Your First African Safari: A Complete Guide

A first safari involves more decisions than most trips, and the order you make them in matters. Here is the sequence we recommend — and the honest answers to the questions first-timers ask us most.

1. Decide when you can travel

Your travel dates narrow down where you should go more than anything else. Across most of southern Africa (Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia), the dry season from about June to October is best for game viewing. In East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania), June to October and January to February are the driest periods, and the great migration has different seasons in different places. See when to go for a month-by-month breakdown.

2. Choose your kind of safari

Do you want classic game drives, the intensity of walking, the calm of a river, or the sense of journey on a mobile safari? Most great first trips combine two styles. Read the five kinds of safari before you look at specific camps.

3. Pick a country (or two)

• Tanzania or Kenya — big open plains, big cats and the migration; easy to combine with a beach.
• Zambia — walking and canoeing, excellent guiding, few crowds, plus Victoria Falls from Livingstone.
• Botswana — the Okavango Delta and exclusive camps, at a higher price.
• Zimbabwe — great guiding and value, and the wild Mana Pools floodplain.
• Namibia — deserts and self-drive; better as a second safari or for landscape lovers.

4. Decide how long

Seven to ten nights on safari is ideal for a first trip, split between two or three camps with about three nights in each. Fewer than three nights in a camp means much of your time goes on travel; more than three camps on a short trip feels rushed. Add a night or two at the start and end for international connections, and Victoria Falls or a beach if you like.

5. Set a realistic budget

Safari prices vary hugely, from simple camping to the most exclusive lodges. Most camps quote per person per night and include meals, activities and often park fees. Add internal flights, international flights, visas, insurance and tips. Our safari costs guide gives realistic ranges.

6. Book early, through a specialist

Small camps have few rooms, and the best ones fill 6 to 12 months ahead for June to October. Booking through an Africa specialist rarely costs more than booking direct — they are paid by commission — and they handle the complicated logistics of light-aircraft transfers and connecting camps.

Health and safety

• Malaria: most classic safari areas are malaria areas. See a travel health clinic 6–8 weeks before you go about prophylaxis.
• Vaccinations: check requirements and recommendations for each country, including whether you need a yellow fever certificate, which depends on your route.
• Insurance: take travel insurance that includes medical evacuation from remote areas.
• In camp: follow your guide’s instructions, and never walk unescorted after dark in unfenced camps.

Visas and entry

Entry rules change, so always check official government sources before you travel. Many nationalities can get visas online or on arrival. The KAZA UniVisa covers Zambia and Zimbabwe, including day trips into Botswana’s Chobe, for eligible nationalities. Make sure your passport has at least six months’ validity and several blank pages.

What to pack

• A soft bag. Light aircraft usually limit luggage to about 15–20 kg in soft-sided bags, including hand luggage. Check with your camps.
• Neutral colours — khaki, olive, brown. Avoid bright colours and, in tsetse areas, dark blue and black.
• Layers. Early mornings and evenings in open vehicles can be cold, even when afternoons are hot.
• Binoculars — one pair each. They matter more than a camera.
• Sun hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, headtorch and any medication.
• Most camps offer laundry, so you need fewer clothes than you think.

Tipping and etiquette

Tipping is customary on safari. Many camps suggest an amount per guest per day for your guide and a separate amount for the general staff pool; ask your camp or specialist for current guidance. In vehicles, stay seated, keep your voice down at sightings and never ask a guide to break park rules to get closer.

Frequently asked questions