Apps to enhance an African adventure

We know that an African safari is all about escaping daily life and connecting with the wild. But we also know that for committed technophiles, the thought of leaving your smart phone or iPad at home would be unthinkable. So for the gadget lovers, here are some ideas for brilliant apps which can add something extra to your safari:

Google Earth

This groundbreaking app lets you ‘fly’ you to each of your destinations for a bird's-eye view of where you will be staying. It’s a great way to whet your appetite with a virtual run-through of your itinerary. You can pore over maps and examine the terrain at an impressive level of detail. And you can check out hundreds of photos taken at the locations you’ll be visiting. What’s more, Google Earth is free on Android, iPhone, iPad and Blackberry.

Global Wi-Fi finder
While you won’t find Wi-Fi networks out on the savannah, this free Android and iPhone app from JiWire can be handy for tracking down internet hotspots while visiting cities. Accessing Wi-Fi is a clever way to avoid data charges on your smartphone or tablet. At the moment, Nairobi and the Kenyan coast seem to be the most comprehensively covered parts of East Africa in the app’s list of areas.

Kindle app
Thanks to the wonders of app technology, you can enjoy the benefits of a Kindle without actually owning a Kindle. This free, cross-platform app enables you to download books and newspapers and to read them on your mobile or tablet. It’s the perfect way to get all the travel guides, wildlife books and holiday reading you’ll ever need without the weight or the additional luggage fee. And a backlit reading medium has the edge on printed books in the dark of a luxury camp.

Wildlife app
At present, those with Apple devices have the choice of African wildlife guide apps. At £6.99, the Audubon African Wildlife app, available on iTunes, boasts a catalogue of advanced species information on 164 mammals and 284 birds. However, a smart option for Android and Blackberry users is the WikiPock app at £14.99. This powerful software gives you offline access to Wikipedia’s whole collection of articles. So as well as detailed (and largely reliable) facts on every imaginable species of wildlife, you’ll have a plethora of guides about East Africa’s National Parks, culture, history and more.

XE currency converter
The respected standard for currency conversion, this free app works across all platforms and includes every East African currency you might need. It updates with the latest conversion rates on the go but also applies the most recent rates if you stay offline. This is useful for anyone who’d rather not rely on mental arithmetic to gauge how much that market-stall masterpiece will really set you back.

A note of caution: downloading data on your mobile whe1n abroad can cost a small fortune, so it’s worth checking your rates and being sparing with your usage. Turning off data roaming and making use of locally available Wi-Fi networks is a great way to minimise internet charges. And where possible, load apps before you leave and access them offline to avoid internet usage altogether while in Africa.

Have you used any of the apps we’ve featured or alternatives to them while on safari in Africa or elsewhere? We’d love to hear any recommendations or reviews you have about any that you’ve tried. Feel free to tell everyone through our Facebook Page or add a comment below.