What to Expect When Visiting Africa for the First Time

Knowing what to expect on your first trip to Africa can sometimes be a challenge. No matter how well pictures and stories can paint a picture of Africa, it’s hard to understand its potent energy and sheer beauty until you touch soil for the first time.

Therefore, to help illustrate what to expect for your first time in Africa, we asked one of our clients, Gary Harwyn, who recently returned from his very first trip to Africa, what to expect when traveling to Africa for the first time.

It is our pleasure to share our interview with Gary:

1. What false perceptions did you have about Africa prior to visiting?

Before visiting Africa I thought that the people would be uncivilized and anti-west. But what I discovered was that it was quite the opposite.

The only area of concern for us was the Zimbabwe government, which we heard about, but didn’t really witness anything—except some police road checks.

I was also concerned about diseases and bugs, which were not bad at all, except in Mana Pools in the evening.

2. When did you realize that these perceptions were in fact false?

One of the largest indicators that these were false perceptions was probably the giant airport in Johannesburg—which was equipped with a shopping mall!

In terms of the people in Africa, the Victoria Falls Hotel and Little Makalolo Camp had extremely friendly staff who made me feel like family. They are truly the nicest people / staff on the entire planet and catered to any and all of our individual needs.

Also, having access to filtered water and amazing fresh food at the camps helped put to bed some if misconceptions I had about food / water ingestions. I trusted Wilderness Safaris’ camps 100% with everything, and never felt unsafe. We did, however, watch our food and water intake in Harare. But, I stuffed my face everywhere else!

3. Now that you’re back in the U.S., do you perceive Africa the same way you did prior to ever visiting?

No. Africa is a BEAUTIFUL continent with FRIENDLY people (who speak English) and, as a whole, Africa should not be perceived as a 3^rd world continent overall. They need some help and support and assistance without “re-colonizing” everyone to American culture, as their culture can be progressive yet traditional.

I’m empowered to spread the word about Zimbabwe and want to help Zimbabweans to achieve the political freedom they deserve. The local people are very different than the government policy.

4. What’s the one thing you want people who have never traveled to Africa to know about Africa?

That it offers some of the most beautiful land, scenery, food, and people the world has to offer and that it’s safe and friendly.

5. List the top three best parts of your trip to Africa. What made these experiences so special and unique to you?

1. Pamushana was just larger than life with its stunning layout and exceptional staff—it is a real jewel.
2. The staff at ALL the camps catered to our every need—we felt like royalty for our entire trip.
3. I was extremely impressed with the knowledgeable guides and their eagerness to educate us on all the wildlife.

6.  Is there another trip to Africa in the future for you? If so, would you travel to the same countries or different ones?

Yes. We are ready to visit any (and hopefully all) Wilderness Safari and Singita Camps. We simply cannot wait to return!

7. After returning, what’s the one thing you wish you knew before traveling to Africa?

Actually, there are a few things I wish I knew before traveling to Africa:

• That we were not simply going on an “elephant ride” or visiting a random independent safari lodge.
• That the facilities we visited in Africa support local communities  / kids, educate people, and are involved in a much larger and interconnected network. There is a much bigger picture that should be told about the impact and importance of these facilities. Choosing between an elephant ride or a bungee jump was simply that: on the surface. Digging deeper, you recognize the elephant ride is actually supporting an elephant orphanage, anti-poaching units, and education sponsors. There are more to the facilities than is advertised on the surface.
• I also wish we had purchased a small picture book / checklist about all the variety of animals so we knew some basic things about the animals, prior to the game drives.

8. How would this information have changed your preparation for your journey to Africa?

I knew our trip to Africa involved a lot of eco-friendly tours and accommodations, but I didn’t have all the details and didn’t know what all that meant. Also, knowing some more details about the animals prior to leaving for Africa could have allowed me to have more respect for the fragility and status with certain species / populations.

Tagged as: Africa stereotypes, African safari animals, African Safari Tours, first time Africa, Gary Harwyn, Little Makalolo, Pamushana, trip to Africa, Victoria Falls Hotel, Wilderness Safaris