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Wildlife Wanderlust: 3 Must-haves for Your Safari Adventure

Tourists wathing zebras eating

Waking to the roar of lions. Driving slowly through a herd of gazelles as they skittishly part to let you pass. The sighting of a rhino. We’re talking about an African safari, and while it is one of the greatest trips that a traveler can enjoy it’s one that requires a few travel must-haves:

Travel Wallet

The last thing you need to happen on your safari is to have all of your cash, credit cards and important documents stolen, which is why you should keep these items in a safe place. USA Today recommends keeping your important documents and most of your cash in on-body storage that you wear under your clothing as you travel, such as the Samsonite RFID Travel Neck Pouch. The neck “wallet” uses RFID-blocking (radio frequency identification) technology so that criminals can’t steal your credit card and passport information with an electronic reader.

It is important, however, that you also carry an easily accessible wallet with small bills in it so that you aren’t always reaching under your clothing and showing criminals exactly where you’re hiding your valuables.

Travel experts also advise making copies of your important travel documents, such as passports, and to also write down credit card numbers and contact phone numbers and then keeping them in a separate location on your person. Some travelers will even email this type of information to themselves so that they can access this data while on their trips, if necessary. That way, if your valuables are stolen, you can contact the appropriate financial institutes and government officials. You may want to sign up with a company that protects you with identity guard services to make sure that your credit hasn’t been compromised. An identity protection service also can warn you of any future problems with your credit.

Photo by mroach via Flickr

Go-Pro

This small, extremely lightweight and hardy video camera has become the darling of daredevils around the world, but it is also an excellent camera for safaris. Planning on doing a walking safari during your trip? Then strap the Go-Pro to your hat so that you can keep your hands free. You also can purchase a GoPole telescoping pole to—if your guide okays it—move the camera closer to animals outside of your Jeep. And because the GoPro is waterproof, it’s perfect for taking underwater shots of hippos or crocodiles from, say, your mokoro boat in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Again, always ask your guide before attempting to do anything that could upset the wild animals or put you and others in danger.

Camera Beanbag

Because the wildlife you will want to take photographs of will often be at some distance from your safari Jeep, having a beanbag, such as the SafariSack available from Kinesis, to balance your camera is essential. According to Media College, the more you zoom in on a subject, the harder it is to keep your picture steady. A camera beanbag will stabilize your camera, which means that picture of a leopard high up in a tree is much clearer than if you tried to take it simply by holding your camera in your unsteady hands. The Kinesis SafariSack beanbag is designed so that when empty, it travels flat and takes up hardly room in your suitcase. Once you reach your destination, you can then fill it with material such as rice or seeds.

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