PLANNING YOUR AFRICAN SAFARI
The best way to organise your Safari is to contact us We can talk you through the various options, make suggestions based on our extensive knowledge of the region and send you some itineraries that fit within your Budget and meet your requirements.
To help you in planning your Safari, here is a list of FAQ‘s that will provide you with some useful information:
How much time do I need for my Safari to Africa?
Safaris usually last from between 7 days (for guests visiting a specific area) up to 21 days (for a full exploration Safari covering various regions and/or countries). We recommend a minimum of 7 days on Safari.
At Africa Uncovered we specialize in customizing Safaris to suit our guests individual needs. The majority of our customized Safaris tend to be from between 10 to 15 days. This allows our guests to experience more than one area of this uniquely diverse region and also the opportunity to visit a major attraction such as the Victoria Falls, Cape Town, Zanzibar, the Islands off the Mozambique coast or even Mauritius which is a very popular destination for an Africa Honeymoon.
When to go?
For most visitors an African Safari is a once in a lifetime opportunity and so people want to maximize their game viewing experience.
Southern African Safari destinations (Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia and South Africa) have a rainy season during the southern hemisphere’s Summer months (November—April) and a dry season during the Winter months (May—October). The Winter months are considered the best time to go on Safari as it is easier to find and view the animals as they gather around the limited water sources.
However, although game viewing is not as prevalent in the Summer months (November—April), it is still reasonably good and there are additional benefits of going on Safari in the Summer months. Firstly most of the antelope give birth to their young in the Summer months and the wilderness areas are literally full of young offspring. Viewing the young animals playing in the lush green vegetation is an awesome spectacle. The summer months are also considered the “low season” and so good deals and cheaper rates can be found.
Another benefit of going to Southern Africa in the Summer months (November—April) is that your Safari can be combined with a beach getaway to one of Southern Africa’s sublime beach destinations. If you are considering a Safari to one of these Southern African destinations and game viewing is of equal importance as a beach holiday for example in Cape Town or Mauritius then the Summer months of November to April will be the ideal time for you to go. Mozambique, however, has a peak season from August to October (Winter Months) as the temperatures are still warm and the Summers can get extremely hot.
East African Safari destinations such as Kenya & Tanzania have a peak season in the Winter months just like in Southern Africa. In Kenya peak season in the Masai Mara runs from mid July to the end of October which is roughly the same for Tanzania and the Serengeti. East Africa however does have 2 distinct rainy seasons.
The “short rains” which are mainly confined to the month of November.
The “long rains” which occur from March to early June.
Quite a number of safari lodges actually close down during the “long rains” period.
For more information on when to go on Safari please do not hesitate to contact us and we will gladly assist you.
It is important to remember that several nights in one of these game-rich areas in Winter or Summer, there are no guarantees, but you will almost certainly see excellent game. Africa is not a zoo; it is wild and unpredictable and the animals roam freely, and for the most part, wherever they wish.
Finding the wildlife in the huge African safari areas is part of the thrill of the African safari. But you will certainly see animals and birds and beautiful scenery. However, nothing is for certain when you are dealing with the wild. We obviously cannot guarantee Lion sightings everyday, or a kill or Wild Dogs if you stay for a week, however animals are guaranteed and you will almost certainly see predators. Of course, the longer your stay, the better your chances. It’s why those of us who are totally passionate about African safaris keep going back. Every day is full of exciting surprises – and finding those Lions or Wild Dogs or witnessing a hunt is always the greatest of pleasures!
How much does it cost to go on an African Safari?
Most of the Safaris and tours that we offer are customized to our clients’ individual tastes and interests and of course budget. Generally Safari prices vary widely from the high season (July through October) to the low season (November through June).
We encourage you to contact us in order that we may provide an accurate quotation for a Safari based on your taste, needs and budget.
