African countries aren’t exactly popular in terms of tourist destinations. You’re not the average tourist though, are you? There are few experiences in the world quite as incredible as a safari. You probably don’t have to go far from your home to see some amazing natural phenomena. However, watching all these majestic animals in their homeland is something entirely unique. Here’s how to prepare for your safari trip.

 

Let’s start with the clothes you’ll need. If you’ve never been to Africa before, then believe me you don’t know what heat is. Go for light, breezy fabrics which will make sure you don’t get too affected by the intense sun. Khaki shorts and light-coloured t shirts will do fine for most of your trip. Depending on the time of year you go, you might need a few extra layers for chilly mornings. For this, a simple long-sleeved shirt will suffice. Big-brimmed hats and sunglasses are a given, but make sure you don’t forget them! If you’re going to be camping, you should also make a point to bring fast-drying materials. Stay away from denim, and look for light cotton clothes. go.safaridrive.com has some further tips on dressing for an African safari.

 

 

From the moment you arrive for your safari, you’ll be seeing things which you’ll want to document. Smartphones can do some pretty amazing stuff, but to get the best shots I recommend finding a DSLR with a telephoto lens. This will ensure your photos are high-quality, and that you can snap far-away animals. Some safari guides will go off-road for shots, but this all depends. Remember to get a nice big memory card too. You don’t want to use up all the camera’s storage on landscape shots then have a fully-grown elephant stride past you. DSLRs aren’t exactly cheap, and neither are safari trips. If you decide to rent a high-quality camera, take extra care with it. Safaris aren’t quite as predictable as other trips you may have been on!

 

Finally, make sure you take all the right medical precautions for your safari. This is not only in the interest of your health, but also to make sure your trip doesn’t grind to a halt. If you’re planning to travel through Kenya, then you’ll need proof of a yellow fever vaccination to enter the country. Other recommended vaccinations for central Africa include MMR, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis A and typhoid fever. You won’t be thinking about needles when you see a giraffe raising its young! Aside from this, make sure you bring pocket hand sanitizer and the strongest bug spray available to you. The insects in most of Africa aren’t especially bad during the day, but in the night they’ll be everywhere!

 

Take these steps, and learn a few common Swahili phrases, and you’ll be all set for your safari. When you’re at the other end of this trip, you’ll definitely want to go again, even if it’s just to chase one photo you missed! As with any trip, take your time preparing, and you’re sure to have an experience like no other!