What Is A Safari Like?
What Is A Safari Like?
"Alephaant, Allephanntt," The Masai Softly Said As He Escorted Us To Dinner That Evening. Neither Of Us Could Under¬stand Him Until He Shined His Flashlight On A Tree-Sized Elephant Browsing Not 50 Feet (15 M) From Where We Stood. It Was Then I Realized Why We Were Requested To Wait For The Spear-Wielding Masai Assigned To Our Tent To Escort Us To Dinner. The Pathway To The Dining Tent Was Covered With Giant Pizza-Sized Footprints That Were Not There 45 Minutes Earlier. Carrying A Spear In These Parts Is Not A Bad Idea!
The Dining Tent Was Filled With People From The Four Corners Of The Earth, Reveling In Camaraderie And Sumptuous Cuisine By Candlelight. An Excellent Selection Of Wines And Desserts Complemented The Meal. After Dinner We Sat Around A Roaring Fire, Listening To Bush Lore From Our Entertaining Host. Later We Watched Hippo Graz¬ing Only A Few Feet From Our Tent. The Night Was Alive With The Sounds And Scents Of The Africa We Had Dreamed Of — The Untamed Wilderness Where Man Is But A Temporary Guest And Not A Controller Of Nature. Only Then Did We Retire To Our Comfortable Deluxe Tent With Private Facilities To Sleep That Gentle Sleep Which Comes With A Sigh Of Contentment.
What Is A Typical Day On Safari? Most Safaris Are Centered Around Guests Participating In Two Or Three Activities Per Day, Such As Game Drives In Minivans Or Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles. A Game Drive Simply Consists Of Having Your Guide Drive You Around A Park Or Reserve In Search Of Wildlife.
Most Activities Last Two To Four Hours And Are Made When The Wildlife Is Most Active: Early In The Morning, Often Before Breakfast, Just After Breakfast, In The Late Afternoon And At Night (Where Allowed). Midday Activities Might Include Lazing Around The Swimming Pool, Reading Or Taking A Nap. After An Exhilarating Day On Safari, Many Guests Return To Revel In The Day's Adventures Over Exquisite European Cuisine In Comfort¬able Lodges And Camps.
The Kind And Quality Of Experience One Has On Safari Varies Greatly From Country To Country, And Even From Park To Park Within The Same Country. For Instance, Going On Safari In East Africa (Kenya And Tanzania) Is Completely Different From Going On Safari In Zimbabwe, Zambia And Botswana.
Simply Watching Wildlife From A Vehicle Anywhere In Africa Is An Experience In Itself. However, More And More People Are Preferring To Travel Away From The Crowds And Wish To Personally Experience More From The Safari Than Just Seeing Animals.
How Can This Be Done? By Choosing A Safari That Includes Parks Which Are Not Crowded And Afford The Feeling Of Being More In The Bush. Choose Reserves That Allow You To Participate In Activities That Make You A More Integral Part Of The Safari, Like Walking And Canoeing. Choose Smaller Camps And Lodges That Are Unfenced, Allowing Wildlife To Walk Freely About The Grounds.
Depending On The Park Or Reserve, Safari Activities Might Include Day Game Drives, Night Game Drives, Walks, Boat Safaris, Canoeing, Kayaking, White-Water Rafting, Ballooning, Hiking, Mountain Climbing, Fishing, Horseback Riding — The Options Are Almost Endless. See "Safari Activities" And The Safari Activi¬ties Chart Which Follow.
Another Excellent Way To Get The Most Out Of Your Safari Is To Have A Private Safari Arranged For You. Why? A Private Safari Immediately Becomes Your Safari. You Do Not Have To Bow To The Wishes Of The Majority Of The Group Or The Strictly Set Itinerary Of Group Departures. With Your Guide, You Are Basically Free To Do (Within Reason) What You Wish!