Before going on a Safari in Africa we are invaded by a thousand doubts, many of which go along the same lines: what will it be like and what things we can or cannot do, especially taking into account aspects related to safety. Will we get out of the vehicle? How many hours does it take to go on Safari? How many animals will I get to see? Is it easy to see the “big five”?
We are going to focus mainly on safaris in Kenya and Tanzania, although many of these data and tips are also applicable to safaris in other places or on your own, such as safaris in South Africa.
Taking all this into account, we will tell you today what you need to know before embarking on a Safari in Africa. Ready? Let’s get started!
Manage your expectations: remember that the animals are in the wild and this is not a zoo.
It is not guaranteed that you will be able to see all the animals, nor those “Natgeo” images where the lions run at the zebras, or the hippo opens its mouth, or the giraffe is drinking water. This will depend on being in the right time and place.
Guides make a difference, as an experienced guide will assess situations and know the best times or places to find each animal, but nothing is 100 percent certain. Sometimes there will be luck, other times maybe not so much.
In our case for example we cannot complain, we saw everything and in many special situations, and above all, it was as Colleta (our guide) said a “baby safari”, because we saw babies of almost all animals! But no two safaris are alike.
The parks and reserves are huge.
Related to the above, you have to know that the parks and reserves are gigantic. They are not territories that can be easily covered in a short time, and although there are roads, there are places that cannot be reached (as vehicles are not allowed to drive).
This implies that maybe there is a situation that is going to be out of our reach, in those cases you can get to see it through your cameras if you have a powerful zoom/lens or binoculars.
Never, but never, get out of the vehicle without asking your guide.
Getting out of the vehicle during a safari is clearly not the smartest decision in the world, let alone doing it without asking your guide if it is safe to do it in that place. There are authorized areas to get off, there are areas that are less risky, there are areas designated for picnicking, in other words, always consult beforehand.
It’s hard to believe, but there are still a lot of accidents because of this kind of thing, especially because people want to take a better picture, or take a picture with a certain animal… it’s easy to feel like you’re in the middle of a field! Of course, until you come across a lion or an elephant walking around.
On the other hand, in some places there are toilets but if you are in a hurry, you can stop in certain places to urinate exactly where these wild animals do it haha Always let the driver and guide know, and they will make the decision that is safest for you. If you are a student, who went on a safari for the first time and want to write a fascinating essay about it, you can turn to the professional team of studycrumb. They can help you write a terrific article that will stay in your memory forever.
When staying in campsites or places that are not fenced in any way, the guide is also asked to accompany them from the camping area to the dining area.
The dining area is fenced and enclosed (like a trellis) as food is more tempting for the animals to approach. It is important to be aware that we are sleeping in the middle of natural parks and that this has a certain risk, even more so when we do not take care of these basic aspects.
Besides, our night vision, for example, is not the same as that of the animals, so they will surely see us long before we even know they are near. The idea is not to scare them, but to make them aware that it is our life and the lives of those who are traveling with us that we put at stake by doing stupid things and not following the basic rules. And of course, also the life of the animal itself.
You cannot feed the animals.
They are wild animals, therefore, feeding them is not allowed. They go on with their normal life and are fed according to their needs. This is why although it may be tempting for some people to feed them, especially if they get close, this is not allowed as it may cause changes in their diet, and even cause severe damage.
A safari is done in silence.
It is an experience to live with all the senses, and this applies especially when you share the trip with other people. You have to be respectful of the experience, learn to listen to the sounds of nature, it is part of making a safari.
On the other hand, making very loud noises or shouting can exasperate the animals, driving them away from us or even making them feel annoyed (which is risky for our safety).
We saw a safari car pass by, with the roof open, and a gentleman singing opera-style loudly standing inside the car with half his body outside… we were thankful we were not in that same vehicle! We also saw cars where when we saw an animal, everyone was commenting, or listening to loud music… we even saw people shouting at the animals to call them! Yes, there are people for everything.
The Safari day is linked to the driver’s and guide’s working hours.
What does this mean? That we must take into account that, at least in Kenya and Tanzania, the working hours are 8 hours, so the time that exceeds that duration will be at their own will. They are not “obliged” to do so as part of the contracted service.
For example, if they started the day at 6am, it would be fair to finish it at 4pm, although in many cases they continue a little longer. This is at the will of the guides and drivers, in any case we can clarify that we do not expect them to extend the day for more than that amount of hours.
On the other hand, the parks have a schedule, which is usually from 6 am to 6 pm, so you can not exceed it. At a certain time the driver must take the road to get closer to one of the exit points or to the campsite, depending on the case, since this is regulated and fines are applied for those who do not comply.
