{"id":41138,"date":"2015-08-19T14:42:51","date_gmt":"2015-08-19T04:42:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/?p=41138"},"modified":"2015-08-19T14:42:51","modified_gmt":"2015-08-19T04:42:51","slug":"5-tips-to-help-you-improve-your-african-safari-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/5-tips-to-help-you-improve-your-african-safari-game\/","title":{"rendered":"5 tips to help you improve your African Safari game"},"content":{"rendered":"

So, you wanna go wild? \u00a0You\u2019ll need these top tips for safari-ing, Africa style.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Manage your expectations<\/strong><\/h3>\n

My #1 piece of advice to ensure you have an unforgettable experience is not to go in with massive expectations of seeing the Big 5.<\/a> If you want to see all the animals in the space of an hour you\u2019re probably better off going to the zoo. From the King of the Jungle to a colourful lizard, a stunning flower or an interesting bird doing it\u2019s thang in the trees above you, or even something as little as animal tracks in the sand \u2013 it should all be exciting and appreciated the same.<\/p>\n\"African\n

Be respectful <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Keep your noise levels to a minimum out of respect for nature but also your fellow travellers. Be patient, it may take a while to spot something amazing and don\u2019t call out to the animals or try to get their attention. As much as you think they\u2019re going to respond well to your repeated \u2018HEY BUDDY!\u2019 in that high pitched voice your dog loves so much, they\u2019re probably just going to give you the stink eye and walk away.<\/p>\n\"African\n

Timing is everything<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Whether you\u2019re in Botswana<\/a>, Namibia<\/a>, the Kruger National Park (South Africa)<\/a> or wherever you\u2019ve chosen to go on a safari, the middle of the day can be quite warm and if it\u2019s too hot for you, it\u2019s too hot for them too \u2013 most animals will be hanging out in the shade or the bushes and tall grass. Early morning or late afternoon is the best game-viewing times. An evening safari can be pretty spesh too, ask the ranger to stop and switch off the engine of your car, then listen to the silence and look up at the sky \u2013 you will see so many stars, may even catch a shooting star or two – truly good for the soul.<\/p>\n\"African\n

Guided or Solo?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You can chose to either go on a guided safari or there are trails you can drive yourself. My advice is to go guided, leave the flying solo to Jason Derulo. The guides are good at what they do and they\u2019ll spot things you never would. I cry a little inside when I think about how many leopards or cheetahs I drove past on solo missions because I didn\u2019t know where or what to look for. Let your guide know you\u2019re keen to hear about the less obvious things, they\u2019ll appreciate your interest! I learned how far you can spit Impala poop \u2013 yes I said poop. It\u2019s a real thing<\/a> in South Africa! You’ll just have to go there to find out \u00a0\ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\"African\n

#livelastminute in the moment<\/h3>\n

Let your guide know when you want to take a photo of something special. They\u2019ll try to put your car into position for the best shot and always ask before taking pics using the flash at night, you might spook the animals and no one likes an unexpected flash, cough<\/strong> Lenny Kravitz.<\/a>\u00a0\ud83d\ude09 Try to keep your fellow safari goers in mind when asking to stop for a photo as well, unless you\u2019re in a car full of avid photographers, they\u2019re probably not going to want to stop for every flower along the way. Calling for too many stops will make you like that guy who always calls bathroom break on a road trip \u2013 don\u2019t be that guy.<\/p>\n\"African\n

As much as we LOVE taking photos and you\u2019ll get some really amazing shots, it\u2019s so easy these days to get photo obsessed and spend most of your time seeing the stunning wildlife through your lens. Animals in the wild are unpredictable, they can be in the perfect position one minute and then gone the next. You will always have access to photos of the wildlife but you\u2019ll only BE there once. Take the time to enjoy what you\u2019re seeing, feeling, hearing and smelling \u2013 be present in the moment.<\/p>\n\"African\n

What to bring <\/strong><\/h3>\n