10 Misconceptions About African Safaris

This may be one of the biggest misconceptions, with many people assuming all African safaris offer similar or even the exact same experiences. This is far from the truth. While most safari destinations, game reserves, or national parks boast a captivating landscape, diverse wildlife, and a list of activities, they each offer their own perspective on safari.

A standard safari in Southern Africa will comprise an early morning and a late afternoon game drive, while in East Africa, the trend in some parks is to follow a different schedule. After breakfast, you will head out on your game drive, usually around mid-morning, with a packed lunch provided for the ultimate picnic in the bush. Your guide will have you back at the lodge by mid to late afternoon, depending on the day’s sightings. Some private game reserves are able to offer night game drives, while Zambia, for example, prides itself on being a pioneer of the walking safari.

Geographical differences come into play, with safaris in the East African countries of Kenya and Tanzania often emphasizing vast savannahs and migration events, while Southern Africa’s Botswana and South Africa focus more on diverse habitats and luxury lodges. The Okavango Delta presents a refreshing twist on a safari by allowing travelers to traverse its channels by boat while learning how the channels support a wide variety of wildlife and bird species.

A game drive is not the only way to experience the safari circuits of Southern and East Africa. Traditionally, a game drive, whether in an open 4x4 vehicle or enclosed 4x4 with a pop-up roof, is the go-to for spotting wildlife when on safari. However, many lodges and safari operators offer diverse activities beyond traditional game drives.

Viewing wildlife from an aerial perspective as you gaze down from a quiet yet mighty hot-air balloon is an incredible way to safari. Heading out on a guided bush walk with the chance to engage with local flora and fauna and gain an education about the smaller wonders of the bush is extremely popular in certain regions.

Seated in a small tender boat on the Chobe River in Botswana, you will have the opportunity to cruise by wallowing hippos, spot elephants crossing before you, or embark on a stare-down competition with a lone buffalo on a deserted sand bank. Traverse an open grassland on horseback, experience nature up close, and move at a pace that allows greater interaction with the environment in a safe manner amid an array of plains game.

Your options for safari accommodations are not one size fits all. When it comes to where you stay, there are a number of accommodation options to choose from. A classic African safari lodge will be larger and present bold features and authentic local art. They offer quite a few rooms and, in some cases, boast some of the best locations on the safari circuit.

The African safari community will introduce you to the world of luxury safari tents, an intimate glamping experience that offers a more exclusive experience with fewer guests. They combine the romance of sleeping under canvas with high-end amenities and are often spacious and elegantly furnished. These luxury safari camps provide a closer connection to nature while maintaining comfort.

For families or a small group of friends looking to share an intimate safari experience, private villas or bush cottages are available, the ideal way to feel totally pampered while out on safari. Other safari styles include mobile camping, where modest safari tents are moved from location to location or set up in a specific area, depending on the time of year. They have simple amenities, yet outstanding cuisine. For a one-night-only experience, consider a night under the stars in a luxury tree-top platform “room” with a bathroom and communication with your main lodge, a truly outstanding experience.

There is no set duration for an African safari. One thing you may wonder about is how long you should spend on safari, and it is believed that the longer, the better. While extended trips or a combination of a few safari destinations will allow for more in-depth exploration, you could capture the magnificence of the wilderness and its wildlife on a two- or three-day safari.

The key may be in the timing, picking the destination that coincides with your travel timeline, your wildlife wishlist, and the time of year. You can witness incredible sightings on a single game drive or discover a part of nature you didn’t know existed on an early-morning bush walk. Your experience may include a visit to a rehabilitation project, where in one afternoon, you can fall in love with a cheetah or orphaned rhino.

Expert guides will ensure they are always focused. With their immense knowledge of the bush and how to read spoors and tracks, you can uncover a den of wild dogs or watch a lone hyena wander across your path as you sip a sunset cocktail. With various ways to enjoy a safari, your early-morning hot-air balloon ride will see you gazing upon a moving picture of animal activity, while just one dugout canoe ride along the channels of the Okavango Delta will bring you face to face with tiny kingfishers, frogs, and an elephant bumbling along in the distance.

The drier and cooler winter months of June to August are not the only time you can experience the immense wonders of the bush. If you have your heart set on experiences such as the Great Migration, which takes place in July and again in late September/early October, you will want to embark on your safari at that time of year. If you are a bird lover, you may wish to consider taking your safari in the lush green season between December and February.

In East Africa, the short rains fall from November to early February, with the longer rainfall coming between March and May. Experiencing your African safari during the short rains or in Southern Africa’s “green season,” just before the summer peak travel period begins, will afford you an incredible safari experience with warmer early-morning starts and mild evenings.

