Everything We Learned In 25 SAFARIS / Saving Money, Packing List, Best Camps
Вставка
- Опубліковано 25 чер 2024
- Going on an African safari is much different than any other trip and this is why we decided to give you guys a few tips and tricks for you to have the best time on your first safari experience.
👕Packing List:
This really depends on your personal needs and how many days you will be on safari for but at a minimum, you should consider the following items.
- Wind Breaker
- Jacket or Hoodie
- Swimwear
- Shorts
- Pants
- Shirts
- Socks and Underwear
- A good pair a shoes (with thick sole)
- A nice out fit (especially if this is a couple getaway. Camps can do romantic bush dinners)
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Toiletries (Using eco friendly products on safaris is always a good idea for the environment)
- Small backpack to carry things around in the safari vehicle
- Isolated Water Bottle (The bottles provided by camps are rarely isolated so your drink will get warm fast)
- Soft Luggage Bag (some small airline bringing you to
💵 Tipping the staff:
At a minimum we suggest to tip $10 a day a person for the safari camp staff and the same as well for your safari guide / driver. If you they go above and beyond and if you can afford it than feel free to give more as it is always very appreciated. These people are working really hard and for long hours to make sure that you get the best safari experience possible.
Camera Gear Tips for Safaris:
You do not need the most expensive gear to have some fun taking photos and videos on a game drive. here is what I suggest because believe it or not, your iPhone is not enough!
- Mirrorless or DSLR camera
- 200mm lens or more
- Lens Hood
- Camera cleaning kit (it gets really dusty on safaris)
Note:
Most African country allows drones but does need to be register, the pilot needs to be certified and different permits can also be required depending on location. On top of that drones are prohibited in most National Parks.
Chapters:
0:00 Safari Intro
0:34 Things You Wouldn't Think to Bring
2:06 Safari Clothes
3:10 Safari Day Schedule
5:31 Self Game Drive To Save Money
5:52 Best Safari Camps In Kenya
8:09 Tip the Staff and Your Guide
❤️ BECOME A CHANNEL MEMBER
/ @davemani
WANNA SUPPORT US? HERE IS HOW
👕 Adventure Seekers MERCH: www.adventureseekers.store
📱 MPESA me.creator.co.ke/c?aff=DaveMani
💵 PayPal Donation paypal.me/DaveMani
AMAZON STORE 😍 (Camera Gear & Travel Items)
www.amazon.com/shop/davemani
Find your perfect adventure in Kenya right here: viator.tp.st/GFg24LJy
Best way to stay connected in over 200 countries with Airalo eSIM cards.
Mobile: tp.st/mPmxHXg2
Desktop: tp.st/29kz5bGO
MAKE MONEY while traveling like us!
Travelpayouts: www.travelpayouts.com/?marker...
We Are Also on Social Media
📫 News Letter davemani.com/travelwithus
📸 Dave's Instagram / the_dave_mani
📸 Tracey's Instagram / the_trace_mani
🎶 TikTok www.tiktok.com/@dave_mani?_t=...
🖥 Facebook / thedavemani
💻 Blog www.davemani.com
📱Twitter / the_dave_mani
🎧 Want some amazing music for your videos? Check out Epidemic Sound
www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that we provide we may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! This is a way for you to support our channel so we can continue to provide you with FREE and amazing travel content every single week.
#safari101 #Safari #AfricanSafari
Check out the description for even more info including a safari packing list. 📝
Having done many ‘budget safaris’ from UK my tip would be a small kit of pharmacy items; Elastoplast, Imodium, some antiseptic ointment. Basically anything to cover general minor ailments. Stating the obvious! As is sunglasses and a hat. Great channel guys.
Great tip! Thanks for adding this :)
Thank you for the enthusiasm and positive attitude. We are so very excited!
Cheers :)
Looking forward to this video!! Safari can be costly ! thank you guys
Oh thats for sure :(
Another fantastic vlog very informative, you’ve made it easier for me to explain to guys here in UK about safaris and my country as well. I’ve sent all to your channel 💕
Thank you so much Gerty
Looking forward to your content always😍😍
I really appreciate that :)
Good advice. We appreciate you ❤️
Thanks John 😎
I just adore you guys! Keep going❤️
Thank you so much Maya!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Great tips! I have been to Africa three times and the most important thing I learnt from the first one was to bring a jacket! We went to the Crater in July 2019 and I was one of the only people that brought a jacket! It was 7am and only 7 degrees! I was toasty while the others were very cold. I have only tented while on safari and enjoyed it! Loved having lions, hyenas, buffalos and jackals in our camp! Keep up the great videos! I am enjoying them! 🇨🇦🇨🇦
We would love to do a tented trip! How was it?
