If youve chosen to go on a luxury safari for your holiday, youre certainly in for some exciting sights.The early mornings and dusty journeys will be worth it when you spot that elusive creature or catchnature in action in a way you would never have managed at home. The appeal of safaris lies in theirdangerous feel; even though theyre extremely safe, being in such close contact with animals thatwould otherwise seriously harm you is thrilling and addictive. That doesnt even cover the wonder ofwitnessing nature in its most primitive element, reminding all of us where weve come from.
Many people dont realise that there are a number of choices to make when going on a safari. Heresa quick guide as to which safari you might want to choose when booking your holiday.
1. Traditional Safari
This will be your opportunity to spot the Big Five, otherwise known as lions, leopards, rhinos,elephants, and buffaloes. Many people head on safari anticipating spotting these elusive and thrillingspecies; if thats your aim, you will definitely want a traditional safari with guides who will havesome idea as to where these animals can be found. There are certain countries where youre morelikely to spot particular animals; white rhino are most readily found in South Africa, but large herds ofelephants are more common in Botswana. Uganda or Tanzania are perfect if youd rather spot someplayful gorillas or chimpanzee.
2. Mobile Safari
A mobile safari simply means that youll move along with a camp each day. Depending on howmuch youd like to spend, youll be setting up your own camp or it will be set up for you beforeyou arrive. At the higher end of the cost scale, youll have a normal bed, an en suite bathroom witha shower, and even a mobile bar. At the lower end, youll use private camp sites and communalfacilities, which are normally still perfectly clean and convenient. Mobile safaris really allow you tosee a lot of Africa if youre willing to spend some time roughing it in the wilderness. If youd liketo follow a particular herd of animals, especially during seasonal migration, this is the best option foryou. Otherwise, a mobile safari is similar to the traditional safari experience.
3. Walking Safari
If youd like to get closer to nature than an ordinary safari will allow, you may find it worth yourwhile to choose a walking safari. Youll cover less distance, of course, but walking through theAfrican plains, slowly creeping up on wildlife, will really bring you back to your hunter-gatherer rootsand youll find your senses come alive as you learn to feel in tune with the landscape. Being exposedto the wild is an amazing feeling that you just wont get in a vehicle and is something that everyoneought to experience once in their lives. Most walking safaris take place in Zambia, where they wereintroduced by Norman Carr, but they are slowly becoming more popular in other regions of Africa.
4. Self drive Safaris
If youre not too bothered about viewing specific animals in the wild, you may find that a self-drivesafari is the perfect choice for you. Youll hire your own vehicle and set off on your own, withouta guide; this is great if you want to stick to a schedule or just do whatever youd like without beingrestricted by someone elses timeline. South Africas famous Kruger National Park offers these selfdrive safaris, which can give you an amazing opportunity to try and find a few of the big five on yourown; however, there are no guarantees, so this is best suited to the frequent traveller who doesnt needto cram everything in one visit.
No matter which safari option you choose, a luxury safari holiday is truly an experience youll neverforget. You may just find yourself longing to head back to Africa again and again; we know we do!
