African is one of the countries that does have a lot of mosquitos. Some of these mosquitos can also carry malaria which is why you must take as much care as possible to avoid getting bitten.

If you are travelling to certain parts of Africa, then you may need vaccinations (speak to your doctor to check). There are a number of safari camps located in Malaria free zones and if travelling with children, you should definitely opt for one of these resorts.

You need to make sure that you cover up as much of your skin as possible, making it a lot harder for you to get bitten. When buying mosquito repellent, be sure to by one that is a DEET or picaridin based topical repellent. These will offer the best protection from the dreaded bites.

Some supermarkets and health shops are starting to sell Mosquito repellent bands. There is no real evidence that these are as effective as you may think they are and they probably only offer a very limited level of protection.

Some studies show that taking Vitamin B prior to travelling ( at least 4 weeks) may make a difference to if you get bitten or not when on safari, but again there is no hard evidence to prove this either way.

The normal for a safari holiday is to be driven around the area often with an guide in the back of a 4 by 4 such as a jeep. This type of safari is by far the most popular but often does involve being out and about for hours driving around in the burning sun. If you are a pilot however then you have another option available to you. Self-fly safaris offer a new experience and one that will not disappoint. Having the opportunity to discover the amazing wildlife and beautiful scenery like never before seen.

Although not everyone has their own plane, if you have flying experience and are qualified to fly a small plane then why not make the most of it and rent a plane for your safari trip.

With a standard safari you will usually go to a travel agent and work out an itinerary for your safari trip. You will plan where you are going to stay and book your flights from place to place but if you

are a pilot then you can have an aircraft at your disposal.

You will not have to stay in accommodation near to the safari location as with a plane you can travel quicker and therefore have the luxury of a wide range of accommodation available to you.

A safari trip can be a once in a lifetime experience and with them often costing thousands of pounds, you may have had to save up for a number of years to be able to afford it. After all the planning and money spent you will undoubtedly want the trip to go the best it possibly can. You need to think very carefully about what you will be doing and what clothing you will need to take.

Depending on what time of year you go will help you work out what the weather is likely to be like. The seasons in places like South Africa are quite different from ours here in the UK, their summers are often hot and wet and winter months cooler but dry.

If you are going to be doing trekking or a lot of exploring then comfortable shoes are essential and ideally you want to have been able to wear them in a bit at home before going away. If you have ill-fitting shoes and end up with blisters or shin splints then you may not be able to continue the safari trip as you would of liked too.

If you are going on a safari holiday then the chances are it was not cheap. Very often safari holidays are only taken for special holidays or once in a while as the costs of the safari combined with the lodge and flights can very quickly add up. With this in mind, it is important to try and ensure you have the best possible experience when on a safari trip and be able to take away many happy memories.

While you may be slightly put off by the bright and early safari game drives in the mornings this is often the best time to see the animals active. Try to go on every safari trip available to you as no two are the same, each day brings different wildlife and different behaviour.

Be sure to ask lots of questions. Your guides will be the best people to explain to you about the different animals and why they do certain things. This is all part of the experience and what you are paying for.

Be sure to invest in a good pair of binoculars to take with you not just when out on safari but to use around the lodge to spot birds.

If you are thinking about going on a safari holiday then you will probably be drawn towards South Africa. South Africa is one of the most popular destinations for a safari trip and thousands of people trek year up on year to places such as the National Kruger Park to get a glimpse of the big five. If you have already been on a safari such as this, or if you are after something that is going to be a little less commercial, then why not head to a smaller reserve and avoid the crowds.

Kwa-Zulu Natal in South Africa is a smaller reserve which offers fantastic safari opportunities but also you often get a more personal experience than you would going to one of the more well-known locations. The beauty of Kwa-Zulu is that it is also located near the beach and near the Drakensberg mountain range which makes it the prefect location for adding other activities to your safari adventure holiday.

