How to Plan Your First African Safari: Expert 2025 Guide

This serves as your guide to key considerations when going on your first African safari Tours. With over 10 years of experience, we are well-equipped to provide you with invaluable insights.

Venturing to Africa for the first time is an indescribable journey. It is a continent overflowing with enchantment – from its breathtakingly diverse landscapes to its cultural tapestry and transformative encounters with wildlife.

As an expansive and culturally rich continent, Africa promises some of the most extraordinary travel adventures imaginable. It caters to every kind of traveller, whether you crave heart-pounding adventures, immersion in untouched wilderness, or enlightening cultural exchanges. It also offers lavish retreats or wildlife-filled safaris.

In this first-time safari guide we’ll cover a lot of ground, including the best African safari destinations, the best time for African safari, tips for beginners, and safari packing list essentials.

Where to Go on an African Safari

You might already have a clear idea of which country (or countries) you wish to explore. However, if you’re uncertain about your travel destination, there are several important factors to consider. These could assist you in making your decision. The season during which you plan to travel can be a significant element. Additionally, budget or particular interests can also influence your choice.

Our safari experts have extensive travel experience throughout safari Africa and do not focus solely on one country or region. This allows them to guide you through the unique offerings of each country. They highlight the distinctions among them. Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda are often favored choices for ‘first safaris’ for many valid reasons.

A really good piece of advice we can give you at this stage is to try not to pack everything into one trip. Rushing through areas or even countries in a week-long holiday won’t give you the full impact and appreciation of being on safari. We always want to make your itinerary as efficient as possible. This helps to reduce travel times when in-country. Thus, ensuring you spend the maximum amount of time in the key safari areas.

Choosing the Right Time for Your Safari

The time of year you choose to go on safari can greatly impact your experience. Each season offers different advantages in terms of wildlife viewing and weather conditions.

Best Times for Safari:

Dry Season (June to October): This is the peak season for safaris in most African countries. Wildlife is easier to spot as animals gather around water sources, and the vegetation is less dense.
Wet Season (November to May): The landscape is lush and green, making it perfect for photography. The wet season is also ideal for birdwatching and seeing newborn animals, although wildlife can be more challenging to spot due to the thicker vegetation.

What to Expect on Safari in Africa

Morning Game Drive: Whether you’re staying at a modern luxury lodge or in a classic tented camp, a typical day on safari starts with a morning game drive. Rise just before dawn to enjoy a cup of fresh-brewed coffee and baked goods, then meet your guide at the vehicle. In the stillness of the morning, inspect dusty roads for tracks, scat, and evidence of a night kill. After three or four hours, return to camp for brunch, or enjoy a picnic breakfast in a secretive spot in the bush.
Midday: Use the hottest time of the day to retreat to your room or enjoy the amenities of your lodge. Swim in the pool, book a massage, read on a lounger, inspect field guides or coffee table books in the library, peruse the boutique, use the fitness equipment, or take a cat nap. Lunch is typically served between noon and 2 p.m., and afternoon tea around 3:30 p.m.
Evening Game Drive: Around 4 p.m., meet your guide once again at the vehicle for your evening game drive. As the afternoon sun relents, wildlife begins to stir. Criss-cross the reserve in pursuit of animals as the sky shifts from bluebird to a bath of golden light. After a few hours, watch the sun sink below the horizon with a sundowner in-hand.
Dinner & After Dark: Back at camp, sip a pre-dinner cocktail in the main lodge, freshen up, or gather round the fire pit with the other guests. By 8 p.m., sit for a gourmet, multi-course dinner and a glass of South African wine. Close out another spectacular day on safari, reminiscing on the memorable moments of the day.
Optional Safari Activities: One of our best African safari tips for beginners is to opt into an activity that gets you out of the Land Cruiser. (We know, game drives are spectacular, but activities add diversity to your days.) Bush walks, Cultural interactions, Balloon ride and Canoeing.

What to Pack for an African Safari

Safari has an undeniable esthetic, but your safari packing list should prioritize function over fashion. Whether you’re traveling in the hot, dry season, during the humid secret season, or to a desert in winter, you’ll want a rotation of comfortable outfits suited to the elements.

