10 African Travel Tips

Travelling to Africa can be a scary proposition for many people. But it need not be. Travelling to Africa could be the trip of a lifetime, the experience you will tell your grandchildren about, the place you will want to return to time and time again.

1. Pay Careful Attention to Weather and Seasons

Africa is vast and varied, its people, places and climate differ greatly from one country to the next and between areas in those countries. So when you are selecting where to travel be aware of local weather conditions at your chosen destinations. Not only are the seasons important for your comfort they will also affect cost. Simply put, when the weather isn’t as great, the price of your room will be significantly cheaper. Combining destinations can also be difficult, for example many clients wish to visit Cape Town and the Kruger Park. But when the Kruger National Park is at its finest, the grass short and the game viewing plentiful, Cape Town is at its most windy and cold. And when Cape Town’s beaches are sparkling, the grass in the Kruger reaches the height of an Elephants eye and hides everything from sight. There are of course exceptions to the rules and short crossover times when destinations match perfectly.

2. Pack Your Bag and Go

I said bag, singular. Anywhere you go in the world, not just Africa, travelling light will add immeasurable value to your holiday. The pros to travelling light are many, increased security, more economic and greater flexibility. The cons… well perhaps your style will suffer, but this is Africa! If you are planning a luxury safari with air transfers between top lodges, be aware that most chartered flights restrict your baggage allowance to only one soft sided bag and a maximum weight of 20 kilograms. Lonely Planet recommends travelling light as one of its top travel tips and we agree; visit One Bag.com for a more in-depth look at packing light.

3. Visas, Passports and Papers

How can I emphasize this enough… make sure your Passport is valid for at least 6 months after your intended dates of travel. Be aware of all the Visa requirements you need to comply with and adhere to them strictly. Rhino Africa and other tour operators will be able to supply you with a list of requirements, but for the most part will not be able get you the required visas. That part will be up to you, and you really want to get it right for a problem free holiday.

4. Make Friends and Influence People

Listen and make friends locally. Take the time to greet and exchange greetings with people whose paths you cross, everyone is important, chat with the guard outside your hotel, make every effort to learn the local language, it’s a sign of respect and is appreciated, say a warm hello to the mama selling the peanuts on the street, make friends with taxi drivers, and know how to ask questions, and then how to listen. Locals will help you pinpoint those areas you may need to avoid for safety reasons, they know where the best places to eat are, the best beaches the best bars and their knowledge will add infinite value to your experience. People, at the end of the day, are your greatest assets when traveling, not your gear, knowledge or prior experience in the region… Your friendly travel consultant is a good person to start with!

5. Hydrate

Drink lots. We don’t mind if you use our advice as an excuse for a beer before noon or an extra gin & tonic on safari. Just drink and hydrate yourself, the African sun is a hot one and if you don’t replenish all the fluids you are losing throughout the day you will be miserable the next, fact.

6. Know Your Budget

Tour Operators like Rhino Africa have a vast number of accommodation options and destinations on their books and the variance in price between all the different options can and often is vast. So before you even begin planning, you should know how much you are willing to spend on your holiday. You can travel on a budget in Africa and enjoy the best destinations without breaking the bank or you can blow it all and experience a once in a lifetime holiday hopping from one luxury to the next. The choice is yours, just don’t expect your operator to be able to make it for you, so let them know right from the off what your ideal budget is. And here’s a bonus tip, many people don’t realize that tour operators are almost always cheaper than booking direct with the hotel or lodge. Operators have long standing price agreements with hotels which allow them to offer cheaper rates, simple and true.

7. Safety & Security

Africa is a poor continent, so though you may not consider yourself rich, compared to the average African, you are. This alone makes you a target for crime, mostly of the petty theft variety. Don’t carry valuables openly, and if you must carry your passport and money then keep them in a buttoned-down pocket or well concealed on your person. Consider the advice given earlier about getting a locals perspective to help keep you out of harm’s way.

8. Health & Wellness

Did I mention drinking lots! In addition wear a hat and use sunscreen. And then we come to malaria and other mosquito borne diseases. Watch out, I have been there and it’s not pretty, malaria is quite horrible trust us. But simple precautions are the best way of avoiding the disease. Apply insect repellent and where long sleeves and long pants as the sun sets. Use a mosquito net, burn a mosquito coil, spray more repellent. Take malaria tablets and always finish the course! And if you really want to stay safe, avoid malaria areas altogether, there are many malaria free safari areas for example.

9. Insure

Use a SATSA branded travel operator and try get one with some level of inclusive insurance (such as Rhino Africa 🙂 ). Peace of mind goes a long way to making your holiday more enjoyable.

10. Tip (but do it carefully)

Ask an informed local or your travel consultant what the going rate is, you don’t want to under-tip or over tip. And remember that most restaurants in South Africa for example don’t include a 10% service fee on the bill as you are expected to do so at your discretion. When one is on a safari you are not expected to “tip as you go”as you might in a city hotel, lodges are mostly inclusive and you won’t be expected to pull out your wallet after every game drive. The accepted practice is to tip at the end of your stay, one normally tips the ranger, tracker (if applicable), butler (if applicable) separately and then the remaining general staff, which includes waiters, housekeepers, chefs etc with a group tip which is divided by management.

Blowing our own horn.. a little

At Rhino Africa we tailormake all our African holidays to suit your needs and we have a number of expert consultants willing to help you every step of the way. So below are a few links for you to follow:

The Rhino Africa Website
Our Travel Insurance Policy
Our SATSA Bonding
Rhino Africa Pricing Policy

Contact us to get your holiday plans on the go

Or speak to a travel expert right now.
Call +27 21 469 2600 or the following Toll Free numbers in your country:

UK: 0808 238 0044
USA: 888 2156 556
AUS: 1800 447164