Choosing the right operator for your African safari can be quite confusing as there are literally thousands of them to choose from. As a participant in the Coursera and North Western University Social Marketing Program , as well as having over 20 years experience in the safari industry as a tour operator, there are 2 articles I suggest you read before making your choice.
The first article is on Wiki How – How to Choose the Best Safari Operator for your Safari and it gives you 5 clear and concise tips tips on the criteria you need to use to narrow down your choice of tour operator, including asking the right questions of your operator, and checking their authenticity and reputation.
The 2nd article is by Nomadic Matt – Choosing the Right Tour Company, and although not specific to African tour operators, he shares some very relevant tips on choosing the right tour operator. He addresses the issue of responsible tourism and environmental impact, both of which are a global responsibility today.
In my experience as a tour operator, and drawing on these 2 articles, I have listed 3 critical points to consider when choosing your safari tour operator.
- Ensure the company you sign up with is actually the company you will be travelling with – this will prevent you from falling for scams
- Cheapest is not always best – check for hidden costs and costs not included.
- Check the credentials of the company – most reputable companies are members of their country’s tourism association.
Follow these 3 simple tips to experience a trouble free and great African vacation.
Shaheen Therani is an experienced East African Tour Operator who runs a successful tour company, Wild Destinations. She is currently taking the Social Media Specialization Course from Coursera and North Western University. You can follow her on @WildDestination, https://www.facebook.com/wilddestinationsafrica/ and https://ke.linkedin.com/in/shaheen-therani-32a6b520 .
Wild Destinations Ltd 