Last Updated on October 12, 2026 by African Travel Hub Editorial

If you are still at the point of deciding where and when to go, start with our guide to where to start when planning an African safari. This article assumes you have a rough idea of destination and dates, and are getting close to paying a deposit.

Why First-timers Get Caught Out

At the start of our tour operation business – over 20 years ago, our visitors to Africa rarely went back home from a safari complaining about the wildlife. The complaints we heard, about trips booked with us and with others doing similar operations, tended to be about things nobody explained clearly – for example park fees that turned out not to be included, a “safari vehicle” that was a minibus with eight strangers, a 5 a.m. start nobody warned them about, a suitcase that would not fit on a 12-seat aircraft. And other issues of similar nature.

None of this was hard to get right. It just needed to be understood before you book, while you can still choose. Experience helps. We have since learnt quite a bit. That is what this article is about. The little things that you need to know about before you book your trip.

The first half of the article covers the booking stage. The second half covers what the trip is actually like on the ground.

1: Before You Pay Anything

What does a safari price usually include?

A “safari package” has no standard definition. Two quotes with the same headline price can contain very different things. This table reflects common practice in East and Southern Africa, but your operator’s written quote is what counts.

Park fees deserve particular attention because they are large and they change. In Kenya’s Masai Mara, for example, non-resident adults currently pay US$100 per day from January to June and US$200 per day from July to December. A quote that says “fees extra”, or prices fees at the wrong season’s rate, can be off by hundreds of dollars per person.

Terms that mean different things to different operators

• Full board: accommodation plus breakfast, lunch and dinner. Activities and drinks are usually extra.
• All-inclusive / fully inclusive: generally meals, most drinks and scheduled activities. Still check whether premium drinks, park fees and transfers are in.
• Game package: common in Kenya; usually means full board plus game drives from the lodge in the lodge’s vehicles.
• “Or similar” accommodation: the operator may substitute another property if the named one is full. Ask what “similar” means, and ask to be told before any switch.
• “In the park” versus “near the park”: a lodge outside the boundary can mean 30 minutes or more of driving before each game drive. That is fine on a budget, but you should know.
• Private safari: you have a vehicle and guide to yourselves. Shared, group or joining safari: you share with other guests, typically up to six or seven per vehicle.

How to tell a legitimate safari operator from a risky one

Most safari companies are honest. But safari fraud does happen, and it tends to target travellers looking for cheap deals online. Kenya’s tourism ministry has publicly warned visitors about unlicensed “operators” that advertise attractive budget packages with glowing reviews, take advance payments, and then disappear.

Simple checks reduce the risk significantly:

• In Kenya, tour operators are licensed by the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA). Ask for the licence number and check it.
• Association membership. Membership of a national body, such as the Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO) or the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO), is not a guarantee, but it means the company has met entry requirements and there is somewhere to complain.
• A real, registered company. A physical address, a registered company name that matches the bank account you pay, and a landline or office you can verify.
• Reviews across several platforms over several years, not a sudden burst of five-star reviews.
• A detailed written itinerary and contract before you pay, including terms and conditions.

How do safari deposits and cancellations usually work?

Terms vary, so treat this as common industry practice rather than a rule. Most operators take a deposit to confirm the booking and ask for the balance some weeks before travel, often 30–60 days. Camps in high demand, especially small luxury camps in peak season, may require larger deposits and have strict cancellation penalties, because they pass on their own terms.

Gorilla permits are a special case. They are issued by government authorities in limited daily numbers and usually have to be paid in full to secure them. Refund options are very limited. In Uganda, for example, rescheduling a permit is only possible if it has been paid in full. Do not book a gorilla trek unless your dates are reasonably firm.

Before paying, ask for answers in writing to three questions: what happens if you cancel, what happens if they cancel, and what happens if a camp or flight changes after booking.

Travel insurance and consumer protection

Buy insurance as soon as you pay a deposit, so that cancellation cover applies. On safari, check specifically for:

• Medical evacuation from remote areas by air, which is the scenario that matters most.
• Activities such as gorilla trekking, walking safaris or balloon flights, which some policies exclude.
• Cancellation cover that matches the non-refundable amounts you have paid.

Consumer protection depends on where you book. Booking with an agent in your home country may bring package-travel protections under your own national rules. Booking directly with an operator in Africa can be better value and puts you closer to the people running your trip, but your home country’s schemes may not apply. Paying by credit card can add some protection, depending on your card issuer and country. Neither route is wrong; just know which one you are using.

2: What The Safari is Actually like

What does a typical day on safari look like?

