safari game vehicles

The Safari Game Drive Guide

What to expect on a safari game drive & tips to improve your experience.

A game drive is the highlight of any safari, giving the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of Africa and see the wildlife in their natural surroundings. Read our ultimate guide to safari game drives below, including tips for getting the most out of your game drive, plus some ideas for essential items to take with you.

Jump to a section: What is a game drive?  | What to expect | Game drive tips | What to take | Virtual game drive

What is a safari game drive?

Game drive (sometimes also written gamedrive) is a term that should be self-explanatory: The word  game refers to wild animals and the word drive refers to a drive with a vehicle!

In its most simple form, a game drive is a journey in a vehicle to observe animals in their natural habitat.

A safari game drive can be taken in your own car in national parks and game reserves that allow self-drive, or it can be a guided drive in a specialized game drive vehicle led by a professional range/guide to explain the wildlife and surroundings.

This page focusses on game drives run by safari companies, lodges and national parks in specialized safari vehicles, driven by a ranger.

Self-drive safaris allow you to take your own game drives whenever and however you want, but much of the information below is just as relevant to self-drive safaris as it is to game drives with professional rangers.

Up close to some blue wildebeest in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

What to expect on a game drive

Every game drive is different – which keeps things exciting – but the format of a game drive is likely to be quite similar, wherever you are:

• The time of day will usually be early mornings, late afternoon or at night – the coolest times of the day when most animals are more active.
• With the length and distance will vary, game drives last around 3 to 4 hours, and will include a break.
• With luck you’ll see a mix of different wildlife sightings, with stops to take in and photograph each African safari animal .
• You should get plenty of conversation with the ranger to learn about the animals you see, plus lots of other related info about the habitat, plants, birds, animal tracking, and if you’re lucky, the occasional amazing animal story or two.
• A break where you can get out of the vehicle and have a drink and a snack – usually somewhere with a great view of wildlife and/or the bush. On morning drives you’ll likely have a hot drink, and on afternoon drives the break is timed to enjoy the sunset with a refreshing sundowner. Unbeatable!

Rangers are usually in radio contact to share sightings with rangers in other vehicles also out in the same area.

In most places, there’s an etiquette once a sighting is shared, whereby no more than two or three vehicles will approach a sighting at one time so as not to disturb the wildlife, and avoid a scrum of vehicles.

At exclusive game reserves, you may well never see another vehicle whilst on a game drive, but in crowded national parks such as the Serengeti there may be a dozen or more vehicles vying for the best spot at a sighting.

Rush hour in the Serengeti, Tanzania after a lion kill

What do you drive in?

There are two main types of specialized safari vehicles for game drives. Which type you’ll have depends in large part on which country you’re in. Generally speaking:

• In East Africa game drives tend to happen in a 4WD Land Cruiser, with a roof that can be lifted so you can stand to get an unobstructed view o the animal. This puts you at a nice height for game viewing and gives you some stability for photography using the roof of the jeep.
• In Southern Africa safari vehicles tend to be open-sided 4WD vehicles, with a roof and no sides. This set up gives great 360-degree game viewing, even as you’re moving.

National park vs game reserve

Whilst the animals may be the same taking a game drive in a private game reserve or a national park, there are more rules to follow in a national park, which can impact the quality of your wildlife viewing. The two key ones are:

In national parks you have to stick to the established roads or tracks, whilst one of the coolest things about game reserves is that you’re allowed to head off-road to follow a major sighting.

In national parks (with some notable exceptions) you are usually restricted to game drives between sunrise and sunset only.

At a game reserve you can go on game drives after dark ( a night safari ), when the guide will often use a red light so as not to distress the animals’ night vision, or cause them distress.

Elephants on parade in Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa

6 Tips to get the most from your game drive

Whether you’re at a high-end lodge or doing a self-drive game drive there are a number of things to think about ahead of time to ensure you have the best possible game drive experience.

