TAKE PHOTOS, LEAVE FOOTPRINTS
SCOTT DICKEN
10 Steps to Planning your Next African Vacation Planning a trip to Africa without professional assistance, particularly if it’s your first time, is an intimidating prospect. Fiftyfour countries, thousands of hotels and lodges, hundreds of safari destinations, and prices that can reach eyewatering heights. It can be a lot to take in. To alleviate some of that stress, in this month’s Take Photos Leave Footprints article I’ll highlight an easy ten step process that’ll have you spotting the “Big 5”, or relaxing on an Indian Ocean beach, in no time.
Step 1: Pick a Destination With fifty-four countries to choose from, picking a vacation destination in Africa is a daunting task. Be it a classic safari or a beach destination, I’ve created a cheat sheet that highlights some of the most popular African vacation countries and the activities possible in each. The table on page 43 also provides three of the more popular sights in each of those countries to whet your appetite.
Step 2: Choose a Time of Year and Length of Trip Choosing a time of year and length of trip is a crucial decision. Two full weeks (14-16 days) is the minimum amount of time id’ advise considering. Any less will feel rushed, particularly because of the long journeys involved. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS: Weather: As with all vacations, weather is always going to be key. Weather conditions vary across the continent, so you’ll want to check the weather for your chosen destination. One thing worth considering, if you’re partaking in safari activities, is that wildlife is more easily visible during the dry season when the foliage provides wildlife with less cover. SPECIAL EVENTS OR SEASONS: The most obvious of these for East African safari goers is timing your trip to coincide with the location of the great wildebeest migration. However, you might also want to think about specific activities, such as Devil’s pool in Zambia, which only opens when the water near Victoria Falls is low enough. COUNTRY-SPECIFIC FACTORS: Make sure you check for things like public holidays, religious events, and elections. Elections in particular can lead to civil unrest and can cause disruption for vacationers, particularly in Africa’s biggest cities. BUDGET: Like everywhere, African countries have high seasons, low seasons, and shoulder seasons. If you are on a strict budget, you 16 July 2022
might wish to opt for the low season when your budget will stretch further (you may even be able to splurge on a little luxury at much lower prices). However, low season is low for a reason. The weather may be more unpredictable, or wildlife may be more difficult to spot. I typically aim for the shoulder season. While there’s a slightly higher risk of suboptimal weather you can usually snag an absolute bargain just before peak season starts.
Step 3: Book Your Flights Flights are often one of the biggest expenses of a trip to Africa, particularly if you are incorporating regional and domestic flights or anticipating fly-in safaris to remote destinations or bush airstrips. I always book flights before booking accommodation based on an assumption that the destination has multiple lodging options. However, if you are planning on joining a scheduled tour, visiting for a specific event, or have your sights set on a specific lodge or hotel, then you might want to consider booking that first. Here are my top tips for snagging a great deal: It goes without saying that you’ll want to try and secure the cheapest flights possible. I recommend using Skyscanner or Google Flights to explore the best deals. You might also want to consider signing up LEAVE FOOTPRINTS > PAGE 17
Old Town Crier
