Are you planning a self-drive adventure to the ‘’Land of blacks’’ but still wondering on the key points or feature to consider for the memorable experience? This article is written and prepared to take you through the best stages to follow for the best encounter.
Africa is the world’s second largest and second most populous continent after Asia. Seating at a total surface area of almost 30.3 million square kilometers, the continent encompasses several feature including islands, lakes, rivers, national parks and reserve, mountains and forests and many others. All these can be explored during self drive in Africa around the countries of the continent. Africa protects about 54 countries in different regions like central, north, east, south, and western regions. All these regions can be visited all year round and as you you’re your self-guided tour, there are some steps to follow for its perfection and among these include the listed below;
- Determine Your Interests and Priorities
As you are making plans for your African self-drive safari, ensure that you make severe research about the countries so as you can know the destinations where you can go for specific activities. For the wildlife safaris, we recommend Serengeti national park (Tanzania), Masai Mara (Kenya), Kruger national park (South Africa and Queen Elizabeth national park of Uganda.
For cultural encounters, you can opt for Ethiopia’s tribal regions, Morocco’s medinas, Uganda’ Karimojong and then Egypt’s ancient history.
For those who would like to start or stop their trips at beaches for relaxation, we recommend Zanzibar of Tanzania, Seychelles – the smallest African country and Cape Verde.
For adventurous experiences, visit Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro national park – the home to Africa’s highest mountain for hiking, Victoria falls in Zambia and Zimbabwe and the hottest deserts of Africa in Morocco called the Sahara deserts.
- Choose Your Destinations
As you are planning for your self-drive trips, research about the countries that offer the experiences that you have decided to take part in. During this research, consider factors like safety of the destination, political stability, and the easiest way to travel to the destination.
- Create an Itinerary
Upon figuring out on which destinations to visit, create an itinerary deciding on how long you would like to spend on each location, the main activities to do, and the distance or time to use from one destination to another.
- Budgeting
Africa is known for its amazing destinations throughout the countries and upon completing your self-drive itinerary, start budgeting on how much will use for the whole trip. The budget includes the type of flight to use (international or domestic), the accommodation type, (luxury, mid-range or budget hostels), car type to rent that will be friendly to the surfaces of the destination, type of foods and drinks to consider, the activities to opt since some of them require park fee payments, and tracking permit purchase and then the type of insurance necessary for the trip.
- Booking Flights and Accommodation
Immediately after finding out how much to use in a trip, start making your bookings like international flights early to get the best deals. Also, book the accommodations from which you will spend your precious nights or you can ask your local car rental agency to help you out. Consider staying in a mix of hotels, lodges, and guesthouses to experience different aspects of local culture.
- Health and Safety
Before heading to an African country, ensure that you have all the documentations like the vaccination cards for yellow fever and others. Also, for your safety, ensure a comprehensive coverage by moving with your travel insurance. Research safety tips for each destination, stay informed about current events, and register with your embassy if needed.
- Packing Essentials
For an amazing travel to an African country, a suitable packing list is compulsory. Among the things not to forget to pack include passports, visas, and travel insurance. Also, remember to pack basic first aid supplies, prescription medications and insect repellent. For the clothing, pack according to the activities and climate of the country you are willing to travel to. Also, don’t forget some electronics like camera, chargers, adapters and a portable Wi-Fi device.
- Cultural Sensitivity and Respect
As you are enjoying the amazing black land, endeavor to learn about the local customs and traditions of different tribes in the communities of your visit. Be respectful of local dress codes and social norms and try to learn a few phrases in the local language if possible.
In conclusion, remember that Africa is known for its hospitality nature and as you plan your self-drive experience there, expect a truly memorable and enjoyable lifetime adventure.