If you’re part of my generation, you probably grew up watching Discover and National Geographic discoveries featuring the Great Migration and the continent’s big cats and crocodiles taking advantage of the movement. And if you’re like me, you probably have dreamt of going on an African safari at least once in your life. Well, that dream has just become a reality for me recently.
We’ve just wrapped up our African tour, making stops in four countries along the way: Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. The more I look back, the more it becomes crystal clear that the highlights were definitely the safari drives!
But these tours are not easy and not like your ordinary sightseeing trip. They’re not the most affordable, either. So the fewer boo-boos, the better. It’s easy to approach a safari the same way you would any other trip. And that would be your first mistake. Safaris are vastly different. In this article, we’ll share with you some of the things you shouldn’t do and the mistakes to avoid when joining a safari!
1. Don’t fall for scams.
The internet is rife with accounts of people who got scammed by bogus tour operators, and many of them are still pretty recent. Some are honeymoon trips that were completely ruined by fraudsters who ran away with their money. And mind you, these safari tours are NOT cheap. And in most cases, you have to settle both the downpayment AND the balance before you even arrive in Kenya.
To be honest with you, up until I saw our first lion, I was still having doubts. You see, I didn’t know anyone in Kenya AT ALL. And no one in my circle had any recommendation or contact, so I barely relied on reviews on online forums and Facebook groups. In retrospect, I realized just how risky it was. Thankfully, the company we booked was legit and we still had a grand time.
At this point, you’re probably asking, “So with what company did you book?” And the answer to that is Mufasa Tours and Travels. This was its initial quote for a 6-day safari for eight (8) travelers:.
USD 1510 (P85,000) per person
5 nights, Kenya only (budget)
inclusive of the following:
- vehicle (van good for 8 pax)
- driver/guide fee
- all national park entrance fees
- all resort accommodations (budget)
- all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
- plus airport pickup and dropoff
This is the most basic option – budget accommodations, and the vehicle to be used was a van that could accommodate up to…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Poor Traveler Itinerary Blog…