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A TYPICAL DAY ON SAFARI

A safari tends to begin with an early wake up, usually between 05h00 and 06h30 depending on the destination and time of year, followed by a light breakfast which can range from a simple hot drink and biscuits, to a more substantial breakfast of fruit salad or muffins. You will then head out with your guide on a morning activity which will usually be a game drive but could, in some areas, be a bush walk. Game viewing is best before it gets too hot and your morning activities will usually end by mid-morning (3 to 4 hours duration is normal) which is when you find a good mix of game on the move and preparing for their daily routine. These morning safaris will normally include a stop for a cup of coffee or tea with a few eats before heading back to the lodge. 

It is common then to spend the ‘heat of the day’ in camp, providing you a chance to relax, catch up on some sleep, or sort through photos from your morning game drive. Some camps have swimming pools, whilst others have ‘hides’ overlooking waterholes which attract animals and a large variety of birds during the heat of the day. At the luxury end of the market, lodges may also have a spa or gym and some even offer a photo-editing room. Meal schedules vary from camp to camp, with some properties offering a substantial ‘brunch’ meal around late morning/midday and then again for afternoon tea whilst others offer a more traditional breakfast and a lunch at ‘lunchtime’. In the mid-afternoon you are likely to meet up again with your guide and enjoy afternoon tea or a refreshment and snacks before heading out on an afternoon game activity.

The animals generally become active again as the temperatures drop and some of the nocturnal species begin to move around as the light fades, there is no better feeling than watching the sun set over the bush with the calls of lions, hyena or jackal sounding as they set off on their nightly activities. In some regions, the afternoon activity will end with sunset drinks in the bush followed by a night drive with a spotlight to look for the rarer creatures that come out at night, and then off back to camp for dinner. Camps and lodges will vary as to whether dinner is taken communally or at individual tables, with communal meals often served in a boma around a campfire. Either way, guests are usually ready for bed at a decent hour in anticipation of an early start to their next adventurous morning!