Choosing where to go on a trip to Africa can be tasking and
then how can also be another challenge. Well, not every trip to Africa requires
going through a tour operator but for most holidays or vacations, it is more
reasonable to go with a tour company that specializes in African travel and
more so – your specific destination which is not the same case as visiting
Brazil for the world cup finals! There it’s a simple matter of booking your
flights and getting a fine hotel to stay. You may miss out on exploring the
beaches and local events but you would be fine.
Some travelers believe they will save money by doing it all
themselves but that’s not true when visiting most of the African destinations.
It is true, tour companies get commission as a percentage of what you pay for
the trip but the discounts they pass on to their clients because of their
relationship with other operators and properties often end up with a fairer
budget than anticipated! The key is finding an operator that specializes in
your destination of interest and more especially, a local tour operator.
So, Why in Particular
Should Your Book Your African Trip with a Local Operator?
1.
If you
are planning to go on a Safari; it is almost impossible to craft an African itinerary
on your own without the help of a knowledgeable local operator! There are
hundreds of destinations and thousands of activities that can be done and
experienced in almost all of Africa’s safari destinations. As such, unless you have months of research (let
alone the fact that most information online is not up to date), and months of
travel, it can be very difficult and time consuming figuring out where to stay
activity times and getting through the payments.
2. Traveling like a local – Experience your
destination through the eyes of the locals; booking and traveling with a
local safari operator will add an extra delight to your experience. Besides,
the key attractions and activities, a local guide will enable you discover the
less publicized attractions that could end up ranking as the highlights of your
trip! Say a visit to a local village, eating at a local restaurant , a meal
prepared by a local family or even hitting a local joint for a drink – all of
which you cannot get with an ordinary regular itinerary! These are the kind of
extras you get with a local operator – one that is passionate about the
destination and has connections that he will use to add those special touches
to your trip giving you a more rewarding experience.
3. When planning a small or private tour and
need flexibility; if you are not into the one-size-fits-all tours offered
by the big companies, then you need a local operator to organize you a private
tour or join a small group of like-minded travelers. Imagine sitting in a bus with more than 30 or 40
other tourists listening to your tour guide speaking over the speaker about the
city or other place you are driving through and later on given a name tag once
you are off the bus and told to follow the guide who is holding up a sign as a
means of keeping the group together! You don’t get any personal attention and
ask for more details about your destination or request a stoppage that’s not
included in your itinerary.
This as well goes along with having special interests; if
you are diabetic, pregnant, vegetarian, traveling with kids or have physical
challenges; you need a local operator to take care of your needs. This is your vacation;
let the worrying and planning be someone else’s. Booking with a tour operator
also means you have someone to hold accountable when things do not go as
planned and paid for!
4. If you wish to travel responsibly and
support the local community; booking with a big tour company in your
homeland means that most of the profits will go to them and very little will be
passed on to any locals involved in your holiday especially in developing
countries where tourism is one of the major currency exchange earner – one the
reasons a local tour operator is more passionate about his occupation and
determined to make your experience a memorable one. Beyond the personalized and
memorable experience, it boosts your spirits knowing your money goes into
supporting a family and community of the local operator and if you are lucky
you could even witness where the money goes – it is not unheard for a tour
guide to invite you home for dinner!
5. If you mind your safety and security;
most African destinations are safe and stable but given the nature of African politics
and natural disasters, you need to in touch with a local operator to ensure
your safety and security. A security incidence in northern Kenya or southern Uganda
may not make headline news but a local tour operator will know about it and
switch your itinerary for your safety. Epidemics like Ebola and Marburg viruses
have also become of great concern to those visiting Africa and an example in
case is when tourists almost cancelled their trips to Kibale in Uganda yet the
epidemic was in Kibale district and not even near the park so activities in
Kibale forest like Chimpanzee tracking were still ongoing and unaffected!
6. If you want to save money; if the above
are not reasons enough to book your African trip with a local operator,
consider the fact that by booking local, you will save a lot of money since
there is no middle-man (who often take big commissions). The money goes straight
to the local operator and by this you will pay a fraction of the cost by
booking local. There is also more opportunity for negotiating prices when
dealing with small local and family run companies.
All in all, there is going to be a
local operator involved somewhere in your trip to Africa even when you book
with a travel company in your country so it is always a better choice to book
directly with a local tour operator in your African destination of choice.
