What I Wish I Knew Before First African Safari

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My husband and I went on our first African safari last year.
The bucket-list trip was incredible, but there are a few things I wish I had known before we left.
I didn’t realize how different each safari drive would be or that I should’ve packed differently.

Last year, my husband and I took a 10-day guided group tour of South Africa with Adventures By Disney.

Part of the trip included a three-day African safari at the Kapama River Lodge, a luxury safari resort on the Kapama Game Reserve near Kruger National Park.

Even though most of the trip’s schedule and transportation details were planned for us through the tour group, it was our first time in South Africa — and our first time on safari in general.

Needless to say, we weren’t totally prepared for what the experience would entail. Here are the five things I wish I had known before going on the trip.

I should have packed more layers.

We went on safari in August, which is Africa’s winter. During this time of year, the temperature can fluctuate greatly during the course of a day.

Even after researching the weather patterns, the range in temperature caught me off guard. For example, our morning safaris were very cold, but by early afternoon, it became T-shirt weather.

I mainly brought sweaters for the trip, but looking back, I would have focused on packing layers instead.

I also found headgear to be absolutely vital for blocking the sun and keeping my hair from getting unruly in the wind. On my next trip, I’ll definitely bring more than one hat with me.

I didn’t realize I’d want to spend more time at our resort.

While planning the trip, I was so focused on the safari experience that I didn’t realize how amazing our resort would be.

With its beautiful spa and gourmet dining options, it felt like an all-inclusive resort. Three days there was not nearly enough time.

Next time, I’d carve out additional time to explore the lodge’s restaurant, spa, and amenities in more depth.

Each safari drive offered something unique.

As part of our vacation package, we were able to go on two safaris each day: one in the morning and one in the evening. Ahead of the trip, I had a preconceived notion that things would get redundant. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

I’m so glad I didn’t skip any of the safaris because I was able to see all of the Big 5 animals: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and African buffalo.

Night rides ended up being my favorite as we stopped in the middle of the bush for a happy hour at a makeshift bar. If I had only gone on the daytime rides, I would have missed this entire experience.

It would’ve been nice to have a professional camera.

I had no idea just how many animals we would spot and how close we would get — sometimes, within several yards.

Although there’s definitely value in enjoying a moment, I do regret not bringing a professional camera on at least a few safari rides to get incredible photos.

I had no reason to be stressed before the trip.

“Bucket list” isn’t a term I take lightly, but I absolutely feel comfortable labeling this trip as such.

This was the most outside-of-my-comfort-zone vacation I’ve taken to date. I knew very little about what to expect and was worried about letting others take control of the planning.

However, it ended up being one of the best trips I’ve ever taken, and I wish I’d gone into it less stressed.

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