Good bye to handwritten planning and paper maps! With the latest technology and apps, you can research, plan and save all your travel ideas, to-do lists, bookings and directions all in one place – on your mobile phone! And while we encourage travellers embarking on an African safari to have a technology-free vacation… planning and travelling has never been this hassle-free. Travellers can now explore the world virtually at the press of a button to look for flights, accommodation and now even to identify spoor, animals and flora.
We have compiled a list of our favourite apps for iOS and Android that help you find all your travel-related solutions such as what to pack and compiling a travel schedule. Scroll down and say goodbye to all the stress and challenges this African safari:
1. Pack Point
Tell the app where and when you are travelling and it will help you to pack! Pack Point will compile a list of things you will most likely need. You will never forget something behind again.
2. Duolingo
Duolingo is a language app that’s available for free. This app will help you to learn language basics or polish your grammar and vocabulary in a fun way. Available for both Android and iOS.
3. TripIt
This free travel itinerary app helps you see your entire trip in one place. Simply forward all your booking confirmation emails to the app which then collects all the details. The information about your trip will be available offline. Say goodbye to paper itineraries and lost bookings.
4. Africa: Live
Africa: Live is the winner of the best travel app in Africa competition. Share your real-time wildlife sightings on live maps and find animals, as you can see what wildlife sightings have been recorded in the past 24 hours by other safari goers and professional wildlife guides. Available for both Android and iOS.
5. ParkSpotter Africa
If you’re planning on visiting the Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Addo National Park, Table Mountain National Park in South Africa and Etosha National Park in Namibia, ParkSpotter Africa is a useful app guide. It has all the park contact details, gate opening times, accommodation options, lists of waterholes and points of interest and hiking routes. There’s also detailed information and an identifying tool on all the flora and fauna you can find in the parks. track your trip, save it and share your wildlife sightings on social media. Available for iOS.
6. iTrack Southern Africa
This brand-new app has track information for 50 southern African mammals so you can work out who made those pawprints. Available for iOS.
7. Sasol eBirds of Southern Africa
This app helps you identify tweets, birds and where they can be found. With images, descriptions and recorded bird calls of nearly a thousand birds and maps of where they’re found in Southern Africa, this bird guide will help even the beginner bird watcher. Available for Android and iOS.
8. Star Walk
Have you ever looked, amazed at the scattered diamonds across the black velvet sky but not know what you’re actually looking at? All you need to do is point your phone up at the sky and the app will map out constellations and point out stars, planets and satellites. Available for Android and iOS.
These simple-to-download and easy-to-use apps have become extremely valuable. Technology has changed the way we travel, making these apps a great addition to your safari experience.
If there’s anything at all we can do to help you with planning and prepping for your African adventure please do let us know.
I’m also working on my own on a travel app in my freetime, which helps to generate travel routes with AI. If you like my app, you could maybe add it to the list. 🙂
My app: https://yourtravelroute.com/
Its also one of the few apps which has africa mainly included 🙂
Thank you!
David