First Time Safari Tips: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

Heading out on your very first safari? It is an unforgettable travel experience, but it does come with a unique set of challenges and considerations. These first time safari tips will help you feel more prepared, so you can enjoy your adventure without second guessing what to bring, how to act, or what to expect.

A safari is not your typical vacation, but it certainly will be a special one! From early morning game drives to remote lodges and limited amenities, there are a lot of things that might surprise you if you have never done it before. That is why doing a little research ahead of time can go a long way.

In this guide, we are covering everything you should know before going on your first safari. Whether you are headed to the Serengeti, Kruger, the Okavango Delta, or somewhere else entirely, these tips will help you make the most of your trip.

First Time Safari Tips: a Brief Intro

Before diving into all of our first time safari tips, we want to go over some of the basics! Here are a few frequently asked questions, and a bit of insight into getting started.

Is it Safe to Go on an African Safari Now?

Many people often generalize Africa as being unsafe. Listen - the media isn't doing you favors, and there are so many incredibly safe places to do a safari. 

Some destinations like Zimbabwe or certain areas of specific countries can certainly be dangerous, but if you listen to locals, explore well-accredited places, and stay under the radar, then you won't have to worry too much. Make sure to leave flashy garments at home, don't carry tons of valuables, and keep yourself safe by locking up your items.

We found Eswatini to be the safest country, and Namibia to be another really safe safari destination.

Are Safaris Worth the Money?

Safaris are absolutely worth the money! That being said, it's easy to overspend on safaris it's really not necessary. Skip the massive tour agencies selling you over-the-top packages, and plan on your own (or let us plan you a trip that's worth it!)

Keep reading to see how you can build yourself a budget-friendly adventure, or an epic (but still worth) it trip. If you still need help afterwards, we're here for you.

Where Should I Go for my First Safari in Africa?

There are so many great places to choose from when it comes to safari destinations! We'd recommend choosing where you want your first safari by the time of year, your budget, and what kind of traveler you are.

Don't worry, we're going to give you a ton of first time safari tips, so that you can decide which destination is right for you, and how to get started!

First Time Safari Tips

So are you ready for all of the recommendations for your safari trip? These first time safari tips are here to make sure you plan the most incredible adventure, and to help you avoid some bumps along the road.

 Choose the Right Safari Destination

The first step for planning a safari is to decide which country or area of Africa you are looking to do, and decide the time of year. While safaris are incredible year-round, there are certain migrations that take place, breeding seasons, and weather patterns to keep into consideration when choosing where and when to plan your safari trip.

Some of the best countries for safaris are Kenya and Tanzania in Eastern Africa, and South Africa, Eswatini, Namibia, and Botswana in Southern Africa. We did a trip through Southern Africa and had amazing experiences, but also heard that Eastern Africa can be really different. So depending on the time of year will really make a difference for choosing one area over the other.

General things to keep in mind are that the wet seasons will bring more watering holes to attract animals, springtime means lots of young animals, and the Great Migration is from December through April. Meanwhile, the drier season has more tolerable temperatures and weather overall.

Decide on the Type of Safari Experience

One of the safari tips for first time visitors that we forgot to check up on during our trip was how different safari experiences can look in different places.

The good news is that safaris CAN be done on a budget, but they can also be done as a super luxury-style trip too, meaning the opportunities are endless!

 Budget Safaris vs Luxury Safaris

Most people assume that safaris are absurdly expensive, and this is such a false misconception! Safaris certainly CAN be pricey, if you want something super exclusive, but they can also be as affordable as $15-20 a person for a game drive or walking safari in some places (Eswatini- we're looking at you ).

In Southern Africa we found Eswatini to have the most budget-friendly safaris, while the most expensive country for safaris was Botswana.

Also, another thing to keep in mind is that in Eswatini you can do a lot of self-guided safaris, while in Botswana everything needs to be organized with a guide, which is where a big difference of price comes in, and more planning involved.

 First Time Safari Tips for Budget Travelers

The cheapest way to do a safari is to simply pay the park entrance fee (which is usually $5-15/person for most game reserves) and to self-drive.

Guides certainly know best, but some parks are small and full of wildlife, so you'll certainly be able to see the wildlife on your own. Just remember that some game reserves have rough roads, so having a high-clearance vehicle or 4x4 is typically your best bet.

If you have a van you can just typically stay right in the lots, or you can go to an affordable camp ground nearby if you aren't sleeping in your vehicle.

First Time Safari Tips for Budget Travelers

If you've got money set to splurge, then the world is truly your playground. Not only can you have really amazing private safaris set up, but you can also stay at lodges where the wildlife is at your doorstep!

We did site visits at several places in South Africa, where elephants would come right up to the pool, and we also visited some of the most unique hotels in Namibia, which has tons of incredible game drives included in their nightly stays.

