Common Travel Mistakes to Avoid in Serengeti

Top Serengeti Travel Mistakes to Avoid for a Perfect Safari Experience.

Common Travel Mistakes to Avoid in Serengeti. Planning a Tanzania safari to the world-famous Serengeti National Park is one of the best things you can do. Serengeti National Park offers unrivalled wildlife experiences all throughout the year. There are, however, common mistakes that many travellers make while on it. Avoiding them is possible. Common travel mistakes to avoid in the Serengeti include booking travel in the wrong season, rushing the itinerary, booking accommodation in the Serengeti far from your intended region of focus, and so much more. This article shall explore the common travel mistakes to avoid in the Serengeti in detail as follows:

Planning and Logistics

• Wrong seasonal planning.

Depending on what you want to experience on your Serengeti safari, travelling in the wrong season should be avoided. Familiarise yourself with the different seasons in the Serengeti. If witnessing the great wildebeest migration is your priority, know where the herds are expected during which month. Your expert safari planner should be able to guide you on this if using a tour operator.

• Last-minute booking (booking too late)

Last-minute booking, especially for the peak season, is not a great idea. Luxury lodges and camps in the Serengeti sell out fast because of limited capacity for that intimate touch, with some selling out even a year in advance. A last-minute booking for the peak season has you missing out on some of the best lodging options. The migration seasons have accommodation getting booked out in advance as well, despite the budget range. It is advised that you book your Serengeti safaris well in advance.

• Wrong accommodation location choices

Wrong accommodation location choices are a common mistake that one can easily avoid. If you are booking with a reputable tour operator, you definitely will not face this. Do not book cheap accommodation that is usually outside Serengeti National Park. This increases transit times that would otherwise have been perfect for game viewing.

• Underestimating driving times

Serengeti National Park is a vast open plain covering a very large area of Tanzania. Underestimating drive times is a common travel mistake by many new operators and self-drive clients. Distances are quite long, and with unpaved roads in the park and speed limits, you are bound to err. A drive of just 100 kms can take more hours than anticipated. Long drive times cause fatigue and deprive you of enough game viewing. Breaking your transfers to and from the Serengeti with other destinations like Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara or Lake Natron is highly advised.

Packing and Health Care

• Incorrect wear

Packing incorrectly is another of the many mistakes that travellers make while planning for their Serengeti safari. Bright colours attract tsetse flies, camouflage is quite restricted, and carrying hard-sided suitcases is not suitable. Travellers are advised to bring neutral colours like white, cream, khaki, olive green and the like.

• Forgetting tech and gear

How shall you keep memories of your dream African safari to Serengeti National Park if you do not carry good tech and gear? A good camera with enough memory and zoom (or a really nice phone of late), power banks to keep the gadgets charged while on safari, recommended adaptors, binoculars and the like should be packed for a successful Serengeti safari.

• Undermining health precautions

Yellow fever vaccination cards are mandatory at immigration if coming from high-risk countries. Malaria is prevalent in Africa, and so are several other illnesses. Take time to consult your personal physician in regard to travel to Tanzania. Do not undermine health precautions, for you may not be allowed entry into the country or, worse, get really sick.

• Proper Documentation

Travellers tend to forget to have the proper documentation that allows them entry into Tanzania for their Serengeti safari. Valid passports with at least 6 months to expiry and visas are mandatory. Without them, you will not be allowed into Tanzania for your ultimate Serengeti safari.

While on Safari

• Noise pollution

Noise pollution includes making noise by talking loudly or excitedly during game drives or, even worse, by playing music in the park. This is against park rules, and it disrupts animal behaviour. Remember to be polite while visiting the wildlife in the Serengeti, in their home.

• Overloading the itinerary

Another common travel mistake in the Serengeti is overloading your itinerary. Putting so much into a safari, more so over a short period of time, leads to exhaustion and sometimes missing out on the activities planned if time is not kept.

• Overriding your safari guide

Some travellers make the mistake of ignoring their safari guide’s instructions while on safari. Your safari guides are more knowledgeable about the wild game in the Serengeti and the park itself, they have been at their job often times longer than 10 years. So yes, they are knowledgeable. Advice on animal safety, location, or timings for game drives and even set-off times should not be overlooked. Opt for a self-drive if having a guide or following instructions is not your forte.

• Unrealistic Wildlife Expectations

Expecting to encounter all the animals, more so almost at once, is a mistake that many make on their Serengeti safaris. Wildlife is, indeed, wildlife. It is unpredictable. The Mara River crossings, Grumeti River crossings, predator action, and everything in the wild, really, are left to chance. Many have, however, experienced all the above and more. With an expert local Tanzania safari guide, be sure to spot so much. Regardless, however, manage expectations so that you do not get disappointed.

With the above highlighted mistakes to avoid in the Serengeti, essential tips for your Serengeti safari success include the following:

Book with a reputable tour operator. Just because the safari is cheap does not mean that they are the right one to book with. Take time to vet them and review their associations and testimonials from previous clients.

Packing light and right includes using soft-sided luggage, the right clothing and not plenty of it (laundry services are available at an extra cost); stay clear of bright colours, and yes, do not carry so much. Be mindful of the luggage limitations of your international flights and domestic flights, which usually have a limit of 15 kg. Extra luggage comes at a cost.

Hire or ask for knowledgeable Tanzania safari guides. This will help you have firsthand information from locals who are well conversant with their country. Apart from sharing about the wildlife, they can easily follow to spot them and give very authentic takes on the Tanzanian tribes, cultures and way of life. They also know their country and terrain best, so yes, you would be quite safe while manoeuvring those long, dusty road transfers and more.

A Serengeti safari is one of the best ways to experience the African wilderness. Get in touch with us to help you curate Serengeti safari packages and so much more.