Choosing to go to a smaller reserve may actually cost you less than going to one of the more popular ones but you may find that you actually get more time with the guide in smaller groups, meaning that you will often get to travel more and learn more about the wildlife on the way.

If you’re going on safari for the first time, it can be puzzling to figure out what to wear. You may think that South African safari holidays are going to be extremely hot all the time and therefore you will only want to pack shorts and tshirts but as with a desert, most of South Africa is hot in the middle of the day but cooler in the early mornings and late evenings. Also if you are going on a safari tour then you will want to cover up your skin to prevent insect bites and to also cover yourself from the sun in order to not get burned.

It is a good idea to wear layers on a safari holiday so you can remove and add them as and when needed.

It’s important to pack neutrals, khaki and green coloured clothing for your safari in order to better ‘blend in’ with the bush. The key to spotting animals in their natural environment is to mimic the African bush colours, which tend to be dull. Never wear red on a safari as many animals associate this with a wounded animal and you may find that you very quickly become their prey.

Unlike some holidays, it is best to book a safari holiday well in advance. There are often a number of immunisations you will need to have and documents you will need to sort out in order to allow you to travel and this takes time.

If you want the best seats in the house, you need to book your place well in advance. When it comes to once-in-a-lifetime journeys to Africa’s vast playground, you definitely want to be in the front row seats for all the legendary spectacles.

If you want to go in December or January time then you will need to book well in advance as in Southern Africa, this is the time to see hot summer days and plenty of sunshine. During this high season, the South Africa’s southern coastline is covered with premium hotels, superb villas and championship golf resorts.

January is high season, which means the best spots are booked far in advance so you need to be booking well in advance so you get the place and the safari trip you want. Leaving it too late, will often mean you have to wait and go a different time.

Deciding on what time of the year to take your safari adventure in Africa will depend a lot of what whether you want and what wildlife you expect to see.

The dry season in South Africa runs from the month of May to September. Although this is the summer months in the UK it is actually their winter as although it is dry, the temperature drops during this period. There is virtually no rainfall during this South African winter period therefore animals often gather around predictable water sources, making them easier to find on a safari trip.

When packing for a safari trip you need to think carefully about what clothing you are going to take with you. Depending on where in South Africa you are going and what time of year will help you decide what clothing to pack. April through to October are classed as the summer months and although this time of year can be very hot it is also often quite wet and the temperature will drop a lot at night. It is always a good idea to pack plenty of items of clothing that can be layered and avoid really bright colours.

A safari guide or a field guide has a very important job in terms of the safari trips on offer. To be a safari guide or ranger you firstly need to have a real passion for animals, their welfare and also people as you will be interacting with both. Not just anyone can be a safari guide. It requires a unique set of skills that is not always obvious to the outside observer. You will need to be physically quite fit as you may be on your feet a lot and in extreme heat and you should be happy to work long hours often sometimes early in the morning or late in to the night.

A good safari guide will be able to enlighten you about a range of wildlife and the habitat, not just the big five. They should try and explain to you all about different animals and insects and talk about how we as humans can help them thrive and survive.

As a safari guide you will get to experience days that you had never imagined. You will need to be adaptable and be prepared that it is not just a job but a lifestyle. It can be very rewarding and a really eye opening experience.

When booking a safari holiday cost is often a huge aspect. Many people would love the opportunity to go on an African safari holiday but simply cannot afford the prices the agent is quoting them. To save yourself a bit of money you can do some of the research yourself and try and make up your own package that will suit you, but this can be risky especially if you do not know the areas or parks and you may end up disappointed. When going to an agent, they may only offer you packages that are set out by the big companies. These prices are often pretty rigid and you won’t have much movement on the price. If you do a bit of your own research and contact some of the companies directly then you may be pleasantly surprised to find that they can offer you a much better deal. Booking direct with a Safari company can cut out the cost of the middle man but can still give you peace of mind that you are in the hands of an experienced company who do this all the time. Trying to book accommodation, safari trips and places to visit all by yourself can be a nightmare and often leads to things being forgotten.