Plan your safari
Everything, in order

The Safari Planning Guide

Every generic planning answer lives here, once and kept current — so each destination page can stay about the destination. Work through the four stages, or jump to the answer you need.

Written by Evance & Jenny — reviewed and updated August 2026.

Stage 2

Budget & book

What it costs, what’s included, and when to commit.

What a luxury safari costs What’s included When to book Booking terms (official) Travel with confidence

Stage 3

Prepare

Flights, entry rules, health and the packing list.

Flights from the USA Vaccinations & health The packing list What to pack — the thinking

Stage 4

On safari

The rhythm of the days, and the small practical graces.

A day on safari Tipping on safari Is a safari safe?

The universal answers

Money & tippingUS dollars are accepted at virtually every camp, and cards work at lodges and city hotels. Your trip is fully inclusive, so cash is mainly for tips: plan on roughly $10–20 per guest per day for your guide and $10–15 for camp staff, handed over at the end of each stay. We send exact guidance with your final documents — full etiquette in the tipping guide. Local-currency notes for Botswana, Zambia and others appear on those country pages.
Staying connectedNearly all lodges have Wi-Fi in the main areas (often in-tent too), and an eSIM from your US carrier covers the cities. Expect to be offline on game drives — most guests come to see that as the point. Family back home can always reach you through us, day or night.
The green seasonIn the rainy months many camps drop their rates by 20–40% — emerald landscapes, newborn wildlife, superb birding and far fewer vehicles, traded against some rain and dispersed game. Peak season isn’t the only great season: tell us your budget and we’ll show you what the green season buys. Month-by-month detail is on when to go.
InsuranceTravel insurance is not optional on a journey of this value — we tell you what it must cover and when to buy it, at booking. The schedule it protects you against is set out plainly in our terms and conditions.

Or skip the reading — tell us your month and what you want to feel, and we will do the planning.