Awesome African Safari

by Ethan Cole
 
 

I've loved traveling ever since my junior year of high school when my class went on a trip to Rome. Since that time, I've had the opportunity to backpack through Europe, bum around the Caribbean for a month, and even live in Southeast Asia for a short time. The more exotic the destination, the better as far as I'm concerned. That's why I've recently been thinking about going on an African safari.

Going on an African safari would be an experience like no other. It would be amazing to see all those majestic animals such as lions, tigers, elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, and more running free in their natural habitat. But unlike hopping on a plane to the Bahamas with just an overnight bag with me, going on an African safari requires quite a bit more planning.

The first thing I decided to do was call up a travel agent. I wasn't really looking for a quote at that point. I just wanted to ask a few basic questions to get a better idea of what I'd need to do before embarking on my African safari. I'm sure glad that I decided to inquire, because there were several things that I never would have figured out on my own.
 
For example, I didn't know that I would need a special tourist visa in addition to my regular passport in order to go on an African safari. It's a good thing the travel agent told me about this because it takes approximately 4-6 weeks for the tourist visa to get processed. Another thing I learned is that it would be a good idea to carry a copy of my immunization records with me. That's because malaria, dysentery, and other ailments are quite common for travelers while on an African safari. I was advised to visit a doctor before my trip to get various medicines to help guard against these illnesses.

Once I felt relatively knowledgeable about the preparations I had to make, I went ahead and started looking at prices. I went online found several great travel companies specializing in African safaris. Most of these companies have set tour packages that include transportation, lodging, and meals, which would make things a lot easier once I was in that country. Some companies even offered a custom African safari in which travelers could develop their own itineraries. I didn't think I was quite ready for that, so I ended up just purchasing a package deal.

I'm leaving for my African safari in a few short weeks, and I couldn't be more excited! It's going to be the adventure of a lifetime. If you're thinking about going on your own African safari, check out some of these online travel agents to see if you can get a great deal on your trip.