A TYPICAL DAY ON SAFARI
You’ve seen the photos, you’ve watched the TV documentaries . . . but I bet some of you still don’t really know what it’s like to actually go on safari.
So, here’s a quick low-down on ‘A Typical Day in the Life of a Safari Guest’.
NOTE: the timings and comments are a rough guide as they will differ depending upon the time of year and where you are staying. The winter timings (that’s our summer months for fellow UK readers) will be slightly later. Some camps / lodges will also have slightly different schedules but overall they follow a very similar structure.
04:45 Wake Up Call (summertime in Zambia)
Eeeekkkk! I can already hear your gasp from here, HOWEVER, I promise you, when you know what’s out there waiting to be discovered, it’ll be the one time you’re actually looking forward to getting out of bed. You’ll also be glad to hear that you won’t be rudely awaken from your slumber by a blaring claxon sound on your phone, instead, you’ll have a personalised, cheery ‘good morning’ greeting from one of the friendly members of staff.
If you are mobile camping, you’ll be brought some lovely warm water, heated by the campfire, to wash your face and get you ready for the day ahead.
NOTE: a lot of camps are located within the reserves and have no fences around them. For your safety and to eliminate any unexpected wildlife surprises, when it is dark outside, you will be escorted between your room and the communal area by a member of staff. You will be given a radio so that you can call for someone to come and get you when you are ready. This is nothing to be alarmed by and 99% of the time, you’re unlikely to stumble upon any animals that require extra caution. Personally, I find the whole concept of being so close to nature very exciting and adventurous, so it’s all about going with the right perception and mindset.
05:00 Breakfast
Depending on where you are staying, an array of options might be served by lantern-light, and you’ll eat in a circle around the campfire. (Yes, it will still be dark at this point). It’s likely to be a different set-up if you are in a purpose-built lodge with a dining area.
I have also been on a range of safaris in South Africa where only coffee and snacks are provided prior to the game drive and a full breakfast is served upon the return to camp some hours later.
05:30 Game Drive or Walking Safari
You’ll head out just before the skies are beginning to lighten because you’ll want to be properly out in the reserve when day breaks.
Trust me, there are good reasons for getting you out of bed so early: you’ll get to witness a beautiful sunrise, you’ll have great lighting and atmosphere for your photographs and most importantly you’ll have more chance of seeing the cross-over action of nocturnal animals going to bed and all the other wildlife waking up and heading out to forage.
Walking safaris are usually offered as a morning-only option to help avoid the heat of the afternoon, but it also allows your guide to find and point out fresh tracks and signs that have been left overnight. By the time afternoon comes, a lot of the tracks will have been distorted by the breeze or from vehicles driving over them so they are not as clear to read.
09:00 Morning coffee stop (timing dependent upon game viewing)
You’ll be surprised how quickly the hours fly past when you’re out in the African bush watching wildlife. However, you’ll no doubt be glad of the opportunity for a leg-stretch, a toilet stop (your guide will check for a suitable and safe bush to utilise!) and a morning brew.
It’s also a great opportunity to notice some of the little things that you normally miss during game drives; What tracks do you notice on the ground? What noises do you hear? What plants and trees can you see in close-up detail?
10:00 Arrive back at camp (approximately)
After an exhilarating morning, you’ll have a bit of time to decompress before lunch. You might choose to chill in your room or go through your photos and video footage to see what you managed to capture. (I’d certainly recommend spending some time deleting any obviously rubbish footage so that you free up some space on your memory card for what is still to come).
There are usually plenty of books in the communal areas if you want to learn more about some of the species you’ve seen.
12:00 Lunch
The culinary wonders created in bush kitchens always astound me and I have no doubt that you’ll be delighted by the freshly prepared meals on offer while you’re on safari. There is usually a weekly menu rota so if you’re staying for 3 or 4 days, you won’t be served anything twice.
After lunch, you may enjoy a siesta (to catch up on a few zzz’s from your early morning wake-up call) or have a shower to freshen up.
Alternatively, you can sit and watch the world go by outside your room/tent or from the communal area. You’ll likely be in an area with no Wi-Fi or phone signal, so you have no excuse but to go back to basics, live in the present moment and enjoy what mother nature has to offer (it’s far nicer than emails I can tell you that now!).
It’s a good idea at this point to put some of your camera / phone batteries on charge to make sure you’re ready to go in the afternoon.
15:00 Afternoon Tea
It’s a common fact that you’ll never go hungry when you’re on safari and there will be something sweet to tickle your tastebuds before the game drive if you wish to indulge. This time is often an opportunity to chat with staff and fellow guests from other vehicles to share game-viewing stories.
15:30 Game Drive or Boat Cruise
As per the morning game drive, your guide will head out with a rough plan bearing in mind where you’ve already been, what you’ve already seen and what you are still keen to see. Of course, nothing is guaranteed and it’s often a case of driving around and seeing what you’re lucky enough to stumble upon.
Boat cruises are most commonly an afternoon activity as you get to enjoy the cool breeze on the water and, fingers crossed, you’ll be treated to a sunset with beautiful reflections on the river. It is sometimes offered as a morning activity in the hotter months too and your camp / lodge manager will offer you the choice of what is available. Life on the water is quite unique from the land so you’ll get to see different wildlife interactions and behaviours and possibly some other species too.
18:00 Sundowner stop (timing dependent upon game viewing)
Your sundowner choice will have been pre-ordered earlier in the day, so you’ll get to stand back and wait for your guide to place a cool beverage in your hand. There will be a range of snacks to nibble on while you reminisce on your viewings and take in the changing colours across the sky.
Before the light fully fades, you’ll hop back in the vehicle for a bit of nighttime game viewing. Your guide will use a spotlight, shining it back and forth to see what nocturnal animals you might see on your slow return drive back to camp. The reserve takes on a different atmosphere at night so it’s a great opportunity to witness the contrast from your daytime experience.
19:30 Arrive back at camp (approximately)
All that fresh air and adrenalin means you’ll be ready for dinner by the time you arrive back at camp. A few people might opt to have a quick shower, but most guests just put their things in their room and then head back to the communal area for a drink before dinner. You’re on safari so come as you are, there is no need to get changed or dress up!
20:00 Dinner
Some camps have you dining with your guide and the other people in your vehicle, some have you dining on your own with whoever you wish, while others have you dining as a whole group with the lodge manager acting as host. Whatever the set-up, you’ll be looked after very well and fed a delicious, wholesome 3-course meal. If you are in a small camp, it is fairly customary for the chef to come to the campfire while you’re having drinks and announce the dishes that will be served that evening. Dietary requirements will always be taken into consideration so there is nothing to worry about other than to hope you’ve got room in your stomach to fit it all in.
Then all that is left to do is wait for a staff member to escort you back to your room / tent and bid you a goodnight and a good sleep. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be ready to hit the pillow and excited for round two in the morning. That wake-up call can’t come soon enough!
NOTE: remember to keep your ears open when you’re lying in bed because if you’re lucky, you might get to hear lions roaring or hyenas laughing in the night. It’s one of the special treats I adore about safari.