Game? I see no game.
“Hot dust choking, swirling, smashing, the thuds of panicked hooves and 
screams of dislplaced young. The tearing growls and slashing clawls deliver no mercy. The chaos of perfection, the chase for the hunt, the hunt for the kill, the kill for survival. What started with the grace and light footedness of a ballerina, ended with the deadly force of a Stealth Bomber. There is no game here - as games are for men – only life skills in action.” Jay Otaigbe 2009
The word ’safari’ in swahili means ‘journey’. The original safaris had nothing to do with wildlife and more to do with trading, especially slave trading. In the beginning of the 20th century, after slave trading became less profitable, the safari became more of an adventure and appreciation of the natural world. Early safari involved game hunting and the term ‘Big Five’ was coined referring to five particular animals as being the most ferocious animals when injured. Namely, the Lion, the African Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Leopard and the Black Rhinoceros.
For those of us who have the luxury of not worrying about how breakfast will arrive, imagine the idea of smoked salmon and cracked black pepper with lemon juice on granary toast. Mmmmm. Now imagine chasing a giant fish across a five mile arid plain with wild bracken slicing through your calves, whilst balancing a lemon on your forehead and a grilled tomato between your legs. That, is a chase. Somehow, your appetite is lost. So how do those couragious animals go through that every single time they want a simple meal? The fact is that, there is no such thing as a simple meal and that to chase and to kill is the only way.
Watching the excitement of the chase, the tension and anticipation of the kill, are all things that make even the idea of a safari full of adventure and the allure of the unexpected. It is no wonder that millions of visitors enter Africa each year looking for the thrill of the hunt or the beauty of the wild.
Sararis are available in many African countries, but the most popular destinations are:
Kenya
- Masai Mara
- Tsavo East National Park
- Tsavo West National Park
- Amboseli National Park
- Lake Nakuru National Park
- Aberdare National Park
Tanzania
- Serengeti National Park (Great Wildebeast migration from Maasai Mara to here)
South Africa
- Kruger National Park
Botswana
- Selinda Reserve
Zambia
- South Luangwa National Park
A Rhino, one of the 'Big Five' in Lake Nakuru National Park
There are other parks but I have listed the ones that are reviewed as being amongst the best. For example, I went to Nairobi National Park and was driving around for four hours just to see a load of monkeys and some Giraffes. I would not recommend it if you are serious about seeing any of the ‘Big Five’, only if you wanted an adventure based on getting lost and ending up in extremely hard to traverse terrain heading into the night hours. We got lost and found ourselves on such rough ground that it should have been blocked off. We were in a little Toyota and I thought we would get stuck and then eaten by lions. Oh yes, sorry, there were no lions. The incline felt like a 75 degree angle and the rocks were bigger than our wheels. I saved the day of course with my skillful driving. Yeah right, lots of baby wipes actually.
Nairobi National Park - I stayed for four hours and this is all I saw!
To be fair to Nairobi National Park, it is a man made park where most of the animals have to be shipped in. In addition, wild animals do not perform for humans unless by accident. Patience is really a virtue when it comes to spotting any of the ‘Big Five.’ Be sure to take part in an organised safari tour as the guides would have selected the best time and places to view certain species (unlike me who used to just wonder around looking for beasts on my own).
Safari holidays are available for all budgets, ranging from the back packing experience, right through to the delux tent, lodge or hotel.
When
You can go on safari anytime but there is a High and a Low season where the prices differ. Of course high season commands higher prices for safari and hotel accommodation and starts 4th January until 31st March and starts again from the 1st July to the 15th December. Low season starts from the 1st of April to 30th June. There are also periods when surcharges apply such as Valentines day, Easter, Christmas and New Years.
For further information on safari and adventure holidays in the countries that we have covered, visit any of the links below:
Click here for Safaris in Kenya
Click here for Safaris in Tanzania
Click here for Safaris in South Africa
Click here for Safaris in Botswana
Click here for Safaris in Zambia
Tip
Whenever you are on a tour, safari or any trip for that manner, try to create your own contacts with locals that you meet. Then, in future, when you are offered something in particular, you can always go to your local contact to see if they can get it for cheaper. You will start to create a reference point when it comes to quality and price. You don’t have to go with your local contact if you don’t want to, but you will have something to use when negotiating with your current providers.
Have a nice trip – and don’t let the lions bite.
Jay
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m a big time wildlife lover and specially when it comes to “going for a safari to sight the King of the jungle “. Here in India you get to see the Asiatic Lions at Sasan Gir in Gujarat. Although its pretty different than the wildlife safaries what you have in Africa but its a lifetime experience to see nature at its core with untouched beauty. It was very interesting reading your article, the way you have potrayed your experience and the required information and the most important thing is “Patience” which plays a major role in making your safari successful.
This is most wonderful article