Planning Your First Safari: What I Wish Everyone Knew Before Going

Your first safari is one of those experiences that stays with you.

It is not just seeing an elephant up close, hearing lions call after dark or watching the sun rise over the bush. It is the smell of the first rain, the dawn chorus, the crackle of a fire at night and the way the whole landscape changes as daylight fades.

For me, safari is a full-sensory experience. It is an opportunity to slow down and feel properly present in a world that runs to a different rhythm.

Having trained and worked as a safari guide in Southern Africa, I have been lucky enough to spend years in places where wildlife still sets the pace. You are not simply looking at nature from the outside; you are spending time within it, learning to pay attention and seeing how an ecosystem works when it is given the space to thrive.

The big sightings are brilliant, of course. But some of the most special moments are sitting around a campfire after a day in a remote wilderness area, listening to the wood pop and talking about what you have seen. You disconnect from everyday noise and reconnect with yourself, the people around you and the natural world.

If you are planning your first safari, here is what I think is worth considering.

1. Think about what you want from your safari

Before deciding where to go, ask yourself what you really want from the experience.

The “best” safari is not always the one everyone talks about. For some people, it is big game and wide-open plains. For others, it is a small camp, a walking safari or simply switching off somewhere remote with a good book, a fire and nowhere else to be.

A first safari should not be about trying to copy someone else’s trip. It should be about finding the style of safari that feels right for you. Do you want to be out before sunrise every morning, covering ground and looking for wildlife? Do you want to get out on foot and understand the smaller details of the bush? Or do you want a beautiful camp where you can slow down between game drives and properly take it all in?

There is no wrong answer. But getting clear on that before you book will make a huge difference.

2. Choose a lodge that lets the bush take centre stage

The lodge you choose can completely shape your safari.

For me, a great camp should make you feel more connected to the bush, not separate from it. It should be comfortable, welcoming and well run—but it should never distract from the reason you are there.

Look for places that work with the environment around them: smaller camps, thoughtful design, good guiding and a genuine sense of space. The best lodges feel as though they belong in the landscape, rather than being dropped into it.

It is also worth looking beyond the photographs. Find out how the lodge works with local communities, what its conservation approach is and whether your stay helps protect the habitat and wildlife around it. The most rewarding safaris are the ones where you can see that tourism is giving something back.

Luxury is brilliant when it adds comfort without taking away from the wildness of the experience. You want to sleep well, eat well and feel looked after—but still hear the lions at night.

3. Give yourself time

If you can, stay at least three nights in one area.

The first day is exciting, but you are still learning the rhythm of camp: the early starts, the game drives and the way the bush changes throughout the day. By the second or third day, you begin to relax, notice more and enjoy the smaller moments.

Nature does not work to a timetable. Giving yourself time is the best way to let the experience unfold properly.

4. Your guide matters more than you think

A good guide can make a safari.

They are not just there to point out animals. They help you read the landscape, understand behaviour, notice tracks and make sense of the things you might otherwise miss. The best guides make you feel relaxed, safe and completely absorbed in what is happening around you.

When choosing where to go, always ask about the guiding. It can make the difference between a good trip and an unforgettable one.

5. Do not chase a checklist

Of course, everyone wants to see amazing wildlife. But do not let a list of animals stop you enjoying everything else.

Some of the best safari moments are the quieter ones: hearing an alarm call in the distance, following fresh tracks, watching birds around camp or simply sitting with a view and seeing what appears.

Go with an open mind. Be open to being surprised. Safari is at its best when you stop trying to control every moment.

6. Get out on foot if you can

As a former walking safari guide, I will always encourage people to spend some time on foot where it is safe and permitted.

You may not see as much as you would from a vehicle, but you experience the bush in a completely different way. You notice the tracks, plants, insects, sounds and signs that make the landscape feel alive. Rather than simply visiting the environment, you begin to feel part of it.

7. Put your phone away

Try to disconnect as much as possible.

Take the photos you want, of course, but do not spend the whole trip looking at the bush through a screen. The best moments are often the ones where you are completely present: a sunrise coffee, an unexpected sighting, a conversation around the fire or the sound of the night outside your tent.

The digital world will still be there when you get home.

8. Pack simply

You do not need a different safari outfit for every day.

Bring comfortable, practical clothes in neutral colours, layers for cool mornings and evenings, a hat, sunscreen and shoes you are happy to walk in. Binoculars are always useful if you have them.

Most camps offer laundry, so packing light makes life much easier—especially if you are taking small internal flights.

9. Let the bush get under your skin

Your first safari does not need to be perfect. You will not see everything, and that is part of the beauty of it.

Arrive with an open mind, choose places that feel authentic, give yourself time and allow the bush to surprise you. The animals, the landscapes and the people will do the rest.

My first proper safari changed the way I looked at the world. I hope yours does too.

Planning your own safari?

If you have any questions about planning your first safari, feel free to get in touch by email or social media.

I’m always happy to point you in the right direction, share what I have learned and help you start shaping a trip that feels right for you.