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frica is the second largest continent in the world – definitely worthy of a visit. There is so much to see and so many countries to visit. So how do you plan the trip? Where to start, and how to go about it? Here is some advice that will help you out.
Where do you want to go?
African land is divided into more than 50 countries, so it’s definitely hard to decide which ones to go to, and which ones to skip. Before selecting the countries, think about the kind of trip that you want to have; maybe there is something particular that you’d especially like to see. Do you want to enjoy a safari experience? Kenya and Tanzania is where you should head off to then. If you want a taste of ancient cultures, then Egypt and Ethiopia should be on your list of places to visit. And if you want some beach and sand, do visit the beautiful islands of the glistening blue Indian Ocean. What if you have kids who can’t be administered prophylactics? Visit countries where malaria isn’t common such as South Africa or Morocco.
Decide a suitable time of the year
Great, you now know where you’re going. Next is scheduling the trip – when would be the best time for you to travel? There usually are best seasons for every destination, so you may want to visit the place during those times – that is if you don’t mind the crowds or paying more for the trip because hotels during peak seasons are usually costlier. Dry season is suitable for game viewing because the local wildlife is attracted to waterholes. If you want to visit desert areas, then winter is the optimal season. For Sahara, the winter months are November and December, but for the Kalahari Desert, June and July are cold.
Time to book your tours!
Once you’ve decide the place and the time, you can then book your tour. Decide if you want to explore Africa independently or take help from a tour operator or travel agent. Tour guides and operators organise the trip for you, make travel arrangements and book hotels. Even if you want to go independently, you’ll still have to arrange safaris and treks through a company; Namibia is an exception through.
Try to book earlier so that you can get better rates and a guaranteed space. This is especially so if you’d be travelling during peak seasons.
Book a flight
Ticket prices vary widely depending on your departure location. Generally, the rates are high and the seats are filled up soon, because carriers are limited. Once again, book as early as you can to get the best rates. Got some air miles? You can use them if the airline offers flights to African countries on your itinerary.
Do compare rates from different airlines, and try to get the lowest fares.
Get insured
Travel insurance is important when you are travelling to Africa. You would have already spent money on accommodation and tickets by now, and you should protect your expenses. Flights to African countries often get cancelled without any warnings. And at that time, state hospitals aren’t where you can spend the night. So get travel insurance so that your trip cancellation costs are covered, along with loss or theft of baggage. And if you are travelling to a remote spot, you should consider an insurance policy, which provides coverage for medical evacuation too.
Arrange visa
Visa rules in Africa are subject to frequent changes, so do check them out well in advance. And when doing so, consider a reputed government source rather than relying on outdated information from non-credible sources. Depending on your nationality and your place of visit, you may either be granted visa upon arrival or may have to arrange for it beforehand. Obviously not all countries require visas, but then there are still other additional considerations like the expiration date on your passport and the remaining blank pages.
Arrange for travel medication
Around two months before your departure, find out vaccination requirements for places that you would be visiting. Though these change from country to country, as a rule of the thumb, it is always a good idea to get vaccinations for typhoid, rabies and Hepatitis A. Some countries also require vaccination for yellow fever. Malaria is common in many regions, so you may want to get vaccination for this too.
Seek recommendations from a doctor, and accordingly, get yourself vaccinated.
Purchase travel equipment
The fun part for quite a few of you. Whenever you travel, there is usually a need to purchase special equipment and items depending on where you’re heading off to. For Africa particularly, you should get mosquito nets, binoculars and hiking shoes. If you don’t already have one, you may want to purchase a camera as well. And do buy a first aid kit that contains all items for treating simple injuries and common medicines.
Arrange currencies
While carrying too much cash isn’t safe, ATMs may not be common and available at every street corner. Probably the best approach is to draw cash when you land in Africa, but draw an amount that is enough for that particular place only. When you travel to another city, you can draw again. And do keep your debit and credit cards with you.
Book Africa escorted tours
Africa escorted tours are the best way to travel to the second largest continent in the world if you want to avoid all the hassle, and still have a wonderful trip. These tours are pre-arranged, so other than enjoying, there isn’t anything left for you to do. Accommodation, transportation and sightseeing are all taken care of buy the tour operator, so you can sit back and truly relax, while having the times of your lives. Not to forget that Africa escorted tours are affordable.
D2T offers Africa escorted tours round the year; each of our trips varies in duration and itineraries. Visit our website for more information.
