Today's safari vacations can seem a little repetitive and clichéd thanks to increased accessibility, but several camps are trying to make the journey an unpredictable adventure once again.
Getting off the beaten path is important, states National Geographic Traveler. Places like Tanzania's Lukula Selous, a non-hunting camp set on a hunting reserve, are prime examples of this. By paying the government to levy hefty fines to those who hunt on-site, this area has repopulated significantly. Eight people stay in the camp where they have access to 300,000 aces of floodplains, forests and savanna.
Instead of taking that classic "I'm an American standing next to an African tribesperson" photo, consider a more interactive local tour that makes hanging out a priority. "This is not a cultural hit-and-run but a very personal interaction," says Ralph Bousfield, a tour guide. "Guests start to explore the similarities and not the differences between cultures."
Nat Geo also suggests "thinking outside the Jeep." Consider a canoe jaunt down the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe or a safari cruise on the Chobe River in between Botswana and Namibia. Landlovers can take horseback tours or mountain bike across the Savannah.
The best way to try a unique safari in Africa is with a small group of adventure travelers.
Stepping outside the box on an African Safari
Posted on Friday, Feb. 11th, 2011
