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African safari game drives - five things you must know
On my recent African safari in Zambia, I went on game drives every day, sometimes twice. I was hosted by guides from Abercrombie & Kent and Sanctuary Retreats, so I was well taken care of, but there was definitely a learning curve and I didn't have the best practices nailed down until the third or fourth time out. African safari game drives are thrilling and rewarding, but they can also be wildly uncomfortable if you're doing it wrong.
1. Wear light colored clothing.
It's not just a fashion thing, and it's not, as some ludicrously believe, all that functional as camouflage -- most animals spot movement better than shapes anyhow. You should wear light colored clothing on a game drive because dark colors attract tsetse flies. They bite. A lot.
2. Go early.
I'm not a huge fan of a 5:00 AM wakeup call (or anything before 8, really), but I quickly learned that the crack of dawn is the best time to see game. The animals come out for breakfast and a drink of water before it gets hot. Furthermore, a morning game drive is a lot more comfortable than the sweltering hours of the afternoon or the buggy sunset.
Gallery: Game Drives in Zambia - Photos from an African Safari
3. Bring a pen and paper.
You may have your amazing-lens camera at the ready, but remembering which animal or bird is which is virtually impossible without some help. It's a shame to have endless pictures of things you can't identify properly (What kind of monkey? Is that a hawk's nest or an eagle's nest?). Our camps provided us with checklists for the game we could spot, which certainly helps, but keeping a simple list in chronological order will be even more helpful for identification when you're going through your photos later.
4. Ask to see what you want to see.
Your guide is not a mind-reader. If you don't say what you want to see, you'll get a general tour -- when it could be directly focused on what's important to you. Some people are birdwatchers, some want to catch a leopard in a tree, and some want to make sure they see every kind of monkey. Your guide probably knows the park, the animals in it, and where they hang out very well. If you want to see lions, for example, your guide will know a couple of places they've been spotted recently. You'll still be doing plenty of birdwatching and see a vast array of other animals, but by letting your guide know you want lions, your chances of encountering them are greatly increased.
5. Listen to your guide.
This last tip may sound like a no-brainer, but when I asked my guide in South Luangwa National Park what the most important tip for new safari-ers is, he said that it's listening. Apparently, his most common peeve is when he drives near to an animal and says "stay seated please," and then the guests spot the animal and leap to their feet with their cameras, scaring it away. If you are good to your guide, your guide will be good to you and take you to the best spots -- don't take them or their advice for granted.
Also, check out what to do if your safari vehicle gets stuck: Safari vehicles - stuck in the river with you.
[Photos by Annie Scott.]
My trip to Zambia was sponsored by Abercrombie & Kent and Sanctuary Retreats, but the ideas and opinions expressed in this article are 100 percent my own.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Billy Nov 19th 2010 1:54PM
We went to the Serengeti this summer for the Great Migration. We saw parts of it but didn't get to see the large river crossings because our guide didn't feel like driving out there. Our friends who booked the same tour, in different vehicles and guides, got to see the millions of wildebeests but we did not. In the four days we toured we saw some incredible sights and animals so it was still a fantastic experience.
Communicating better with the guide would have solved this problem. Sitting down and going over the tour day by day on the first day would have been good as well.
Don't wear dark blue because the Tsetse fly sterilization flags are colored black and blue.
Fiznatty Nov 19th 2010 2:43PM
Don't be afraid to tell your guide what you want. Item #4 is REALLY important. If you have specific targets and you're forking over thousands of dollars for this experience, don't let a timid guide or worse--a headstrong guide who thinks he/she knows what you want to see--ruin your experience.
Your guide is an incredibly valuable resource. Rely on their experience, keen tracking abilities and their ability to communicate with other drivers (which helps a lot when it comes to find animals), but remember that they don't know you unless you open up to them. When you first meet them let them know what it is you're hoping to see during your stay.
Along the same lines, plan carefully when booking a guide or a tour company. Understand that often times you will be stuck riding in a vehicle with several other strangers, which could be a problem if you want to target specific areas, wildlife or simply want to linger for longer periods of time to get the right photo. Look for companies and guides that limit the number of passengers per vehicle, and be prepared to pay more if you want the freedom of having your own vehicle!
Max
Maddyy Nov 21st 2010 11:58PM
Very useful instruction. one should follow these things in order to have a safe and enjoyable safari drive. point 4 and 5 are the important ones. do follow them.
Luxury Safaris
Eddie M Nov 22nd 2010 7:02AM
You seems to be very observant. You trully have very useful instructions. I think you should apply them in Kenyan parks.
Safari in Kenya Dec 23rd 2010 7:02AM
Kenya is among the best locations for the wildlife photography in the whole world. From the US, there are photography safaris which dedicate entire two week trips to the Masai Mara. However, for first timers, it is probably better to visit the several parks and get the flavor from the different locations. Safari in Kenya is opening you to the wilderness, being close to the nature and the head on with wilds in the Africa. Kenya is the proud to be the original home for African Safari excursions, expeditions, holidays and game reserves.
http://www.wildlifeworld360.com/safari-in-kenya.html