A safari is one of the greatest ways to experience southern Africa. You have a wide range of safari camps and reserves to choose from throughout southern Africa. From the exclusive, water based camps of Botswana’s Okavango Delta to the massive expanse of the Kruger National Park in South Africa, there is a safari to suite every taste and budget. While days and experiences will obviously differ depending on where you choose to go on safari, we thought we would give you a rough idea of what a typical day on safari could be like.
A typical safari camp has a fairly structured day. This is due to the fact that your number one priority while on safari is to see some of the spectacular animals that inhabit the reserves. These animals are generally more active at certain times of the day and game viewing activities are organised around these times. After a night’s sleep the animals are up and about at the first rays of sunshine and normally looking for food or water. During the intense heat of mid-day, animals tend to relax in shaded spots and are much more difficult to spot. Then later in the afternoon, the heat cools down and the animals are out and about again. You also get many nocturnal animals that are only active at night.
A typical safari day will often start with a light breakfast or cup of tea followed by a very early pre-sunrise game drive for a couple of hours. Game drives on safari are done in open air viewing vehicles allowing everyone to get a good view of any sightings made. It also allows for you to take in everything the bush has to offer from the early morning rays of sunshine to the great smells and sounds of the bush. The morning drive is normally followed by a breakfast upon return and then the middle of the day is left for you to do as you please. Reading books, a little nap in the sunshine or whatever you choose to do. Some of the game lodges have swimming pools or take relaxed guided walks during midday to appreciate the smaller things such as trees and insects. This quite time where you get to relax in the stunning surrounds of a natural game reserve is one of the amazing things about going on a safari holiday.
Thrown into the middle of the day is a tasty lunch and then at about 15h00 you will go on your evening safari drive. Most of the time, depending on what animals are spotted you will find a place for a sun-downer drink, overlooking a flood plain or water hole where animals will wander in and out. This is always a favourite, as the sunsets in the African bush are truly unique and something that you will never forget.
Evenings on safari are normally relaxed, with dinner followed by a few drinks and stories around a campfire, or a few moments appreciating the stars. This is a chance to chat to the rangers a bit more and hear some of their stories of their time in safari camps. They almost all have some incredible tales of life on safari and more than happy to share their experiences with guests.
The great thing about a safari holiday is that there is a perfect balance of thrill and absolute relaxation. While you have the opportunity to come face to face with some of the world’s most beautiful animals in their own environment, you have plenty of time in between to truly relax and enjoy just exactly what a safari holiday is made for – completely relaxing amongst the smells and sounds of the African bush.