What is the difference between a tented camp and camping accommodation?Unlike spartan camping in 2 man dome tents or bivouac tents, tented camps, if they are not luxurious, still provide a fairly moderate level of comfort. Situated on a raised platform deck, there is no possibility of rain water running into the tent.
The tent also has its own shower and ablution facilities. Basically everything you would have in a 3 to 5 star hotel room, except for the bar fridge and electricity. (In some instances you may even have these.) Why should you go camping on safari?There are only two reasons to go camping. You like camping and are a camping fanatic or your budget does not allow for better accommodation. A safari is a demanding experience – not a stroll in the park.
And some safaris offer the Real safari experience, which by its very nature often requires that you will be sleeping in a tent. Camping generally entails a cramped tent with little or no standing room and if you are lucky you can sleep on a stretcher, rather than on a thin foam mattress on the ground.
Either way you will be in a sleeping bag. Luke warm out door showers and not so pleasant toilet facilities round off what promises to be an unpleasant experience unless you like camping.
Nonetheless, it is Africa. There is only two millimeters of fabric between you and the wilderness. The sounds of the wildlife at night and the smells of the open bush are more immediate than being in a safari lodge. What should I spend on a safari?For some people a safari is a once in a lifetime experience, so plan to make the most of it. Degrees of expense apply to style of accommodation or remoteness of location. A mobile camping safari deep in the savanna can cost the same as a stay at an easily accessible 5 star game lodge.
Between these two extremes of comfort and experience – lies everything else: cheaper game lodges or tented camps. And finally there’s your regular el cheapo 2 man tent on a serviced national park campsite. Why would I want to fly-in to a safari lodge?Fly in safaris save you a lot of time. Some lodges are so remote that, that a chartered light air craft flight is the only practical way to get to them. Unless you want to spend 8 to 15 hours driving. Which is no holiday, nor a great way to start a safari.
Some safari itineraries provide for transfer between two or more game lodges, while others provide a flight into and out of a particular region, while the safari itself is conducted in a vehicle, shuttle or 4x4. What is the benefit of a self-drive safari?When you are going to spend more time looking at where you are going, and less time looking for the elusive wildlife – it is difficult to see any benefit other than you have your own time table.
Also, unless you are knowledgeable about the habits of several, many or all wild animals and birds – like a qualified safari guide for example, you lose out on gaining any insights from your experience.
And lastly, and most importantly, unless you have a base camp to radio for assistance in the event of a mechanical breakdown in the middle of nowhere, like your safari guide would…well need we say more? Not to mention getting lost in an area that you are not familiar with. Why would I want to do a short safari?While a long safari is preferable to a short safari, a short one is better than no safari at all. For example, if you are on a business trip in a major city and you can get to a game lodge in only three hours, build a few extra days into your trip so that you have a couple days to spare for a safari, do it. You may never have the opportunity again. How do the seasons affect my safari experience?More than summer or winter, Africa experiences rainy and dry seasons – each of which has its rewards and drawbacks. With slight regional variations, the impact of rainfall while you are safari depends on what you want to see. Remembering that grazers and browsing herbivores subsist on vegetation which depends on rainfall.
Rainy season - The up side: Grasslands are lush and green rather than parched yellow and brown, and this is the peak migratory period when migratory animals are in abundance. Rainy season – The down-side: Torrential downpours means that dirt roads become muddy and travelling becomes hard, and sometimes impossible, even for 4 x 4 vehicles. In some regions the grass grows so tall, or the bush so thick that it can hide even rhinoceros and elephant .
Dry season - The up-side: The weather ranges between ideal and extremely hot. Migratory animals, now easier to see as the vegetation thins out, are still around but not in those same numbers. Dry season - The down-side: This is the most popular tourist season, when bookings become scarce, prices are higher, and there are often other safari vehicles in the backgrounds of your photos.
Find out as much as you can about the country and the area where you will be going on safari, because the more you learn before leaving for your safari, the more you will enjoy your safari. | 
