8 Must-Have Items To Take For An Unforgettable Wildebeest Migration Safari : Going to see the wildebeest migration is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for animal lovers. It’s an opportunity to visit the African Serengeti and witness nature in its most primal, undisturbed state. A trip to another continent, let alone into the wilderness, is not for the faint of heart. The successful explorer will need to bring the necessary supplies.
Most people’s dream when planning their African Safari tour is to witness the Great Migration in East Africa. As a result, it is critical to plan and prepare for your migration safari in order to have the best possible experience. As there is a great wildebeest migration packing list, there is also a list of what not to pack or take on your wildebeest migration safari tour, and proper planning has several advantages. For one thing, it will not only provide you with peace of mind, but it will also assist you in budgeting and customizing your safari itinerary based on your interests. It will also enable you to obtain the necessary equipment and clothing on time. Three, planning ahead of time allows you to secure your preferred accommodation and prepares you for what to expect during the migration to avoid disappointment.
In this article, we will provide you with important planning tips for your Great Migration Safari, as well as insights into the essential gear and items to pack, as well as what to expect during the migration safari itself. We will also go over the details that you should pay close attention to when planning. Here are must have items in your Great wildebeest Migration Safari:
- Anti-Malarial Pills
This has to be at the top of the list because you’ll need to stay alive and healthy first and foremost. Africa, and really any place with mostly temperate weather, will have a mosquito problem, and wherever there are mosquitoes, there will be disease.
To combat it, you’ll need to bring malaria pills with you. In fact, medical preparations begin well in advance of the trip. You should make an appointment with your doctor a few months before you leave. The doctor will administer a series of vaccinations for various African diseases, such as yellow fever.
- Binoculars
Binoculars are a safari must-have for a reason. While a close-up view of a wildebeest herd is truly breathtaking, it may not be worth the risk. One of the most common wildebeest species can grow to be over four feet tall and weigh 550 pounds. Furthermore, if you’ve ever seen photos of the wildebeest migration, you know that thousands of them can stomp through at once.
- Camera
A modern adage advises travelers to take photographs. Otherwise, there is no evidence that the trip ever took place. We live in a society that often does not take things at face value, so you may require proof from time to time. Of course, the purpose of pictures extends beyond simply showing them to friends. They’re also a great way to remember past experiences. At the end of the day, that’s all that matters. These images are for you.
Going on a wildebeest migration safari will be incomplete if you do not bring a good camera. Consider this one of your top priorities for must-have items, especially if your trip is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
- Warm Clothes
This may seem strange, but you will require warm clothing. The thing no one tells you about many tropics, deserts, and even the Serengeti is that their reputation for being scorching hot only applies during the day. Temperatures in the Serengeti can drop dramatically at night, though they rarely fall below freezing. The average nighttime temperature is in the fifties or sixties.
Essentially, you’ll need to be prepared for a wide range of temperatures, and how you do this is entirely up to you. Some people prefer multiple layers, but you should be fine with a hooded sweatshirt, shorts, boots, and long, thick socks. The good news is that most Serengeti camps have a laundry area, so you won’t need to bring too many outfits.
- Sun Protection
If staying warm wasn’t enough of an incentive to pack a hooded sweatshirt, sun protection might be. During the peak months of the wildebeest migration, the Serengeti does not get too hot, but it does get very sunny. There are numerous ways to protect yourself from the sun, and you may wish to employ several of them. Sunscreen is strongly advised, and you may want to bring some sort of headgear.
- Light
You’ve probably heard of the term “light pollution.” For those who haven’t seen it, it usually occurs in large cities where there are so many lights that you can’t see many stars. This is significant because the Serengeti lacks any. This means that it will be much darker at night than you are accustomed to.
As a result, bringing a flashlight on your trip to see the wildebeest migration is essential. Keep in mind that safari lodgings are not like most campsites. Many of them have public bathrooms attached, and some even have private bathrooms for each individual room.
This is for a reason, and it has to do with the local wildlife. Being attacked by an animal on a safari is actually quite uncommon, owing to how their eyes process images. Many animals notice shapes and structures but cannot tell the difference between, say, a tent with humans inside and an empty tent, so they will not approach it.
When a person is out wandering alone, they are perceived as a living creature, and people become vulnerable. Because the restrooms are located inside, a person’s need to venture outside is limited. So, why get a flashlight if you’re not going outside? We’re back to light pollution now. Even if you don’t go outside much, your room will be dark, so you’ll need a flashlight to see anything, inside or out.
- Travel Documents
This may go without saying, but you will absolutely need to have all of your necessary paperwork in order. After all, you are in a foreign country and may be crossing borders, depending on your itinerary. You must be able to demonstrate that you have been vaccinated, that you have the proper authorization to enter the country, and so on.
- Entertainment
Surprised? Yes, we’re talking about entertainment. Going on a wildebeest migration safari does not imply that you will be constantly watching animals. Because there are no TVs, computers, or books available in certain accommodations during your downtime on a safari, you may want to bring your own entertainment. You could bring a laptop, tablet, or even a few books.
Books may even be preferred. They do not require charging and can be used even when the internet is unavailable. While you should bring something to do in between journeys, you may find that you don’t need it as much as you thought. You’ll probably be able to hear the sounds of the world all around you if you’re left to your own devices, from lions roaring to elephants trumpeting in the distance.
Some people may be disturbed by these sounds, but others will appreciate the opportunity to hear them all. You may be familiar with this if you’ve ever gone camping, bird-watching, or even visited a zoo. Eavesdropping on nature can be a truly unforgettable experience.
WHAT NOT TO BRING
There are guidelines for what you should and should not bring on a safari, just as there are for what you should and should not bring. For example, you will need to bring food, but you should probably avoid alcohol.
Also, avoid wearing bright colors, particularly blue. Because bright colors are more visible, animals are more likely to notice you and avoid you. Blue is especially not important because it attracts tsetse flies.
Tsetse flies are an African insect that behaves similarly to mosquitos. It bites prey and drinks blood, and a few of them are known to carry sleeping sickness. Sleeping sickness is a disease that can attack the nervous system and kill you.
Also, avoid wearing anything that might be considered valuable enough to steal. There’s always a chance that one of the many people you’re traveling with won’t be reliable.
Wearing any kind of camouflage is also prohibited. Tanzania and Kenya are both fairly safe, but Kenya’s northern border is shared with Somalia, one of the world’s most dangerous nations. This proves that terrorism is a problem in Kenya. The majority of this issue occurs in the north, far from the safari destinations, but the local authorities are still wary of anyone who even remotely resembles a militant. This means that nothing that might be regarded as a weapon or camouflage is allowed.
