Swahili is a language used up and down East Africa, which crosses not only national but tribal boundaries. “Safari” is the Swahili for journey, trip or voyage. Thus, to go on safari is to go on a journey.
It is thought that safaris as we know them now, i.e. hunting wild animals, started as long ago as the nineteenth century, the term being coined by Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton, the English explorer, when gentlemen of a certain class took pleasure in killing beasts in their natural habitat, in order to prove their manhood and bag a trophy for the library wall.
Nowadays, thankfully, there are few among us who would consider slaughtering the wonderful creatures of Africa as a sport, but we still like to experience the adventure of hunting them down in order to watch them in the wild.
Most people are keen to see the “Big Five” – elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo, lion and leopard. Why the graceful giraffes and antelopes and cheetahs, the fastest creatures on earth, are left out of this revered group is a mystery, but that’s the way it goes. In addition to the mammals, there is also a fantastic array of colourful bird life as well as butterflies and insects, so never a dull moment on safari.
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Africa will always be in our heart, and we want it to stay in yours too. Africa safari trips offer an experience that remains etched in the memory of visitors for many years. This is because the continent is endowed with numerous travel attractions that leaves tourists to Africa spoilt for choices.
Africa has numerous beaches, immense stretches of desert, beautiful mountains, hundreds of wildlife parks and reserves among other natural attractions. These attractions make Africa an ideal destination for holidays and vacations.
Choose Your Preferred Safari
There are also many types of safari to choose from. You can travel by small purpose-built mini-bus which holds about eight people, by jeep, by elephant or horse or even, for the adventurous, on foot (accompanied by an armed guide, of course).
You can stay overnight in luxurious lodges (very welcome after a hot dusty game drive) or permanent camps (nearly as luxurious), in tree-top eco-friendly hotels or join in setting up camp on the more rugged safaris. You can also book a beach holiday and just take a half-day or a night or two away, booked locally.
The most important part though, is not your mode of transport or your accommodation, but the animals. The thrill of the chase, the news from your driver that one of his colleagues has just seen a lioness with her cubs, right by the trees over there, the excitement of actually seeing in the wild, a beast which you many only have seen previously in photographs or at best, behind bars in a zoo.
You may see sociable elephants, usually to be found in large family groups, if you’re lucky, with babies in tow. You may see black rhino, but he probably won’t see you – they have extremely poor eyesight but a great sense of smell. Then there are tall, elegant giraffes, munching from trees far out of reach of the other beasts, dainty antelopes, big cats, ferocious or playful and so much more.
Put these fabulous creatures together with the vast beauty that is Africa and the sense of the dangerous and the exotic and you have the experience of a lifetime so go and shoot a few animals (with your camera, of course).
When to Go on Safari
As you travel to Africa , you should be informed about the weather conditions of the area you plan to tour. Generally, national parks are best toured during the dry season when the roads are in better shape and the animals tend to assemble at waterholes. However, some wildlife parks, such as Serengeti, are best toured during the rainy season, when migrating animals trail over grasslands that are entirely waterless in the dry months.
When planning your safari to Africa, you may consider booking your accommodation in a safari lodge (also known as bush hotel). The establishments usually arrange guided nature walks, rock/mountain climbs and many other activities as part of their accommodation packages.
A significant number of tourists who consistently travel to Africa for their vacations usually love to stay in safari lodges.