When people think of South Africa they almost always think of safari holidays as the weather and terrain make it the perfect location. Driving around in an open top Jeep, getting to see the big five and taking amazing photos, but have you ever considered South Africa for a beach holiday?

With several resorts situated right on the seafront you will be spoilt for choice of places to stay. The southern cost of South Africa is a popular destination for tourists who are seeking the sun. sea and sand as the beaches are miles upon miles of golden sands and clear blue oceans. These locations are perfect for spending a day on beach or sipping cocktails are the beach bars.

There is a huge number of activities that you can do in South Africa and it is a truly is beautiful place with lots of culture. Why not combine both by going on a safari day trip when you are there or take a ride on the back of an elephant for a once in a lifetime experience.

South Africa may not be a cheap holiday, but it is sure to give you experiences like no other and has a lot to offer to people of all ages and interests.

If you are thinking of going on a safari holiday this year then you will probably already be aware of the costs involved. Most people oft to go on a safari holiday on an all-inclusive basis as that is what is offered at most resorts. As you may be located away from the main towns etc, it may be hard to eat elsewhere, so by booking an all-inclusive package at least you know you will have your meals every day.

All-inclusive safari holidays usually include breakfast, lunch and dinner plus local brand drinks and alcohol. Some packages all offer supper in the bush or afternoon tea back at your private lodge. Although these types of holidays will cost more than the equivalent self-catering one, you can often save a lot of money on food and drinks by going all inclusive. This is a great idea for a last-minute trip or honeymoon where you may not have a lot to spend as at least you know, even with very little spending money you can still go away and have all your meals / drinks included in the price you have paid.

You may be desperate to go on a safari holiday but not sure if it would be suitable for your children.

People often think that a safari holiday would be awful with kids but often this is far from the truth and will give them an experience of a lifetime. Yes ok, taking a new-born or very young child on a safari may not be the best idea but for children over the age of 5, a safari can be an amazing magical experience.

There are certain places in South Africa that are more suitable for children and while not all resorts welcome children there is still a great selection that do. Many resorts in South Africa will make sure that your kids get to join the family on the adventure of a lifetime and not miss out on all the exciting parts. Some of these resorts also offer childcare facilities that are ran by experienced child minders. Some safari companies run special safaris for children which are local to the park and may only last for an hour or so.

You will need to plan ahead and be sure that you keep your children protected from the sometimes fierce sun and ensure that you stay in a malaria free part of South Africa as it can be a very serious disease that can be fatal.

Some people are not fazed by travel and are quite happy to pack a bag and jet off to a new country even if going it alone. But when traveling abroad you should always consider safety. Unfortunately there are many countries where it can be risky to travel alone and you need to be constantly on your guard when moving from one location to the next.

You need to try and think ahead about your travel arrangements and where possible, book in advance so you have time to check out the company that will be transporting you and have some sort of contact details to pass on to friends or family so they know where you are supposed to be going and who with.

If you book a taxi with a reputable firm, many of them will even let you know who your driver will be and what car they will pick you up in prior to travelling to ensure you get picked up by the correct person.

Travelling in couples or groups is better if possible as safety in numbers is often try, but even if this is the case you still need to be aware of your surroundings and be careful not to get too complacent.

If you are planning a safari holiday then you will need to start early to give yourself time to do plenty of research. You need to find out what time of year is best to go and what animals you can expect to see at that time of year. You may think that you can go on a safari holiday in Africa any time and see the same sights, but this is quite far from the truth, the season you go in can have a big impact on the experience you will have.

If you are interested in seeing the gorillas then you may want to consider booking a specific gorilla trek safari rather than a jeep safari as this is the only way to get up close to the animals in their natural environment. Gorilla treks can involve a lot of walking and out for long hours but often result in an amazing experience.

When booking a safari trip, you should be given a rough itinerary that will tell you day by day what you will be doing. If there is something missing off the trip that you would like to do, then why not ask your tour operator before you book the holiday if there is a chance that you can add it in.

Read plenty of reviews for the safari company that you are intending booking with before paying your deposit.

