Step by Step on how to cho

1. Africa
How to plan an African
Safari Vacation

2. Tonya Denmark is a writer,
blogger and social media expert at
Luxe Travel. Tonya lives in one of
the most popular tourist
destinations in the country and
loves to travel, both to far away
lands and close to home. Follow
her on Twitter @travel_luxe!
The Luxe Travel Team:
Jamie Lemke is an award
winning travel advisor, named one
of the Best of the Best Travel
Agents and Travel Agent Central’s
Best 30 agents under 30. She
specializes in Mexico, the
Caribbean, Disney and more!
Email her at jamie@luxetravel.com
Jacque Salentine Busby is the
owner and President of Luxe
Travel. She has over 30 years of
travel experience traveling to
places such as Tanzania, Dubai,
France and Brazil. Connect with
Jacque on LinkedIn.

3. Choose a Country…………………………….….…4
Pick a Guided Tour or Lodge...………………..10
When to Go….…………….………………….…....16
TABLE OF CONTENTS:

4. Most everyone has an African Safari trip on their dream
travel list. Seeing elephants, lions, giraffes in their
natural environment is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
There are a number of countries in Africa, which one do
you choose? Do you want to maximize the sights of each
country, or maximize your time in one location?
CHAPTER 1:
Choose a Country
Page 4

5. Africa is a vast land and most travelers seeking African safari
trips center on the countries in the south eastern half of the
continent. We’ve selected five of these countries based on
what they offer for discerning travelers. Choosing what is
important on your must-see list and where you want to see it
will help narrow down which lodge or tour to take.
 South Africa - South Africa is a popular choice for its size,
location and the rich diversity of wildlife. Here you will find
all the Big Five (Elephants, Lions, Cape Buffalo, leopard
and rhinoceros) as well as wildebeest, giraffes, kudu,
cheetahs, ostrich, zebra, and African wild dogs among
other animals. There are a number of national parks and
reserves in South Africa and Kruger National Park in the
northeast corner is one of the largest, has a high
concentration of wildlife as well as a number of tented
camps and lodges on site. Singita Lebombo Lodge
boasts the highest concentration of wildlife in the park; the
area is home to the majestic Mountain Pride of lions.
Africa
Page 5

6.  Botswana, directly to
the north of South Africa
also boasts a home to the
Big Five but it may be
difficult to spot rhino
these days as their
numbers are dwindling in
this area. Chobe National
Park in northeast
Botswana has one of the
largest amounts of wildlife
in any African country,
especially elephants.
Along the Savuti or Savute
River expect to find
warthogs, kudus, impalas,
hyenas, wildebeests and is
home to the annual
migration of zebras and
the predators that follow.
CHOBE NATIONAL PARK
Page 6
Africa

7.  Zimbabwe lies to
the north east of
Botswana. Here you’ll
find yellow baboons,
meerkats, zebras,
elephants, African wild
dogs, hippopotamus,
Nile crocodiles,
warthogs and more. In
southeastern Zimbabwe,
in Malilangwe Wildlife
Reserve is the Singita
Pamushana Lodge,
which is home to many
endangered species
such as the Roan and
sable antelope, as well
as the black rhino.
Page 7
Africa
In addition to the wildlife in Zimbabwe, one of the modern
wonders of the world, Victoria Falls, is located in the
northwestern corner of the country. Victoria Falls National
Park contains sizable populations of elephant, buffalo,
giraffe, zebra, Vervet monkeys, baboons and a variety of
antelope. Lion and leopard are only occasionally seen in this
area, but are found in other parts of the country.

8.  Tanzania, midway along the south eastern African
coastline, is home to the vast Serengeti plains and Africa’s
highest mountain, Kilimanjaro. See lions and other Big Five in
the Serengeti National Park along with hippos, Thomson's and
Grant's gazelles, elands, waterbucks, hyenas, baboons,
impalas, African wild dogs, and giraffes.
Page 8
Africa
Know when to
travel with our
Free Travel
Calendar

9.  Kenya is the furthest
north of our chosen
countries, and lies on the
equator. Kenya offers a
variety of eco-systems
from the warm Indian
Ocean beaches to
savannah grasslands and
even snow capped peaks
of Mount Kenya.
Page 9
Africa
Here you’ll find the great Migration of wildebeest and Zebra
as well as the Big Five, giraffe, elands, antelopes, hippos
and crocodiles in the Mara River, crowned cranes, ostrich,
hornbills and hundreds more species of birds and wildlife.
We recommend staying at ol Donyo Lodge while in Kenya,
where you can sleep out under the stars, safely perched
above your accommodations in a rooftop star bed.
PHOTO
COURTESY
OF OL
DONYO
LODGE