Safari days are built around animal behaviour, not around holiday lie-ins. Wildlife is most active in the cool hours after dawn and before dusk, and quieter in the midday heat. A typical day at a lodge or camp looks something like this:

Some travellers choose a full-day game drive with a packed lunch instead, which suits big parks where animals may be far from camp, such as the Serengeti or the Masai Mara during the migration. It means more time in the vehicle and more chances at sightings, but it is tiring. Most people find one or two full days per trip is plenty.

This rhythm is the single biggest surprise for many first-timers. If you are travelling with young children, or simply value your sleep, choose a private vehicle so you can adjust the schedule.

How comfortable is a safari?

More comfortable than most people expect, at almost every price level above basic camping. A few things still differ from a city hotel:

• Electricity in many camps comes from solar power or generators. Charging may be in the main area or available only at certain hours. Hair dryers are often not allowed.
• Hot water may be on demand, solar-heated, or delivered by bucket for a “safari shower” in some traditional camps.
• Wi-Fi is common in main lodge areas in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa, but can be slow or absent in remote camps. Treat it as a bonus.
• Food at most mid-range and luxury properties is good and plentiful. Camps can usually handle vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy needs with advance notice. Tell your operator when you book, not when you arrive.
• Laundry is often available, sometimes included. Some camps will not wash underwear for cultural reasons, so pack a few quick-dry pairs.
• Tents at permanent camps are usually large, with proper beds and en-suite bathrooms. The walls are canvas, so you will hear the bush at night. Most people end up loving that.

What kind of safari vehicle will you have?

Also ask how many seats will be filled. “Window seat guaranteed” sounds generous, but a guaranteed window in a full vehicle is not the same as room to move.

Will you see the Big Five?

Possibly, but nobody can promise it. Lions, elephants and buffalo are seen reliably in the major parks of Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. Leopards are shy and mostly active at night. Rhinos are the hardest of all; they survive in relatively few places and in small numbers. Reserves with a strong record for all five include the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania and the private reserves bordering Kruger in South Africa.

A more useful mindset: the best sightings are often not on anyone’s list. A cheetah teaching cubs to hunt, a herd of elephants crossing a river, a pair of bat-eared foxes at dawn. Guides notice these things. Give them time and you will too.

Is a safari safe?

Organised safaris with licensed operators have a good safety record. The realistic risks are road accidents, sun and dehydration, and malaria, rather than wild animals. Around wildlife, the rules are simple and non-negotiable:

• Stay inside the vehicle unless your guide says otherwise, and keep arms and heads inside near animals.
• In unfenced camps, do not walk alone after dark. Staff will escort you to and from your tent; use them.
• Keep children close and within sight at all times; many camps set minimum ages for this reason.
• Follow park rules on staying on roads and keeping your distance. Pressuring a guide to drive closer is a bad idea and, in many parks, illegal.

For health, see a travel clinic six to eight weeks before you go about antimalarials, vaccinations and whether you need a yellow fever certificate for your route. Take motion sickness tablets if you are prone to it, as the roads can be rough.

How much luggage can you take on a safari flight?

This catches out more people than anything else. Light aircraft that fly into safari airstrips have strict limits because weight and space directly affect safety:

• Safarilink (Kenya) allows 15 kg per person, including hand luggage, in soft bags. A higher limit of 20 kg applies on some coastal and regional routes.
• Several other light-aircraft operators in East and Southern Africa allow 20 kg per person, also usually including hand luggage and in soft bags.

In practice: bring a soft duffel bag without wheels or a rigid frame, and include your camera bag in the weight. Many operators and Nairobi hotels can store excess luggage while you are on safari. Excess baggage can sometimes be bought in advance, but carriage depends on space, so do not rely on it.

What should you pack for a first safari?

• Neutral-coloured, breathable layers. Mornings can be close to freezing in the highlands and the Ngorongoro Crater area, and hot by midday.
• A warm fleece or light down jacket, a hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen.
• Binoculars, one pair per person if you can. They are the most underrated item on any safari.
• A camera with a zoom lens if photography matters to you. Around 100–400 mm covers most situations; phones struggle with distant animals.
• A power bank, a universal adapter, a head torch, and any prescription medicines in your hand luggage.
• Avoid bright white (dust shows) and, in tsetse-fly areas, dark blue and black, which attract them.

Drones: do not bring one unless you have checked the rules. Most national parks prohibit them, and countries such as Kenya require advance permits from the civil aviation authority. Unpermitted drones can be confiscated on arrival.

Money, cash and tipping on safari

US dollars are widely accepted for tips and extras in East Africa and in much of Southern Africa outside South Africa. Bring recent, clean notes in small denominations: older series notes and torn or marked notes are often refused. Cards work in cities and at larger lodges, sometimes with a surcharge. In South Africa, use rand.

