First Time Safaris
IS there a difference between a travellers first safari and the itinerary for their second, third or fourth?
This is a question that is not asked or answered by much of our industry and I can only conclude that it is because people are not asking the right questions! An itinerary will always (or at least should always) depend on the individuals looking to book the holiday which means that the perfect first time trip for one couple may be the most adventurous safari possible while for another it may be a more controlled and lodge style environment.
There is a lot of work that goes into both developing and maintaining the knowledge required to give impartial and accurate advice about a trip to Africa. Our website is comparatively small for the industry, yet there are still a vast number of options for you to wade through when trying to decide the right itinerary for you, and this is where a completely impartial consultant comes into their own.
So often a first time safari is churned out as something that is relatively safe (for want of a better word), something that has mass appeal and is generally not too long, just in case you don’t like it… this is where the rise of the safari and beach holiday has become so popular. It is important that the person you are dealing with takes the time to get to know you and find the perfect trip for your tastes and rather just sell you the perfect “first time safari” or the ideal 4th time trip for that matter.
It may well be that three nights at a 5* lodge followed by 7 nights at a luxury beach property is just what you are looking for, but it may also be that for you there is something you would find more memorable that you are missing out on by believing that there is a type of safari suited to first timers and a type of safari suited to those that have previously been to Africa.
For me personally I know that I like to try and get away from the crowds, I don’t mind my camps being a bit rustic (in fact I think it ads to the charm), I like the chance to get out on foot and if I can I like to have a bit of a slower, maybe more luxurious end to my trip. Things that are important to me are location and the guides over and above the game density. I know this because I have done a lot of safari, I have lived and breathed safari for a large portion of my adult life…but I also think that I would know this if I had never been on safari before and someone laid all of the options out in front of me. This what we strive to do, to narrow down the options for you and create your perfect trip no matter if it is your first or your fifth.