00:00Welcome to Travel Smart Weekly, the insider's travel guide from Independent TV.
00:05This is the series where we share our take on the best destinations to visit across the globe.
00:10This episode is all about safaris, the bucket list holidays that allow you to explore some of the most breathtaking landscapes around the world.
00:30Safaris range from luxury lodges with swimming pools and multiple restaurants, to more basic tented accommodation, or even day trips which you can take as part of a longer holiday.
00:45Most holidaymakers will be looking to see the big five on their trip, so called as they were once considered the most difficult and dangerous to hunt.
00:57But now they're considered the most impressive to spot in the wild, and they can take some spotting.
01:04These are the elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard and rhino.
01:09Although depending where you go on safari, you'll likely also see a variety of other impressive wildlife.
01:16From meerkats and giraffes on the plains, to hippos and crocodiles in the waters.
01:24We're starting out in Kenya, one of the most popular safari destinations and our personal favourite.
01:30Among other game parks and reserves, all of which are worth a visit, Kenya is home to the Maasai Mara, where you'll find sprawling savannas, wide open plains and large flowing rivers, making it ideal for spotting animals.
01:44It's also the end point of the Great Migration, in which nearly 2 million wildebeests and zebra trek from the southern Serengeti in Tanzania, a truly spectacular sight.
01:57Our top tip for safari in 2024 is Namibia, largely due to the sheer range of landscapes you can experience here.
02:05From the arid shores and vast rolling red sand dunes of the Namib desert, to the sprawling savannas of Atosha National Park.
02:14The word Atosha means the great white place, referring to the huge salt pan with its distinctive cracked white surface and shallow salty lakes.
02:25When it rains, hundreds of thousands of flamingos flock here, which is an incredible sight.
02:32Across the border in Botswana, the Okavango Delta offers a very different safari experience, with wetlands that form the largest oasis in Africa.
02:43The area includes permanent marshlands, as well as seasonally flooded grassland that brings a diverse array of wildlife, including the endangered African wild dog, the white rhino and the black rhino.
02:58It's also unparalleled for bird watching.
03:01Safaris here take the form of game drives, walking, horse riding and canoes that glide through the waterways.
03:10A safari doesn't just have to feature the big five.
03:13In Uganda, Rwanda and the Congo, travellers hike into the mountains for a once in a lifetime chance to see gorillas.
03:20And in Borneo, safaris take you into the jungle for the chance to see orangutans, pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys and Malayan sun bears.
03:29There are many more options for safari than just the destinations we've covered here.
03:34But wherever you decide to go, make sure you're fully prepared.
03:38Many regions that are popular with safaris are high risk for malaria and require certain vaccinations, such as yellow fever, typhoid and hepatitis A and B.
03:48So make sure you check with your doctor or a travel clinic in good time before you set off on your trip.
03:54It's also a good idea to adapt your wardrobe to the landscape.
03:57This usually means wearing colours like green, brown and beige and avoiding black, white or bright colours.
04:06That's it for this week's episode of Travel Smart Weekly.
04:09Be sure to check in for the next episode, which you can watch online on the Independence mobile app or on your smart TV.
04:16And for the latest travel news, reviews and advice, be sure to check out independent.co.uk forward slash travel and listen to Simon Calder's daily podcast.
Comments