[ad_1]
Doreen Reinstein
Anyone who’s been on an African safari—both seasoned safari goers and first-time visitors to Africa—will tell you that a safari guide can make or break a trip. These wildlife storytellers hold the key to making any African holiday come alive and turn it into an unforgettable experience.
This is not surprising as the guide and handler spend nine to 12 hours a day with guests and introduce them to the African wilderness. “This creates an incredible bond,” said Chantelle Venter, chief executive of Singita.
“If the wildlife is falling from the trees, the guide can get away with doing a little bit, but in the quiet time you want someone who makes everything around you attractive, from the birds to the trees to the landscape – because that’s how everything is,” said Peter Allison, a natural selection guide.
And of course guides ensure the safety of the traveler. “No one wants to be stuck in front of a big, angry bull,” said Marcelo Novais, general manager of North America Care & Downey Africa.
For James Currie, North American Sales and New Development Manager at Great Plains, the guide is “the single most important person who can positively or occasionally negatively impact the safari experience. Guests are entrusted with their safety, enjoyment and learning. Their guide is nature’s interpreter and host in one.” It’s time.
So, how can travel agents in the US make sure their travelers get the best guides?
First hand experience is always a good reference. Allison notes that most agents have visited the properties they recommend and are likely to be familiar with the established guidelines at the lodge.
The quality of the lodge generally determines the quality of the safari guides, Novais added. The best lodges have strict vetting criteria for their guides.
However, a lot also depends on personal preferences and needs, which should be discussed.
Questions to ask customers
Novas offers the following questions that agents should ask their clients, saying that providers can go a long way in matching the right guide with the right traveler.
• Have you ever been to Africa before? If yes, where?
• Do you have any special animals you would like to see during your trip?
• Are you a bird watcher? Is an in-depth knowledge of birds important to you?
“The more an agent or guest provides, the better,” Venter said, adding that tour guides use the information to match available guides, related interests or ages or individuals, such as previous safari experience, nationality, age, interests, hobbies, etc.
She emphasized that even the smallest details can make a difference.
“We know that guests like to practice yoga at home. We have many guides who are qualified yoga teachers,” said Venter. “Or a guide who is knowledgeable about wine or speaks a foreign language. If guests want to run and exercise while at the lodge, we match them with an off-duty running guide and they can run together in the reserve. Reserve vehicle: If travelers like dogs, guides with anti-poaching teams At Singita Grumeti and Singita Sabi Sand you can arrange an experience to meet anti-poaching dogs and handlers.
According to Venter, it is important to build a relationship of trust with the guide and the follower. She said that the right guide often surprises you with something that will be a memory for life; For example, walking barefoot in a river or getting out of a vehicle to enjoy the smell of a tree or grass. “Guides and handlers use intuition, like the animal’s intelligence and patience, focus and persistence,” she said.
Novais added that many customers on their second and third trips to Africa want a deeper connection with specific animals. “Often these guests have their own preferences and want to spend more time with one animal than others. Knowing and communicating that information to the lodges is important to meeting (and exceeding) the guest’s needs.”
“It’s great to know all the needs, even other places the customer has traveled,” Allison said, adding that this guide helps determine how experienced the visitor is. “You have to explain the difference between a tiger and a cheetah on your first safari; if you do that to someone on their fifth trip, they’ll probably just ring your ears.”
A popular option for personal guides
Private tour guides that accompany travelers throughout their African journey are becoming increasingly popular. Natural Selection recently announced that the company will put personal guidance at the forefront of safari experiences. They have selected authors, musicians, conservationists, photographers and storytellers in their tour group. Among these personal guides are author Peter Allison; History implementation and monitoring in the Makgadikgadi pans of Botswana, King Super Sande; Ralph Bousfield, a conservationist and fascist, and Chabba Selei, a biologist and native of Botswana, own and manage Uncharted Africa, part of Natural Selection.
According to Novais, the opportunity to have private guides is often overlooked by travel agents.
“A private guide/vehicle is a unique experience for guests, allowing them to customize their safari experience and spend as much (or as little) time as they want with the animals of their choice,” he said. “It also really means getting to know your guide personally, and that always makes guests learn more and get more out of their overall experience. Having a personal guide and vehicle on safari is something I recommend agents push.”
[ad_2]
Source link