1. Have realistic expectations

Your game drive will take place in a game reserve or national park, not a safari park. This means wild animals living in their natural environment, spread over large ranges… which in turn means that sightings are never guaranteed – no matter how much you’ve paid for your safari!

You should also do some research – ideally, before you book your trip – into the type of wildlife there is (and isn’t) in the park or reserve you’re visiting. Is it home to the big five ? It’s no good heading off on a game drive hoping to see a leopard if there are no leopards there!

It’s generally best to have as few expectations as possible and be wowed when you do see that lion kill, or African rock python attacking an impala. If it’s a quiet drive without too much wildlife make use of time by speaking with the driver or guide to get them to share their wildlife knowledge with you.

Cheetah sighting in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

2. Patience is key

Whilst there are all sorts of ways to improve your chance of seeing particular animals, at the end of the wildlife spotting is often simply a waiting game. Whether you’re sitting by a waterhole or slowly trundling through the bush with your eyes peeled, having patience when on a game drive is critical.

Similarly, if you’re on a game drive with other people you may find the ranger will stay longer at some sightings that you would like, or not long enough with other animals. The ranger tries to keep everyone in the vehicle happy for the whole game drive, and this will likely require compromises. At the end of the day, you have to go with the flow and enjoy the game drive for hat it is.

3. Share camera duty

If you’re on a game drive and want to capture some great shots, having more than one camera at the ready will help. One person can take a camera with a good zoom lens and another a camera with a wide lens (or even just a smartphone). Having two people prepared to take a snap with different setting s mean you’ll get snaps faster, and end up with a better variety to look back on.

4. Use the time to improve your wildlife knowledge

During a game drive, you’ll be spending time with one or two rangers who will be experts on the local terrain and wildlife. They’ll likely have plenty of stories, and certainly have lots of information about the animals. The more you speak to them and ask them the more you can learn – which may well help you spot the wildlife yourself, or get a better picture… or just make you seem even more of an expert when you get home!

5. Consider carefully where to sit

Open vehicle game drives usually take between 4 and 10 people, in a vehicle with three rows of seats behind the driver, each one a little higher than the last. Sitting in the middle row of seats gives you the benefit of being raised for better animal sightings, but also within easy talking (and listening!) distance of the guide. Of course, where you sit comes down to personal preference, but the middle of the vehicle offers the best of both worlds… at least for your first game drive. If you’re lucky enough to be going on a few game drives then mix it up and see which one you prefer for next time.

Standard open-sided game drive jeep

6. Consider taking a private vehicle

A shared game drive of 4-10 people will do the job for most people, but you may want to consider paying some extra to take out a private vehicle for a game drive. This might make sense if you’re a keen photographer or birder, and your needs are different to the average guest.

And one bonus tip that we cover in more detail below is to make sure you take all the right stuff along with you, to make your game drive as enjoyable as possible.

Useful things to take on a game drive

If you’ve not been on safari before we have a couple of articles worth reading on what to wear on safari , and useful things to take on safari . These give some useful info in the context of what to have with you on a game drive, but here’s the short(ish) version:

Layers of clothing: If you’re going on an early morning game drive these can start out rather cold, but soon heat up as the sun rises in the sky. Bringing two or three layers will ensure you’re always feeling comfortable. If you’re on safari in winter or at elevation you may also want to consider a scarf and gloves for morning game drives.

Hat: A wide-brimmed or peaked for summer will give you maximum sun protection, whilst in the winter a warm hat is probably more of a concern.

Sunglasses:  Ideally a quality pair of polarized sunglasses to reduce glare.

A sturdy aid of walking shoes: To help you feel safe and secure when walking in the bush. Although most of your time on a game drive will be spent inside the vehicle, you may hop out for a comfort break, sundowner, or to get a closer view of interesting small flora or fauna that a guide points out.

Insect repellent: Particularly important when going on evening and night drives when mosquitos are at their most active.

Hand sanitizer: It can get quite dusty on game drives.