Tipping is customary on safari and makes up a meaningful part of guides’ and camp staff’s income. Published guidelines vary between sources, so these are typical ranges, not rules:

On a seven-day safari, it is reasonable to set aside a few hundred dollars per person in cash for tips. Ask your operator for their local guidance; good operators are happy to give it.

Respecting people and places

Ask before photographing people, including in villages and markets. Some will ask for a small payment; that is a reasonable exchange, not a scam. Cultural visits, such as a visit to a Maasai village in Kenya, vary widely in quality. The better ones are community-run and clear about where your fee goes, so ask your operator. Dress modestly in towns and on the coast, particularly in Zanzibar and other predominantly Muslim areas. In Kenya, single-use plastic carrier bags are banned and may be confiscated on arrival.

What First-Time Safari Travellers Most Often wish they had known

• “We tried to see too much.” Too many parks and too few nights in each means more time on the road. Three nights per area is a good minimum.
• “We should have gone private.” Especially for families and photographers, a shared vehicle’s compromises add up over several days.
• “We did not realise how early the days start.” Plan for early nights and use the midday break to rest.
• “Our bag was too heavy for the small plane.” Check the limit for each flight in your itinerary.
• “We did not bring enough small notes for tips.” ATMs are rare in the bush.
• “We left our insurance until the last minute.” It should be bought at deposit time.
• “We wish we had brought binoculars.” Enough said.

Your Pre-booking Checklist

1. Do I have a written itinerary showing every night’s accommodation and every transfer?
2. Do I know which park fees are included, and for which season?
3. Is my vehicle private or shared, and how many people will be in it?
4. Is the operator licensed, and have I checked the licence or association membership?
5. Is the company I am paying the same company named on the contract?
6. Do I understand the deposit, balance and cancellation terms?
7. Have I bought insurance that covers medical evacuation and my planned activities?
8. Do I know the luggage limit on every light-aircraft flight?
9. Have I checked visa or eTA requirements for my nationality on official government sites?
10. Have I told the operator about dietary needs, medical conditions or mobility issues?

How African Travel Hub can help

African Travel Hub is the trading name of Hallmark Travel Planners, a Nairobi-based tour operator organising safaris since 2006, with trips across more than a dozen African destinations. We would rather you ask us hard questions before booking than discover surprises afterwards. If something in your quote is unclear, whether it came from us or from someone else, we are happy to explain what it means in practice.

A useful next step is simply to send us your rough dates, budget and what you most want to see. We will reply with what is realistic, including where your plans could be simpler or cheaper.

Similar Frequently Asked Questions on This Topic

How far in advance should I book my first safari?

For peak season (July–October in East Africa, school holidays and Christmas), six to twelve months ahead is common practice, especially for small camps and gorilla permits. Outside peak periods, three to six months is often enough.

Is it cheaper to book a safari directly with a local operator?

Often, because there is one less layer of margin. The trade-off is that your home country’s consumer protection schemes may not apply, so check the operator’s licensing and payment terms carefully.

Can I book a safari after I arrive in Africa?

You can, particularly budget shared safaris from Nairobi or Arusha. Choice will be limited in peak season, and you will have less time to check the operator. It is not recommended for a first safari.

Are safari prices negotiable?

Accommodation and some operator margins have some flexibility, especially in low season. Park fees and gorilla permits are set by governments and are not negotiable.

Do I need a visa for a safari in Kenya or Tanzania?

Most visitors need one. Kenya requires an Electronic Travel Authorisation for nearly all visitors, including children. Tanzania issues tourist visas online or on arrival for most nationalities. Always apply through official government portals.

Is a safari suitable for solo travellers?

Yes. Shared safaris are the cheapest option for solo travellers. Private safaris and many lodges charge single supplements, which can be significant in peak season.

What age can children go on safari?

Children of most ages can go, but many camps set minimum ages, often between 6 and 12 for game drives or walks. Gorilla trekking has a minimum age of 15.

Can I charge my phone and camera on safari?

Usually, yes. Most lodges and camps have charging points, though some only in the main area or at set hours. A power bank is a sensible backup.

What happens if I get sick on safari?

Guides carry basic first aid and lodges have emergency procedures. Serious cases usually mean evacuation by air to a city hospital, which is why evacuation cover in your insurance is essential.

Should I bring cash or rely on cards?

Bring both. Cards work at larger lodges and in cities. You will need cash, usually US dollars in East Africa, for tips and small purchases.

Is it rude not to tip on safari?

Tipping is customary and expected for good service. If service was genuinely poor, it is reasonable to tip less and tell the operator why.

What is the difference between a lodge and a tented camp?

A lodge is a permanent building, usually larger. A tented camp has canvas rooms, often with proper beds and bathrooms, and feels closer to the surroundings. Comfort depends on the property, not the label.