With the summer holidays upon us many students are taking a well-earned break away from studies and going off to explore the world a little. Often the main issue with traveling is the cost. Not only will you need to fork out for accommodation and flight costs but also food and any other items you may need such as clothes and toiletries.

When looking into going travelling, you do need to have a bit saved up for the initial first few months for accommodation and flights. You may intend on finding work whilst you are away, but if you go to popular traveller destination you may find that there is already a lot of competition for the jobs.

If you do find work you may be able to extend your trip. It may be that you have to do a few different jobs or be prepared to sacrifice a few weekends a month, but you can actually learn a lot more by working in these countries than just going out with the other tourists. So if you really want to experience what these countries have to offer, working there will give you more of an insight.  

It is well known that South Africa is one of the best locations for any type of safari holiday. This is mostly due to the diverse climate and huge range of wildlife that inhabit the areas. The weather in South Africa means that bushes, trees and grass thrive when needed and provide plenty of food for the wildlife. If you want to book a safari holiday then you will need to consider your travel arrangements. This is not only how you will get to and from the safari resort but also how you wish to travel around when on a safari. There ae a number of different types of safari holidays such as self-drive, guided tour, trekking safari and even hot air balloon safari trips.  

Many places in Africa are only accessible by a small plane, car or by boat and so it may mean you need to take a few short journeys when you arrive in Africa to get to your final destination where your safari resort is.

If you fancy a challenge and are not afraid of a bit of hard work, then a walking or biking safari may be the one for you. If you are looking for something a little more relaxing then taking a guided tour bus or jeep may be the best option.

A safari in South Africa is an amazing experience and one that you only do once in your life time, so take time to plan it carefully.  

When packing for a safari trip you need to think carefully about what clothing you are going to take with you. Depending on where in South Africa you are going and what time of year will help you decide what clothing to pack.

You ideally want to wear layers of clothing allowing you to remove them and add them as you get too warm or too cool. You should also ensure that you avoid wearing bright colours as you want to try and blend in with your surroundings as much as possible and so not to scare off the wildlife.

Always be sure to take plenty of sun cream no matter what time or year you go as the sun can be quite fierce and if you are out all day it is easy to get burnt without really realising it until it is too late. A decent sun hat or cap is essential to cover your head during the hottest times. Being exposed to the heat for too long can make you feel very unwell and result in sun stroke. This is a serious condition which can make you ill and may mean you have to abandon the rest of your trip.  Taking a thin water proof jacket is a good idea during the summer months in South Africa when rainfall is high and it can often be quite torrential.

The beauty of a safari holiday is that you can often have the option of tailoring it to what you and your family or friends want to do. Some safari holiday packages have set itineraries that are followed, but if this is not for you then you can opt to book with a company that will let you design the holiday yourself.

Many companies will first need to find out a few things about you and the party you are travelling with. This often includes the size of the party, ages of the people and also if anyone has any medical conditions that may make certain activities unsuitable. Once they have this information they can then start to sort out a list of options for the safari trip that you may want to include. The package may be able to be tailored to suit your budget, allow you to add and remove parts of the trip where you want to.  

When searching online, there are some great websites that will ask you a series of questions and based on your answers build a safari holiday package for you. This can be great if you have an idea of where you want to go but not sure exactly what you want to do.

When booking a safari holiday one of the first choices you will need to make is whether you want to do a group tour safari holiday or an independent one? There are pros and cons to both and it really comes down to what sort of experience you are after.

If you are happy to go it alone (or with your immediate family) and like the idea of being responsible for the safari in terms of how long you are out for, what times you go and where you go then a self-drive safari is probably the best option. All you need to do is hire a car and book yourself into one of the many self-drive safari resorts. These designated areas are protected and monitored by rangers, so although you are out on your own you still have the comfort of knowing there are people who are looking out for your safety and wellbeing.

If you do a group tour the cost is often higher but all of the logistics are taken care of for you. You will follow an itinerary that has been put in place and have scheduled timings for the trip. The guide who take you will have a wealth of knowledge and experience that often allows them to take you to the best spots to see the wildlife.