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So you’ve decided to do Africa. Cue the daydreams: lions in golden grass, elephants lumbering across a dusty track, sundowners under a pink, clean sky. But if you want more than just a postcard safari, you’ll need to plan it right. That’s where a little travel curation comes in. Think of this as your guide to getting it perfect the first time. Wildlife conservationist Suyash Keshari shares all you need to know. Step One: Don’t Just Think Mara The Masai Mara has earned its fame, the Great Migration is a sight to behold. But Africa has a lot more to offer, and the country you pick shapes your entire experience. For exclusivity and high-end experiences, look to Botswana. The Okavango Delta is all about glassy waterways, mokoro rides, and remote camps where it’s just you and the wildlife, game drives without another vehicle in sight. As Keshari says, “Botswana is where you go if you want to feel like the wilderness belongs just to you.” If you’d rather chase a blue vacation, Zambia and Zimbabwe are your move. Think Zambezi river cruises, the spray of Victoria Falls on your face, and lodges that let you switch between game drives and riverside relaxation. And then there’s Namibia with its rolling red dunes, salt pans that stretch forever, and desert lions that prowl against an otherworldly backdrop. Bottom line: choose a country that matches your version of Africa whether that’s Big Five game drives, dramatic landscapes, or a mix of both. This is where a travel curator proves their worth: they don’t just make your bookings, they build an experience to match your ideal vacation. Step Two: Season (and Budget) Matter Here’s the not-so-sexy truth: the right time to go depends on what you want to see and what you’re willing to spend. High season brings the clearest skies and the best wildlife viewing. The grass is short, the animals are easy to spot, and the drama plays out right in front of your eyes. But prices tend to double, and lodges can book up a year in advance. Shoulder seasons, meanwhile, are an insider’s secret, a touch of rain, greener landscapes, fewer tourists, and often, more breathing room in your budget. Step Three: Logistics Are Everything Africa is vast. What looks like a quick hop between parks can mean a full-day road trip. Often, small bush flights are the only way to move efficiently and yes, they come with views worth the splurge. Then there’s where you stay. Luxury here is not cookie-cutter. It could be a plunge pool overlooking elephants, or a tented camp with nothing but kerosene lamps and the Milky Way for company. This is where a travel curator proves their worth, they handle it all so your job is simply to check in and chill. Step Four: Curate Your Experience Everyone wants the lions and leopards. But the magic of Africa is that it offers so much more, cheetahs sprinting at dusk, wild dogs on the hunt, chimpanzees and gorillas in the forests. Ask yourself: are you here for a vacation, for conservation and culture, or just for the plot? Build your trip around that. And resist the urge to make it a bucket-list-ticker trip. Fewer destinations, done deeply, give you the kind of stories that linger long after you’ve flown home. Step Five: Pack for the Wild, Not the Runway Here’s your checklist: neutral layers for chilly mornings and blazing afternoons, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, good walking shoes, and a camera you trust. Add sunscreen, insect repellent, and a universal adapter, and you’re set. Leave space in your bag, Africa has a way of filling it with stories, souvenirs, and dust you won’t want to shake off. The Curator’s Takeaway A safari isn’t just another trip. It’s meant to be a life-changing experience, an investment that rewards you with encounters you’ll replay for a lifetime. Choose the right country, get the timing right, let the experts curate the details, and Africa won’t just meet your expectations, it’ll blow your mind.
