Booking an African safari is a massive milestone, but the excitement can lead to costly oversight. To ensure your adventure goes smoothly, watch out for these five common pitfalls when planning your journey.
5 Mistakes Travellers Make When Booking a Safari
- Ignoring the Migration Timing: Booking the Maasai Mara without checking river crossing windows means missing the Wildebeest Migration entirely. Align dates with wildlife movements peaking between July and October.
- Overpacking on Itineraries: Trying to visit three parks in four days leaves you exhausted. Prioritize depth over breadth.
- Underestimating Travel Logistics: Forgetting bush flight baggage weight limits (often restricted to 15 kg in soft bags) or rough connecting road conditions.
- Booking Solely on Price: The cheapest package often hides compromised vehicles, inexperienced guides, or inferior camp locations.
- Skipping Comprehensive Travel Insurance: Standard policies don’t cover medical evacuations from remote bush airstrips.