’t leave your shoes outside, or hyenas may come and eat them!

Read more: Instinct of the Mara Review: Exclusive Wildlife In Kenya

16. There’s little bathroom privacy

While your tent may feel like a swanky hotel room, there’s a noticeable difference when it comes to the thickness of the walls. 

Don’t forget they’re made of canvas, and sounds can carry! Fortunately, most camps are pretty well spread out, so you won’t have to listen to your neighbours chatting (or worse!).

Inside your tent there may be little separating the bedroom from the bathroom – just a curtain, or sometimes not even that. 

If you’re sharing with a friend or partner and you’re not used to being that intimate, this can take a bit of scheduling and discretion when it comes to using the toilet.  

It’s not my favourite part of safari life, I’ll be honest, but it’s a small price to pay for all the rest. 

Read more: Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda: Is It Overhyped?

17. Camps run on solar power

Most safari camps are off-grid, and get their electricity from solar panels (usually with a backup generator just in case). 

This means they need to ration power carefully – there’s usually enough to charge your or camera, but hairdryers are out of the question. 

So if you’re someone who never leaves home without a hairdryer, a safari might test your resolve. As a curly girl, a hairdryer is usually a must, but I’ve learned to accept the frizzy, flat look, and just keep my hair tied back or under a hat most of the time.

Evenings are lit with lanterns or candles, and there’s also very unlikely to be air-con.  

The lack of modern conveniences may be challenging for some, but the priority in the bush is conservation – and running a gas-guzzling generator night and day just so you can have good hair doesn’t exactly fit with that! 

Read more: 9 Tips For A Botswana Budget Safari Without Luxury Prices

18. Your shower may be from a bucket

Another convenience you may not have in all camps is a proper mains hot shower. 

But don’t worry, you’ll still get a hot shower at the end of a dusty and sweaty day, it just takes a tiny bit more planning.

In remote camps, hot water is a luxury delivered via bucket or gravity showers. 

Water is heated during the day using solar powered water heaters. When you’re ready to have a shower, you just tell the camp staff, and someone will come to draw water from the tank, mix it with cold to the perfect temperature, pour it into a bucket, and hoist it up over your shower stall. 

Open the lever, and a stream of warm water cascades over you. There’s usually plenty for a decent hot shower, but you do need to be careful to make every drop count. 

Read more: Leroo La Tau In Botswana: See The Incredible Zebra Migration

And that’s it – 18 safari facts for first-time safari goers that you might not have known. Did any of them surprise you? Are there other facts you think I have missed?

Want to see more of my photography or travel writing? Have comments or questions? Come follow me on Instagram, Threads or Bluesky and share your thoughts!

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Where to next?

If you enjoyed these first time safari facts, why not have a look at some of my other Africa and wildlife posts?

• Olderkesi In Kenya: The Maasai Mara’s Newest Conservancy
• Chobe Safari Lodge In Botswana: A Complete Review With Photos
• Top 50 African Birds: A Safari Photo Guide
• Wadi Al Hitan: How To Visit Egypt’s Valley Of The Whales
• A Canadian Safari Review: See Canada’s Big Five In Manitoba
• Alphonse Island Seychelles: A Review Of My Week In Paradise

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