8 Things You Should Know Before Going on a Safari

I went on safaris to Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Parks earlier this year. Truly some of the greatest experiences and memories in my life so far!  I got amazingly close to the animals and marveled at the beauty that is Mother Nature like never before.  But I honestly wish I had done more research about what going on a safari actually means.  “Going on safari” sounds glamorous, when really you can ride around hot and sometimes dirty for hours at a time searching for animals you haven’t seen already. Not to mention the extreme heat and annoying insects!  But don’t fret.  Here’s how you can prepare for your safari adventure:

1) Bring mosquito repellant

This is obvious but it needs to be said…over and over again.  Make sure your bug repellant contains DEET and includes biting flies on the label. Apply any time you feel like it…seriously. Tsetse flies thoroughly enjoyed biting me through my blue jeans and black t-shirt!  I wish I would have known they were attracted to dark colors.  Which brings me to my next point…

2) Wear neutral & comfortable clothes

Wearing colors is a no-no.  I wore jeans and military-fatigued cargo pants and they proved to be plenty comfortable and stylish, but the bugs had a field day!  Neutral colors are the way to go.

3) Pay the extra money for lodges

A couple of colleagues went on safaris a few weeks before me and chose the camping option. I’m not a campy/outdoorsy type of girl but it was almost $800 cheaper than staying in lodges, so I considered roughing it for the weekend.  I’m glad that was a fleeting thought. Those same colleagues came back after their long weekend and said if they could do it again, they’d opt for lodges. They were faced with animals roaming through their camps and uncomfortable sleeping arrangements.  Call me crazy but the extra $800 was worth a working bathroom and peace of mind.  But hey, if you enjoy camping, go for it and save money.

4) Pack only what you need

Because you’ll be going from lodge to lodge or camp to camp, it can be annoying to pack up your bag every night.  You won’t want to lug around your whole wardrobe all weekend.

5) Bring toilet paper/wipes

…All I’m saying is that you just never know when you’ll have to use the bathroom…and there’s no bathroom around to use.  Bring toilet paper.

6) Bring sunscreen, hat, binoculars, and sunglasses

You may not think these things are really necessary because you’re in a safari jeep most of the time, but the African sun is brutal. You’ll also be standing to see the animals and taking pictures.  We didn’t buy our own binoculars and luckily our guide had some, but don’t risk it. Sometimes the animals are a mile away and your binoculars will be your best friend.

7) There aren’t many souvenir shops

There are only a few places to buy souvenirs along the way.  If you’ve been in-country for a while, you’ve probably seen most of what they sell already.  But if you see something you want, get it. There won’t be many more places to buy gifts.  I sent my family post cards just because I was in the Serengeti.  (How often does that happen?!)  Note: Be prepared to bargain!  Don’t just accept the first price given to you.

8) Tip your guide

The tour guides are knowledgeable and are passionate about what they do.  I was told a good tip is about $5-10 a day per person.  So if there are 3 people on a 4 day safari, that’s about $120 for the weekend.  Not bad, right?  This isn’t the time to be cheap, especially if he was nice and you enjoyed your tours!

With our safari guide in Serengeti, photobombed by wading hippos

Personal Post: How Africa Changed Me

Last night, I was having a conversation with my father and he asked how I was adjusting at home after my 2-month long trip to Tanzania.  I’ve been back for about 3 weeks and while 2 months may or may not seem like a long period of time to you, it certainly was not long enough for me when I was having the best experience of my life to date.  I said to him, “Nothing’s changed here. Everything’s still the same." He said, “Everything isn’t the same. You’ve changed”.

When I first heard I’d be going to Tanzania for work, I was so excited for so many reasons. I was excited to add yet another stamp to my passport. I was excited to finally travel for work, as this would be my first trip with my employer and our primary mission involves aiding foreign countries. I was excited to go somewhere not everyone had the opportunity to go…for free, no less.  But I never expected this trip to have such a profound impact on me.  So, here’s how Africa changed me:

1) It fed my adventurous spirit.  Each day presented a new opportunity for adventure.  Whether it would be during weekend trips exploring the country, or finding a place to get my nails and hair done, I was determined to see as much as I could and make each day different than the last.

2) I have a better appreciation for Mother Nature.  People who know me know that I’m not the biggest fan of wildlife or nature.  But during my trip, I saw things that not everyone gets a chance to see in their lifetime.  I swam with wild dolphins, was an arm’s length away from lions, grounded coffee beans, ate fruit straight from tree and was almost charged by elephants, among many other amazing things.  And besides all that, the mosquitoes and flies won’t let you forget they exist, but my safari tour guide helped me to understand that everything in nature has a purpose.  I saw the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen and now understand the natural lure of Africa.  Tanzania is the most beautiful country I’ve ever been to.  But the jury is still out about the mosquitoes and flies.

3) I enjoy traveling alone.  As I said, this wasn’t my first trip out of the country, but it was the first time I traveled alone internationally.  Usually, I’m with a group of friends so there are more opinions than my own to consider.  But I was free to do what I want, when and how I wanted, and didn’t have to consult anyone but myself.  Pure awesomeness.  Every now and then I wished I had a friend there to share an experience, but then I’d remember this was a part of my unique journey and learned to revel in it.

4) My colleagues showed me how to be a really great hostess.  The warmth and generosity I felt from my Tanzanian colleagues was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.  They took me under their wings and honestly, I’ve never felt more welcome in a new environment…4,000 miles away from home.  I was away from my family and friends, which forced me to leap out of my comfort zone and form relationships with complete strangers.  I actually feel like I share a bond with the people I met in Tanzania that no one else will understand.  They wanted me to see Tanzania from their perspectives and show me how proud they were of their country. And for that, I am forever grateful for them.

5) The people knew what life is truly about.  I had the opportunity to tour the city of Dar es Salaam and some more rural parts of Tanzania.  While some areas were severely poor, the people were some of the most content people I’ve ever seen.  “Love is love” is what our tour guide said to us while we took the Afriroots biking tour.  He said this is how the people of Tanzania view life.  They may not have a lot of money or own a ton of possessions, but they have each other.  How awesome is that?

6) I have a different perspective on Africa.  Let’s be honest.  The media doesn’t portray the African continent in the brightest light.  But truth be told, Dar es Salaam had a vibrant city center, booming with new construction and will probably be a hub for big business in Africa within the next 10 years.  It’s not as developed as some major U.S. cities, but there are some rural cities in America that could have taken a page out of Dar es Salaam’s book.  Just saying.

7) I learned so much about myself.  That sounds so cliché, but it’s the absolute truth. I’ve never lived overseas for an extended period of time.  I found myself immersed in an unfamiliar culture and instead of sinking, I chose to swim.  I tried new foods, drank new drinks, talked to people I wouldn’t normally and learned to sit back and observe my surroundings.  I learned that I’m strong and have a healthy curiosity for life.

8) I appreciate home.  While I loved mostly every aspect of my trip, I developed a new appreciation for home.  I’ve been extremely blessed with great parents who’ve provided an amazing life and have given me the tools I need to succeed in life.  I couldn’t ask for more.

It almost feels weird titling this post “How Africa Changed Me” because Africa is a continent, and I’ve only been to one African country so far. But I imagine I will have similar feelings about any other African country I visit in the future. I felt connected to Tanzania in a way that I have never felt to a foreign country before, and feel really fortunate that it had such a positive, lasting impression.  I’m sure the others will not disappoint.