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Adventure Africa: Safaris in Namibia, Botswana, Zambia
Every day in Africa is exciting and full of secrets, that are waiting to be discovered. If you have a flexible attitude and are open minded to get to know foreign cultures, animals, places and deal with unsual situations, then the SafariScout.com tours will give you lots of opportunities to experience your personal African adventure. Many of the tours are designed as participation safaris. That means that you have to be prepared to contribute your share towards everyday chores such as putting up your tent or taking turns in assisting with dish washing. Joining in, getting to know your travel mates and being part of the trip logistics is what turns a great tour into an unforgettable safari. Our tours are designed as outdoor trips. You will spend most of the day outside in impressive locations close to nature.
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Camping Safari in Africa: Adventures and Camp fire in Namibia, Malawi
A typical day on safari: Getting up with the sun will be the motto to make the most of each day. After breakfast the camp will be packed up and you will spend part of the day travelling to the next highlight. Sometimes the distance between stopovers can be as long as several hundred kilometres. For those days the journey will be rewarding you with phantastic landscapes. Lunch is usually an informal affair ie. with a picnic at a viewpoint. In the evening the camp will become a meeting place, where you can exchange travel tales around the camp fire.
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Camping Safari in Africa: With tent in Botswana, Namibia, Malawi
The group: depending on the safari 6 to 18 people from different nationalities.
Age: in general between 18 and 35 years. Certain tours attract certain age groups - that's why you will also find travel offers at SafariScout.com that are popular with people of 35+ years of age. Everybody is welcome that feels young or old enough to explore Africa on an adventure tour. Passengers under the age of 18 need a permission from their parents or guardian. Travellers over the age of 65 require a medical clearance certificate. We offer family safaris that are open for people from 8 to 80 years.
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Adventure Safari in Africa: Overland Truck Tour
The vehicle: You won't find a luxury coach on these tours. Instead a sturdy and comfy custom-built Mercedes, Toyota (or similar) truck will take you to the action. On shorter trips Microbusses can be used or open safari trucks for game drives. The trucks or Landcruisers are well equipped for an african adventure with comfortable coach type seats with seat belts and extra large windows that provide excellent visibility and photo opportunities. The interior of the trucks is spacious and you can move around between the seats easily. There are guide books and maps for your information on board. Each passenger will be provided with a personal locker for the storage of luggage. The bottom part of the truck houses all kitchen equipment with gas cookers, cooling facilities, tables, cutlery and crockery. Under a shade awning this camp kitchen can easily be erected and provides healthy fare. Some trucks have roof seats to soak in the 360 degree panorama of the surrounding landscape. The guide will be in contact with the group during the driving via an intercom or a window to the cockpit. A cd-player for entertainment is also on board. The trucks can handle nearly every terrain: They are equipped with long range fuel tanks, powerful diesel-engines and a 4 x 4 drive.
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Safari Camp in Africa: Adventure Tour with Truck
Meals: in general 3 per day - nutricious and hearty. You will be surprised about the varied menu the guides can prepare on a camp stove or open fire. They can cater for vegetarians and also a gluten free diet is not a problem. Let us know about your dietary requirements well in advance.
Accommodation: On the camping-safaris you will sleep in spacious two-men-canvas-dome-tents with mattrasses. You will need to bring a sleeping bag or can rent one from the tour operator. Your tent you will have to put up and take down by yourself and once you have done it a few times it will only take a few minutes. The campgrounds in Southern Africa are of very high standard. Situated in nature environments they are equipped with electricity, hot water, showers, bathtubs, kitchens, fridges, stoves and sometimes with swimming pools, restaurants, telephones, shops and information boards. On the accommodated tours you will overnight in hotels or hostels, bungalows, african style huts or chalets. Though this type of accommodation will be more comfortable than the tents on the camping safaris - nevertheless, don't expect a luxury safari! All tours, no matter if camping or accommodated, are designed for you to have an outdoor adventure holiday.
On some of the SafariScout.com adventures wild bush camping awaits you. Though less comfy a great opportunity to experience Africa's nature. Mostly on the Special Safaris, where on some of them you travel off the beaten tracks this type of overnighting is used ie. on a kayak safari in Mozambique, when visiting Spitzkoppe Mountain in Namibia or whilst staying in the Okavango Delta of Botswana. You still camp in designated camping areas - but sanitary facilities are rare or non existent (except for drinking water in some places). If you want to watch wildlife in nearly untouched natural habitat you'll have to make do without a shower for a day or two and with a toilet that is not more than a hole in the ground. The guides will provide the necessary equipment, water and food.
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Safari mobile: Camping Adventure in Africa
Language: Most of the tours will be conducted in english or german. Usually the guide will speak a second language as well. Some tours will have french or spanish speaking guides on board. It is possible to organise a translator, if you are not able to understand any of the languages on tour. Since your travel mates will be from different nationalities there will always be somebody that can help should communication problems arise.
The guides: They are well trained professionals, who know Africa inside out. They are a rich source of information when it comes to explaining culture, animal behaviour, local custom, everyday life, the stars, the weather or why ie. South Africa calls itself the Rainbow Nation. They can be strict when it comes to getting up with the sun, but when you get spoiled with the early morning sight of a pride of lion feasting on an antilope you will be grateful for that wake up call. The guides know, what makes Africa tick and from their experience they also know, what visitors to the continent are interested to see. And in the evenings around the camp fire the guides are perfect story tellers. Their adventure tales are better than every TV programme.
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Safari Guide in Africa: Drakensberg Hike, South Africa
The safari companies: They are small to medium sized operations based in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia or Malawi with an experience of 10 to over 20 years in the tourism industry. They are registered with the local authorities like the South African Tourism Association SATSA for instance. Apart from their excellent Know How they have all the necessary licences and insurances to make your african adventure safe, enjoyable and service-orientated. Going on safari with these companies you will not only experience a professional attitude, but also the love of Africa and the enthusiasm for its nature, people and animals. That's why a lot of the companies support local communities or wildlife conservation or rehabilitation projects. SATSA also offers their members a financial insurance.
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SATSA - the South African Tourism Association guarantees good service
Luggage: Pack your spirit for adventure, your zest for life and lots of curiosity - leave stress, your watch, mobile phone and laptop at home! Don't expect to find certain situations, but be open enough to deal with every situation that you find. The luggage compartments of the trucks are not designed for suitcases - take a duffel bag or backpack instead. Camera and binoculares should always be close at hand, also sunscreen and comfy clothes. Don't pack too much - that way you will have more space in your pack for souvenirs. We will send you a pre-departure checklist for your luggage.
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At camp after an adventure walking safari at Greater Kruger Park, South Africa
