Tips on How to Plan an Excellent African Safari from the UK

Although the holiday season is right around the corner, that does not mean you have to go around the bend from planning your family vacation.

Organizing a group getaway can be an easy and hassle-free experience. You could, for instance, opt to go on a Kenya vacation.

Having decided to go on an Africa safari from the UK, it is vital to make sure that your travel details are sorted out early enough to avoid inconveniences and undesirable outcomes.

After all, holidays are a time to unwind and let go of all the worries that bog you down on a daily basis. But how do you go about procuring the most enjoyable and thrilling holiday for you and your loved ones?

More importantly, as a Brit who has never been to Africa, how do you get the best African safari holidays from the UK?

Below are some of the most important things to consider when planning an African safari. We also give you practical insights on how to structure an excellent vacation to Kenya, the motherland of all African safaris.

Have the right travel partner

While going it alone in a foreign destination is possible, it is more prudent to rely on the guidance of a trusted professional.

Enlisting the services of a travel agent will not only give you peace of mind but it will also avail you of more favourable pricing.

Tour companies have the advantage of receiving corporate discounts from most of the industry’s service providers and they invariably pass these discounts to you.

When going on a Kenya vacation for example, no one is better placed to know what is going on in the Maasai Mara than a travel agent who specializes in Maasai Mara safaris.

The agent will be able to advise you on the best priced hotels, lodges, and camps. They will also be eligible for discounts you might otherwise not enjoy as an independent traveler.

Besides, having a tour agent means that your African safari holiday from the UK will have the benefit of a native’s expertise. You see, some of the best travel companies are those that employ native guides who know the area you visit well and will expose you to its most intimate details.

Know your travel requirements

An agent will also come in handy in letting you know more about the country’s immigration requirements.

That includes the types of vaccinations and health documents you might be required to furnish at your port of entry.

It is essential to ascertain these processes to ensure you are not caught flat footed on the day of travel.

Knowing which countries require travel visas is vital as it allows you to have these processed before you book your air tickets.

While most Kenya safari holiday safari packages are exclusive of visas and international tickets, your travel agent is at hand to render free advice on the easiest way for you to procure them.

Know the attractions

Before you commit any money to your African safari holidays from the UK, make a point of learning more about the country’s main attractions.

For example, one of the most popular tourism products in Africa are the Kenya beach and safari holiday packages.

However, these can be as diverse as humanity itself. That is because on the whole, the country has more than 40 major wildlife parks and reserves, four marine parks, and more than 15 beaches.

That tremendously opens up your range of vacation places in Kenya and means that your Kenya safari holiday package may include any combination of destinations.

Knowing what different parks offer, their location, and the activities likely to be found there will prove helpful when structuring your itinerary.

Again, the services of a professional travel agent in this regard cannot be overstated. The agent will inform you about which parks are close to each other, which attractions offer certain activities, and tell you the best time of the year to visit particular areas.

A Kenya vacation to the Maasai Mara for instance is best during the July-October season, when the country is dry and the reserve has plenty of animals.

It is also the time when the annual wildebeest migration occurs, meaning your family will be able to witness the overland migration of more than two million wild animals from the Serengeti to Maasai Mara.

Touring the park may be done through various ways, including game drives, hot air balloon rides, or even walking safaris.

During this season, enjoying your Kenya beach and safari holiday packages is also easier as the beaches enjoy sunny days thanks to the dry weather.

Visitors interested in heritage and cultural tours also have plenty to choose from, such as visits to cultural museums, indigenous villages, ancient ruins, and old towns.

While looking into the different attractions, please also bear in mind your family members’ areas of interest and what would appeal to them. That ensures that every member of your travel party enjoys a splendid vacation and lifelong memories they will treasure.

Cost

Lastly, find out how much the entire safari costs and what it includes. That information will enable you to budget accordingly.

Typically, most safari providers will have pre-structured safari deals with fixed prices.

However, some Kenya safari holiday packages allow you to customize your safari experience by cherry picking the activities you want to be included in your itinerary.

If you opt for a custom Kenya safari holiday package, your agent will inform you how much it will cost based on the vacation places in Kenya that you wish to visit. The cost is also influenced by the safari vehicle you choose to use.

For luxury holidays, 4×4 safari vehicles such as the safari land cruiser are used. The budget alternative for a true safari vehicle is the safari van. Smaller vehehicles such as Mazda Axela, Nissan Note, Toyota Premio, and Mazda Demio are often used for transfers.

That allows you to shop around for the best priced safari packages in the market and picking the one you feel most reflects your desired holiday.