Your First Safari.
The seven decisions that make a first safari unforgettable. Most of a great safari is decided before you pack, and every one of these choices is yours to make. Here is how to make each one well.
- 01
When you go
Forget the idea of one "migration season". Wildlife moves all year in a great rotation, so the right month is the one that matches what you most want to see. In Botswana that usually means the dry season or the November shoulder season. If you can travel outside the summer holidays, you will find the lodges quieter and more intimate, and that feeling of having the bush to yourself is a big part of the magic.
- 02
Where you go
Botswana is the most diverse safari in Africa, with very few visitors and exclusive, private lodges, which makes it the bucket-list choice. South Africa's Greater Kruger and Sabi Sand give you classic Big Five game drives and pair easily with Cape Town. Namibia is for travelers who want desert landscapes as much as wildlife, and Kenya puts elephants beneath Kilimanjaro in Amboseli and the open plains of the Masai Mara in front of you.
- 03
Land, water, or both
The trips people remember most often pair a land-based lodge with a water-based one. One day you are on a game drive; the next you are gliding through the Okavango Delta in a mokoro or on a boat cruise. It feels like two safaris in one.
Botswana - 04
How long you stay
Give each lodge at least two nights, and three if you can. The first afternoon is for settling in; the full days are when the best sightings happen. For Botswana, about eleven nights lets you enjoy both land and water without rushing.
- 05
Which lodges
There is no single best lodge, only the best lodge for you. Four and five star lodges vary enormously in feel, from intimate and wild to polished and grand. Choosing a few different styles gives your trip variety and lets every part feel new.
- 06
Where the safari sits in your trip
Most trips fly into Johannesburg with one night to settle before the first lodge. Some travelers love starting with the safari while the excitement is fresh; others prefer Cape Town first and the bush as the grand finale. Both work beautifully.
- 07
Who looks after you
A first safari involves small flights, transfers and remote lodges, so it matters who is on call. Look for 24/7 ground support from vetted, expert partners in the destination. For vaccinations and health advice, your travel clinic or doctor has the final word.
Ready to plan yours?
Tell me what you're dreaming of and I'll come back with ideas, not a sales pitch. Trip planning starts at $475, and you'll work with me from the first idea to the day you fly home.