How to Take a Safari in a Hurry

A South African safari would be great, you think -- but it's such a long trip over there, and who can afford the full two or three weeks needed to do it in style?

Well, now there might be hope for those low on vacation time. The seven- to 10-day trip is becoming more common, says Julian Harrison, president of Philadelphia-based Premier Tours, who has been arranging safaris for 26 years.

"There are definitely more people taking shorter trips, and at shorter notice," he says.

While you'll have a better diversity of experience on a longer trip, it's certainly possible to have a great luxury safari experience in just a few days' time.

Plan Your Flight Strategy

There is just no way around the fact that it's a major schlep to South Africa. The most popular area to visit for safaris -- because it has a great diversity of animal life, and because it is stunningly beautiful -- is Kruger National Park, which is about an hour's flight from Johannesburg.

The good news is that most international carriers that fly from the U.S. fly into Johannesburg. The bad news is that there aren't many direct flights, and extra stops can make the trip last 35 or 40 hours. A flight like that will make a 10-day trip tough to manage, and a seven-day trip nearly impossible.

The trick, then, is to get the flight time down to the shortest possible time. South African Airways offers direct flights to Johannesburg from New York and Washington, D.C., that get the flight down below 20 hours, while Delta's(DAL Quote) flights from Atlanta can be as short as 18 hours.

Another strategy is to combine a vacation trip to South Africa with a business trip to Europe -- South Africa is about a 10-hour flight from Germany, for example. Check a list of flight times to South Africa from various international destinations.

Manage Your Movements

In South Africa, luxury safaris are centered around private lodges that provide you with all your meals and activities. Each adheres to a similar schedule: You're up before sunrise for an animal viewing experience, then return to the lodge for a huge breakfast. There's free time in the afternoon interrupted by a big lunch, and then a late-afternoon wildlife sightseeing trip, with cocktails at sunset while you're out and about. After dark, you return for a dinner.

	Male Lion in Kruger National Park
	Photo: Alison Stein Wellner

No matter how much time you've got for your holiday, it's common to spend two to three nights at a lodge and move on so you can experience different ecosystems. That might mean seeing different animals, seeing animals in a different way (in the water as opposed to on land) or in a different manner (some lodges might offer canoe safaris, for instance). This also makes it one of those rare places where it is more convenient to book the trip via a tour operator or travel agent than on your own.

	Elephant, Kruger National Park
	Photo: Alison Stein Wellner

On the shorter safari, one trick is to minimize travel time between lodges, which Kruger National Park -- the scene of this much downloaded confrontation between lions and crocodiles -- is ideally suited for. The park is home to nearly 150 different mammal species, including ample numbers of the "Big Five": elephants, white rhinos, buffalos, lions and leopards. Within the park, there are a variety of ecosystems and luxury game lodges scattered throughout its five million acres that are well-connected by light aircraft.

You won't see different animals as you move from lodge to lodge -- the big five, plus zebras, giraffes and a variety of other animal species are well-represented throughout the park -- but you will get to see them in different settings. In some areas, guides will be able show you male lions patrolling their territories; in others, female lions on the hunt. In some places you're more likely to see small groupings of elephants, while further north, you're likely to see bigger herds.

	Giraffe, Kruger National Park
	Photo: Alison Stein Wellner

On a seven-day trip, you could comfortably stay in two different lodges, traveling during the afternoon. On a 10-day trip, three lodges would easily be within reach.

Consider Chartering a Private Jet

It's common for safari-goers to hop from country to country -- from Kruger, you could head to the Okavango Delta in Botswana to see the crocodiles, or visit Rwanda to track gorillas.

On a shorter trip, the amount of time in transit makes this difficult, since you must fly back to Johannesburg to fly back to the U.S. The best way to squeeze it in is to take a private jet, which is obviously a pricier option. Costs will vary, but a client of Harrison's on a time-pressed schedule recently chartered a plane from Kruger to Botswana, and it cost her about $10,000. Your travel agent or your lodge can help you organize this.

	Lions at Night, Kruger National Park
	Photo: Alison Stein Wellner

Maximize the Experience

However many lodges you choose to visit, it may seem like your schedule will be far from relaxing on safari. But the truth is that the pace of life on a safari is on animal time, so while you're up early, you're also resting and napping during the heat of the day. Resist the urge to schedule that afternoon time with anything more strenuous than a massage.

And while you'll certainly want to bring a camera, and maybe a video camera, don't spend the entire time looking at the animals through the lens. Put the equipment down and enjoy the animal show you've come all this way to see.

Tips

While you can have a great experience at any time of year, South Africa's winter, from April to September, is traditionally considered the best time of year to go because it's drier. Watching animals in the rain isn't much fun, and since water is less abundant, there's less foliage and fewer spots for animals to drink, which makes animals easier to spot.

	Leopards, Kruger National Park
	Photo: Alison Stein Wellner

South Africa is a modern country, although it has a fairly high crime rate in its cities.

There is a risk of malaria in Kruger National Park, so visit your doctor four to six weeks before your trip to get a prescription for anti-malaria pills, and to receive any needed vaccinations. There are areas besides Kruger for safaris, some of which do not have a malaria risk.

Note that many international electrical adapter kits do not include one for South Africa. South Africa uses type D or type M adapters, which are big round pins with ground.