How to Enjoy a Trip to Africa

Africa is still wild and full of all the adventures of the wild safari, game watching, camping and excursions with the locals. A trip to Africa can be a bit daunting and even hazardous without proper care and planning. There are tropical illnesses such as malaria and typhoid fever, hazards such as dirty water, bad road networks and language barriers. However, with a little bit of planning you could have a fabulous time vacationing in Africa.

Plan Ahead of Time

Contact a reputable tour and travel agent in the country in which you intend to travel. A country like Kenya is advanced compared to other African countries. Kenya offers lots of wild game and good opportunities for exciting camping safaris yet most amenities including flights, hotels, and banks, are available. Reputable travel agents should have a website. They will be able to organize all of your flights, airport transfers, hotel bookings and local excursions.

Take Preventative Medication

To avoid coming down with tropical illnesses, disease and fevers, always take preventive medicines such as anti-malaria tablets and flu shots. Your travel agent, government, embassy, or local hospital should be able to advise you about preventative medications.

Carry Only Essentials

Avoid carrying unnecessary gadgets or equipment such as expensive watches and laptop computers. These will not only bog you down during the actual tour of the interior but you also risk losing them or having them stolen. Essential items such as a camera and compass make sense; bringing along jewelry, expensive gadgets, and large sums of money do not.

Water

It is advisable to buy your own drinking water and as much as possible and carry it with you to avoid having to drink water from sources that you do not trust. Having your own water also helps to keep you regularly hydrated which can be important in a hot climate. Above all else, do not drink water of which you have suspicions.

Have a guide with you when you travel out to the bush or the hinterland. While it is perfectly okay for you to be alone or with friend while in the city or at the hotel and lodge, it is important to have a guide or someone from the tour company when on a safari, game watch or hike in the wild. This is important for your own personal safety; a local guide will know the local area well and will advise you on the local customs.

Finally, be free and flexible. Enjoy your holiday, have fun and mix with the locals. It will be a fun and memorable holiday if you can take the time to truly experience all that Africa has to offer without judgment. If you are looking for adventure, you will not be disappointed.