Africa Safari Guide

This is not a definitive guide. We would urge you to read up on your destination using any of the several excellent guide books or materials available from each country’s tourist office, or listen to the detailed briefings and background you can get from any one of our Africa specialists. This impartial guide does at least try to give you an idea of the best times to travel, the difference between the various styles of accommodation, the nature of the game parks and the transportation that you will encounter on your Africa Sky Ireland Safari. We aim to provide accurate information to help you make the right safari choice.

Transportation - Road and Air

We understand that every hour is important on your holiday and the majority of our Safaris use a combination of road and air transfers between the world famous Game Parks of Africa.

Air transfers allow you fly to some of the best wildlife areas in short order, allowing you more time viewing the wildlife. Flights are in well maintained and professionally piloted small light aircraft offering you another perspective of this amazing continent…from the sky.

Once you arrive in the Game Park you will be met at the airstrip in a 4X4 vehicle to be transferred to your accommodation. Alternatively we offer a selection of road safaris in comfortable vehicles, usually to the National Parks that are close to the selected departure destination.

Roads in Africa are nothing like those in Europe or Ireland. Many are rough terrain, un-metalled and without tarmac and many are little more than tracks. Journeys by road therefore can be very bumpy hot and dusty. We use only experienced drivers who are used to driving in these conditions and who will ensure that your experience is as comfortable as possible.

Vehicles - 4 X 4

4X4 Vehicles

Africa Sky is committed to ensuring your safari is of top quality and that you receive the best experience possible while you travel with us. For your comfort and safety therefore we only work with safari camps and lodges that use 4X4 vehicles.

The 4X4 vehicles have a roof hatch for game watching and are very spacious inside. Some Conservancies may have adapted 4X4 vehicles with customised open sides for superior viewing. All our vehicles are managed and driven by an experienced driver guide who will enhance your experience in the bush. Our fully trained expert safari guides will assure you experience the best wildlife viewing.

A 4X4 vehicle is essential in many of the game parks especially in the rainy season. The mini-bus style vehicle is not adapted for the rough terrain of the African bushland and is also cramped inside. Our 4 X 4 vehicles are better suited to the African landscape, and give a far better safari experience than travelling in minibus vans with ‘window only’ seats, that are widely used by other tour operators. Safaris in a minibus may be cheaper than a 4X4 vehicle but the experience will be vastly inferior. Transfers from airport or base hotel to a safari destination may be in a mini-bus style vehicle as these are along adequate existing roads, but once in the safari destination, only 4X4 vehicles will be used.

Accommodation - Lodge and Tented Camps

We aim to offer a variety of accommodation to provide as broad a range as possible for your safari experience. Broadly speaking, we offer the following categories of accommodation on Safari:

Lodge Accommodation

Lodges

A Lodge is a permanent structure open throughout the year. Accommodation is usually in self contained rooms or bungalows and most lodges have a swimming pool for relaxation in between your game drives. Lodges are usually located in National Parks.

Tented Lodge Accommodation

Tented Lodges

Tented Lodges are a blend of canvas tents and a permanent structure offering the adventure of camping with the facilities of a lodge. Tented lodges are usually larger than bush camps and are open throughout the year. A Tented lodge is a good choice if you want the experience of sleeping ‘under canvas’ but with the comfort and facilities of a lodge. Tented Lodges are usually located in National Parks.

Tented Accommodation

Bush Camps

Bush Camps are becoming a more popular choice for safari visitors. They can either be permanent or seasonal, depending on the location, and are usually more intimate than lodges with the more exclusive camps offering accommodation for only six couples.

Guest tents are spacious with comfortable double beds, wardrobe space and a private relaxing area outside. The bathrooms have flush lavatories, running water and hot ‘safari’ showers (usually water is heated twice a day for bucket showers). Electricity is usually restricted as it’s run off solar power or a generator, but is usually available first thing in the morning and at night. Bush Camps give you the ultimate ‘bush experience’ with the knowledge of being safe and secure out in the African wilds. Bush camps are usually eco aware, using solar power and restricted water and are located in conservancies or outside the National Parks.

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