Layers: Safaris take place across various terrain, but all have one thing in common: you’ll be rising early in the morning and you’ll be out after dark. A packable puffer is a space-saving essential layer that you might appreciate after sunset or on a cool morning game drive. Shorts are fine for game drives, but do pack a set of long pants for activities such as bush walks, horse safaris, and primate trekking. Long sleeves and pants are also a deterrent for mosquitos, tsetse flies (where they exist), and as a defense against sunburn.
Pack for the weather: In the heat, choose lightweight, breathable and natural fabrics; cotton and linen are great choices. If there’s a chance of rain, pack a water-resistant outer layer. However, most upscale camps will supply ponchos in your game vehicle.
Color palette: Safari and khaki are synonymous, but don’t feel you need to buy a brand-new wardrobe. Stick to an earthy neutral palate—white, beige, green, grey—where possible, but don’t sweat some color; you won’t scare off the animals. In the Mara, vehicles are often stocked with bold red Maasai blankets.
You need less than you think: Most camps offer same-day laundry, so you don’t need to pack 14 different outfits. Unless you’re at a very flashy camp, you probably won’t feel the need to change for dinner. Plus, you’ll be changing camps every few days, so you don’t need a fresh look given that you won’t likely see the same guests twice.
Footwear: At minimum, pack one pair of sturdy, closed-toe shoes and a comfortable pair of slip-ons for lounging at camp. Hiking boots are necessary for primate trekking and lodges will happily perform same-day cleaning so you’re not stuck with muddy footwear for the rest of your trip.
Electronics: Camera (lenses, extra batteries, memory cards, etc.), portable power bank, binoculars, E-reader, headphones (tip: bring a cord to connect with the plane’s entertainment system, travel adaptor, Bluetooth tags/air tags, chargers)
Accessories: Hat (for sun), beanie (for warmth), sunglasses. Gloves are handy for primate trekking in dense tropical forest where nettle is present.
Necessary items: Prescription medication, essential documents (visas, immunization cards), passport
Useful items: Sunscreen, hand sanitizer, mini first aid kit, dry shampoo, pill/medication organizer, lip balm, wet wipes, bug spray, envelopes (for cash gratuities), hydration tabs, eye drops (for dust), lanyard case for smartphones, reusable water bottle, pen, packing cubes, zipped document holder.
Extras: Swimsuit, journal, reading material, children’s items (favorite snacks from home, activity books, games, mini binoculars, blanket, stuffie, etc.)
Luggage: If you’re traveling by bush plane, you will need a soft-sided duffel bag, rather than a suitcase. When shopping, consider capacity (often measured in liters) and dimensions. Weight allowances are limited on light aircraft, with 33 pounds per person per checked bag in East Africa Destinations, with some exceptions. You will also want a daypack for game drives and sightseeing excursions in cities.

Safari Safety and Etiquette

Safari Safety Tips

Wildlife Safety: It is vitally important that you listen to your guides and follow their instructions. Never attempt to touch a wild animal. Do not exit the Land Cruiser without explicit permission. Your guide will do a perimeter check before setting up sundowners or allowing a bathroom break. Game drives are generally very safe and inherently, vehicles offer a level of comfort and security.
Personal Safety: Use common sense and exercise situational awareness in cities. Take measures to protect your belongings or leave valuables at home. If urban travel makes you cautious, know that the logistics of your African Diurnal Safaris will be fully coordinated, from touch-down to take-off. You won’t have to worry about things like getting to and from the airport or navigating public transit.
Health: Most of Africa’s safari destinations fall under some level of malaria risk. Speak to your doctor about any medical concerns.
Safari Etiquette

Learn some common phrases in the local language, such as please, thank-you, hello, and goodbye.

It’s common practice to tip guides, trackers, and camp staff. We will provide you with a tipping guide, pre-departure.

Demonstrate curiosity for people, places, and wildlife. Ask a lot of questions. The depth of knowledge your guides express will astound you. Interactions with camp staff offer a window into local living. The connections you make will become souvenirs of the heart.

Tips for Booking Your Safari

Start planning your safari 12 to 18 months ahead of time. This will give your African Diurnal Safaris expert the best opportunity to secure the accommodation they know you’ll love most. You’re also more likely to stick to the budget when you’re not pigeonholed into making a choice due to a lack of vacancy.
We design bespoke travel, so share your preferences, niche interests, the “why” behind your trip, what you’ve enjoyed in the past, and travel experiences that didn’t land quite right. If you think of it as having a suit tailored, these are the measurements we use to craft the perfect fit.
You don’t need to perform hours of intensive research before getting in touch with African Diurnal Safaris experts.
The best advice we can give first-time safari-goers is to stay in an uncrowded park sedes and private wilderness reserve.
Honeymooners: Ask us about where you can get a honeymoon discount.
Families: Hesitant about bringing your kids on safari? We’re a collective of mothers who have safari-ed with all ages. From scavenger hunts to playrooms and family tents to childminding, we can plan a family safari for all. Read our authoritative Tanzania family safari guide.
We understand that safaris aren’t cheap. It’s costly to run a remote operation, and things like bush flights and park/conservation fees can add up. Keep in mind that camps are fully inclusive of luxury lodging, all gourmet dining, local wine and beer, twice-daily game drives, activities, expert guides, and attentive service staff—all while generating local community uplift and driving conservation.

Final Thoughts

Planning your first safari is an exciting process that involves choosing the right destination, packing the essentials, and making the most of your time in the African wilderness. By following these tips, you’ll be well-prepared for an unforgettable adventure, where you can experience the beauty and majesty of Africa’s wildlife up close.

For more information and personalized safari packages, visit African Diurnal Safaris & Tours.