| Southern Africa tours have always been popular | | | | beforehand: |
| with society's more adventurous members - | | | | Tourism websites are meant to entice you, in |
| those who were keen to venture to a place | | | | fact, designers and copywriters spend most of |
| where they would encounter wild animals roaming | | | | their time making sure that it does. To ensure |
| the streets, indigenous people slaughtering | | | | that you don't get carried away and sign up for |
| livestock on their porches and tribe members | | | | that balloon-based hyena viewing adventure just |
| who run around maniacally, while banging drums | | | | for the heck of it, sit down with your travelling |
| and chanting. | | | | party beforehand and determine what your |
| But since the age of the Global Village has | | | | budget is and how you are willing to spend it. |
| dawned and the classic African Hollywood | | | | Break your expenditures down into categories like |
| stereotype has been disproven by countless | | | | flights, transport, accommodation, food and |
| YouTube videos showing bustling African cities, | | | | beverages, entertainment and spending money. |
| incredible landscapes and fantastic (structured) | | | | Having this on hand will make it easier to see |
| game viewing opportunities, even those who | | | | whether or not a particular African tour package |
| value their creature comforts (read: air | | | | is within your budget. |
| conditioning, Bilharzia-free water, wireless internet | | | | 3. Check the company's credentials, and then |
| connectivity) have jumped on the African tour | | | | check it again: |
| bandwagon. | | | | A good way to determine if a tour company is |
| Feel like heading down South for a bit of an | | | | legitimate right off the bat is to see whether or |
| African adventure? Keen to break out the | | | | not they are accredited with their country of |
| camouflage gear and binoculars? Fabulous idea - | | | | origin's tourism associations. These include: |
| while you're at it we would like to give you the | | | | ? KATO - Kenya Association of Tour Operators |
| opportunity to enjoy our world-renowned game | | | | ? TATO - Tanzania Association of Tour |
| parks, coastal hideaways and incredible hospitality. | | | | Operators |
| When travelling to Africa we highly recommend | | | | ? SATSA - Southern Africa Tourism Services |
| that you align yourself with a reputable tour | | | | Association |
| operator. While there is a lot to be said for | | | | ? TASA - Tours and Safari Association of Namibia |
| travelling independently and drawing up your own | | | | ? ATTA - African Travel and Tourism Association |
| itinerary, a structured African tour will give you | | | | ? ASTA - American Society of Travel Agents |
| the opportunity to explore the country without | | | | ? APTA - Association for the Promotion of |
| the hassle of securing your own transport and | | | | Tourism to Africa. |
| accommodation or sourcing activity providers. | | | | 4. Ask for references: |
| The African tourist trade is booming, which means | | | | If you decide on a tour operator that no family |
| there is a very large selection of Africa tour | | | | member or friend has used before, ask for |
| operators to choose from. This can be quite | | | | references from previous clients. Disgruntled |
| confusing, especially if you are visiting from | | | | clients are usually very keen to air their |
| abroad and are doing your research exclusively | | | | grievances and this will help you to weed out the |
| online. Clever marketing ploys and strategic | | | | bad apples early on. |
| website content can, unfortunately, muddy the | | | | 5. Check payment and cancellation policies: |
| digital waters and lead you astray. Here are a few | | | | There is always the chance that something may |
| handy pointers that should help you separate the | | | | happen which would prevent you from |
| good from the bad: | | | | participating in your African tour, which is why it is |
| 1. Go Old School: | | | | important that you make sure of the company's |
| Remember the good old days before Google | | | | payment and cancellation policies before you fork |
| when you actually had to go out and ask | | | | out your hard-earned holiday money. In the same |
| something if you wanted to know something? | | | | vein, in could happen that the area you are |
| User-generated reviews are all good and well, but | | | | planning to visit is flooded or that there are too |
| unfortunately these may be fabricated and can | | | | little people interested in a particular safari to |
| not always be trusted. If you are planning an | | | | make it viable - in which case your tour operator |
| African safari and don't know where to start, it is | | | | may be forced to cancel the trip. You should be |
| best to ask around. Talk to friends and family and | | | | informed about reimbursement policies should |
| make a note of tour operators they mention - | | | | something like this occur. |
| both the good and the bad. This way you will | | | | These five tips should make it a bit easier to |
| already have a frame of reference when you do | | | | select the African tour operator that will best suit |
| plunge headfirst into your online research. | | | | your budget and requirements. Good luck and |
| 2. Determine your budget and requirements | | | | happy surfing! |