What is a Safari?
Many tourist who are not familiar with Africa ask the question – what is a safari?
A SAFARI is an exciting and adventurous way of seeing the ‘real Africa’ because it enables you to view a variety of wildlife in their natural habitat. As a result, going on a safari gives you an authentic experience of Africa.
Safaris can involve walking through the wilderness, driving in 4×4 vehicles or by flying in light air craft. The purpose of a safari tour is to allow you to get intimate with the landscape and scenery.
While overland tours are mostly challenging, you need to be young at heart and open-minded to get the best out of an overland safari trip. All safari vehicles are custom-built to travel to remote parts of Africa often on long, bumpy roads, while allowing you to view wildlife from a safe distance in comfort.
For those travellers that cannot travel by road due to unavoidable circumstances, you will stil enjoy the most of your safari via Schedule flights
Why go on Safari?
Slow down and get in touch with the earth. Experience wildlife in their natural environment. Engage with local cultures and learn about their traditions. Take part in adventurous outdoor activities. The accommodation on safaris vary depending on your trip. Anything from basic two man tents through to tented camps and luxury lodges with en suite bathrooms. Certainly there is something to suit everyone!
Types of Safaris?
The term SAFARI is a type of experience where you have the opportunity to observe and photograph wildlife. An African safari in an overland truck is an adventure with lots of sightseeing and activities. Specialist forms of safaris cater for a variety of needs and budgets. Some examples include migration safaris, birding, medical safaris, hiking, culinary, family, horse back and photographic safaris. A safari tour can range is length from a couple of days to longer overland trips. While the longer safari tours traverse over numerous countries and include 1-2 months of travel.
What is a Caamping safari?
A camping safari is for travelers who want a hands-on experience of Mother Nature. Either setting up your campsite or helping build a campfire whilst surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and scenery. During an African camping safari you will stay in large dome canvas tents which are spacious enough for two adults and your luggage. Most camping safaris include a sleeping mat and you only need to bring your own sleeping bag, pillow and towel. The African campsites are basic and comfortable. Most have warm showers and flushing ablutions, while others may have natural ablutions.
What is a lodge safari?
Lodge safaris allow travelers to access wildlife over a shorter period of time. Therefore the lodges are located close to the wildlife (inside/or at the periphery of national parks and wildlife) and allow you more comfort. Most lodges can be accessed by air or by land transfers thus allowing you to maximize your time and experience. Also the quality of lodges vary for budgets and level of comfort.
What is a mobile tented safari?
Mobile tented Safaris are designed to allow for less impact on the environment. Tents are set up for your accommodation and then dismantled when you leave to ensure only footprints are left behind. Guides will drive the support vehicles ahead of the travelers and set up the camp. As a result the entire camp is all set up before your arrival.
By the time you arrive all you have to do is unpack, sit back relax and wait for dinner to be served. You will sleep on stretcher beds with a sleeping bag and a pillow provided. Bucket showers are provided with heated water for you to freshen up.
What is a Luxury tented Camp?
Some of the camps are luxury camps which are spacious tents with beds and crisp good quality linen. Resident chefs will prepare all your meals and there is a designated guide to organise and maintain the campsite. There are a few permanent tented camps which are erected seasonally in wildlife-dense areas for the best game viewing experience. Once the season is over these tents are dismantled and moved to another area for optimum game viewing.
What is a typical day on safari?
Early mornings are frequent so that you can enjoy a hot beverage and a light breakfast before heading out on a game drive. The mornings can be crisp and cold while refreshing, with the reward of watching nature awaken.
The morning game drives can be between 2 to 3 hours long. Allowing you plenty of time to explore the area before returning to the campsite for lunch or enjoying a picnic in the bush. You might go on another game drive in the afternoon or take part in an activity such as canoeing, maasai village visit, birdwatching or white water rafting.
Dinner will be prepared for you to sit back, relax and chat to your fellow companions over sundowners, drinks while a crackling fire is ready to keep the chill off. Early nights are usually encouraged so that you wake up refreshed and ready for a another adventurous safari.
What is the best time to go on a safari?
June to October offer the best game viewing throughout East Africa. The best wildlife viewing is when the herds of game graze on the dry Savannah during the day. Whilst watering holes and riverbeds are the main attraction at sunset.
Winter is also the best time to see and experience the wildebeest migration in the Masai Mara Game Reserve. The migration is definitely one of Africa’s greatest phenomena and well worth the trip.
It is ideal for a beach vacation on the East coast of Africa with moderate daily temperatures. Naturally these conditions are perfect to soak up the sun.
In the Summer months of November to March the bush transforms with lush green vegetation. The African sky offers up a dramatic backdrop of dark thunderstorm clouds. It is therefore the ideal playing field for energetic young grazers, with intensified predator action. Also the most popular season for birding enthusiasts with big flocks of migratory birds returning south.
