An African safari is the ideal way to experience adventure, while going back to nature. The word safari means journey and that's just what you will get.

Safari parks and reserves have remained unspoiled and you can see big game, birds and other wildlife in their natural habitat, while experiencing life as it has been lived on the plains for thousands of years.

One very popular safari destination in Africa is the Serengeti plains.

The Serengeti Plains

The Serengeti runs from north western Tanzania to south western Kenya, stretching over 30,000 km. The name comes from the Maasai and, fittingly, means 'the place where the land moves on forever'.

Included in the Serengeti region are the National Park of the same name, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and several other reserves and protected areas.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area includes the Ngorongo Crater which is the world's largest unbroken ancient volcanic caldera. This world heritage site is more than three million years old.

Seeing the Wildlife On An African Safari

The Serengeti includes a wide range of animal habitats such as forest, woodland, swamps and grasslands and is home to hundreds of bird and mammal species. If you want to see lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and rhinos, then this is a good place for your African wildlife safari. However, there are also many others to choose from.

Other popular African safari destinations include:

• Chobe National Park in Botswana
• Kruger National Park in Soith Africa
• South Luangwa National Park in Zambia
• Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, and
• Etosha National Park in Namibia.

Planning Your Trip

Considering the animals you wish to see is only one aspect of planning a safari in Africa. You need to get the right travel documents from the consular authorities well before you plan to travel. It's also worth thinking about how you want to travel when you are there. Your can view animals from a vehicle or a boat or you can walk the plains with the help of a guide. You may even be able to travel by horse or camel!

Other important considerations when planning to travel to Africa include health. You should prepare in advance for malaria, sunburn and diarrhea and get medical cover as part of your travel insurance. Although safari camps have good medical facilities, it's nice to know you can fly home for treatment if you need to.

Finally, make sure that you buy appropriate clothing and the right accessories before you embark on your African safari. You wouldn't want to miss a sighting of the rare black rhino because you'd forgotten your binoculars!

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