How to Enjoy African Safaris

How To enjoy African Safaris

For those who envision a safari that is filled with discovery and enjoyment, wonder and excitement, Africa stands out as a top-ranking safari destination for many. One of the main reasons why many people visit, and keep returning on African Safaris, is because of the unforgettable animal viewing experiences that Africa offers to its visitors. When you go on a game-viewing activity, you never know what you’re going to see or what is going to happen. Indeed, every day on an African safari tour is exciting!

East Africa serves as a top wildlife region including the countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. There are many ways to see and enjoy East Africa’s renowned wildlife, when per-taking African Safaris. Options include where to stay (lodge, resort, hotel or camp), which parks or reserves to visit (these are plentiful), the skills of your safari guide and how best to view the animals (from a 4 by 4 landcruiser or landrover, or from a 4 by 4 safari van).

The key to enjoying wonderful African Safaris lies in a combination of several aspects:-

1. A wonderful accommodation facility; either a lodge, camp, resort or hotel – after all we say that African Safaris are also holidays to relax the mind and soul
2. A skilled and knowledgeable Safari Guide – the personnel on your African Safaris can make a big difference
3. A comfortable safari vehicle, equipped with all requirements to tackle African roads
4. A good selection of parks, reserves and wildlife scenes or spectacles is probably the key to enjoying your African Safaris e.g. Masai Mara, Ngorongoro Crater, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Lake Victoria, Serengeti, Wildebeests Migration, Gorillas, Chimpanzees, and much more 

The kind of accommodation that you will use on your African safari tours will have a major influence on your overall safari experience. Many visitors prefer accommodation whose location provides the best game viewing experiences. Most African Safaris facilities are located in areas with abundant wildlife concentrations. Beach holidays also offer resorts that touch oceans or lakes, and these are a top favourite for many. It is always important to select lodges that are close to the wildlife you plan on enjoying during your African Safaris. You should also select lodges that have exciting views or add-ons, to ensure you enjoy time spent at the lodge.

In good four-wheel-drive vehicles, every person has a window seat and the vehicle has a pop-up roof where guests can stand up through the roof for game viewing and photography. These vehicles are the preferred transport for East African tours. Most African safaris feature guests taking part in two or more activities each day, which could include a morning and afternoon game drive in four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicles, cultural village visit, nature walk, bush lunch, boat cruise or even water sports. During the game drive, your guide drives you around the wildlife areas as they give commentary on the wildlife and sites you see in the bush.

The diversity of wildlife in East Africa is simply astounding – and indeed many people per-take African Safaris to see big game. From the Big Five (African Elephant, African Lion, Leopard, Black Rhino, African Buffalo) to a whole range of other animals, large and small. East Africa’s game parks, reserves and protected areas are home to some of the World’s most spectacular wildlife. There are always more species to see, including scavengers such as hyenas and vultures. Others include herbivores such as giraffes, hippos, zebras and an assortment of antelopes. The backdrop is a series of landscapes and geographical features that can only be described as amazing.

Kenya’s best wildlife scene is the Wildebeest Migration in the Masai Mara. This spectacle usually occurs between July and late October; and has been ranked as one of the top ten African Safaris. This is the World’s greatest wildlife spectacle as thousands of Wildebeest, Zebra, Thompson Gazelle, Topi and Eland make the epic journey across Kenya and Tanzania. Masai Mara has been a famous location for many films; with the BBC Big Cat Diary being a very popular show.

Rwanda and Uganda’s top wildlife scene is certainly a trek for Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees, often called Great Apes Safaris. The opportunity to get up close to our closest-living relatives is indeed an African Safaris dream.

Tanzania’s top wildlife scene has to be the annual Wildebeests Calving Season, which is often regarded as part of the Great Wildebeests Migration. This calving spectacle takes place in Southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where thousands of calves are born each year between the months of December and March. This calving spectacle is also part of the top ten African Safaris.

While on safari with Bovid Africa Safaris, you will enjoy the attention and input of your guide, whose job is to make sure that you have a safe, fun and enlightening experience. Having prior knowledge before setting off for your safari accords you more experience out of your adventure. Part of enjoying your safari is having an open expectation to learning all that the destination has to offer. It is always nice to develop a good rapport with your guide from the onset of your African Safaris. Your safari guide will not only know the conservation area and its wildlife, but also the best ways to reveal this to you.

Make sure that you explain your safari expectations clearly from the word go, so that your safari guide can help you maximize your experience. Bovid Africa Safaris Guides are chosen from the best local talent and they know the land in amazing detail. All our guides are born and raised in East Africa and they love nature and safari as much as you do- so engage them and let them wow you with their knowledge and skills!

Rather than spending your whole safari charging around looking only for big game, aim to get an understanding and appreciation for the whole ecosystem; of which termites and fig trees play as big a role as elephants and lions. Developing an interest in birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles and plants means that you’ll have a captivating experience at all times when on African Safaris. As we always say, there will never be a dull moment on our African Safaris.

During daytime game viewing activities, wear colors that blend in with your surroundings (brown, tan, light green or khaki). Do not wear strong perfume or cologne while game viewing. Wildlife can detect unnatural smells for miles and unnatural colors for hundreds of yards (meters), making close approaches difficult.

In addition to this experience, most people will want a record of their African Safaris. In this case, visitors to East Africa who are interested in photographing wildlife carry a point-and-shoot camera with at least a zoom of 10x or in the case of Digital SLR, a lens of at least 200mm. This is ideal for close up photography of varied subjects. It is also handy to bring a wide angle lens to allow great landscape photography.

The best wildlife photographs are taken in the early morning or late afternoon when sunlight comes at an angle; allowing exciting colours. In the middle of the day, sunlight comes from directly overhead which creates hard black shadows on and around your subject matter; but there is always something to look at.

Kindly take a look at our safari packing list guidelines where we have shared a comprehensive detail for items to bring on your African Safaris.

But above all, have an open mind and a happy mood… and let Africa impress you.