The entrance fees to the parks are for 24 hours, so if they paid a ticket one day at 9 am, the next day if they come back they must leave the park before 9. Otherwise they should pay another ticket.
It is always a matter of discussing everything with the team, so that the experience is pleasant for everyone. For us it is a once in a lifetime experience, but you have to remember that for them it is their job and obviously they feel tired, they know if a route will take longer, or if it is convenient to go another way.
Logically we can suggest, we can ask and we have our rights; it happened to us that the driver of our first days in Kenya did not turn off the engine when we braked to see an animal, or his cell phone rang (it was not silent). We talked about this with Colleta (a total genius) and there was no problem, she talked it over with the driver and we were all happy.
That is to say, do not be afraid to ask questions, to raise your expectations or discomfort, as this also makes the job easier for them. For example, we explained that we wanted to appreciate the details in silence, that we wanted to film, that the vibration of the vehicle did not allow us to take pictures with the camera still, so from then on they knew what we expected.
Then during our Safari days in Tanzania this happened in a more natural way, the group was divine and made the experience even more special.
On the other hand, I love elephants, so my biggest expectation was to see big herds, giant elephants with their huge tusks and ears, and Colleta was very attentive to emphasize this, explaining things to us and giving us many facts about the herds, their habits and other details that for me at least are exciting.
It is forbidden to throw things out of the vehicle and leave garbage.
This sounds obvious, and logical, but for some people it may not be so… so it is always worth clarifying. Not only do we put the animals at risk, but we also generate pollution to the environment… watch out, if something gets blown away, which although it may seem silly, they always warn their guide so that he/she can take the most appropriate decision.
We are talking about maybe you are drinking water and you drop your bottle, or your hat, or your camera cap, or even your cell phone (may it never happen to you!). Haha It reminds me of when mine flew off a tuk tuk in the middle of Bangkok traffic, but that’s another story). If something like this happens to you, let your guide know so he/she can make the most appropriate decision for that moment and situation.
It is forbidden to leave the trails.
As we mentioned today, there are established trails in the park where you can go. There are other roads that are closed, or even marked indicating that only Rangers, who are the park’s caretakers, are allowed to drive on them. This is done mainly to prevent soil erosion, which as we know has serious consequences for the different ecosystems.
Let’s be aware of this and not put pressure on the driver, since many times in order to keep the travelers happy, who ask to get closer and closer to the animals, they end up giving in, putting not only the environment at risk but also exposing themselves to economic sanctions by the rangers.
A safari is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
A safari has to do with observation, with looking, with listening, with seeing the panorama, the landscape… it has to do with living the moment, with feeling the air when you go with the roof of the truck open, with feeling the smell of wet earth when the rain starts to fall, with learning, with seeing different situations. Because it is not only about seeing a certain animal, because you can see 200 giraffes, but you can always see them in different situations and live a special moment.
Because no, it is not the same to see lions when they are sleeping, than to see them again when they are eating, or when they are walking looking for shade, or when they are drinking water, or when they are with their cubs.
It is not the same situation to see giraffes eating than to find them in the rare and vulnerable situation when they are drinking water, or when they are fighting… and to feel how the blows on their necks sound, and to learn that the “horns” they have are made of bone and yes, they hurt.
And to see that the Pumbas or warthogs walk with their elbows, and run with their little antenna-like tails; or that elephants also get into the water and eat the plants that are floating there… Or how the dic dic always go together in pairs, or how a Thomson’s gazelle stays still when the rain falls on it, or how the zebras cross themselves in order to chase the flies away from each other… Or how you can see the pulse of that leopard in its neck, while it rests calmly after climbing its prey to a tree.
Every situation has its magic, its appeal, and no two moments are ever the same. Because that is the rule, that there are no rules, that it is unpredictable, that you can suddenly see something unique in a matter of seconds and go from a normal day where “nothing interesting has happened yet” to the best day of the safari.
Or because you can be excited to see a bird, and its colors, because it is an African bird and you don’t have those at home, or because you can find it incredible to see such animals so close to you, or to see the spots of a zebra and not be able to believe that nature is so perfect.
That’s what a safari is all about, so the best thing to do and our final recommendation is to be open to the experience.
We all have thousands of expectations, but the best thing is what you will really live once you are there, nobody will take that away from you… and I assure you that it will be an unforgettable experience.
About the author:
Rachel is a writer on Study Crumb, who has a passion for teaching. She has experience in human resources, working as a departmental assistant and sharing her skills with students. Now she is ready to branch out online, giving advice to a larger audience. She is ambitious and talented, with a great deal of enthusiasm for her work.
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