What to bring and what you need to know before coming on safari.

Equipment

• The most important safari accessory must be a good pair of binoculars. Binoculars are normally classified optically by two numbers, e.g. 10x42. The first number (10) is the magnification. The larger the number the bigger the magnification and the closer the subject you are looking at will seem. The second number has to do with the width of the lens and the higher the number the more light the binoculars will gather. If this number is larger the better the binoculars will work in dull light and the easier to hold still without shake. There are many different makes and models with anti-shake gadgets and so on. For a good pair you should expect to pay at least $300. I use a pair of Swarovski 10x42.

• Camera equipment is very important to many, however some clients are happy to simply observe and fully absorb the scenery and behaviour they come across on safari without distracting themselves with recording every detail. I personally now carry a good but simple little digital stills camera and a High Definition Handycam as I mostly take moving images so that I can use them for promotional DVDs. The smaller digitals now have great clarity but lack the quality magnification required for most wildlife photography. You will want to be able to take wide angle shots of scenery and bring telephoto lenses for animals if you have a conventional camera with interchangeable lenses. The larger the telephoto lenses the better.

• While on a luxury safari you will general have lights in your accommodations, however these may fail at times. A good flashlight and small portable reading light are therefore handy. LED headlamps are great especially the dearer Petzl’s.

• You may want to bring a personal music system.

• Good safari companies will have medical kits near at hand at all times however a simple travel medical kit is always handy including basic bandages and plasters, anti-septic cream, anti-histamine cream and pills, a broad-spectrum anti-biotic, pain killers and an after sun burn cream. Sun Block.

Clothing

Laundry services are generally good on Tanzanian safaris so you will only need four changes of comfortable cotton outfits. If you are on a luxury safari you may want to bring a couple of evening outfits for the nights you spend in hotels. Long and short sleeves and trousers are good to have.

It is at times quite cold in the evenings and mornings and is always cold at higher altitudes like Kilimanjaro or the Ngorongoro highlands. Unless you are mountain climbing a good sweater or jacket is sufficient. If you feel the cold particularly, a pair of gloves will help.

A pair of comfortable sandals and a good pair of walking shoes will suffice for footwear unless you are to do a walking or stalking safari. In that case a good light pair of walking boots will be needed.

Light pale colours are generally cooler, however if you will be walking or stalking in the bush, dark clothes are always less conspicuous to the animals. The best are dark greens, browns, blues or greys. Ex-army camouflage is great but not to be worn in the urban areas.

Light waterproof clothing is a good idea from November through to May.

A comfortable sun hat is important.

Food and drink

If you have favourite snacks or drinks you should bring them as they may not be available locally.

Guides

The most important thing is to communicate with the guide. Make sure he or she understands exactly what you want. If you want time to your selves, just say so. If you are not happy with your guide, tell the company who are outfitting your safari, and they will change them for another.

There are a whole range of guides. Some are really just drivers that know a little about identification of the basic animals and birds. A “driver guide” is the next level up and will have had some training and should be a reasonable animal behaviourist and ornithologist. “Lead guides”, “curriers” or “tour leaders” are generally up a notch on the driver guides and travel with VIP’s or large groups and overlook the logistics of the safari as well as being good guides.

There are then private guides who in many cases work independently and rely on their reputation. They market themselves. They should be very knowledgeable and good entertainers. Many have a depth of local knowledge and have worked in conservation, research and/or have military or hunting experience. Generally they are independent in mind set too, and work in the “top of the range” sector. They specialize in getting away from the rest and going off the beaten track to give you a more exclusive private experience.

Finally there are specialist guides who because of the background and experience have specialized in one aspect of safaris. These include botanists, ornithologists, archaeologists, anthropologists, walking/stalking guides and so on.

Tipping

Tipping is expected on safari and, like in a restaurant, it is an important part of the income of people working in the industry.

A tip is a gift however, and should always be given only to those that deserve it. Never feel obliged to tip. Many guides are a bit nonchalant at the beginning of a safari and then can’t do enough to please you towards the end of your stay!

A good guide would expect anywhere from a hundred on up to a thousand dollars a week for his efforts. Each client should also expect to, in addition, tip about fifteen dollars a day to the rest of the support staff. This is for the hotel tip box, or in the case of a camp it is given to the camp supervisor/headman.


Books

Most good safari companies will have some safari reference books in the cars but if you wish have your own, look at my list on:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1200735?shelf=reference-books

All travellers should read up on the area they are about to visit in order to fully appreciate where they are. Some general interest books of some relevance for safari or to the region can be found on:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1200735?shelf=african-interest