So, you’ve chosen your destination and booked your flights, what now? Chances are if you have any interest in how you spend your time and money, you’ve glanced at a few website or brochures about your destination. If you’re heading for southern Africa, panic could be setting in by this stage – how are you going to fit it all in.
Get Time on Your Side
Professional tour operators spend years working on the best travel itineraries, so if you plan to go it alone, it makes sense to start planning as soon as possible. Alternatively, you could get in touch with one of these masterminds, give them a list of requests and leave it to them.
Another way to make the best use of time is to be realistic. Take time zones and jet lag into consideration when booking your flights, transfers and activities. Give yourself free time to recover from the stress of being in transit and get your bearings before heading out to indulge in a host of attractions.
Dashing from one place to the next is no way to make the most of your trip. Allow time for some R&R in between. Don’t forget that delays happen. Traffic jams, postponed flights and getting lost are some of the unfortunate incidents that can hamper the best-laid plans.
Allocate extra time for all of these eventualities.
Prioritize
The bad news is that you probably won’t get to do and see everything on your list. Make a list of all the things you want to do in order of preference and importance. Next, you’ll need to work out which things are close enough to each other to be grouped together and which will need to wait for another day. Remember, Africa is an immense continent, and public transport can leave much to be desired. Don’t assume there will be a handy bus nipping between destinations at your whim.
Once again, handing your list to an experienced travel coordinator can make all the difference between missing out on some things and maxing out your options.
Be Flexible
Expect the unexpected, after all, that’s what travel is all about. If you’re heading on a game viewing safari, there’s no telling what may happen. A browsing elephant in the middle of the road is always going to have right of way. An exciting sighting can cause time-consuming delays, and there’s also the possibility that you’ll overstay your allocated time admiring Africa’s vast panoramas at some scenic spot.
Get a Pro Travel Planner in Your Corner
The short solution to planning an unforgettable trip is to employ a travel planner to make the most of it. Choosing an efficient travel planner means that all these elements are accounted for, resulting in a seamless and infinitely more enjoyable trip.
Our southern African safari experts know all the best places to go and things to do in Southern Africa, get in touch and let’s put together the ultimate travel package.