Wow can't believe I'm waiting for an awesome video here 😃
Amazing content Dave 👍 Always Loving your vids 💖💖
Thank you very much! :)
@@DaveMani anytime 💯:)
Thanks for the good tips . You guys are the best,
Thanks for watching! 😁
Cheers to the beautiful story telling videos,
Thank you! ❤️❤️❤️
Can't believe it's been two years. Kenya has treated you well.
I Know right! Time fly
Yeeess sir 😊 This must take quite some time to put all these gorgeous clips together 💯💯 This is a professionally edited and elaborated clip ✅💎 Job well done 👍👌 Peace and love ❤️
Thank you! Haha I went through all our hard drives for this one.
2 years in Kenya I have 5 here Kenya
Cool 😘
Cause I'm originally from Sudan 🇸🇩🇸🇩🇸🇩❤️
Habari yako?
@@reduniverse8912 poa ❣️💯💯
Cheers my friend :)
Great tips!
Thank you Durutti
Kenya's top ambassadors! much love
Thank you for saying that! 😍
Thank you Dave
The pleasure is always ours :)
Dave doesn’t miss an opportunity to tell us he doesn’t like coffee. Good luck with that Nespresso promotion. Lol.
Haha not looking for any partnership with them loll But Tracey could! Hahaha
Thanks for the video. We got a killer deal at the new JW Marriott Masai Mara that just opened in April, going in July. Ive watched a few what you should know about safaris and finally have the answer to how the timing of game drives usually work 😊.
That's awesome! Enjoy!
Awesome
Thanks Peter!!
Magical Kenya,,, can't believe these
I know right :P
Hello Dave mani and Tracy nice explanation video thank you Dave and Tracy 🇵🇭♥️🇰🇪
Thank you so so much Mohamed :)
I'm looking forward to seeing your Ishara Mara video:)
Im currently working on it. Will be live this Saturday! 😎👍🏼
Good job the Mani's.... Great love from Nairobians🥰
Thank you! Cheers!
Hi loved yr video. We are coming to Kenya beginning of August in order to see the Wilderbeast Migration and totally confused as to where to stay. We think it will have to be a lodge as my wife is pettrified of spiders so is worried about tented accommodations. Your advice would be amazing, thanks Alan
None tent accommodations within the Mara are fairly rare sadly... But I wouldn`t worry to much about bugs. We have been on 72 safaris and have rarely found spiders haha. They treat the tents every night to kill anything around it.
I was looking forward to hear things like safaris shoes, insect repellant...etc. Nice video, very informative and keep it up! Youc oul also consider a video on Tour Companies - I guess you have a lot of experience and you could offer some times in selecting tour companies.
To be franc we never use tour companies. We do everything on our own. Its easier to save money and get discounts bu dealing with camps directly as tour companies get a 20% cut.
Adding to this, if not using a tour company, do you drive your own car to the lodges/camps? For those of us out of the country coming in, what or who do you recommend for transportation, say from the large airports to your accommodations? Also what if moving from one lodge to another?
You guys are too awesome keep the good work
Will do! :)
Thanks for the vlog. 👏👍Perfect Flashback Intro.👍Nice Thumbnail. 👍 Music 🎶👍 Am amazed at how you plan your vlogs like this one. 👍👏 Very informative. Great tips, advice, and suggestions. Enjoyed the flashbacks & flashforward. Thanks. Can't wait for the next one. Have a good day and upcoming weekend. Stay safe.
Thanks so much!! I love creating these little intros :)
@@DaveMani You are welcome. Have a good night and weekend. Stay safe.
Africa is indeed like no other place, feeling sorry for those who don't understand...
It got soul that stays with you life time, you won't realise until you leave, I'm from botswana living in canada & ever since I came here I see ads of starving kids asking people to donate money for them
I don't think I'll be long here. I love africa❤ & Africa you're the best 👌❤😪😥
Africa is amazing for sure and has so much to offer! 👍🏼❤️
I never go on safari without my own brand of bug spray; my own flashlight; Imodium AD; Neosporin; an extra pair of sunglasses; and pain meds. After one really bad landing in a bush plane causing my seat belt to come undone (I was injured) - I never go to Africa without prescription pain meds. Thanks, guys! I can't wait for your next video!!!
