I spent a week visiting game reserves in South Africa. Tammy Barr
I spent a week on safari in South Africa, visiting three different reserves.
I found that planning was essential and that I always needed to have my camera ready.
Next time I would bring warmer clothes and a buff to control the dust.
I spent a Safari week In South Africa, visiting three different reserves.
It was an exciting adventure that I will never forget and I got to see amazing creatures like hyenas, elephants and lions.
It is no wonder that more and more travelers are looking to include game reserves in their trips. According to the most recent data collected by travel agencies Go2AfricaInterest in beach and safari combo trips increased by 20% only from 2022 to 2023.
But although the journey was great, it wasn’t always easy. and I had some mistakes from the planning phase to wildlife observation.
Here are mistakes I made on my journey that everyone should avoid in their life. first safari.
We booked our trip during a very busy time of year.
Some of our animal photographs have other people in the background. Tammy Barr
I try to avoid travelling during the holidays as it tends to be more crowded. Unfortunately, we ended up booking during the Easter holidays which coincided with the end of summer in the southern hemisphere.
The accommodations were full and busy, with lots of kids, and the prices were higher. We still had a great time, but if we had booked on other dates (perhaps during a low season), we might have paid less for a more private experience.
The mornings were cold, even in summer.
Madikwe Game Reserve can be cold in the morning. Tammy Barr
Our morning safaris began before dawn in an open jeep.
The safari guide was wearing shorts so I thought I would feel comfortable matching them. Boy was I wrong! I was really cold on our first trip.
I quickly learned that even though it was summer, a hat and down jacket would have been comfortable during the trip.
I missed photo opportunities because my camera wasn’t ready.
I was lucky enough to be able to photograph a spotted hyena at a waterhole. Tammy Barr
I knew I wanted to have my camera on hand at all times when I went out for a drive, but after several hours of driving, we were getting close to the gate and I put my phone away.
That’s when we turned a corner and saw a large white rhino in front of us in the middle of the road. It was a dramatic moment that I captured in my head, but I didn’t have time to take a photo before it scurried off into the bushes.
Next time I’ll be better prepared for any animals that might appear near the exit.
I had no idea how dusty the roads were going to be.
I felt like I had dust all over my body at the end of a day on safari. Tammy Barr
The terrain of the safari changed depending on the destination the guide took each day and some routes were quite dusty.
After a day of exploring, I felt like I had dust in my ears, eyes, nose, and mouth. Sunglasses helped protect my eyes, but I wish I had brought a bandana to cover the rest of my face.
Driving through game reserves left me more tired than expected.
I drank coffee while traveling between game reserves. Tammy Barr
Our safari adventure included visits to three different wildlife reserves and we rented a car to travel between them.
On each transition day, we did a morning game drive, then the drive to get to the next reserve and then an afternoon game drive there.
I sat for a long time and was tired by the time I got to the evening safari. Next time, I might spread out my schedule more.
I made the classic mistake of leaving the car door open when unloading luggage.
Animals can get very close to (or into) your car if you’re not careful. Tammy Barr
At one point, I put my bags in my accommodation and left the door open. When I came out, the neighbours were taking pictures of a monkey inside my car.
It was quick because luckily I didn’t have any food in the car so I could just run out.
Now I know I need to be mindful of locking and closing my car doors when I’m on a game reserve.
We got too close to the elephants.
Getting too close to wildlife can be dangerous. Tammy Barr
Animals can be unpredictable and safaris are not like a zoo. I learned how quickly a situation can change while watching a herd of elephants feeding in Kruger National Park.
They started to cross the street in front of my car and one of them, a large one, turned to look at us and started shaking his head. He seemed clearly displeased with our presence.
I put the car in reverse faster than you can say “elephant,” but it was a terrifying moment.
Drinking too much fluid can be risky.
We enjoyed drinks at sunset, but had to avoid consuming too much. Tammy Barr
Night safaris include a stop in the forest at dusk for a sunset drink. One night, my drink turned out to be too liquid for my bladder.
The problem was that we were following a pride of lions, so there was no way to get out of the truck to relieve myself.
I was able to handle it, but next time I will be more careful with the amount of liquids consumed before and during trips through the forest.
The power outage took me by surprise.
I wasn’t prepared for some parts of my trip to South Africa. Tammy Barr
Power blackout is the name given to scheduled power cuts in South Africa that help prevent the power grid from becoming overloaded.
Some places have backup generators or solar panels to alleviate power outages, but I’ve learned not to expect that to always be the case.
When the power went out during our trip, I found myself sitting in complete darkness. I scrambled for my phone’s flashlight, but I could have avoided the panic by plugging in the emergency light provided to me.
