If you've decided an African safari holiday is for you, you're joining a long line of intrepid travelers who have decided they want it all. On an African wildlife safari you can get up close with the world's most exotic creatures, marvel at stunning natural vistas and landscapes, and just breathe in the beauty and mystery of the world's oldest civilizations. Just being in Africa is a unique experience, but here are some ways to get the absolute most out of your African safari. The first thing is to do your homework. Even though your safari organizer will be taking care of all the details, and educating you along the way, doing some research of your own will go a long way towards enhancing your safari experience. So what kind of homework should you do? Bone up on the history of the country you’re visiting. The Internet makes accessing any information a snap but your local library is still well worth a visit. Borrow a few large illustrated tomes on Africa and sit back, read and let your imagination take you to that far continent. Read up, too, on the animals. Find out about their daily lives, likes and dislikes. It will make it all the more rewarding when you finally meet them in the flesh. Finally, find out as much as you can about the people whose country you're visiting. It's often the people you meet on your travels that make the biggest and most lasting impression. Packing for your safari is also a key task. You'll need a valid passport and visa, of course. Bear in mind that many countries require a passport with a remaining validity of at least six months. As for visas, your safari organiser will advise you on this. As for clothing, shorts and a t-shirt is standard wear during the day and a long sleeved shirt and long trousers in the evening for warmth and for protection against mosquitoes. If you're sensitive to sunlight, a long-sleeved light cotton shirt is useful during the day. As for colours, khaki, brown, olive and beige colours are best, while white is a no-no. Not only does white make you visible to the animals, it also gets dirty very quickly. Other handy items include hats and binoculars. The next thing to prepare is your photography equipment. One of the highlights of aAfrican safaris is the tremendous opportunity for taking memorable photographs. For one thing, the landscapes are varied and offer everything from vast plains to soaring mountains and deep lakes. Then, of course, there are the animals themselves. A photograph of a mother elephant leading its young to drink at a watering hole at evening is something that will give a lifetime of happy memories. Your best option is a 35mm SLR (single lens reflex) camera with interchangeable lenses. You'll want to pack a 25-70mm lens for landscapes, 70-210mm for moving objects and an 80-200mm lens for wildlife photography. If you use film, an auto winding function is a must as it will allow you to capture a burst of shots quickly without having to wind the film on. If you use digital, be sure to stock up memory cards and spare batteries. There's nothing worse than your perfect shot appearing at dusk and having a full card or empty battery. Remember not to photograph any government or military building or instillation, including airports, railway stations, and border posts. Plus when you photograph the locals, it's polite to ask permission first. Certain tribes such as the Maasai may request a fee for being photographed. Above all when on safari, you need to ecologically and socially responsible. Remember this is not an artificial theme park set up for your pleasure - it's the habitat of millions of animals and home for millions of people. You need to treat the whole safari experience with the respect it deserves. One way to ensure this is to arrange your travel with a company that takes its responsibilities to the area, the animals and the people very seriously. Such companies focus on low-impact tourism and only work with environmentally responsible lodges and camps. What's more they strive to establish best practices for eco tourism including the use of solar panels and inverter power. Your African safari holiday is the occasion of a lifetime; with a little care and preparation it's sure to be an event you'll never forget.
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