Google

The Best Safari Company for Your Safari Trip - Heres How To Choose


Which is the best African safari company for my safari trip?

This is a question that comes up very frequently and it's not surprising.

There are so many safari operators in the market all promising the earth that it is very difficult to choose between them, especially when you know nothing about them.

But there is a way to improve your chances significantly of making the right choice of safari company for your dream African safari trip and avoid the ones that might turn your trip into a nightmare. And it consists of three simple steps.

Don't let this happen to you

If you leave this decision to chance and just go with the safari company that seems the best or the cheapest you might end up in a situation like Dale and Dana Russell who went on safari in Tanzania and chose their safari company by gut instinct and price.

They were the only two in the safari vehicle on this trip but things started to go downhill fast when they asked their driver and guide questions and he would only answer in monosyllabic grunts and sometimes not at all.

And then on the way to the Serengeti from Nairobi he began to visit his relatives while Dale and Dana had to sit fuming in the safari vehicle.

To make matters worse when they finally did reach the Serengeti he would drive straight at the animals as if he was going to run them over and then stop at the last moment. And finally on the way back to Nairobi he did run over and kill a goat that was crossing the road, making no attempt to swerve or slow down.

Beware. There are a few shoestring operations like this out there but this one has fortunately since closed down.

So how do you avoid these cowboy operators when you choose a safari company for your trip? Simply apply the following three steps and you will cut out all the risky operators.

Recommendations from others

Some of the best advice you will receive about a safari company is from people who have been on a trip with them already. They can tell you exactly how the company performed and it's first hand information without any kind of marketing agenda.

This is a great way to create a shortlist of safari companies so if you know anyone who has been on safari before ask them about it. But what if you don't know someone who has been on safari before?

No problem. There are dozens of websites on the internet that list safari trip reports and travel diaries written by the people who have previously gone on the trip themselves. Find them and learn from them. The tips and recommendations you can glean there are very valuable for your own trip.

Check their credentials

The next thing you need to do is check the credentials of the safari company you are planning to use to make sure they are reputable.

To do your own research here is the process to follow...

Membership in safari associations don't guarantee that a company is reputable but it can be a pretty good indication so find out if your prospective safari guide is listed.

Here are the associations you can check: KATO - Kenya Association of Tour Operators, TATO - Tanzania Association of Tour Operators, SATSA - Southern Africa Tourism Services Association, TASA - Tours and Safari Association of Namibia, ATTA - African Travel and Tourism Association and ASTA - American Society of Travel Agents.

If they are not members it doesn't automatically mean they are not reputable but it does afford some peace of mind.

Ask the right questions

So you have a safari company in mind and you've done a little research to find out more about them and now it's time to get in touch. What questions do you need to ask to make sure you are going to get the best value for your money?

Find out how many other people there will be on your trip. Some of the companies can be guilty of trying to cram too many people into the safari vehicle and that can become unpleasant.

And ask about their payment policies. Some companies place the clients money in trust until the tour occurs so that in the unlikely event of the company going into liquidation your money will be safe.

Make sure they explain their cancellation and refund policy to you clearly and the timing of reservations and payments that need to be made.

There are dozens of other questions that you can ask but these should go a long way towards establishing if they are a fly-by-nighter just out to make a quick buck.

Follow the three steps and you can find the best safari company for your trip with unerring accuracy.

The Top Three African Safari Operators list at the African Safari Journals website is compiled by using the recommendations of previous safari travellers and covers the best companies in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia.

Not sure where to go on safari? These are the Top Five Safari Destinations in Africa ranked by using trip reports from previous visitors to these areas.


MORE RESOURCES:

