Safari Demand

Word is out about southern Africa, and demand now far outstrips the very limited supply of safari camps in the region's prime safari areas.

If you are at the stage of initial research, our advice is this - don't lose momentum and put the formal planning aside for some time in the future. If a southern African safari is something that you want to pursue, and you are (or can be) in a position to commit yourself to specific dates, now is the time to act. This is particularly true if:

* You are a group of six or more traveling together

* You are planning a safari during the timeframe of June through October, or the Christmas - New Year Holidays

* You want to do your safari in Botswana or Zambia, or some of the high profile reserves in South Africa (e.g. Singita, Londolozi, MalaMala)

If any of the above criteria apply to you, we strongly recommend booking at least a year in advance; 18 months is preferable, and we even have clients who book a full two years in advance to secure the camps and dates that they want. We know that committing this far into the future can be challenging, but it is the only way to avoid disappointment and ensure that you get exactly what you want.

If you are a late starter, and are already behind this schedule, don't automatically despair, it's always worth trying. The camps do sometimes get cancellations, and finding one or two rooms at relatively short notice is often a possibility - despite our best efforts to persuade travelers to book long in advance, almost half of our itineraries every year are still booked within 6 months of travel. If you are late in getting started, you will increase your chances of getting your first choice itinerary if your dates are flexible within a given timeframe, and you don't mind switching the order of destinations.

Our initial conversation with a prospective client often ends with the question, "So, when should we start making concrete plans". Our answer is always, "As soon as you are in a position to commit yourself to dates. There is no such thing as planning too long in advance for a southern African safari!"

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