A holiday to Africa will almost certainly be the most exciting trip you'll ever go on. 

But, equally, to ensure it's perfect, it'll probably need to be the most rigorously planned. 

The continent is immense, and so are the travel possibilities. Africa's 54 vastly different countries, all with their unique experiences and cultures, cover a landmass larger than USA, China and Europe combined. 

The prospect of deciphering all of the options can be truly overwhelming, and can make what should be a fun planning process feel daunting. 

It's easy to become disheartened when you think you've found the perfect combination only to discover the logistics simply aren't possible. Planning a holiday can, and should be, an enjoyable activity. 

This simple guide will quickly help you whittle down the possibilities, leaving you with just a handful of dream destinations tailored to exactly what you're looking for - ensuring that you make the most of your time on this stunning continent.

Experience

The most important aspect when organising any holiday is to understand what experiences you want to return home with, and to ultimately enjoy and learn from. 

For us, this is the essence of any adventure, and the key to the entire planning process. Once you understand what you want to experience, the majority of your other decisions will simply fall into place.

Africa is fortunate to play host to an incredible range of activities and options. We couldn't list them all here if we tried! We have, however, broadly categorised all of the possibilities into three groups (click each to explore in more detail): Safari, Cultural and Beach. 

When considering what you want to get out of your holiday, to try to visualise the types of landscape and, if possible, even the types of accommodation you want to spend time in. This information can be very valuable later on in the planning process. 

If you're still unsure about the purpose of your adventure, try a spot of 'armchair travelling'! Our Instagram page is a great place to start. It is important to not try to replicate other people's experiences. Do your own thing. Create your own memories. 

When & How Long

If what you want to experience is seasonal (seeing turtles nesting, admiring the famous river crossings of the Great Migration, floating through the flooded Okavango Delta), deciding when to travel might be predetermined. If not, it's good to be as flexible as possible with your dates to fit with the natural seasons of Africa, and to make the most of special offers and seasonal rate fluctuations. 

Depending on what you want to experience, we'd recommend 10 days as the minimum amount of time to spend on a holiday to Africa. Not only will this give you more flexibility when travelling, but spending slightly longer in each destination gives you a much richer experience compared to rushing around trying to fit everything in. 

It is impossible to 'see' Africa in one trip - which is why it's so important to be thoughtful when planning your holiday, and reflect on the priorities. 

If you travel slowly and embrace local cultures, you will develop more authentic and memorable experiences.

Where

Now that you have thought about 'What' and 'When', 'Where' will hopefully now be much more obvious. Now, you can really narrow down the options, and start to look at individual countries and areas.

Logistically, there are a number of very important considerations which may become deciding factors when creating your itinerary. This is where we come in, and how we can help you plan your perfect trip. 

Using our experience and knowledge of Africa's intricacies, and by understanding what makes you tick, we will very quickly be able to advise the most suitable experiences for you.

It's these finer details, which can so easily be overlooked, that can make a huge difference to your overall enjoyment: The type of safari vehicle, the best side of the island to base yourself in a certain month, the bumpiness of the roads, the right time of day to visit the dunes, the off-roading restrictions in a reserve, the heat in the Delta in October, the cost savings if you travel a week later! 

This is the knowledge we bring to the table, and ensures your holiday is fine-tuned to your requirements.

Budget

There are no two ways about it - travelling to Africa for a holiday can be expensive. Although, it doesn't have to be prohibitively so.

There are many ways to reduce the cost if you know the tricks of the trade. For a safari, travelling during 'Green Season' for example is a fantastic way to explore some of the world's best lodges for a fraction of the cost.

When you think about what goes into a safari, what's included, and the experience and service you receive, the cost very quickly becomes justifiable. Simply imagine what the price of an all inclusive, five-star accommodation in Central London with a full day of activities could cost!

There are of course ways to reduce prices, such as a self-drive safari, however we consider the guided aspect invaluable to the overall experience! 

Our Top Tips

It you're curious about travelling to Africa, but unsure about where to start, do some research to increase your knowledge about the destination or experience. We guarantee you'll be amazed at what's possible on the continent. Follow some individuals or companies that inspire you, or sign up to their newsletters. 

Don't wait until the kids are older - take them now and foster their sense of adventure. You never know what it may inspire them to do!

Don't try to do everything yourself. It's very difficult to get everything right first time. While you will learn from your mistakes, you might be frustrated with the outcome. Speak to someone who has done it before for advice.

Where to Begin

Are you longing to be immersed in Namibia's stunning scenery? To track lions on foot in Zambia? To explore the wonders of Cape Town? To watch the sun set over the plains of the Serengeti? To admire lemurs leaping through the branches in Madagascar? Or to be nestled under a palm tree with a good book and a cocktail in Mozambique? 

Our skill is creating truly epic, personalised itineraries by properly listening to you and pairing your expectations with our knowledge and experience of Africa.

If we've inspired to you start thinking about your African adventure and you want to start a conversation, don't hesitate to get in touch. We'd love to have an exploratory chat with you about the continent we adore.