If you want an epic safari adventure, then we're here to help - because we found all of the top luxury safari spots in all of Southern Africa. Simply email us and we'll set up a no-strings-attached call.

 The Different Types of Safari Experiences

If it's your first time doing a safari, you're probably imagining driving around and spotting wildlife. Well, there are actually so many fun safari experiences to choose from! Game drives are the most traditional, but in many places you can also boat safaris or walking safari!

 Safari Stays

There are quite a few options for safari stays, and this is definitely one of the top first time safari tips we wish we knew. Here are the different options:

• Self-Drive + Outside Accommodation: the most affordable option (not available at all parks) - paying for a day visit, exploring on your own, and sleeping elsewhere.
• Self Drive + Inside Accommodation: a budget-friendly and convenient option - many reserves have options for rooms, chalets, and camping.
• Game Drive + Outside Accommodation: you can sign up for a game drive and stay outside the park to cut down costs.
• Game Drive + Inside Accommodation: paying for a game drive and a place to stay, but not in a package.
• Safari Hotel Packages: many nicer accommodation options will be pricey, but include 1-2 game drives per day.
• All-inclusive Safari Packages: typically booked through an agency, these are the priciest packages, but the most hassle-free - including accommodation, transportation, meals, and game drives all in one.

 Private Tours vs Group Tours

Most game drives are relatively small groups, typically from 8-20 people, and go during sunrise or sunset, as this is when wildlife is easiest to see.

If you'd like to go during different hours, or simply want to have a more personalized experience, you can pay for a private tour. These should be organized in advance, reaching out directly to your hotel or the park (if it's a small one).

What to Pack for a Safari

One of the most important first-time safari tips is to dress properly! This is crucial for safety and optimal viewing.

 First Time Safari Tips for Dressing Properly

As far as dressing goes, you'll want to wear neutral-colored clothing, and something comfortable for game drive. We'd also recommend a light jacket, as evenings and early morning can get chilly. If you're doing a walking safari, you'll want to have closed-toed shoes, and long pants so you don't get scratched.

Many vehicles are covered, but if you're doing a boat safari or walking safari, you'll want to put on a hat, sunblock, and bug spray as well.

First Time Safari Tips - Other Things to Bring

Other than dressing properly, you'll want to make sure that you are properly prepared to see the wildlife, and to capture these incredible moments!

Many people bring binoculars to get a close-up look at the animals. As photographers, our gear lies more in capturing the moment in the best way possible, so we'll cover that in the next part of our first time safari tips.

We'd also recommend carrying a power-bank and plenty of water. Many safaris will give you a small plastic water bottle, but let's save our planet - bring your own reusable water bottle instead.

Photography and Wildlife Viewing Tips

For photography our top first time safari tip is to have a good telephoto lens. We have one with a focal length of 70-200mm, which we found to be sufficient for most of our needs. 

The absolute GOAT when it comes to safari photography though is getting a lens that can shoot beyond that - we'd recommend investing in a 200-600mm if you can. Sure, you'll want to have your phone for a video, but if you actually want good photos, you'll want to definitely invest in a proper camera and lens.

If you're self-driving, make sure to wake up before sunrise - this is when you'll have the best viewings! Also, remember that animals are in their natural habitat, so nothing is ever guaranteed. Remember to always stay quiet, and be patient.

Essential Safari Etiquette

We don't want you to feel like you're back in school, but if you want to go on a safari, you need to have RESPECT. Respect your guide, the people around you, and most importantly- the wildlife.

Always listen to your guide. Keep your arms inside the vehicle, and only leave if your guide tells you too. Be as quiet as possible, and NEVER try to touch an animal, or get too close.

We did a walking safari, and you can see that we look pretty close to the rhinos - this is because this was the limit our guide told us we could go without disturbing them (they're actually pretty blind), and because we zoomed in, making us look closer than we actually are.

If you are on a self-drive, NEVER leave your vehicle, and for the love of God, DO NOT ever try to feed an animal. It's not cute - this is their home, and you need to respect it.

Don't have time to read the whole article and want to save it for later? Just pin it!

Understand the Daily Safari Schedule

When we initially imagined our first safari, we were thinking we'd be driving around all day looking for animals. Sure, if you're self-driving you can certainly do this. But the reality? Safari trips are more laid-back. Game drives are 1-2 hours, and happen twice a day (although you can certainly request for more).

Most people will do a game drive in the morning, have breakfast, and take the entire day relaxing by the pool, reading, or in our case, working .

You'll have a game drive in the evening, have dinner, and go to bed early for another early morning. If you like a busier schedule, then we'd recommend planning to go to different parks, or breaking up your schedule by adding days in between to do other activities.

