If you’re planning a trip to Africa, you’re going to want to make the most of your time there and enjoy every minute of your adventure. Africa is such a diverse continent with a wide variety of climates, landscapes, and lifestyles, so choosing where to go can be something of a challenge, but in truth, there aren’t any wrong choices to make.
If this is your first trip to Africa, you might feel more comfortable taking a more well-trodden path and going to one of the well-known tourist destinations. However, if you’ve been a few times before, you might decide it’s time to spread your wings and explore a bit further afield.
Going on safari has got to be on most people’s bucket list, and for good reason. The choice of places to go on safari has never been better, and you can take your pick of some of the world’s most breath-taking landscapes and wildlife on an African safari.
Tanzania has got to be one of the premier locations, being home to the Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the Zanzibar Archipelago to name just a few highlights.
If you’re considering a Tanzania safari or one to any other African country, be sure to check on the times of year that are best for seeing the wildlife you’re most interested in. There are certain times when you stand a better chance of seeing specific animals and other times when you’ve got virtually no chance. If you don’t mind what creatures you see, then it might be more economical to go outside of peak times.
There are innumerable other ways to get the most from a visit to Africa, so if you fancy trying something different, have a good browse online. You could visit Uganda and see the mountain gorillas, or take a trip to a vibrant city like Cape Town, depending on whether you prefer wildlife or culture.
Wherever you choose to go, make sure you have a successful trip by following these guidelines:
- Make sure you have travel insurance that covers you for every eventuality on your African trip.
- Make sure you’ve got all the vaccinations you need in good time – some, like yellow fever, are compulsory and without them, you won’t get back into the UK.
- Check with your doctor whether you should take malaria medications before you go.
- Follow the advice of seasoned travellers about what to pack. You’ll find plenty of helpful websites that provide detailed packing lists based on real people’s real experience of the holiday you’re taking.
- Make sure you can take high-quality photos and videos while you’re away. If you’re happy with the kind of results you get from a smartphone – some of which are now very good – that’s the most convenient way to record your trip, but don’t economise on your recording equipment when you’re going to be witnessing such incredible sights and events.
Last but not least, be sure to approach your African adventure with an open heart and mind, and embrace the experience to ensure you make the most of your time on this extraordinary continent.