It's not fear of man-eating beasts that keeps most people from going on safari—it's fear of the planning and expense. Ted Botha reports on everything you need to know before you go, and reveals that this trip of a lifetime is easier and more affordable than you think

Few trips can measure up to an African safari for the double-whammy promise of untamed adventure and old-world romance (think Freya Stark and Teddy Roosevelt). Yet most travelers will never know the serenity of a star-filled night on the savanna or the rush that comes from spotting a pride of lions, because they assume that safaris are just too expensive and too complicated to plan.

The truth is that, now more than ever, there's a safari to fit almost any budget: The growth of lodges and camps (luxury safari company &Beyond alone has opened 34 properties across Africa over the past 15 years) combined with the global economic meltdown means that there are plenty of empty rooms and tents—and plenty of competition for your business.

It's possible, of course, to do extensive research online, but this is one itinerary few travelers should attempt on their own: Only a travel agent who specializes in safaris has the breadth of knowledge necessary to help you craft an itinerary best suited to your tastes, budget, and interests. Our primer will introduce you to the basics and will get you thinking about some of the key decisions you'll have to make in planning a safari by giving you the necessary background to begin a fruitful conversation with an agent. We'll tell you what's great—and what's not so great—about top safari countries, accommodations (tents or lavish lodges?), and safari styles (walking, camelback, or open vehicle, to name just a few), and we'll recommend some of our favorite agents, too—all of whom travel to Africa frequently, know firsthand the properties they recommend, and can offer insider tips to maximize your experience. For example, says Paul Swart, a specialist with Natural Migrations in Bend, Oregon, "The Kalahari is at its best during the rainy season, and a good agent will know how you can combine a trip there with camps in Botswana's Okavango for a fantastic experience and great game viewing."

If you go on safari only once, this nuts-and-bolts guide will help make sure you do it right. Then again, you could be like Steve Carson, of Los Angeles, who only reluctantly agreed to go on his first safari, never imagining that it would lead to four more (so far). "I went to see the wildlife in East Africa," Carson says, "and I fell in love with the place. From the moment I got there, it felt like I was coming home."