To be nervous about a safari?

[safariinquestion]

Hi,

just wondered if anyone has any advice or experience about this😊

for a long time I’ve been desperate to go on a safari in Africa. I’m thinking of going next January or February but I haven’t booked anything yet.

i would be going with a company which is well known and highly recommended for this type of trip (safari on horseback). I’d be travelling myself and would be part of a tour when I get there with other people and apparently it’s common to go solo so I’d meet people out there and hopefully become friends. It would be for 10 days

but I can’t help but feel nervous about it and I’m not even sure why because I’ve travelled myself before and not been nervous about anything! The safari would be in South Africa and would involve flying to Johannesburg then it’s a 3 hour coach transfer to the safari place which is rural and near the border with Zimbabwe /botswana I believe. I’ve heard so many things about South Africa being extremely unsafe, and that even organised trips are extremely risky. But at the same time, millions of people go every year and are fine so realistically I’m probably worrying about nothing?

im not worried about the animals or the horse riding side of things, its just I’ve heard so many bad stories about South Africa being extremely unsafe especially travelling rurally

it’s something I’ve been desperate to do for such a long time and I’ve finally got the opportunity to do it but just some last minute nerves about it before I book it

does anyone have any advice or experience or help at all? Thanks so much 😊

If you can manage the riding fitness-wise, then everything else will be fine. You will be looked after superbly, promise. Enjoy!

It's a few years since I have been to SA but I would go again without too much concern and really wouldn't be worried on an organised tour of the type I think you are looking at.

Jan/Feb is very very hot.
If you go in Spring (sept/oct) you’ll see all the babies :)

I'm married to a South African and have been many times. Done safaris a few times. Which game park are you going to? The organised safaris are usually absolutely fine, I did something similar in Kenya.

You will be absolutely fine, and have a wonderful time.

Oh actually I’m not sure which game park it would be sorry, it’s with a company called horizon horseback and it says it’s near Limpopo! I did see some other similar safaris in Namibia but horizon horseback seems to have a really good reputation and reviews so swaying towards them 😊

I've been on quite a lot of safaris and the horseback thing would scare me more than the South Africa / Zim thing! If I came face to face with an elephant or a lion while on a horse I think I'd need a change of trousers.

Oh my friend went with them, she had a great time. She says her top tip (if you are not used to spending a week in the saddle) is to take a variety of pants, so the knicker elastic doesn't sit on the same place on your leg each day.

We drove ourselves round South Africa a few years ago. Never had any problems. Even walked out to dinner in Johannesburg of an evening. That didn’t feel super safe but we didn’t encounter any problems

You will have a blast, it's a fabulous place. I love it there.

South Africa is a failed state and you shouldn't support it by putting money into it. And its not the animals you need to worry about, its the people

Why not do a safari somewhere vaguely civilised instead, like Kenya.

I wouldn't go back to South Africa to be honest (safari felt like the safest part of the trip haha, BUT to be fair I didn't go to the nicest parts, Johannesburg etc). If you're taking precautions and everything is organised then I wouldn't worry, I'm sure you'll be fine. It’s just, to me, there are safer places to go to so why go there again and keep worrying about staying safe. But I'd still be tempted to do another safari, it's an amazing experience.