Choosing the right person to travel with is an integral part of your Safari planning. To get the most out of your Safari, take these tips into consideration before adding that one person’s name under your reservation.
Budget
Being on the same page with how much you are willing to spend is a definite must. It’s not a good idea to travel with someone who is ready to splurge and stay in a luxurious Safari camp while your budget only allows you to get a low budget backpackers hostel downtown. There is absolutely nothing wrong with either but you need a similar budget unless you want to ruin a would be awe-inspiring trip.
Picture by Belmond Safaris
Common Interests
Imagine going on Safari with a not so outdoorsy kind of person who will be grumpy through out Game Drives and boat cruises! Or worse, someone who does not even understand nor respect the quietness and stillness required during sightings. I have traveled with someone who wanted to speak throughout activities and wanted me to take pictures of him all the time even during amazing sightings or magical sunsets! I mean, sometimes you need to put your gadgets away for a while and take it all in. The sound of silence! Or quietly listening to the haunting call of an African Fish Eagle.
There can be instances where your partner wants to go back home on the very first day of the trip because they can’t do it anymore or they are scared lions might sneak in and devour you. To avoid such, do not force someone to join you on an adventure when it’s crystal clear that they have some reservations about taking the trip. Well, it doesn’t even mean one person is right and the other is wrong, you just might not be compatible travel partners. Don’t harsh things if you can’t establish a common ground.
I have had amazing experiences with all my other travel buddies though .Could mean I learnt a lot from that one experience I can’t write home about. Sometimes you travel with someone who does not really like game drives and instead of joining you for a drive they decide to sleep in and use the alone time to visit the library or lounge by the pool sipping some cocktails. For the afternoon activity you go together on a boat cruise. Every one is happy.
Personal space is not a bad thing at all and traveling with someone who doesn’t mind doing some activities on their own is the best you will ever get because you don’t find yourselves dragging yourselves around on activities you don’t even enjoy. Coordinate your interests and priorities for an amazing experience.
Personality
This will make or break your trip. Avoid choosing someone who is the complete opposite of who you are. Sometimes different personalities complement each other while other times, it is a recipe for disaster. Ever travelled with someone who is unable to respect anyone from your Guide to your waitresses and housekeeping team even if their life depended on it? I have had another not so nice experience when my then travel partner rudely instructed the staff to serve him more food and beer because he ‘paid a lot of money’ for the trip and deserved to be pampered. I mean, there is definitely a proper manner to lodge a complaint but we have people who are always eager to jump at every opportunity to remind everyone that they have paid a lot of monies for the trip and people must bow before them (sometimes you are that person!). So, choose wisely.
