We asked Jono & Danica: what are your best tips for people travelling to Africa?
Jono’s top tips
Jonathon Wilson
Founder |Adventurer |MD
Start planning early
I can’t stress this enough. Yes, you can usually get a last-minute safari to somewhere, but it will rarely be to the place or places at the top of your list. And if you’re thinking about going to multiple camps, you can forget it – the popular ones book out early. After all, we’re talking small, private camps and lodges with just a handful of rooms, not mega hotels catering for thousands.
We recommend people book their safaris one or even two years ahead – it will give you the best opportunity to get the safari you want for the budget that you have.
Worried about safety?
Ask yourself if you’d be put off going to, say, London, Paris or New York for the same reason. I normally tell people that sipping a gin and tonic in the middle of the Serengeti is a lot safer than going to any of these big cities.
When you’re on safari you’re hundreds of miles away from the most dangerous creature on earth: the human being. Ask anyone who’s been on safari, enjoying nature and blissful solitude, and most of them will tell you that they’ve never felt safer anywhere else on Earth.
Go for quality rather than quantity
By this I mean spend more time doing less, and in one spot, rather than jumping around from place to place, spending one night here and one night there. You’ll have a much better experience if you focus on a single country or region, rather than trying to fit all of Africa into one trip.
Spend your money doing amazing things on the ground, rather than forking out for endless transfers and expensive regional flights to places where you’ll only spend a night or two and never get to fully appreciate.
Danica’s top tips
Danica Wilson
GM| Marketing & Guest Services | Creative
Less is more
You won’t need nearly as much in your bag as you think. Do a trial pack, then a day later revisit it and take away at least a third of the items.
Let there be light
What I mean by this is open your curtains and doors, and let in the light and the sounds and smells of Africa. You might never be in this part of the world again, so make sure you truly immerse yourself in it and stimulate all of your senses.
Avoid the damp and dank
There’s nothing worse than a suitcase full of wet clothes, dusty books or leaking beauty products – so when it comes to packing, ziplock bags or something similar are your best friends.
Conditioner is your friend
Conditioner isn’t a guarantee in camps so if, like me, you have thick hair, you’ll need to take your own to avoid looking like Marge Simpson!
Goodbye blisters
If you are walking or trekking, I highly recommend you take trekking wool that you can put in your shoe to avoid your socks moving and rubbing. It works a treat and you can buy them in bags of varying sizes. Make sure you get 100% wool otherwise I can’t guarantee it will make a difference.