For the first time safari traveller, going on safari can be
an overwhelming prospect. Often considered a bucket list trip,
expectations are high and the territory is unfamiliar and a little
intimidating. Here we offer some advice to help prepare safari goers,
courtesy of the guys who know the business best – game rangers!
We asked Rhino River Lodge's rangers, Kyle, Alex and Ryan, to share with us their top safari tips.
Here are a few of their recommendations:
1. Bring binoculars
It’s the number one piece of equipment that guests forget to bring
along that substantially improves the safari experience, and it’s just
as important as your camera! Not many people own a great pair of
binoculars, but if you are planning to go on safari, now is the time to
invest in a quality pair. Even when sightings are fairly close,
binoculars allow you to take in details that would be missed with the
naked eye. Ranger Alex mentioned bringing binoculars in the answer to
every question he was asked about giving advice on safari… their
importance shouldn’t be underestimated!
2. Keep the noise down on game drives
Guides know that guests’ excitement can reach epic levels at amazing
sightings but by keeping quiet and sharing the excitement later, you can
actually improve your sighting by not disturbing the animals. Also,
keeping quiet during the drive itself will increase the number of
sightings you have as you do not startle animals before you are able to
approach them.
3. Slow down
When planning your itinerary make sure you take time to enjoy each
place. Ranger Kyle says, “Try and stay in each place for at least two
nights. That gives you enough time to relax and enjoy every aspect.” The
last thing you want during a safari is to get bogged down in the
logistics of transfers, settling bills, packing and repacking. Spending a
little extra time at each spot will make your trip much more enjoyable.
4. Let go of expectations
Just relax and enjoy! All three rangers listed this as the number one
piece of advice for the first time safari goer. Letting go of
expectations and simply living in the moment is the number one way to
increase your enjoyment of the whole experience. In the words of ranger
Ryan, “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to see big game. Take
pleasure in just being out in the bush! The fresh air, the wind in your
hair as you travel in an open vehicle, the warmth of the sunshine on
your skin, the bird sounds – it’s a delight for the senses. But all too
often people forget this as they burn their eyes scanning the horizons
for elusive animals. These sightings should be a bonus, not a
requirement!”
No two days on safari are ever the same and our rangers have their own ideas of what a typical day on safari involves:
Kyle says, “A typical day on safari would be having a good time out
in the bush – enjoying the sunrise and sunset, listening to all the
different birds, and looking for all the interesting things that we do
not get to see everyday (like dung beetles in a rhino midden rolling
balls of dung or female lions teaching their new cubs to hunt and catch
their food).”
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| Copyright Heidi Watson |
Alex believes guests can expect, “A variety of flora and fauna, from big
sycamore figs to small bushes, from the big five to smaller creatures
like dung beetles and ants. It all makes a day of safari exciting.”
For Ryan a typical day on safari involves, “Great scenery, sunshine,
plains game, birds calling from tree tops, butterflies fluttering
around, flying insects buzzing past your face, a sky full of stars,
warthogs fleeing in a cloud of dust, vultures soaring miles above our
vehicle – basically the time of your life!”
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| Copyright Claire Birtwhistle |
So, while it is impossible to predict what guests will experience while
with us, if you’re following the sound advice of our rangers, you’re
setting yourself up for a successful safari!
Originally published on
Africa Geographic.