Africa is the second largest continent in the world – definitely worthy of a visit. There is so much to see and so many countries to visit. So how do you plan the trip? Where to start, and how to go about it? Here is some advice that will help you out.
Where do you want to go?
African land is divided into more than 50 countries, so it’s definitely hard to decide which ones to go to, and which ones to skip. Before selecting the countries, think about the kind of trip that you want to have; maybe there is something particular that you’d especially like to see. Do you want to enjoy a safari experience? Kenya and Tanzania is where you should head off to then. If you want a taste of ancient cultures, then Egypt and Ethiopia should be on your list of places to visit. And if you want some beach and sand, do visit the beautiful islands of the glistening blue Indian Ocean. What if you have kids who can’t be administered prophylactics? Visit countries where malaria isn’t common such as South Africa or Morocco.
Decide a suitable time of the year
Great, you now know where you’re going. Next is scheduling the trip – when would be the best time for you to travel? There usually are best seasons for every destination, so you may want to visit the place during those times – that is if you don’t mind the crowds or paying more for the trip because hotels during peak seasons are usually costlier. Dry season is suitable for game viewing because the local wildlife is attracted to waterholes. If you want to visit desert areas, then winter is the optimal season. For Sahara, the winter months are November and December, but for the Kalahari Desert, June and July are cold.
Time to book your tours!
Once you’ve decide the place and the time, you can then book your tour. Decide if you want to explore Africa independently or take help from a tour operator or travel agent. Tour guides and operators organise the trip for you, make travel arrangements and book hotels. Even if you want to go independently, you’ll still have to arrange safaris and treks through a company; Namibia is an exception through.
Try to book earlier so that you can get better rates and a guaranteed space. This is especially so if you’d be travelling during peak seasons.
Book a flight
Ticket prices vary widely depending on your departure location. Generally, the rates are high and the seats are filled up soon, because carriers are limited. Once again, book as early as you can to get the best rates. Got some air miles? You can use them if the airline offers flights to African countries on your itinerary.
Do compare rates from different airlines, and try to get the lowest fares.
Get insured
Travel insurance is important when you are travelling to Africa. You would have already spent money on accommodation and tickets by now, and you should protect your expenses. Flights to African countries often get cancelled without any warnings. And at that time, state hospitals aren’t where you can spend the night. So get travel insurance so that your trip cancellation costs are covered, along with loss or theft of baggage. And if you are travelling to a remote spot, you should consider an insurance policy, which provides coverage for medical evacuation too.
Arrange visa
Visa rules in Africa are subject to frequent changes, so do check them out well in advance. And when doing so, consider a reputed government source rather than relying on outdated information from non-credible sources. Depending on your nationality and your place of visit, you may either be granted visa upon arrival or may have to arrange for it beforehand. Obviously not all countries require visas, but then there are still other additional considerations like the expiration date on your passport and the remaining blank pages.
Arrange for travel medication
Around two months before your departure, find out vaccination requirements for places that you would be visiting. Though these change from country to country, as a rule of the thumb, it is always a good idea to get vaccinations for typhoid, rabies and Hepatitis A. Some countries also require vaccination for yellow fever. Malaria is common in many regions, so you may want to get vaccination for this too.
Seek recommendations from a doctor, and accordingly, get yourself vaccinated.
Purchase travel equipment
The fun part for quite a few of you. Whenever you travel, there is usually a need to purchase special equipment and items depending on where you’re heading off to. For Africa particularly, you should get mosquito nets, binoculars and hiking shoes. If you don’t already have one, you may want to purchase a camera as well. And do buy a first aid kit that contains all items for treating simple injuries and common medicines.
Arrange currencies
While carrying too much cash isn’t safe, ATMs may not be common and available at every street corner. Probably the best approach is to draw cash when you land in Africa, but draw an amount that is enough for that particular place only. When you travel to another city, you can draw again. And do keep your debit and credit cards with you.
Book Africa escorted tours
Africa escorted tours are the best way to travel to the second largest continent in the world if you want to avoid all the hassle, and still have a wonderful trip. These tours are pre-arranged, so other than enjoying, there isn’t anything left for you to do. Accommodation, transportation and sightseeing are all taken care of buy the tour operator, so you can sit back and truly relax, while having the times of your lives. Not to forget that Africa escorted tours are affordable.
D2T offers Africa escorted tours round the year; each of our trips varies in duration and itineraries. Visit our website for more information.