Health and Safety Tips

If you ever ask for some first time safari tips, you'll hear everyone recommend the same - to get travel insurance! We always use Safety Wing, as it's affordable, reliable, and covers us everywhere.

We felt really safe during our safari trips, but there are certainly areas you'll want to be mindful of in terms of safety in every country you go. Make sure to protect yourself and belongings, God forbid anything goes unexpected.

Another thing to keep in mind is vaccinations. Many countries will actually require you to have certain vaccinations, and very often the yellow-fever vaccine if you are coming from a country where it is prevalent. Double-check the requirements of where you're going and make your appointments as soon as possible.

Reservations for Safari Trips

If you're ready to book your trip, then one of our top first time safari tips is to reserve in advance! Flights tend to be costly, so you can definitely save by booking your flight early.

Another thing to keep in mind is that certain places have very few spaces and high demand, so you'll want to look into making your reservations early, especially in places like Planet Baobab in Botswana that have limited availability for their meerkat excursions.

 Budgeting for a Safari

As we mentioned earlier, safari trips can range from $ to $$$$. You'll definitely want to put money aside for unique activities and for transportation. Many people assume African countries are cheap, but getting around certainly is not nearly as easy or cheap as Europe for example.

When budgeting for your trip, we'd recommend making a list of park fees, game drive prices, and accommodation options. Set some money aside for souvenirs, tipping, and a bit extra for those "splurge" moments.

While some places accept credit card, do make sure you have cash! A lot of game reserves do not have great signal, so even if there is a machine, you may need to pay for things in cash, especially if you're visiting somewhere super remote.

Supporting Responsible and Ethical Tourism

Last but certainly not least, one of our most important first time safari tips is to stay responsible! While safaris are definitely the most ethical animal encounters out there, there are certainly some people that are exploiting the animals for an extra buck.

It's easy to see a picture on Instagram and want to do some of those bucket-list activities. One of our prime examples is doing a cheetah walk. While it looks adorable, NO ONE should ever be walking a cheetah on a leash like a pet. These animals are being used for tourism, and this is not the type of activity you want to support.

Elephants by the pool? This one is totally fine, as they are freely roaming, are not fed, and just come by for the water. Just remember to keep your distance and respect the animals at all times.

Moral of the story? Do your research. Feeding animals or visiting them in-captured is a good clue, but there are certainly exceptions. We did some research and found Jessica the Hippo in South Africa. The hippo was rescued by a human as a baby, and remains wild, but loves humans! Now this is a cool and unique activity we can get behind.

First Time Safari Tips: Final Thoughts

Now you know all of our top first time safari tips! But if you found this overwhelming, we're here to do a bit of a recap for you:

• Safaris CAN be budget-friendly or can be a luxury depending on your accommodation and destination.
• Self-driving safaris can save you money, and are great for last minute visits.
• Luxury hotels typically include meals and game drives, which are the most hassle-free options. 
• Wear neutral colors and bring layers.
• Game drives are best during sunrise and sunset.
• There are a ton of safari options including game drives, walking safaris, and boat safaris.
• Make sure to check vaccination and visa requirements before booking your trip.
• Invest in a good telephoto lens for some epic photography.
• Exchange some money to have cash at game reserves in remote areas.
• Get travel insurance before your trip to keep you covered.
• Never get close or try to touch or feed animals.
• Stay quiet and respect nature.
• Some places require you to make reservations in advance. 

 What's Next?

You're ready with all of your first time safari tips! Now it's time to take a deeper look into some of the epic opportunities out there. Here are a few of our top articles to check out:

 Rhino Walking Safari in Eswatini

 Giraffe Walking Tour in Eswatini

 The Top Game Reserves in Eswatini

 Jessica the Hippo Encounter

 23 Bucket List Experiences in South Africa

 18 Unique Places to Stay in Namibia

 Is Botswana Expensive? A Cost Breakdown for Travelers

 Planet Boabab: A Unique Stay in the Heart of Botswana's Makgadikgadi

 Botswana Travel Guide

 Eswatini Travel Guide

 Namibia Travel Guide

 How to Drive from Namibia to Botswana

So are you ready to experience some incredible animal encounters? We hope our first time safari tips have helped you to plan an incredible trip, wherever you are going in Africa. Have questions? Feel free to drop them in the comments below!

Want to learn more about traveling in Africa? We have a lot of other Southern Africa travel guides you can read, as well as more coming up each week! Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to get all of our latest updates and for discounts on our products and services.

Ready to book your trip? We're here to help! Now Scratch Your Mapa offers travel planning services to take care of everything from finding you the most affordable flights to getting you some of the most incredibly unique accommodations. Not only that, but we're creating really epic group trips to Southern Africa soon!

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