WHAT ARE THE SAFARIS LIKE?

Most safaris are centered on guests participating in two or three activities per day, such as game drives in minivans or four-wheel-drive vehicles. A game drive simply consists of having your guide drive you around a park or reserve in search of wildlife.

Most activities last two to four hours and are made when the wildlife is most active: early in the morning, often before breakfast, just after breakfast, in the late afternoon and at night (where allowed). Midday activities might include lazing around the swimming pool, reading or taking a nap. After an exhilarating day on safari, many guests return to revel in the day’s adventures over exquisite European cuisine in comfortable lodges and camps.

The kind and quality of experience one has on safari varies greatly from country, and even from park to park within the same country. For instance, going on safari East Afrika (Kenya and Tanzania) is completely different from going on safari in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana.

Simply watching wildlife anywhere in Afrika is an experience in itself. However, more and more people preferring to travel any away from the crowds and wish to personally experience more from the safari than just seeing animals.

How can be this is done? By choose a safari that includes parks which are not crowded afford the feeling of being more in the bush. Choose reserves that allow you to participate in activities that make you a more integral part of the safari, like walking and canoeing. Choose smaller camps and lodges that are unfenced, allowing wildlife to walk freely about the grounds.

Another excellent way to get the most out of your safari is to have a private safari arranged for you. A privet safari immediately becomes your safari. You do not have to bow to the wishes of the majority of the group or the strictly set itinerary of the group departures. You are basically free to do what you wish during the day (within reason) as long as your guide can get to your camp or lodge before nightfall.

Depending on the park or reserve, safari activities might include day game drives, night game drives, walks, boat safaris, canoeing, kayaking, ballooning, white-water rafting, mountain climbing, and fishing-the options are almost endless.

ACCOMODATION
There is a great variety of styles and levels of comfort in accommodation available in the major cities while on safari, ranging from basic hunts to suites with privet swimming pools. Options include hotels, lodges, small camps with chattels or bungalows, fixed tented camps and mobile tented safaris.

CHOOSING ACCOMODATION
The type of accommodation included in a tour of Afrika will have a major influence on the type of experience and adventure you will have on safari.

An important factor to consider when choosing accommodation or tour is the size of the lodge or camp. In general guests receive more personal attentions at smaller camps and lodges than larges ones. Large properties tend to stick to a set schedule while smaller properties are often more willing to amend their schedule according to the preference of their guests. However, larger properties tend to be less expensive, making tours using the larger properties more affordable.

Many larger properties (especial in Kenya) are surrounded by electrical fences, allowing the guests to move around without fear of bumping into elephant or other wildlife. Travelers who enjoy having wildlife roaming about camp should seek properties that are not fenced; these properties are best for travelers who want to experience living in the bush.

Most properties in Kenya and Tanzania have 75-200 beds where most camps in Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe have 16or less.


HOTELS
Many Afrika cites such as Nairobi, Harare, Kigali, etc have five-star (first class and deluxe) hotels comparable to anywhere in the world, with air-condition and private facilities, swimming pools and one or more excellent restaurants and bars.

LODGES
Lodges ranging from comfortable to deluxe (many have swimming pools) are located in or near most park and reserves. Many lodges and camps are located in wildlife areas 3,000 feet’s or more above sea level, so air-condition is so often not necessary.

CAMPS
There is often confusion over the term camp. A camp often refers to lodging in chalets, bungalows or tents in a remote location. Camps range from very basic to garishly plush. Deluxe camps often better service and food, and most certainly a truer safari atmosphere, than large lodges and hotels.

Fixed tented camps are permanent camps that are not moved. Besides generally having better food and service than lodges, guests of deluxe fixed tented camps have more of “safari experience”. One is less isolated from the environment than if he were staying in a lodge. Mobile tented camps are discussed under “Types of Safari”.

HOTEL CLASSIFICATIONS
Hotels are categorized as Deluxe, First Class and Tourist Class.

DELUXE: An excellent hotel, rooms with private bath, air conditioning, more than one restaurant serving very good food, swimming pool, bars, loungers, room service-all the amenities of a four-or five-star international hotel.

FIRST CLAASS: A very comfortable hotel, rooms with private bath, air conditioning, at least one bar and restaurant; most have swimming pools.

TOURIST CLASS: Comfortable hotel with simple rooms with private bath, most with air-conditioning, restaurant, bar and most have swimming pools.

LODGE AND TENTED CAMP CLASSIFICATIONS
Lodge and tented camps are classified as Class A-F.
CLASS A: Deluxe lodge or rented camp, many with swimming pools, excellent food and service, large nicely appointed rooms or tents with private bath, comfortable beds and tasteful decor; lodges may have air-conditions.

CLASS A/B: An excellent lodge or tented camp with very good food and service, many with swimming pools; rooms in lodge with private facilities; bathroom facilities in the camps may be en suite or a short walk from the chalet or tent.

CLASS B: A comfortable lodge/camp with good food and service, many with swimming pools. Rooms in lodges have private baths; most tents, chalets or bungalows have private bathrooms

CLASS B/C: Most often a “Class B” property that is some what inconsistent with the quality of accommodation, food and service.

CLASS C: A simple lodge with a private bathroom or tented camp, chattel or bungalow with private or shared facilities, fair food and service, or a “Class B” structure with fair to poor service or food.

CLASS D: A basic lodge/tented camp. Lodge, chattels, bungalow and tents seldom have private bathrooms, or a “Class C” structure with poor food or service.

CLASS F: Very basic lodge or tented camp without private bathrooms, often self-service (no restaurant).

FOOD
Most international travelers are impressed with the quality of the food and drink served on their safari.

Excellent European cuisine along with interesting local dishes are served in the top hotels, lodges, camps and restaurants French cuisine is served in Rwanda, Zaire, and Burundi, while British cuisine predominant serving cuisine from all over the world may be found in the larger cities in Africa.