10 Points to value your safari guide

…So, what's the big Deal on Safari budget and Costs when planning a trip to Africa..

Safari Advice:

Afrika Zambezi Safaris promotes and sells an African experience with inclusive safari packages to small remote bush camps/lodges in the company of a qualified Safari Guide. We offer customized, personalized safari service which include cultural tours to meet the local people, as well as providing the benefit of a dedicated guide with excellent knowledge of the wildlife and environment.
Therefore, to get the best value out of an African safari, one would first have to consider the following: Going to Africa is not just about seeing all big five animals on the list….The best African experience would be to accomplish the must-see while making the most of all the atmosphere, sights and sounds to be discovered with an excellent, knowledgeable Guide on the ground with you...
Welcome to our Africa Safari planner where we introduce you to an outline of our safari itineraries - ranging from a traditional safari under canvas to a fully inclusive luxury holiday. We offer both Southern & East Africa destinations. To assist you with the many choices on offer, AZS will attempt hereunder to give you some useful pointers on how to make the most of the seasons, the weather and the destinations in this hugely varied continent of Africa.
Whether you are a first time traveller or an old Africa hand planning a new adventure, Afrika Zambezi Safaris has carefully selected and reviewed the very best spots to create safari itineraries in both East and Southern Africa, where we personally accompany and guide our guests on safari to the less traveled areas and the famous tourist spots. Every traveler coming to Africa wants to see the big five animals on the list, however if your annual break is already planned, perhaps the following information might influence your decision on selected destination. If you have not yet decide where to go, then we would encourage interested guests to contact us for any special requirements or to take advantage of the great value safari deals on our list. Drop us an email at safari@AZSafrica.com for a quote.

Safari Seasons in Africa:

African seasons are not as well defined as those in North America or Europe.
Our climate is generally mild all year round and so we would draw your attention to the excellent selection we have on winter safari deals for you.
African seasons really refer to the climate found north of the tropic of Capricorn, as follows -

Southern African Winter Safari Season:

  • Winter is the dry season, best recommended for excellent game viewing conditions. This between May to early August.
  • The tall grass is dry and thins out, giving better visibility in the bush.
  • Winter migratory birds arrive during the dry season attracted by a variety of food sources.
  • Wildlife concentrates near the remaining water holes near camps/lodges.

Southern African Summer Safari Season:

  • Referred to as the “Green Season” for Safaris
  • Start with fresh rains in November which herald the arrival of summer migratory birds.
  • Most mammals disperse over a vast area in search of fresh growing nutritional grass.
  • In Comparison with winter, the summer bush gets tall grass and thick green undergrowth, with lots of insects and flourishing wild flowers.
  • Birding improves but game-viewing deteriorates.
In brief, Southern African Summer seasons generally have rains characterized by torrential downpours followed by sunshine each day, and temperatures averaging a humid 30 degrees Celsius. Heavy rains cause flood conditions in many areas between January, February and March, making the remote areas where we go on Safari inaccessible.

...also in Southern Africa - moderate winters, hot summers.

In Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe winter temperatures are generally around 18 degrees Celsius and moderate with comfortable climate. Recommended wear during the day are shorts, rafters and T/shirts with a fleece and long trousers to ward off the evening chill. Temperatures rarely fall lower in the mid-winter on the Lower Zambezi, north and South Luangwa valley. During the hot season in the Zambezi valley, October and November are nicknamed “Suicide months' as daytime temperatures can exceed 40 degrees Celsius, not dropping below 30 degrees Celsius even at night.

East Africa Safari Seasons have long and short monsoon rains:

  • Southern Tanzania (Ruaha & Selous game reserves) is a climatic transition zone which means good game viewing all year round as it lies between Southern and East Africa destinations.
  • Between the northern Serengeti and Masai Mara in Kenya, the short rains in November and December are classified as light rains..
  • April and May bring the long rains, characterized by violent thunderstorms and massive downpours with hot sunshine afterwards.
  • The East African weather cause what is commonly known by tour operators as the annual wildebeest migration.
…it is best to know which seasons to come on safari to Africa.
Reasons to choose our Big Regional Safari Destinations:

BOTSWANA SAFARIS:
We conduct Safari experiences in this country due to its well established Conservation policy which is based on low volumes - no mass package tours or crowds.
Largest portion of all Safari earnings from your safari trip goes back to benefit local communities and actual conservation projects.
So, safari prices are therefore higher with a big factor of supply and demand.

ZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE, NAMIBIA, SOUTH AFRICA AND EAST AFRICA SAFARIS:
In the remote areas of lower Zambezi, Mana Pools, Hwange, Luangwa valleys, Kafue, Victoria Falls and Tanzania's Ruaha, Selous, Ngorongoro, lake Manyara, Tarangire, Serengeti and Masai Mara, camps or lodges for guests are small in size and we cater for between 6-12 guests on one safari trip between May to October at the best time of the year.
Prices for such safaris in particular in the Zambia camps can offer very good value when all travel and logistics costs required are factored in.

ZIMBABWE SAFARIS
In our beloved Zimbabwe destination, tourism has declined due to economical and political problems, but it is still an excellent tourist destinations in spite of the bad press representation. Tourists are very welcome and great efforts are made to promote tourism. Some excellent value deals at upmarket destinations can therefore be arranged.