Those are also very good things to bring. :)
You guys should go to Tsavo too! Different terrain and landscape
100% we should be going in June maybe.
Very important info there.
Glad you think so :)
My wife and I did The Safari Collection last month, all three camps and the Manor. Dealing with weight restrictions for internal flights was something which stuck out to me. So camps that do laundry is a huge win! It was easy and we had no issues with having clean clothing when needed. My question is about cash. Does staff at the camps prefer US/Euros etc. or KSH for their tips? I brought KSH and that seemed to work out, but am curious as to which they prefer. Thanks and keep the awesome videos coming!
So it depends on the country. In Kenya Ksh is really the currency of choice but USD can also work but not ideal. Places like Tanzania, both local currency and USD are heavily used everywhere.
Still here with you
Much appreciated :)
Wow! Fellow Canadians! I’m sooo glad I found your channel. Et oui, je crois que j’ai entendu un petit accent Québécois peut être. Lol. Moi anciennement de Sainte- Eustache. 😁. I’m so glad to hear that you guys are in Kenya living the dream. We’ll be travelling to Kenya in a couple of weeks, and would love to hear your opinions if possible on our choices. We start with 5 days at Speke’s camp, in the Masai, and then transiting to Amboseli, and staying at the Tortelis camp there. We are so exited, and would appreciate any tip you may have. We will be bring a lot of camera and video gear for sure. We have a ballon excursion set up in the Masai also. This is our first trip, put off over almost 2 years because of COVID, and now it’s a reality! A bucket list item. The fact that you’ve been to 25 camps is well I’m jealous. Thanks again, and we’ll keep watching.
This is super cool! Never heard of that camp in the Mara but Tortillis is for sure an amazing choice. The Balloon safari is also super good to do in the Mara and much better than doing it in Amboseli. Make sure to bring some warm clothes as it gets pretty chili at this time of the year, especially for morning game drives (single digit weather). Feel free to send me a DM on insta if you have any specific questions. :)
Thank you so much for the reply. We will definitely keep in touch if we have any other questions. Keep the vids coming! We love them!
been on these safaris with you. the diff is i only went on eyes through your lenses 😂😂😂😂 in the building watching from barbados 😎
Haha I still appreciate that :)
You welcome bro 😎
Tks :)
Cheers :)
I had missed both of you,, karibuni tena
Cheers Thomas :)
A question about the power bar/plug strip, we are coming from the US, can we use our standard power bar/plug strip from home with an plug adapter?
That should work yes.
I would love to know tips for travelling with families and especially teens. We're going to do a multi-family trip in 2 years from now.
That is a very good question... I did not like family trip as a teen (I thought I was a rebel haha). If you have specific question, feel free to send us an email and we'll do our best to help you out! :D
That was quite interesting. If I was to go on a safari I would just take the most important things, a phone, charger, some extra clothes and lotion. Because I don’t like carrying heavy luggage 🤣🤣🤣
Haha there is always people there to help you carry all your stuff ;)
What about Sirikoi that you highly rated before. Have you been to any of the Great Plains camps? Absolutely suberb
Sirikoi is now a close number 2. Im telling you, Ishara is unreal. No Great Plains Camps yet.
Ok, I know I am a little late but can you guys go to lake Nakuru hotel. I am not sure about the name but it is a nice quiet and chill place. Love you guys so much
Thank you for the suggestion. I will look it up.
Going to Tanzania next month… did u wear pants or shorts most of the time??
It depends what kind of weather you are use to haha. It is technically winter right now so lots of people are wearing pants and jackets but I'm canadian so for me the "African Winter" is still fairly warm so shorts all the way.
❤❤❤
Cheers ❤️👍🏼
Have you stayed at Serena Mara lodge? Thoughts?
No
Dave Mani and wifey, Kenya love's u yall men... but dave you are not a beard guy you can't pull that Abraham Lincoln bro..😄😄😄 @dave mani keep going full 💯 support
Haha you're the first one saying that! :p People laugh when I shave loll
Yes! 1st. Number one super fan of the Mani's
Thank you so much :)
What kind of food do they serve at the camp is keto friendly
The chef will make whatever you want literally.
I’ve looked and have a lot of different info, but what is actually required to travel to South Africa from the U.S? I have a trip planned this September but and trying to get everything squared away.
This is Kenya and I am not American so sadly, I couldn't tell you.
Is staying in conservancy areas a must? I’m going on a 8 day guided safari but can’t decide if conservancy is worth the extra cost, it’s basically double for lesser days.
