Hey Reader,

Hello again!

It's been a while since I've sent out an email, and I'm excited to be in touch with you again! I've been doing some travelling, but not the fun kind, unfortunately. I had a family crisis spring up on me, but I'm happy to say that things turned out well, and life has settled back into a happy norm.

• Before I go on, I want to invite you to join our Southern Africa Travellers' Facebook group. This is a community of travellers like you who love Africa. It's a place to ask questions, find info, and eavesdrop on what's happening in the travel space. •

This week I want to share the different types of companies there are to choose from if you're looking to book an organized safari.

If you've been following along with me for a while, you know that I generally prefer to travel independently. But there are often times - and this was especially true when I was new to travelling in Africa - when I either want the ease of having things arranged for me or I want the expertise of a great guide. Or both.

There are a lot of companies to choose from, and it can be overwhelming when you're trying to plan a long awaited trip. I hope this will help whittle that list down for you.

Here are a few of the companies I love the most.
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​Go2Africa​

Who I'd recommend for a big, bucket list trip - be it your first ever, your first in a new chapter of your life (getting out of a sleeping bag after sleeping on the ground doesn't get easier on the body as the years pile up), or maybe for a special occasion family reunion safari, for example, is Go2Africa.

They're an amazing company with an enormous amount of experience in conducting tours throughout Africa. They've won awards for their tours, and specialize in working with you to create exactly the experience you've been dreaming of.

Their communication and connection with their clients is pretty outstanding. You can trust them with what may well be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and will honestly feel like you've seen the best of Africa after one of their safaris. And their tours are surprisingly reasonable in their pricing. Browse through their trips and safaris on this page.

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​Viator​

I consider Viator to be perfect for more casual plans. You can book multi-day safaris and tours, as with Go2Africa, or you can book overnights or day tours.

Viator offers a selection of tour operators, the majority of whom are companies that are local to the area you'll be travelling in. You can see who this company is by clicking on "See More" under Additional Info at the bottom of one of their tours. Google that company to find out more about them.

Whenever possible I like to support local companies, and this is a good way to do that. It's also a good way to ensure that the people who are guiding you are familiar with the territory.

I'm a big fan of Viator for the variety in their selection, range of prices, their use of local companies, and how easy it is to book a trip through their website. There is sometimes the chance to tweak a trip to your preferences, but not on the scale that Go2Africa offers, though.

I've actually written an article on what Viator has to offer. Go to this page if you'd like to know more.

​Bush Ways​

Another personal favourite is Bush Ways Safaris. They're based in another favourite, the town of Maun, Botswana, on the edge of the Okavango Delta. Their local guides are incredibly knowledgeable about their country and its wildlife.

The camps are very well-organized, the lodges are comfortable, the food is great, and there are a variety of private and open tours to choose from. They do work strictly in Botswana, though.

Whichever company you decide on, be sure to take a good look through their reviews. While my experiences have been positive (they never know that I'll be writing about and recommending/ not recommending them), research as many experiences as you can before trusting them with your trip!

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If you'd like a little - or a lot - of help with your travel plans, keep Kim in mind at Go Explore the World. Click to go to the website, or email Kim directly at ​info@goexploretheworldtravel.com​​ with ​I Want to Go to Africa!​ in the subject line to get in touch. Easy! She'll advise you based on her own experiences in Africa.

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Here are a couple of articles for safari inspiration:

​Different Types of Safaris in Africa​ Read article

​Safari on Horseback - Ride the Savannah!​ Read article

PLUS a travel tip for you:

➤ Did you know that vacation rentals are often really economical if you book by the month? When I was living in Maun, Botswana I booked a small stand-alone rental in an incredibly convenient and safe part of town. Nothing fancy, but I never would have been able to afford it at regular rental prices.

I realized, though, that if I adjusted the time of my stay in one month increments there was so much of a discount that I stayed even longer that I have planned to.

Next time you're looking at booking a longer stay somewhere - even in Africa - try looking at monthly rates!
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That's it for this week. Be sure to hit reply to this or any email if you have questions, comments, or want to share your adventures. I'd love to hear from you!

Happy travels!

Deb

🧳 Book your trip with the companies that I know, use, and trust:​
☑︎ Accommodations - Booking.com for the best selection​
​☑︎ Flights - I love WayAway, and you can get 10% off with this link​
​☑︎ Travel Insurance - I use SafetyWing. Never skip travel insurance!
​☑︎ Tours/experiences - Viator is my favourite​
​☑︎ Car rental - Discover Cars searches international & local rental companies to find what you need

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