So I’ve
just got back from the trip of a lifetime – an African safari. It was an
amazing experience, and part of my honeymoon which made it even more special.
However, going on this type of holiday which is different from anything else is
a bit daunting. I didn’t know anybody else who had ever been on safari, so we
didn’t really know what to expect.
If
you’re thinking of booking a trip to the African wilderness, here’s a bit of
advice from yours truly.
Always be on the lookout
OK, so
you’re obviously going to have your glasses on during your game drives – but
that’s not the only time you’re going to bump into the wildlife. When checking
into our luxury lodge, we were warned not to leave anything out on the balcony
as the monkeys like to steal what they can! Even from your balcony or lodge you
are likely to make quite a few impressive sightings. As soon as we arrived we
saw impala and kudu wandering across our view. On our last day, I nearly missed
a herd of elephants passing because I had my head in a book! Whenever you have
a good view of the bushland, whether you’re eating breakfast or chilling on the
balcony, be on the lookout.
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| The view from Kuname Lodge |
Have your camera ready
We
calculated we were going to go on six game drives in total – that’s 18 hours
out on the safari truck. With this in mind, we thought we wanted to experience
the first drive properly and take in the sights with our eyes rather than
through a camera lens. I’m a true believer in this, especially as people are
becoming obsessed with documenting their lives through their phones and social
media. We decided not to take our cameras, phones or Go Pro. Our ranger
couldn’t believe us when he asked where our cameras were.
It was a
great idea and I’m glad we did it, however looking back we saw some of our best
sightings on that first game drive – and don’t have any lasting memories to
keep. We didn’t understand that each game drive is completely different, you
never know what you might see. We could have spotted one of the big five on that
first drive, and not seen it again during our stay. For example, we didn’t see
a cheetah or a leopard until the last half hour of our very last game drive.
Similarly, you could see an amazing sighting such as an animal making a kill,
and then you’d regret not having your camera to hand. It’s about finding the
right balance between living the experience and documenting it.
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| Cheetah spotted just after making a kill |
Forget the typical safari gear
I was
intrigued about safari fashion and really wasn’t sure what to wear on the game
drives. It was summer so really humid from 7am – there were only a couple of
times when we felt the need to wear a jacket. Most of the people we were
staying with were dressed as if they were going on a trek, with hiking boots,
long trousers and lots of layers. But it really wasn’t necessary! Unless you
plan on going on a walking safari, you can wear suitable sandals or trainers
the entire time, and I wore shorts when it was really hot.* The weather is
changeable, but in our truck there was a poncho for every person so you didn’t
even have to worry about taking a raincoat. You’ll only get out of the truck
for a sundowner or a coffee break, and it’s not likely to be in jungle terrain,
so if you’re worried about carrying around heavy walking boots then just leave
them at home.
*Depending
on your location you might want to cover up as much as possible to prevent
mosquito bites.
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| Here I am rocking comfy shorts, a denim jacket and Birkenstocks for sundowners |
My last
piece of advice is just to savour every moment! There’s nothing like the
genuine peace and quiet of the wilderness, or the starry night sky without a
light for miles. Most safari lodge stays are quite short, between two and five
days, so it really does fly by. But it’s long enough to see the majestic
wildlife of Africa and experience true solitude. There's nothing else like it and it should be on every avid traveller's bucket list.
Let me know if you have any safari related questions! J x