I would say yes. We prefer conservancies because there is as much game but less people. Sometime experiences with the animals in the Maasai Mara for example, get ruined because of the 17 trucks all around the same lion...
I am jst about to watch the Tanzania safari videos. Watched all your other safari videos in Kenya. U could make a video comparing safari in Kenya vs Tanzania. I know Mara and Serengeti are the same thing but Masaai mara is smaller hence alot easier to spot animals than Serengeti?? Not sure but u have been to Tanzania let us know. Also not sure whether u went to Ngorongoro crater which in this case has alot of animals concentrated in area compared to Mara or Serengeti but lack the variety of the two? Again not sure cz I am jst about to watch your TZ video but let us know, that would be a cool video idea. Thank you for showing us the world thru your eyes.
Turns out you went to Terangire...maybe compare that to Amboseli.
I'm sure we will do the comparison at some point but right now it wouldn't be fair to Tanzania as we did over 75 days worth of safari in Kenya and 2 and a half in Tanzania.
Mention keeping quiet in vehicles when near the wildlife. American tourist damn near got us tusked by an elephant shouting out 'hello mama elephant!'
Drones and licences?
That is so true... some people... 🙄
For the drone I wrote about it in the description. Basically you need registration and everything but even with that no flying in National Parks. Only in conservancies.
My wife and I are going to be in Kenya on safari for the first 2 weeks in March 2023. We're planning what clothing to bring and are leaning toward darker shades. But we have seen from some travelers that some colors should be avoided at they attract certain kinds of insects. Have you found that to be the case in your experience and if so , what are those colors. Thanks. We're enjoying your adventures.
We’ve done many safaris across Southern Africa. Avoid blue in areas where there are Tsetse flies (they are attracted to blue). Also avoid black which regular flies and mosquitos seem attracted to. Best options especially if you plan to do any bush walks, is to wear greens, browns or khaki to fit in with the environment. White is not good for bush walking. If you are mostly going to be in vehicles, any colour will be fine except black and blue.
Darker colors are a good idea that being said blues are attracting a lot of bugs somehow.
Have you been to Angama Mara?
No but soon hopefully.
Are there safaris that take you out in the bush for days at a time, sleeping in tents etc??
There is actually. You can do a moving safari where they move the camp every night.
How much is recommended tip to driver?
$10 a day at a minimum I would say. We normally do $10 per game drive.
have u known how to talk some sheng or kisawahili of kenya and taste mtura street food
Not a lot of swahili no, people in Kenya speak very good english. I did try mtura and its not for me! 😅
2yrs already?? WOW
Almost yeah! :)
My question is how was your Safari in Tanzania. Compared to kenya..🤔
The safari was very good but not as good as Kenya. But we did like 75 days worth of safari in Kenya and 2 in Tanzania so I don't feel like this is a fair comparison.
What happened to the outro music, it's been missing for awhile now.
Yeah thats gone haha. Sorry :p it wasn't good for retention... UA-cam stuff... 🙄
Totally understand
Curious about the prices
Price of?
What the Safari cost like lodging, food, etc
Everything I read says to go for natural colors, blue and black attrack tsetse flies, avoid bright colors, and jeans are too hot. However, those are the colors and clothes you are wearing in the video. Does that information not apply? Thank you.
This information is not false but with that being said, you are in a big safari truck which is normally one of those color so the color of you shirt does not matter that much. It would be different for like bush walks maybe but don't worry too much about it when in a truck. For the bugs, there are actually not as much as people think and the colors that actually attracts them are blue and black.
2 years well spent, you're both practically Kenyan now.
Hahaha pretty much yeah!
You didn’t talk about food what kind of food you eat over here
True fine dining! Do not worry about safari camp food! #worldclass
Why not mention prices bruh😀😀
I don't actually know it.
I feel as if you are saying goodbye ....i will feel bad if you move out of kenya
2 more years :)
The only part that still shocks me is the fact that people change for supper....can someone please tell me....is there any African who does that!!!!???
We rarely do it. Just once in a will we like to dress up a little and have a date night.
I think it’s common for foreigners and a few of the Africans( not sure) but as far as I know we don’t. But from this video I think Dave was just trying to give tips to foreigners. It’s something they are used to.
Whats going on Dave Mani and beautiful wifey ,,,,,
We are doing amazing :)
So basically you guys only have two more years in Kenya and that's it? Please say no
Yeah that is pretty much it :p
bucetasso
?
Where is 5he best place to book a safari I want to takemy mom for her 50th and I'm truggling
We always suggest Ongeri Expeditions. 👍🏼