What is a Safari Holiday Like?

If you have never been on a safari holiday or haven’t known anyone who has, it can be quite difficult to imagine exactly what a trip like this entails. How long do you go for? Do you stay in one place the whole time? Do you drive around looking for animals all day? 

A safari holiday is such a huge umbrella concept that it’s like comparing it to saying “we are going on a beach holiday”. Where you go, where you stay and what you experience can range vastly. However, the following information should help to build a picture in your mind of what a safari holiday can be like. You can also visit our blog Top Tips for the Best Safari Holiday, which gives you a guide as to what to ask our safari experts about when discussing your dream holiday.

How long do you go for?

Of course, a safari holiday can be as long or short as you’d like it to be but rather than staying in one place for the duration, it’s commonplace to stay at several different destinations for a few nights each. This is so that you can witness different wildlife in different environments, stay in varied accommodations, and sample different experiences unique to those areas. 

For example; You may arrive in a city and enjoy an overnight stay before heading off to your safari lodge the following day. At the first accommodation you could be spending three nights in a luxury lodge that has private vehicles for your party, a spa to unwind in and specialises in fine dining with elephants drinking from the river below you. You could then be transported to a remote bush camp for a few nights which has a rustic old-era feeling to it, with no modern distractions and just the sounds of the wild. This could be where you walk on foot for your safari, becoming acutely aware of your senses and everything around you. Our safari planners may then suggest an incredible tropical beach escape to complement your safari.

If you are short on time, it is also very easy to accommodate an incredible safari in less than a week due to our planners’ expert knowledge of travel links, prime locations and knowing exactly where to send you to meet and exceed your expectations.

What do you do?

This may seem like it has an obvious answer but there’s often a variety of things to do on a safari holiday besides game drives. A typical day in the bush would include waking up early for a morning game drive as this is when the animals are most active and easy to see. They rise early to hunt when the air is cooler and so your morning game drive will make the most of these sightings. Many camps offer a light breakfast before your drive and of course a stop for tea and coffee. On returning to camp you may have a large breakfast or brunch at this time. Afternoon game drives usually take place around 4 pm until sunset allowing you to make the most of the animals that are active at dusk and in the evening. Depending on the location, night drives may take place allowing you to experience the nocturnal animals of the bush.

In between these drives, there are a whole manner of experiences for you to enjoy! You can look at our experiences page on the website to see a full range of activities but to mention some that you may enjoy we have; walking safaris, cultural visits and experiences, spas and gyms, birding, wine tasting, swimming pools, hot air balloon trips, horseback safari, river trips, photography… the list goes on. 

When talking to our safari planners they will ask you about what you would like to see and do within your safari and choose the best locations to suit your requests.

What will I see?

One of the most frequently asked questions is “Will I see the Big 5?” Originally named for their difficulty to hunt; the lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhinoceros have become synonymous with safari. If seeing these animals is a priority to you, there are certainly areas we would send you where you are most likely to. However, the big thing to remember about a safari is that it is wild! Nothing is guaranteed and this is the absolute beauty of it. Not knowing what you are going to encounter on each game drive is what makes it such a special holiday. Also knowing that each moment is unique and that nobody else will experience the same sighting again is the privilege of these trips. Seeing the Big 5 is also far from the pinnacle of a game drive. The scope of African wildlife is too vast to detail but our safari experts know which animals populate which regions and therefore can create an itinerary that offers you the unique experiences you are seeking. It is a good idea to chat with our team about what you would most like to see; Is it huge herds of elephants? The Great Migration? A troop of meerkats? The elusive leopard? Or perhaps you have never been on safari before and would like the greatest chance to see a broad variety of Africa’s iconic animals. Whichever it is, discussing this with our team will allow them to send you on a tailor-made journey that gives you the best chance of ticking off your wish list.

What do I need to pack?

Packing for a safari holiday can seem a little overwhelming if you do a general google search as you may feel like you need a lot of stuff and then you are asked to pack a very small bag! But the reality is that you don’t need very much at all. Almost all accommodations offer daily laundry allowing you to pack lightly when it comes to clothes. Binoculars and a camera are probably the two pieces of equipment that you wouldn’t want to go on a safari without but otherwise, you really don’t need anything particularly special. For a more detailed look at what you might need, take a look at What to Pack for a Safari.

Why should I not just book the trip myself?

Nowadays most of us are very familiar with booking a range of accommodation and holidays ourselves on the internet and it can be an excellent way to arrange a holiday. Booking a safari holiday is not quite as straightforward, however, especially if you are seeking an excellent quality holiday where you can be assured that everything will be catered to as you expect. The range of products, services, accommodation and activities available on the internet are endless but at The Safari Edit, our team has first-hand knowledge of where we are sending you, the right times to visit each area, what level of service you will receive, the companies we partner with, and every detail down to who will collect you from the airport. A safari typically involves a large amount of in-country ground handling and logistics that are simply not available to the general public on the internet. We have travelled to our destinations, sought out the best lodges and experiences, and ensured that all logistics are perfect before we send any clients. It is this in-depth knowledge and experience that sets us apart and will give you the peace of mind that you will be expertly looked after from the moment you enquire to the moment you return. 

Our team are on hand to answer any questions you have about booking with us. Contact us to chat with one of our safari experts today.