What to Expect on Safari

If you have never been on safari, here is what the days actually look like.

The rhythm of a day

Wildlife is most active in the cool hours, so days start early. A typical day: tea or coffee at first light, then a game drive from around 6:30 a.m.; back to camp mid-morning for a big breakfast; rest, read or swim through the heat of the day; an afternoon game drive from about 4 p.m., often ending with a "sundowner" drink somewhere with a view; dinner back at camp, then the sounds of the bush. Some days you take a picnic and stay out all day.

The vehicle

On the northern circuit it is usually a Toyota Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, so you stand to watch and photograph. Each row has a window seat, there is a fridge for drinks, and charging points. In the southern and western parks, open-sided vehicles are common. Your driver is also your guide.

Your guide

A good guide is the difference between a nice drive and a great one — spotting a leopard tail in a tree, reading tracks, knowing where the lions were yesterday, explaining the behaviour you are watching. They are in radio contact with other guides, so a big sighting travels fast.

The rules

In the national parks you stay inside the vehicle at all times except at designated spots, vehicles keep to the tracks (no off-road, except in some private concessions), and there is a distance kept from the animals. Walking safaris and night drives happen only in private conservancies or with a park ranger. These rules are why the wildlife tolerates vehicles so well.

The camps

From simple mobile tents to design-led lodges, but the pattern is similar: your tent or room, a central area for meals and a fire, and staff who look after everything. After dark you are escorted between your tent and the main area, because animals move through camp at night — that is part of the experience, not a problem.

Connectivity, health and children

Mobile signal is patchy to non-existent in the parks; most camps have some wifi in the common area. It is dusty, sometimes bumpy, and the sun is strong — hat, sunscreen and water matter. Children are welcome; a private vehicle removes camp age limits and lets you set the pace.