Adventure Seekers

An African safari can be experienced in a myriad ways – all exciting!

Most often, game viewing is best accomplished in the early mornings and late afternoons when wildlife is most active and the lighting is more photo-friendly. Your guide plans these outings to usually last 3 to 5 hours. Depending on the park or reserve, your guide will take you on morning or afternoon game drives in search of wildlife. In some reserves you also may take night game drives to explore the world of nocturnal creatures. Other game viewing options are approaching animals from the water by boat or canoe, taking game walks, riding on elephant or horse back, or in a hot air balloon.

You can take a break from pursuing wildlife and still be active. Consider the invigorating options of white-water rafting, kayaking and fishing; climbing and hiking mountain trails; visiting tribal villages and beautiful beach resorts or touring in the larger cities.

Game viewing by vehicle

Open vehicles usually have no side, rear windows or permanent roof, providing unobstructed views in all directions. They’re used in Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Malawi, parts of Tanzania, and private reserves in South Africa and Kenya.

Roof hatch or poptop vehicles are used in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Namibia; passengers stand up through the hatch for ease of viewing and photography.

Closed vehicles are more restrictive, limiting your experiences to window viewing. These vehicles are used on group road safaris in some national parks in South Africa and Namibia and by people doing self-drive safaris.

Game viewing by boat

Canoe, mokoro (dugout canoe) and motor boats are excellent for game viewing. Elephant, buffalo and many other species that drink at the water's edge may be approached up close by boat. These excursions occur in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and Namibia.

Game viewing on foot

A walking safari is the ultimate way to experience the African bush. The thrill of walking up to a bull elephant, black rhino or gorillas is exciting beyond words. An expert guide can help you identify birds, flowers, trees and wildlife. You will even learn how to track animals by their spoor (footprints). Walking safaris are available in

Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa and parts of Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda.