The Best Safari Company For Your Safari Trip Here s How To Choose

W hich is the best African       end up in a situation like Dale    safari company for my         and Dana Russell who went on       safari trip? This is a        safari in Tanzania and chose       question that comes up very           their safari company by gut        frequently and it's not               instinct and price.                surprising.                                                                                                    They were the only two in the      There are so many safari              safari vehicle on this trip but    operators in the market all           things started to go downhill      promising the earth that it is        fast when they asked their driver  very difficult to choose between      and guide questions and he would   them, especially when you know        only answer in monosyllabic        nothing about them.                   grunts and sometimes not at all.                                                                           But there is a way to improve         And then on the way to the         your chances significantly of         Serengeti from Nairobi he began    making the right choice of safari     to visit his relatives while Dale  company for your dream African        and Dana had to sit fuming in the  safari trip and avoid the ones        safari vehicle. To make matters    that might turn your trip into a      worse when they finally did reach  nightmare. And it consists of         the Serengeti he would drive       three simple steps.                   straight at the animals as if he                                         was going to run them over and     Don't let this happen to           then stop at the last moment. And  you                               finally on the way back to                                               Nairobi he did run over and kill   If you leave this decision to         a goat that was crossing the       chance and just go with the           road, making no attempt to swerve  safari company that seems the         or slow down.                      best or the cheapest you might                                           Beware. There are a few                                                  shoestring operations like this       No problem. There are dozens of    out there but this one has            websites on the internet that      fortunately since closed down. So     list safari trip reports and       how do you avoid these cowboy         travel diaries written by the      operators when you choose a           people who have previously gone    safari company for your trip?         on the trip themselves. Find them  Simply apply the following three      and learn from them. The tips and  steps and you will cut out all        recommendations you can glean      the risky operators.                  there are very valuable for your                                         own trip.                          Recommendations from                                                  others                            Check their credentials                                                                              Some of the best advice you will      The next thing you need to do is   receive about a safari company is     check the credentials of the       from people who have been on a        safari company you are planning    trip with them already. They can      to use to make sure they are       tell you exactly how the company      reputable.                         performed and it's first hand                                            information without any kind of       To do your own research here is    marketing agenda.                     the process to follow...                                                                                    This is a great way to create a       Membership in safari associations  shortlist of safari companies so      don't guarantee that a company is  if you know anyone who has been       reputable but it can be a pretty   on safari before ask them about       good indication so find out if     it. But what if you don't know        your prospective safari guide is   someone who has been on safari        listed.                            before?                                                                  Here are the associations you can     there will be on your trip. Some   check: KATO - Kenya Association       of the companies can be guilty of  of Tour Operators, TATO -             trying to cram too many people     Tanzania Association of Tour          into the safari vehicle and that   Operators, SATSA - Southern           can become unpleasant.             Africa Tourism Services                                                  Association, TASA - Tours and         And ask about their payment        Safari Association of Namibia,        policies. Some companies place     ATTA - African Travel and Tourism     the clients money in trust until   Association and ASTA - American       the tour occurs so that in the     Society of Travel Agents.             unlikely event of the company                                            going into liquidation your money  If they are not members it            will be safe. Make sure they       doesn't automatically mean they       explain their cancellation and     are not reputable but it does         refund policy to you clearly and   afford some peace of mind.            the timing of reservations and                                           payments that need to be made.     Ask the right questions                                                                                 There are dozens of other          So you have a safari company in       questions that you can ask but     mind and you've done a little         these should go a long way         research to find out more about       towards establishing if they are   them and now it's time to get in      a fly-by-nighter just out to make  touch. What questions do you need     a quick buck.                      to ask to make sure you are going                                        to get the best value for your        Follow the three steps and you     money?                                can find the best safari company                                         for your trip with unerring        Find out how many other people        accuracy.                          About the Author: The Top Three African Safari Operators list is compiled by using the advice of previous safari travellers and covers the best companies in Africa- http://www.african-safari-journals.com/safari-operators.html... Not sure where to go on safari? These are the top five safari destinations in Africa- http://www.african-safari-journals.com/africa-trips Source: www.isnare.com