Top 8 things you simply must have at a Safari - And the hows and whys of it

If you’re on a course of tablets, carry your medication with you, because you don’t know exactly when the safari will end and it’s best to be prepared.

The heat can get pretty intense near midday, taking sunglasses, hats and sunscreens are a good idea if you want to enjoy the safari without irritating factors like sunburn spoiling the day for.

You will simply have no other go than to scratch yourself until you bleed and attract the animals unless you take the insect repellent and apply it liberally, well ahead of the safari.

Yes, I can hear you laugh at my suggestion while you read this on your smartphone with a million apps in it. But, a binocular is the best thing to have on a safari, it will give you a whole new experience, and furthermore, it will never run out of charge.

For all the photographers out here, this is your opportunity. Photographs look so much cooler when taken in the wild; bring a fully charged DSLR or good quality camera with lens to get the best of the safari moments.

I get it, obviously, you will have clothes, but the question is do you have the right clothes? In Sri Lanka, safari rides can get pretty warm; therefore, wear light and comfortable clothes that let your skin breathe. Cotton is an amazing choice as it will keep you from melting in the heat.

Sounds like a dorky idea, but you will be thankful that you did take down notes during the safari. Not a necessity, but something to keep your Safari memoirs in the correct chronological order in future.

Not really something you can buy on your way to the safari, but highly recommended. Keep your mind relaxed and calm, be patient when waiting for animals to appear and just cherish every moment of your safari while you take in the wild world unknown to the humans. Staying at a place like Mahoora Tented Safari Camps, which is close to the safari site, will be a good idea.

At the end of the day, a safari is an enjoyable and humbling experience for any human being, be it a nature lover or not. Watching the animals walk about doing their thing while you sit in a vehicle and imagine whether you’d be eaten if there was no vehicle there, a truly eye opening experience indeed. Children and adults alike, love safaris as it shows them another side to the world, a side we don’t think of often.

The best places to go on a safari in Sri Lanka are the Yala National Park, the Wilpattu National Park, Horton Plains National Park and Udalwale National Park.