RELATED ARTICLES


Backcountry Safety - An Essential 10-Point Checklist
The call of the wild can be seductive. The exquisite beauty of the wilderness, the incomparable solitude, the simplicity of life on the trail, and the rush of living a bit on the edge attract thousands of eager backcountry enthusiasts.
Book a Golf Package in Myrtle Beach for Golfing Fun and Great Times in the Sun
Thousands of golfers flock to the Carolinas each spring and fall to enjoy some of the greatest golf courses in the country, and booking a golf package in Myrtle Beach is one of the best ways to experience what the area has to offer to devoted fans of the sport.Purchasing a golf package in Myrtle Beach not only provides visitors with great opportunities for golfing but can also make available the finest in first-class accommodations, great meals, and a chance to hear some of the area's best entertainment.
Adventure Travel on Horseback
When you think of "adventure travel," what crosses your mind? Hiking? White water rafting? Scuba diving? Something as sedentary as a cruise ship or land rover safari? Those ideas lose their "adventure" status when you compare them to galloping on a horse in Africa with a zebra and wildebeest racing along side you, or quietly observing the elephant and giraffe.How can a traveler visit the remote parts of the world's most beautiful and interesting places while.
Beach Vacation Photo Tips - Make Your Vacation AND Photos Memorable
Most people, who go on a family beach vacation, take plenty of photographs. Once you're home and you view or print them out; are you ecstatic, bored, or disappointed? Be honest, now!Does this sound familiar? You arrive at your destination, check the place out, and quickly change to go to the beach.
Lightweight Backpacking: How Light?
You aren't lightweight backpacking if you are carrying twenty-five pounds for a summer weekend. I invent these standards, but I try to be reasonable.
All the Way to Timbuctu
Yes, it's real. There is a place called Timbuktu and it is not just an imaginary figment at the end of an exclamatory statement.
Top Five Honeymoon Safari Destinations In Africa
An African honeymoon safari is the perfect way to celebrate your marriage.The pampering that you get is second to none and the surroundings are as beautiful as you will get anywhere in the world.
Alaska Hunting Guide
WHAT TO HUNT AND WHERE: Alaska is a hunter's paradise. Hunting here can provide the full scope of experiences- from caribou to deer and moose, from grizzly and brown bears to wolves, from Dall sheep and mountain goats to muskox, from waterfowl to ptarmigan and several grouse species.
Backpacking Journals - Preserve Your Backpacking Experiences
Backpacking is a great way to escape the rat race and be one with nature. Alas, your backpacking experiences can fade with time.
Amazing Trek Across TIbet!
Today Bookpleasures and Sketchandtravel are pleased to have as our guest, Brandon Wilson, author of Yak Butter Blues.In 1992, Brandon and his wife Cheryl travelled 40 days from early October to the end of November in 1992 over 1000 kilometers travelling along the ancient pilgrimage route across Tibet.
Creative Camp Cooking - Part 2
In a previous article, I wrote primarily about box ovens. With this article, we will consider a couple of other ideas that can also make your camping meals fun and enjoyable.
Cycling in Europe: There's More to the Tour de France than Lance
For the 92nd time, the Tour de France has started. This three week cycling race is one of the biggest sporting events in the world and undoubtedly the toughest on the individual participants.
Drive Me to WA Today!
Western Australia Driving Adventure Great Australian Road Trip Large is not the word for it. Massive doesn't cover it either.
River Rafting in Colorado
The sport of river rafting was practically invented in Colorado. In the late 1960s Bill Dvorak came up with many safety standards for equipment and many guidelines for proper rafting technique.
Visiting Croatia
Croatia has quickly become Europe's hottest destination, and for good reason. The rocky coastline continues for 1778 kilometres and includes pine-fringed coves, wide sandy beaches and cozy inlets.
River Rafting: An Overview
White-water rafting can be one of the most exhilarating experiences of a lifetime. River rafters see breathtaking scenery, get great exercise, and experience terrific adventure.
Code of Conduct for Outdoor Enthusiasts
My favorite outdoor related quote comes from John Muir, the father of our national park system and founder of the Sierra Club. He said, "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.
River Cruise in Bangkok - Sightseeing on the Chao Phraya
A river cruise in Bangkok gives an insight to the community life on the Chao Phraya River and the legacies on this river of kings, a picture of stark contrasts.It needn't have to be an elaborate affair; you can cut the frills and expenses.
Be Sure to Buy the Best Discount Camping Gear Before Going on that Family Adventure
When you're on the Internet looking for discount camping gear, it's good to read an online camping equipment review. There are so many camping outdoor gear products on the market today that the challenge is choosing between them.
Great Indian Holidays
Holidays in India, awesome in her size and diversity. This virtual sub-continent, stretches from the lofty Himalyas , a series of 2000km long mountain ranges in the north, to the extensive deserts in the west, the lush evergreen forest in the south to the far-flung sub Himalayan forests in the North East.