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On an African safari, the quality of the guide is a make-or-break factor, so don’t compromise on this: a good guide will make a safari interesting – even excellent – no matter the weather or how much game
you see. The guiding at all camps which we use on a regular basis are at a high level, for example at the Wilderness and other properties in Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe, as well as at properties like Tswalu, MalaMala, Mashatu, Jabulani, Kwandwe, and many others. Nomad Tanzania and Origins Safaris (Kenya) employ equally top-notch guides, which we know from first-hand experience.

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Working with a well-established and legitimate North America-based safari company has many pluses, not the least of which is that you can get them on the ‘phone when it suits you. Dealing with a known local entity is important also for security and reassurance related to liability, insurance and problem-solving.

It is always a good idea to talk to someone on the ‘phone, and not just rely on e-mail, convenient as it may be. A phone call to a safari company you’re considering for your business, can be quite revealing. For one thing you will get a good measure of their knowledge and experience. If they’re prompt to return your calls, take the time to listen to you, are considerate of your budget and particular preferences you may have, and follow up in a timely manner, you can reasonably assume that they will continue to perform well during the entire process.

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The most expensive lodges are almost always located in private concession areas where access is limited to the guests staying at the lodge(s) on the property. Ask anybody who has spent some time on a fly-in safari in Northern Botswana, and they will invariably mention seeing few other vehicles. The privacy and exclusivity of these camps create a wilderness experience that cannot be compared with a stay at a public reserve. I’ve had some wonderful (inexpensive) experiences in places like Etosha, Kalahari Gemsbok Park, and Kruger Park – which I have visited dozens of times – yet I have also had visits there marred by foolish behavior on the part of other visitors, such as illegal off-road driving, hooliganism and overcrowding, with sometimes dozens of cars converging on a ‘kill’ scene. Every visit is different and you can have the most sublime wildlife experience in a public reserve (I sure have), but by spending the dollars to stay in a private concession, you do not run the risk of having your vacation spoiled by some idiot throwing a beer bottle at sleeping lions. Most people do not return to Africa year after year, so for them it is a wise investment to spend a bit more in order to enjoy the proverbial trip of a life-time.

At private game lodges such as MalaMala in South Africa, Mashatu in the Tuli Block of Botswana, and many of the camps elsewhere in Southern Africa, the quality of the guiding is superb. A game drive with a really good guide is a veritable education. He or she does not only find the animals and birds and other wildlife, but interprets their behavior, explains their interaction with each other, and even predicts what will happen next. Being with a real ‘pro’ guide is like being ‘in’ one of those National Geographic film. This also applies to Zimbabwe which has on the whole probably the best guiding of any African country.

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By all means select a trip or customized itinerary which will look at all aspects of the natural history of an area, not just game. Try not to get too caught up ‘Big Cat’ fever, i.e. sightings of lions, leopards and cheetahs, to the exclusion of almost everything else. There’s much more to be discovered about the African wilderness, particularly its incredible birdlife, smaller mammals, reptiles & amphibians, even insects and butterflies. Not to mention the trees and other plants… If you are receptive to learning about all aspects of the natural history, your trip will be much more meaningful and enjoyable. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment by focusing on just one or two of the big cats: especially leopard and cheetah. They are not always seen.

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