What Activities Can You Look Forward to on Safari?
An African safari is memorable from any perspective. Whether you’re driving in a safari vehicle, trekking on foot, flying with the birds in a hot air balloon or helicopter, or sitting with members of the local community, experiencing what Africa has to offer is a special experience.
Here are a few of the primary activities that can help you explore the beauty of Africa.
1. Game Drives
In the crisp dawn air, with a blanket around your shoulders to keep you warm until the rising sun begins to do its work, you climb into the safari vehicle with anticipation for the morning ahead. The next several hours will be spent trekking across open plains or river valleys or scrubland or maybe a little bit of each. There are no guarantees when it comes to what you’ll see because the space you’re entering is truly wild, with animals operating only according to their natural instincts for survival.
A game drive is the most common way to see animals on safari. Your driver will have the training and experience of tracking and identifying wildlife, birds, and plant species in the ecosystem you’re exploring. From your seat, you will see big cats, herds of buffalo, dazzles of zebra, towers or journeys of giraffes, and much more.
2. Walking Safari
While you’ll be very thankful for the separation that a car provides when close to a large lion, leopard, or elephant, a walking safari allows you to enjoy the things that go unnoticed during a drive. The plant, bird, and insect life of an ecosystem is just as vital, yet often overlooked.
You’ll find yourself entertained by a dung beetle rolling his treasure along. You’ll see the vibrant colors of birds sitting in the lower branches of a tree and will be able to identify the different calls. You’ll see what animals leave behind; a tree scratched up by an elephant or a buffalo’s manure. Moving slower will allow you to more fully appreciate the details of the landscape, taking in the beauty of individual plants, floating butterflies, and sun-bathing lizards.
3. Hiking or Mountain Climbing
Another way to explore on foot is through hiking. These areas may not have as much wildlife (and if they do, you’ll have an armed wildlife guide with you), but it offers a chance to see stunning landscapes and viewpoints of ecosystems that aren’t reachable by vehicle.
You may even decide to climb an iconic mountain, like Mount Kilimanjaro or Mount Kenya. Each is accessible to even non-mountaineers and, with an experienced guide and some moderate training, can be an exciting challenge, allowing you to experience Africa’s alpine ecosystems.
4. From the Air
In the early morning at your safari camp, you may hear a mysterious noise as you prepare for your game drive. A repetitive, loud whooshing sound that slowly emerges and then cuts off abruptly. The mystery will soon be solved as you see the emergence of a colorful balloon rising from the ground and slowly floating into the distance. A hot air balloon ride over the African savannah at sunrise is a magical way to enjoy your surroundings from the air. It lifts you high enough to allow you to fully appreciate your expansive surroundings, but keeps you low enough to see many of the details of the landscape and animals below.
Whether traveling to a remote destination, enjoying a sundowner on the edge of a cliff, or admiring the peaks of a mountain from above, a helicopter tour gives you the chance to enjoy stunning views from an entirely new perspective.
5. Cultural Experiences
The protection of wild spaces would not be possible or sustainable without the buy-in and participation of the local community. As part of your safari experience, you will have the opportunity to learn more about the culture and history that is embedded into your safari experience. You may get the chance to visit members of the community, learn about the ancient cultures that have protected these wild spaces for generations, or experience traditional dances and songs.