Discovering the African bush at your pace and in the destinations you prefer is possible, and you can absolutely have your African safari custom designed and personalized. Your safari adventure should be an experience that highlights your expectations and even surpasses them.

Group safaris often focus on a fixed route and schedule, offering standard accommodation and group activities. Set departure dates and standardized meals may compromise your overall safari experience, so knowing you can create your ideal safari adventure, which will offer you a degree of exclusivity, is good to know.

Smaller camps and lodges, as well as private safari experiences, ensure a more intimate safari experience, often with the flexibility to stay out in the bush that little bit longer at a sighting. Important information such as dietary requirements or mobility concerns can be addressed when you embark on a custom-designed safari.

Well-run safari operations, enthusiastic local communities who know safari tourism benefits them, and the sheer remoteness of game reserves and national parks all point to a safe safari experience. Embarking on an African safari takes you out into nature and away from the madding crowd in an open-air environment that is soothing for the mind, body, and soul.

If the non-human safety element is a concern, it is good to know that out in the bush, lodges, camps, and conservation organizations run tight protocols when it comes to what is allowed and what should be avoided when out on safari. Following the advice of your safari guides while out on a game drive or bush walk is important, and with their level of expertise, their focus is to keep you safe while you explore the incredible African wildlife. The same is important back at your lodge or camp, where a safari safety briefing will always be conducted when you check in.

It is important to keep abreast of your destination’s political situation and safety alerts, and to follow general rules of staying alert when in cities or towns. You will also want to ensure you have the necessary vaccinations or medications required before your trip. It is advisable to book through our reputable travel partners and have comprehensive travel insurance to ensure you have a memorable and enjoyable adventure.

There is so much more to discover when embarking on an African adventure. This can range from uncovering the rich culture of local communities to embracing a volunteering or donation opportunity or taking up an activity or adventure that complements your safari.

Cultural experiences are a highlight when on an African safari, with local communities sharing their heritage and traditions with visitors. You can participate in traditional dances, craft workshops, and storytelling sessions. Some communities, such as the Maasai, will invite you into their homes to share their daily activities, which can include baking bread or bead making. You may also wish to participate in the adamu or “jump dance,”  testing your strength and agility as you see how high you can jump.

Giving back is a thrilling way to round up an unforgettable African safari, and working with local experts can ensure you spend time in facilities like schools or orphanages. They can also make sure that much-needed materials or donations are directed to the appropriate facilities during or even after your African safari. We can guide you to reputable volunteer programs as another way your safari can differ from a day-to-day game drive or bush adventure.

While the iconic Big Five animals of the lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo undoubtedly draw many travelers to the open savannas and riverine, there are myriad magnificent animals that call game reserves, national parks, and conservancies home.

Activities like bird watching reveal the stunning diversity of avian life, showcasing a variety of species, some rare and endemic to the area. Imagine glancing down from your hot-air balloon and watching a journey of giraffe making its way across the diverse landscape below, or how the chirping at a den of wild dogs gets your heart racing. Giggling hyenas, cheeky warthogs, and nocturnal favorites such as hippos or a nosey aardvark are surely some safari highlights. Picture over 100 different animals gathered along the banks of the Kazinga Channel in Uganda, an impressive sight.

The Big Five are truly magnificent and always incredible to spot on a safari. However, your guides will read the bush and do all they can to share some of your favorite animals with you. They could spend time during your morning game drive tracking cheetah tracks or take you on a search for pangolin on your night drive.

With the advance of the smartphone, your hand-held device can snap that perfect shot at just the right angle. Features such as night vision or adjustable shutter speeds can put you in the running for safari photograph of the year. While you can join photographic safaris in vehicles equipped for large cameras and lenses and full days out in the bush, you don’t have to go to these extremes to take excellent safari photographs.

On safaris of old, having the latest camera when embarking on an African safari made it seem like people were truly in the know and bound to end up with the most fantastic wildlife photographs. Then, all the bells and whistles were the only way you could capture that lion lazing in the distance or capture the lilac wings on a roller, but this is not the case anymore.

Not using rolls of film or needing to remember to carry spare memory cards is a plus too. With some game drives being off-road, you will have the chance to get quite close to some sightings, and with the cooperation of the guide setting you up at the right angle with the right light, you are bound to capture that perfect pic with your smartphone.

There are no one-size-fits-all safari experiences. Your ideal safari adventure can be tailor-made to suit your African safari preferences and interests. There are diverse destinations, a variety of safari accommodation styles, and ways of experiencing the magnificent wildlife in East and Southern Africa that can bring to life your dream safari experience.

Avoid the biggest misconceptions about African safaris and find inspiration for your next adventure with our African safari travel guide or gather insight into new ideas with our African safari tours.