Time. Plan on at least two weeks. That should allow for at least three different camps in different areas, for three nights each. Generally, you get an early morning game drive and a late afternoon game drive each day, so two full days in each camp almost guarantees that you'll see a lot.

The ideal length for a safari depends on your goals, but most experts recommend a window of 3 to 5 days per specific ecosystem. A 3-day stay allows you to settle into the rhythm of the bush—performing early morning and late afternoon game drives—and increases your chances of seeing the "Big Five" (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino). Staying fewer than 3 days can be risky due to the unpredictable nature of wildlife spotting, while staying more than 5 days in a single camp might start to feel repetitive unless you are a serious photographer or birdwatcher. For a complete "multi-destination" safari experience that covers different landscapes (such as the grassy plains of the Serengeti followed by the watery world of the Okavango Delta), a total trip length of 10 to 12 days is standard. This timeframe accounts for the significant travel time between remote airstrips and allows for a "rest day" at a lodge with a pool. Ultimately, the sweet spot for a first-timer is 4 days; it’s long enough to see a diverse range of animals but short enough to keep every game drive feeling like a fresh and exhilarating adventure.