10. Once you’ve decided where to go, there’s still a myriad of
options to choose. Each affords the opportunity to get up
close and personal with wildlife on your African Safari trip.
Decide first if you want to maximize the sights you see in the
country by spending a few days in multiple locations with a
tour company, or if you want to balance your time spent on
game drives with spa treatments, and relaxing down time
together, just the two of you at an African lodge.
CHAPTER 2:
Tour or Lodge?
Page 10

11. If you chose a tour
operator traveling from
area to area, some of
your time will be spent
in the luxe African
Lodges that dot the
reserves. A tour
operator’s costs will
include transportation
from lodge to lodge,
game drives and more.
Choose a tour operator
such as Artisans of
Leisure, Abercrombie
& Kent or Micato
Safaris to explore the
varied countries in
multiple locations.
Additionally,
Amawaterways offers
unique river cruises
allowing you to
experience the African
plains while leisurely
floating down a river,
only unpacking once.
Photos courtesy of Sunset Key
Cottages
Page 11
Africa
PHOTO COURTESY OF MICATO
SAFARIS

12. Micato Safaris are a Travel & Leisure winner nine years running. Run by
generations of the Pinto family who’ve resided in Africa for nearly 50
years, a safari is simply a way of life.
The Micato difference is that they are truly an all-inclusive tour
operator. Included in your safari are all meals, including soft drinks,
wine and beer at most lodges, all transportation, including flights
between countries if needed, binoculars for every guest, stays at the
finest Fairmont or Singita properties and at least one stay in a tented
bush camp and all gratuities.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MICATO SAFARIS
Page 12
Africa

13. Page 13
Africa
Abercrombie & Kent is a leader in African Safari Trips,
offering nearly a dozen local offices. A&K’s decades of
experience and long standing arrangements with area
reserves get you into the most desirable locations. From
mobile camping safaris or signature lodges, attentive
service, the great migrations to picnics in the bush, you
will experience Africa through an authentic immersion
into the sights and sounds of the vast wilderness.

14. The Artisans of Leisure
offers tours in South Africa,
Botswana, Kenya and
Tanzania. In addition to
game drives and boat
excursions, tours may also
include visits to
archaeological sites, access
to museums, historic homes
or vineyards, walking safaris
and visits with indigenous
residents to learn their
lifestyle. Artisans of Leisure
provides a private,
personalized itinerary,
expert guides and advice.
Many of your stays on an
Artisan tour are at the
Singita family of lodges.
Page 14
Africa
Read More about
our choice of Safari
Tour operators

15. If you want to stay in one lodge your entire visit, the lodges
also offer daily game drives, delicious meals and even the
opportunity to get in a spa visit in your down time. The
stunning vistas, relaxed atmosphere, turn of the century luxury
and daily game drives are all available at Singita Lodges,
&Beyond or Ol Donyo lodges.
Page 15
Africa
&BEYOND NGORONGORO CRATER LODGE OL DONYO LODGE

16. CHAPTER 3:
When to Go
Depending on what you want to see in Africa will
determine when you should go.
Page 16

17. Some would say you can never visit Africa too many times and not
enough times to fill a lifetime. When you’re going for the first
time, what you want to experience will help you determine when
to go.
The great migrations between Tanzania and Kenya occur from July
to October, with early September as optimal viewing. Keep in
mind, these countries are on or south of the equator and seasons
are opposite of what we have in the US. The further south you go,
the cooler it will be, which can make for a more enjoyable safari
trip.
If you only visit two
continents in your
lifetime, visit Africa -
twice" ~ R. Elliot.
Page 17
Africa

18. Dry Season finds animals moving in thicker numbers around
watering holes such as permanent lakes and rivers. The grass
and foliage is not as lush, also making it easier to spot the land
animals. Dry seasons in each country:
 Kenya - January through March and July through October
 Tanzania – January through March, June to November
 Zimbabwe – July to October
 Botswana – June to September
 South Africa – June to September
Page 18
Africa

19. Wet Season is prime viewing for bird lovers. However, wet
season is just that; wet, hot and humid. Comfort levels
should be considered if you plan on traveling outside of the
months mentioned above.
Victoria Falls will run more torrential in March and April
towards the end of wet season and may be more difficult to
view in its entirety due to thick spray. The shoulder seasons
of April and October can lend to some better deals with the
tour operators and lodges, however rains are beginning to
move in during these months and vegetation becomes fuller.
Page 19
Africa

20. If you’re interested in planning your custom Africa
Safari tour, request a free Vacation Quote for one
of these tours or lodges. We will quote you the
right price the first time and provide exclusive
extras you can’t get on your own.
Luxe Travel Advisors provide the best vacations with
deluxe accommodations, luxury cruises, authentic
cuisine and VIP treatment for you all over the world
– it’s not just what we know, it’s who we know.
REQUEST A FREE
VACATION QUOTE