
Chalo Africa was mentioned in an article in Condé Nast Traveller India’s latest issue (August 2016) “How to plan the perfect African safari” by Ranjan Pal. Our co-founder, Sangeeta Prasad, suggested some great tips, which we recommend all safari goers take into account: http://www.cntraveller.in/story/how-to-plan-the-perfect-african-safari/
Here are some of Sangeeta’s tips on this adventure of a lifetime:
Where should you go on your African Safari?
Kenya

- Pros:
- Easily accessible, well-organised
- Remarkable variety, density of wildlife
- Something for every budget
- Cons:
- Extremely popular so parks can get very crowded in high season
Tanzania

- Pros:
- Easily access to the North Circuit via road
- Wildlife is spectacular (wildebeest migration, predators, and more)
- Mt. Kilimanjaro & Zanzibar are the perfect additions to your safari
- Cons:
- Travel can be tougher because tourism infrastructure isn’t as well developed outside the northern parks.
Uganda
- Pros:
- Incredible birding, chimp tracking and gorilla tracking experiences all in one place
- Spectacular natural beauty complete with misty mountains and crater lakes
- Cons:
- Safari infrastructure is still developing; quality can be patchy
Zambia
- Pros:
- Many small, owner-owned camps, with an “authentic” safari experience
- Diverse and spectacular wildlife sightings (excellent leopard sightings)
- Cons:
- Safaris here are expensive because the season is short (May – October)
Botswana

- Pros:
- Strong, stable & wealthy country
- Delivers an authentic wilderness experience, with the best of luxury
- Cons:
- Easily amongst the most expensive safari destinations
Rwanda
- Pros:
- Excellent place to spot birds, primates; great access to mountain gorillas
- Big on cultural, historical sites
- Cons:
- Gorilla tracking permits and more expensive than those in Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo
Namibia

- Pros:
- A complete destination with wildlife, desertscapes, oceans and cultural experiences
- Excellent infrastructure makes it perfect for self-drive holidays
- Cons:
- Internal flights are expensive
South Africa
- Pros:
- Complete wildlife, family holiday destination
- Excellent infrastructure, on par with the best in the world
- Cons:
- The wilderness experience can feel a lot more managed.
So many choices, so many options, how do you decide? Yes, it can be confusing. That’s why we recommend customised holidays — get in touch with our team, and we will suggest what is best for you keeping in mind your interests and budgets.
Leave a Reply