10 Common Questions Travel Advisors Have About Booking and Planning Safaris

For many travel advisors' clients, a safari is an once-in-a-lifetime bucket list experience. For advisors who don't specialize in safaris, they might only book a handful during their career. This can lead to lots of questions about how to plan the "right" safari for your clients. While working with an expert partner is the best way to ensure your clients have a perfect safari, Travel Market Report passed on some of advisors' most common questions to safari operators to get their expert advice.

Q: Is a safari too strenuous for elderly clients that are not active? - Valerie Stadler Cusumano, owner, World Escapes Travel

Answer: Craig Beal, owner, Travel Beyond
No! The beauty of a safari is that it really can work for all ages and interests, but travel advisors need to keep in mind a few key things.

Consider the type of safari. Safaris can vary widely in terms of intensity, duration, and physical demands. For elderly clients or people with health/mobility issues, I encourage people to stick to traditional game drives, as opposed to boating or other more active experiences like walking or bike rides. Game drives take place in a comfortable (albeit bumpy) four-wheel drive vehicle and are generally easier for elderly travelers to navigate getting in and out of.

I often recommend that elderly clients have longer stays at fewer camps, rather than moving from place to place every couple of days. The physical demands of the transfer between camps can be tiring. Keep in mind that any client can choose to opt in or out of daily activities in the event they need to rest or just want a little relaxation time.

Accommodations are key. Some properties require rope bridges to enter the camp and others may have many stairs that make access difficult for the elderly. A good advisor will keep this in mind when working with elderly clients and will make sure that their accommodations are easily accessible by vehicle. More importantly, some rooms can be a fair distance from the camp’s common areas. I always request rooms that are closer to the dining room and bar for elderly travelers. They still appreciate the privacy of their rooms but do not have to walk as far.

Keep in mind climate, seasonability, personal interests, and overall trip duration. Safaris have so many variables and it is important that you spend the right amount of time preparing and planning to ensure your client's comfort and enjoyment.

Q: Which region would you recommend for first timers? – Terri Jobe, owner, Blue Water Travel

Answer: Sherwin Banda, president, African Travel Inc.
South Africa offers a diverse array of experiences for clients who are looking for a kaleidoscope of experiences. It is also great value for money because of the dollar/rand exchange so what clients get in this destination is much more than any other region across Africa.

Kruger is vast and expansive. There is large game to be seen including the Big 5 and other wildlife. From an immersive cultural experience, connecting with ancient people, connecting with wildlife, having a ton of diversity of experiences at your fingertips, and combining sightseeing with the bush is something that is truly wonderful.

In addition, South Africa is a perfect destination for the LGBTQ+ community because it's a destination that is so welcoming to all guests. It's a safe destination whether you are traveling by yourself, in a group, or with loved ones.

Q: How long should a safari be and what would be the range for the average cost per day? – Robyn Jacobs, Orca Travel LLC

Answer: Wayne Nupen, managing director, Africa Touring, andBeyond
The length of trip is always dependent on the traveler, but most travelers will be in Africa for 10 to 14 days. Some destinations have logistics and different locations within them that demand longer stays than others, but 10 to14 days usually gives guests enough time to explore most destinations in full.

Each destination's pricing will vary. South Africa and Namibia are non-USD denominated destinations and as such are more affordable than most others. Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Zambia are USD denominated but will be similar in daily spend. You will usually look at a spend of $1,000 - $1,800 a day, per person [for luxury safari travel] depending on the season for the best product in the destinations including activities and logistics. In East Africa you will be closer to $1,250 - $3,000 a day, per person [for luxury safari travel] depending on destination.

Q: Is a yellow fever shot required for arrival in Kenya (Nairobi)? – Amy Madson, Madson & Associates/Dream Vacations

Answer: Sherwin Banda, president, African Travel Inc.
Yellow fever [vaccination] is required depending on the destination a client is traveling from or has visited in recent years. However, when traveling directly from North America, no yellow fever shot is required.

Q: Are there age-appropriate safaris for children? Where would you recommend a family with children take a safari? – Dana Dziegiel, Gypsea Travels, LLC

Answer: Suzanne Teng, product manager, Africa and South Pacific, Abercrombie & Kent
Yes, there are age-appropriate safaris for children. In order to determine if your child is ready for safari, parents need to keep in mind the following: Children need to be able to sit in vehicles for longer periods of time, which is the essence of game driving. They also need to abide by certain safety regulations required during a safari (not being overly active in the vehicle, keeping arms inside the vehicle, staying very quiet around animal sightings). 

Kenya is a wonderful destination for families. In addition to the game drives in 4WD vehicles, many locations on private reserves / conservancies offer active options such as walking, riding horses or camels, and safari guides love to lead kids in discoveries such as identifying animal scat and tracks. Interactions with Maasai or Samburu offer such an amazing way for kids to learn about these traditional cultures. They can learn how the Maasai or Samburu start fires, rituals for coming of age, throw spears and rungus, etc.  I find Kenyans are very welcoming of kids and love to interact with them! The Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya historically has Great Migration herds starting in August, when children from the USA are typically still on summer break.

South Africa is also a great family destination with options in malaria-free areas such as the Eastern Cape.  Cape Town and the Winelands offer a host of family-friendly activities.