Sunblock:  Scent-free sunblock is recommended, to apply before you head out, and take some with you to reapply as needed.

Camera: This one completely depends on personal preference, and how much you want professional-quality photos as a reminder of your game drive. Whatever level of photographer you are, the general rule is to pack light so you can be nimble enough to catch shots quickly. Extra batteries and memory cards are useful, as is some sort of waterproof and dustproof bag to keep all your photography and electronic equipment in. See our guide to photography on safari .

Binoculars: With any luck, you’ll get up close to many animals on a game drive, but it’s likely you’ll also have sightings of wildlife in the distance… which is where having your own binoculars comes in handy. A magnification of at least 8X30 is recommended for comfortable game viewing.

Animal guide book: Your guide may well have a reference book or two, but nothing beats having your own animal guide book (and a bird guide book if that’s your passion!).

Water and snacks . Be sure to take drinking water out on every game drive with you in a refillable bottle. Nuts and dried fruit make for great game drive snacks. The excitement and fresh air can make for an appetite at times, so it’s good to have some nibbles to hand.

Small first aid kit: This might seem like overkill, but by definition when on a game drive you’ll be in a remote location. Your guide should have a basic first aid kit, but packing a light first aid kit including basics like aspirin, plasters, bandages, stomach relief meds, and anti-septic and anti-histamine creams will ensure you’re prepared for most eventualities.

Go on a virtual game drive today!

To get a flavour of what’s involved in a game drive you can check out the below live stream, brought to you by WildEarth &BEYOND Ngala Private Game Reserve and Djuma Private Game Reserve .

Each day they’re live streaming twice-daily, three-hour-long game drives where you can interact with guides by asking questions via YouTube or Twitter, using #wildearth. Safari times are 06:30 – 09:30 and 15:00 – 18:00, both CAT.

Top countries for safaris

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Safari basics

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• What to take on safari
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• Safari rules & etiquette
• Wildlife spotting tips

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Africa’s best game reserves

• Chobe National Park, Botswana
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• Kruger National Park, South Africa
• Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
• Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
• Okavango Delta, Botswana
• Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

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Types of Safari Vehicles, Overland Trucks & More: 14 Ways to Explore Africa

So you’re going on a safari to see the open plains and incredible wildlife of Africa? One of the most important details to check, before booking your trip, is what types of African safari vehicles, overlanding trucks, and other forms of transportation are used.

The range of safari vehicles is enormous. From walking safaris with enclosed transfer vehicles to pop-top 4X4 safari vehicles, and from 4-seater to 44-seater overland trucks. You can go bare-bones or air-conditioned high-luxury, local dugout mokoro, horseback, or air safaris for a bird's eye view. The important thing is to choose the type of African safari vehicle or overlanding truck, and other means of exploring (or combination) that suits you, for the ultimate African safari experience.

We’ll start with the biggest African safari vehicles and end with the ‘on foot’ transportation mode.

Safari Vehicles, Overland Trucks & Ways to Explore Africa - Quick Links

• Overlanding Vehicles (Overland Trucks)
• Minibus or Microbus Safari Vehicles
• Land Rover & Cruiser Safari Vehicles
• Open Game Viewing Safari Vehicles
• Flying African Safaris
• Hot Air Balloon Trips
• Shark Cage Diving Boats
• Rubber Ducks
• Dhow Sailing Boats
• Game Viewing Boat Cruises
• Mokoro Dug-out Canoes
• Kayak & Canoe Safaris
• Horseback & Camel Safaris
• Walking Safaris (on foot & by vehicle)

1. Africa Overlanding Vehicles (Overland Trucks)

These expedition trucks are specially built to deal with the rough roads of Africa, where potholes, deep ruts, and river crossings are pretty ‘every day.’ They are normally used for longer and larger (12 to 44 people) overland Africa tours, so need to be able to carry a fair amount of equipment while still offering the budget traveller a relatively comfortable trip and good views of the passing scenery and wildlife.

