To really make the most out of your trip, and to really have an unforgettable safari experience, you, first, need a large amount of luck, as you are not going to a zoo, you won’t see trained animals who hunt each other by blowing a whistle. You may set off in an unfortunate hour, you may just miss the hunt and “only” see the lions having the feast after it, you may drive kilometres without seeing anything, or you may witness the birth of a baby wildebeest. That is the real world out there: unpredictable. The Serengeti and the Ngorongoro crater are of course with high animal population, so you have high chances for seeing something. Moreover, the drivers are experienced, they know where to drive, and they also connect with each other, so if one sees anything interesting, then the news will spread via radio or phone.
Apart from this, however, we need to prepare in advance. Here’s my list of the most important things:
- Clothes: light, breathable, green/brown/khaki colours not to grab attention unnecessarily. It’s recommended to avoid dark blue and black, as they attract tsetse flies. Simple trainers or hiking sandals are good enough. Be prepared with extra layers for cold nights and early morning game drives.
- Mosquito repellent: mosquito bites are not only annoyingly itchy but they could also transfer diseases, so it’s extremely important to have effective and long-lasting repellent with us.
- Sunscreen: be prepared for strong sun and UV radiation.
- Camera: it’s worth investing in a better camera and not only leaving with a phone. I’m not a big photographer, but I bought a bridge camera, which is perfect for my level and needs. Good zoom, sharp pictures, easy to use, relatively light-weight and not too big.
- Basic knowledge of the animals & their names in English: it’s beneficial to read about what animals we can expect to see, how they look like, and learn their names in English, so when the driver shouts “warthog” or “jackal”, you immediately know what to look for. Good to know some basic information, too, about the animals, so you know you shouldn’t scare to death when a cheetah jumps on the hood of your car (true story!), but you’re in more trouble if a leopard does that. 🙂
- Power bank, spare battery: as on a safari, especially on a camping safari, you might not always have electricity, or too many groups arrive at the campsite at the same time, and there aren’t enough sockets, it’s highly recommended to take a good power bank with you. So you don’t need to stress if you couldn’t charge your phone, as you can do it from your power bank. For the same reason, you should take spare batteries for your camera, so you can surely capture everything. It’s based on my personal experience, and I was so grateful for my power bank, which also has a solar panel, so can be charged by the sun.
- Headlamp: so you can go to the toilet at night or go back to your tent from dinner.
+1 advice from me: don’t care about the dust, the heat, the bad roads, and waking up crazy early, but just enjoy the nature, the variety of flora and fauna. You’re there once, so enjoy what that drive, what that moment gives you. Also be curious, and feel free to ask the driver about the animals or about the culture.