ON SAFARI - TRAVEL GUIDES

“There is something about safari life that makes you forget all your sorrows and make you feel like you had drunk half a bottle of champagne - bubbling over with heartfelt gratitude for being alive."
- Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen), Out of Africa

TRAVELING ON SAFARI

Going on safari is almost guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience, but careful planning is extremely important.  Choosing what kind of animals to see is of course important, but it is also important to consider seasonality, type of transport, lodging quality, and the type of fellow travelers in the group.  Here are our recommendations for the best travel books for someone planning a safari.

A5 RECOMMENDATIONS

Fodors Travel: Complete Guide to African Safaris

Our recommendation for one guidebook that covers all the African safaris is Fodor’s.  They publish an excellent book to help decide the perfect type of safari and the perfect destination for each traveler, including the popular gorilla treks in Rwanda and Uganda.  There are recommendations on the best tour operators for all budgets, tips on how to plan the trip, and suggestions on post-safari ideas for relaxation.   The Fodor’s Complete Guide to African Safaris is a very good place to start when thinking about a dream African safari.

Bradt Travel Guides

The second guide series we recommend for an African safari trip is the Bradt travel guide series.  They have focused on this continent since 1977, bringing a deep level of detail and authentic passion for the region with each of their books.  Their coverage and knowledge on wildlife is unmatched.  They publish safari guides for Tanzania and Botswana.

Whatever You Do, Don't Run, by Peter Allison

Whatever You Do, Don’t Run is a hilarious collection of true stories from African safari guide, Peter Allison.  His main challenge as a guide in Botswana is managing the world’s most dangerous animal, the wealthy tourist., and to make sure they understand the local truism, "Only food runs."  There are several very funny stories, and many that reveal Allison’s love for the animals and his respect for preserving their natural habitat.