Answer: Craig Beal, owner, Travel Beyond
Yes! Just as Africa is suitable for elderly travelers, it is also suitable for children – making this a perfect spot for multigenerational travel. Traveling with your family is such a unique opportunity and a wonderful way to open your child's eyes to the world around them. Many camps have "Junior Ranger" programs that allow children to participate in fun and educational wildlife activities including guided nature walks. When considering camps, travel advisors should check for age restrictions for any of the camp's activities. These rules are for the children's safety but may limit the choices for kids on the trip.

I often recommend South Africa for family safaris because of its well-developed infrastructure and its many family-friendly lodges, with family suites, pools, kid friendly meals, exclusive-use villas, and more. Kenya is another great choice and is the perfect place to add on a visit to a local community to provide children with an unforgettable cultural experience.

Q: What can destinations within Africa offer my clients in addition to safari lodges and game drives that will offer them some variety on the itinerary? – Justin Smith, president, The Evolved Traveler

Answer: Sunit Sanghrajka, president and founder, Alluring Africa
There are great offerings beyond the traditional game drive. You can do walking safaris where the guides are so good they can smell, hear, and track game so you're able to get up close to grazing species like zebra, giraffe, and buffalo in South Lawanga [Zambia]. Or head to the Lower Zambezi to get up close by boat or canoe to see elephants on the banks or emerging from the water with their big trunks. Get close to others like crocodiles and hippos. 

For something more real and immersive, head to Usangu in Southern Tanzania where they take you out with researchers who are collaring animals, tracking lions at night to see their hunting patterns, and doing more critical research in that area.  You can see the last of the northern white rhino and so many more cool things. 

In the Lewa Conservancy [Kenya], you can go on foot or horseback among the herd of zebra, which is quite a remarkable experience. The zebras aren't disturbed when you're riding on a similar species among them.

For the active traveler, mountain biking through reserves is as physically active as you want to be vs. sitting in a boat. It really comes down to the client's preference and motivations.

Don't forget that in Africa you can also go and appreciate the marine life in Mozambique such as whales and bottlenose dolphins; you can swim with both in the wild and see different types of sharks and marlins, as well.

Q: What places offer more interaction with animals (walking with cheetahs or feeding giraffes) and are these places reputable and is this safe for the animals (and the humans!)? – Elizabeth Caran, owner, Outlander Travel LLC

Answer: Sunit Sanghrajka, president and founder, Alluring Africa
"There are some places that are great to see animals while respecting their habitat and doing it ethically. In Kenya, at Giraffe Center you will see these beautiful faces, long lashes up close and feed them. Stop in Karen (also in Kenya) to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to see the baby elephant haven that's set up so the interaction is not disruptive and the elephants approach you. Another great place is Retreti [in Northern Kenya]. The goal is to re-wild them and put them in a matriarchal herd, so they aren’t accustomed to being fed by humans or hinder them from going back when ready. 

In South Africa at Camp Jabulani, the elephants are not able to be re-wilded for various reasons, however, you can get up close. These elephants have such a keen sense of smell that they can pick up on poachers like tracking the trackers.

Another great animal… is the meerkat. The only thing they rely on humans for is a ladder to climb up for a better view. A great place for this at Tswalu in South Africa or Jack's Camp in Botswana."

Q: I have clients who refuse to fly by small planes. Are there multi-country safaris that do not rely on this method of travel? – John Sposato, IC at East End Journeys

Answer: Sherwin Banda, president, African Travel Inc.
Yes, if clients are flying in and out of international major cities, from city to city where they are on big planes. However, all African safari lodges are in remote parts of Africa, where the landing strips cannot take commercial airlines and the only way to get there is by small planes or by caravan.

Guests who have a phobia of small planes should avoid remote areas of Africa since commercial planes are not accessible to these to these parts. For those guests who are flying into South Africa by commercial plane, it is possible for them to still have amazing safari experiences but they would have to opt to safari in destinations that have commercial airlift to those regions. Cape Town, Kruger, and Victoria Falls are all accessible by road or large aircraft, so South Africa is an ideal destination for clients who do not want to fly by small planes.

Guests can also do a driving safari all over Kenya but be prepared to sit in a vehicle for five hours between spots.

Q: Would a safari via a sunrise air balloon experience be too strenuous for elderly travelers? – Cheerie Dorris, owner, Cheerie Travel LLC

Answer: Suzanne Teng, product manager, Africa and South Pacific, Abercrombie & Kent
"In general, it is not too strenuous. In fact, there is little physical activity involved with hot air ballooning. The more challenging aspect is that one needs to be somewhat mobile to get in and out of the balloon basket.  If someone has physical limitations, assistance can be arranged so they can enjoy this amazing experience.

Q: Can you explain what the entrance to a Sundowner location is like? Is it flat or are there stairs to navigate? – Penny Gellatly, owner, Escape by Travel LLC

Answer: Craig Beal, owner, Travel Beyond
"A sundowner is a highlight of any day on safari, and while location can vary widely, elderly clients will generally find these spots to be flat and accessible. Their guide will always choose a beautiful spot that is best suited for the travelers. There will likely be uneven terrain, including rocky surface and while some walking may be required, it is usually just a few steps and is not overly strenuous. The guides are skilled at ensuring participants can safely reach the sundowner spot and will provide assistance if needed. Some safari lodges may have specially designed locations with raised platforms that may require going up a few steps, but again, choosing the right accommodations for elderly travelers will mitigate those issues."