Travel Awcarts

Which is the best African safari company for my safari trip?

This is a question that comes up very frequently and it’s not surprising.

There are so many safari operators in the market all promising the earth that it is very difficult to choose between them, especially when you know nothing about them.

But there is a way to improve your chances significantly of making the right choice of safari company for your dream African safari trip and avoid the ones that might turn your trip into a nightmare. And it consists of three simple steps.

Don’t let this happen to you

If you leave this decision to chance and just go with the safari company that seems the best or the cheapest you might end up in a situation like Dale and Dana Russell who went on safari in Tanzania and chose their safari company by gut instinct and price.

They were the only two in the safari vehicle on this trip but things started to go downhill fast when they asked their driver and guide questions and he would only answer in monosyllabic grunts and sometimes not at all.

And then on the way to the Serengeti from Nairobi he began to visit his relatives while Dale and Dana had to sit fuming in the safari vehicle.

To make matters worse when they finally did reach the
Serengeti he would drive straight at the animals as if he was going to run them over and then stop at the last moment. And finally on the way back to Nairobi he did run over and kill a goat that was crossing the road, making no attempt to swerve or slow down.

Beware. There are a few shoestring operations like this out there but this one has fortunately since closed down.

So how do you avoid these cowboy operators when you choose a safari company for your trip? Simply apply the following three steps and you will cut out all the risky operators.

Recommendations from others

Some of the best advice you will receive about a safari company is from people who have been on a trip with them already. They can tell you exactly how the company performed and it’s first hand information without any kind of marketing agenda.

This is a great way to create a shortlist of safari companies so if you know anyone who has been on safari before ask them about it. But what if you don’t know someone who has been on safari before?

No problem. There are dozens of websites on the internet that list safari trip reports and travel diaries written by the people who have previously gone on the trip themselves. Find them and learn from them. The tips and recommendations you can glean there are very valuable for your own trip.

Check their credentials

The next thing you need to do is check the credentials of the safari company you are planning to use to make sure they are reputable.

To do your own research here is the process to follow…

Membership in safari associations don’t guarantee that a company is reputable but it can be a pretty good indication so find out if your prospective safari guide is listed.

Here are the associations you can check: KATO – Kenya Association of Tour Operators, TATO – Tanzania Association of Tour Operators, SATSA – Southern Africa Tourism Services Association, TASA – Tours and Safari Association of Namibia, ATTA – African Travel and Tourism Association and ASTA – American Society of Travel Agents.

If they are not members it doesn’t automatically mean they are not reputable but it does afford some peace of mind.

Ask the right questions

So you have a safari company in mind and you’ve done a little research to find out more about them and now it’s time to get in touch. What questions do you need to ask to make sure you are going to get the best value for your money?

Find out how many other people there will be on your trip. Some of the companies can be guilty of trying to cram too many people into the safari vehicle and that can become unpleasant.

And ask about their payment policies. Some companies place the clients money in trust until the tour occurs so that in the unlikely event of the company going into liquidation your money will be safe.

Make sure they explain their cancellation and refund policy to you clearly and the timing of reservations and payments that need to be made.

There are dozens of other questions that you can ask but these should go a long way towards establishing if they are a fly-by-nighter just out to make a quick buck.

Follow the three steps and you can find the best safari company for your trip with unerring accuracy.

Have you ever wondered if Wyndham timeshare resorts are right for you and your family? The only way to know for sure is to explore their packages before you buy. Wyndham is not a name that is associated with low quality, but while their prices aren’t the lowest, they aren’t the highest either. It’s important that you understand what timeshares are all about before you ever move forward and decide to purchase one.

About Wyndham Timeshare Resorts

Timeshares are available through Club Wyndham, and it’s important that you understand that timeshares require ownership. Timeshares also mean that you will have particular times when you alone are able to use the timeshare, because you are “sharing” it with others who are invested. It’s also worth mentioning that when you buy into Club Wyndham that you are essentially buying into any number of units.

Because you are buying into a number of units with Wyndham Timeshare Resorts, there is no guarantee for the amount of space you get, and while many couples may opt for this, you could have challenges when traveling with a family. Wyndham does offer a way to exchange those units for others when you choose to say at various locations that are part of the Club. You can buy into the Club whether you are buying your timeshare through a resale or directly from the Club.

Booking Your Vacation with Wyndham Timeshare Resorts

Wyndham timeshare resorts uses a point system which means that you may need a certain number of points to book a week’s vacation depending on where you are going. The one benefit that you will enjoy is that Wyndham is an affiliate with RCI, so you can exchange your points with their resorts, and you get to use whatever gives you the highest value.

Wyndham Timeshare Resorts and RCI

Did you know that because RCI is an affiliate of Wyndham that you may automatically get an RCI membership? These memberships are not free, and there are dues that must be paid in order to keep them. You may also be able to connect with an affiliate known as Trading Places, which also offers units, and you can make your reservations up to 13 months in advance. This means that you get the chance to book your vacation in enough time to get what you want where you want it.

Did you know that you can also get rentals through Wyndham Timeshare Resorts? Those who would like to pay a little less will enjoy staying at any number of rentals available rather than booking directly through the resort. There are many priced with significant discounts so that you can get the accommodations you need at the best price possible.

Did you know that you can choose from almost every state, and you can choose from locations in the territories and other countries? There is no shortage of vacation spots to choose from when it comes to Wyndham Timeshare Resorts, and you will be loving life when you return!

Air travel is one of the fastest way of traveling on our planet. You can get from point A to point B much quicker than all other modes of transport. For example, when traveling to the same destination, a ship can take months while a plane will only take hours. Obviously, speed is the number one advantage for traveling in an air plane. There are other advantages as well.

Comfort

Commercial air planes are often more comfortable to ride in when the destination is far away. Occasional turbulence may be experienced while traveling in an air plane. But this is nothing compared to the way a ship will roll in rough seas. Some people suffer from air sickness but this is very rare.

Temperatures are kept to a comfortable level, and entertainment may be available. You can choose to listen to some soothing music, watch videos, or even play Nintendo games on an air plane. The level of comfort also depends on the type of seats that you have bought tickets for.

If you have a little more budget, you may want to consider buying a business class air ticket. This is your ticket that will get you a seat that offers more leg room and personal space. You are also attended to by attentive air stewards or stewardesses. If you need anything at all (e.g. blankets, food and wine, etc), just make a request and the items will sent to you without you having to leave your seat.

Besides comfort, if you choose to travel by air, you can also enjoy greater convenience.

Convenience

It is more convenient to travel by plane, especially when you are in a rush. You can book air tickets easily from your favorite travel agency just by making a phone call. Your travel agency will advise you on the next available flight, and you can decide on the spot whether you want to make a reservation.

Many metropolitan airports are serviced by numerous airlines. So unless it’s the peak season, you should be able to book the tickets for the dates you want.

In addition, most international airports are equipped with comprehensive facilities to serve the difference needs of travelers. For instance, you should be able to locate car rental services easily at most major airports. Such services provide added convenience.

Perhaps the only major drawback for air traveling is the ticket price. The price of the ticket depends on your choice of airline, the class of your seat, and your destination. Bigger and more established airlines tend to charge more compared to smaller airlines. Business class seats are more luxurious, so they cost more than economy class seats. And of course, the further you travel, the more you may have to pay.

Despite higher prices, many still choose to travel by air due to the speed, comfort and convenience that air travel offers. Traveling by air saves a lot of time. Besides, numerous budget airlines offer air tickets at highly affordable prices. That makes air travel a more attractive mode of transport.