The Safari Experience
Make the most of your Africa adventure!
“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.”
— David Attenborough —
Game Drives
This is the primary activity to view and get close to wildlife. Wildlife have grown accustomed to the presence of safari vehicles and will be very relaxed when in close proximity. “But what about the people sitting inside?” Wildlife see the vehicle as a whole and don’t recognize the presence of people as long as you don’t start jumping around or making too much noise. Some areas also allow night game drives in order to see some of the nocturnal creatures great and small.
Walking Safaris
If you haven’t done a walking safari, then this is a must. The best areas for walking are in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the western and southern circuit of parks in Tanzania. To truly get a feel for the heartbeat of the bush, you have to get out and walk it. There is so much you miss while driving and there is nothing more exciting than seeing animals on foot. You will be in the hands of expertly-trained guides who are armed and well versed in reading wildlife behavior to keep you and the wildlife safe.
Photo Courtesy of African Bush Camps
Mokoro Adventures
The mokoro, or traditional dugout canoe, has allowed people to navigate the waters of the Okavango Delta for generations. Instead of continuing to cut down trees, the camps and lodges use fiberglass mokoros. An extremely relaxing activity where you can see life from a whole new perspective. Listening to the gentle ripple of water splashing over lily pads as you glide along waterways while listening to the sounds of nature will put an exclamation mark to your safari experience. This activity is only offered in Botswana.
Meerkats
This unique experience can be found while staying at one of Natural Selection’s camps in the Makgadikgadi Pans region of Botswana. For a couple of decades, some meerkat colonies have been studied extensively to determine just how important the zebra migration is to their survival. As a result, some of these colonies of meerkats are just fine allowing a few people to follow them around on their morning foraging forays. They also are more than happy to have you tag along since humans are a good deterrent to predators. Sometimes they’ll even climb atop your head to scan the horizon.
Sundowners
It is a great injustice to not experience the bush tradition called a sundowner. During colonial expansion into Africa, colonists drank soda water with added sugar and quinine in an effort to stave off malaria. Though the amount of quinine in the tonic would never be enough to battle malaria, the tonic itself became the most important ingredient of the quintessential sundowner drink; the gin and tonic. What started out as a medical concoction has evolved into one of the most important experiences of a safari; the sundowner. Approaching sunset, your guide will stop at a beautiful spot to watch the sun as it melts behind the horizon. Enjoy a gin and tonic or one of a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks as well as tasty treats and toast the day away!
Photo Courtesy of The Bushcamp Company
Fly Camping
Fly camping harkens back to a time when one would sleep under the stars with nothing more than a mosquito net to keep out the flies; hence the name, “Fly Camping”. This is for those who really want to feel connected to the land underfoot. This is essentially “camping” as we have come to know it in the western world, but with an African touch. Enjoy wonderful and tasty meals, traditional bush showers, walking safaris, evenings by the campfire, friendly staffs, skilled guides, and more to make this classic experience even more special.
Photo Courtesy of Nomad-Tanzania
Family Fun
Going on safari isn’t just for intrepid couples or the hardy solo traveler. There are many great places to go with your family. Camps and lodges have done a great job of creating special accommodations for families, training specialist guides to entertain and teach children about the natural world, providing a safe atmosphere, and inspiring future generations to conserve wildlife and respect people of various cultures. There are age requirements that vary by camp or lodge so make sure to contact us to find the perfect choice for your family.
Photo Courtesy of African Bushcamps
Canoe Safaris
Canoe safaris allow you to experience life from rivers, lagoons, and inlets. The silence allows you to float past iconic wildlife of all sizes. Experiencing a sunset on the water cannot be properly explained in words. This activity should be atop your list while visiting Zimbabwe and the camps and lodges along the Zambezi River. Your guides are well-trained and will keep you safe while you get pictures of elephant towering along the banks as they watch you paddle by.
Photo Courtesy of African Bush Camps
Horseback Safaris
This activity has become more popular in certain areas of Africa, especially Kenya and in the desert areas of Botswana and Namibia. You definitely will need to have some prior experience, but the ability to move along the edge of a herd of animals as if you are apart of it is mesmerizing. Your guides will keep you safe and ride in areas where wildlife have grown accustomed to the presence of your equine transportation.
We just ask you to make sure your guide doesn’t spook wildlife in order to gallop along side them.
Photo Courtesy of Great Plains Conservation
Stargazing
We live in a world where light pollution has caused the night sky to disappear from view. Fortunately, if you go on safari, you will escape the city lights and get to experience the vastness of the cosmos with guides who are versed in pointing out all of the constellations one can find in the southern hemisphere. The night skies in the desert regions of Botswana and Namibia are two of the best destinations to witness a sky filled with countless stars among the dust of the Milky Way.
Photo Courtesy of Natural Selections Travel
Cultural Experiences
Often the word “safari” is too synonymous with just wildlife. You will have the opportunity to meet incredible people who are proud of where they live, their culture, and their history. The connection between people and wildlife cannot be overstated. Many of the best wildlife viewing areas are on lands where local people have partnered with safari companies to ensure a future for their way of life as well as wildlife. Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, and Namibia offer some of the best cultural experiences.
Photo Courtesy of Nomad-Tanzania
Boat Cruises
Boat cruises definitely cover a lot of area while getting you deeper into the wilderness of Africa. The Zambezi River in Zambia and Zimbabwe and many of the waterways of the Okavango Delta are just waiting for you to discover a riparian ecosystem like no other. A cruise at sundown is an added treat for the safari goer. Plus, for those a little nervous about being in a canoe or mokoro, this activity is for you.
Photo Courtesy of Desert and Delta
Great Ape Treks
One of the most memorable wildlife experiences in the world is a trek to see mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. Some troops of our closest wild relatives have been slowly habituated over time to the presence of small groups of people. As a result, you will get to sit and observe gorillas or chimps from close distances without putting them or yourself in harms way. Being able to catch eye contact of a silverback or play a little game of peek-a-boo with a young chimp is something that will stay with you for the rest of your days. Volcanoes Safaris in Uganda and Rwanda for gorillas and Nomad Tanzania’s Greystoke Mahale in Tanzania for chimps are our preferred properties.
Balloon Safaris
Imagine starting your day well before sun-up and as the night sky gives way to dawn. You find yourself floating over a timeless landscape as the sun kisses the tops of acacia trees dotting the landscape. Spend the next couple of hours spying wildlife below or just marvel at the world around you. You’ll end this experience with a wonderful and romantic bush breakfast. This activity is offered at an additional cost. Prime locations are in Kenya and Tanzania during the Great Wildebeest Migration and in Namibia to witness a vast and remote desert landscape.
Photo Courtesy of Natural Selections Travel