African tour operators choose the best overland truck for each trip, according to the area being visited and the anticipated terrain that will be covered. 

Overland Vehicle Seating Arrangements

Overland trucks may differ in their seating formation and size. Some have all forward-facing seats, while others may have some backward- or side-facing seats. The seats are generally raised, allowing for good views over the African landscapes, especially in grassy areas, where you want to be able to spot animals in the grass. Ask your tour operator about seating formation and how many are seated in a row – some overland trucks seat up to three per row, which makes seeing out a bit more difficult if you’re in the middle – before booking your overland tour.

Windows, Pop-up Roofs, and Taking Photos on Overland Trucks

The overland trucks generally have large windows, some of which open vertically, others horizontally – allowing for good views. Many of them also have a pop-up roof. This allows you to stand up and get 360-degree views and photos.

Luggage Space on Overlanding Trucks

All overland trucks are equipped with storage space (some lockable) for luggage and equipment – some under the seating section, others at the back of the truck, and some with a detachable trailer. Obviously, space is at a premium, so be sure to pack only the absolute essentials. Also, when packing, use soft luggage rather than hard (e.g. Samsonite), as it is much easier to fit into lockers and overhead compartments.

Most overland trucks have a safe onboard for the storage of valuables.

Mobile Kitchen & Diner

Many meals while on safari are prepared and eaten out in the bush, far from civilization. The overland trucks are fully equipped for this. Most safari trucks have a ‘kitchen’ section (often fold-out, beneath the seating area) with a stove and hand dish-washing area. They also have a fridge/freezer/cooler boxes to keep supplies and drinks fresh in the African heat. Africa Overland Tours are thirsty work!

Safety First on Safari!

Safety is non-negotiable. Check with your tour operator that there is a fully-stocked First Aid kit onboard, safety belts on all seats, and some means of communication (radio, etc.), in case of emergencies while on safari. All legitimate tour operators have their client’s safety first in mind and ensure that their overland trucks are kept in good condition and are reliable for long trips – larger fuel and water tanks, spare tyres, knowledgeable and well-trained drivers, etc.

Overland Truck Gadgets

Modern overlanding trucks come fully equipped with the modern gadgets that we've all got used to. With iPod/MP3 points, you can listen to your own soundtrack as you watch the African landscape slide by. They also have onboard charging facilities so ensure that your camera remains fully charged and you don't lose that once-in-a-lifetime shot of a lion hunting his prey!

Some smaller tours use smaller overland trucks – seven to nine-seaters – which provide window seats only, so nobody has to be in a middle seat.

Luxury Overlanding Trucks

These are state-of-the-art 4x4 overland vehicles used on small-group overland tours. A custom-built luxury overland truck comfortably accommodates up to 12 guests. They are specially designed to provide extra space and amenities. This is the overland vehicle of choice for a more luxurious overlanding Africa experience with all the adventure in added style and comfort.

Features include an onboard toilet and a water filtration system for purified drinking water on the road. The luxury overland trucks have reclining leather seats that rotate 180 degrees and lock into your preferred position (for example, window or front-facing).

Each seat has overhead air-conditioning vents that can be independently operated for individual control of airflow and temperature. Every seat also features a USB port panel for charging your electronic devices and there is a reading light above each seat. Each seat has a safety deposit unit with individual key code access, for storing your passports, phones, and smaller valuables.

Recommended Africa Overland Tours

20-Day East African Overland Tour - South  or  20-Day Cape Town to Victoria Falls Overland Tour - Camping Safari

Best of Namibia Safari Adventure - Overland Camping Tour

Small Group Tours in Luxury Overland Trucks:  South Africa Safari Adventure ,  Delta & Chobe Safari Adventure  &  Explore Namibia Safari Adventure

More Overland Africa Tours

2. Minibus or Microbus Safari Vehicles

For smaller safari groups and shorter tours that don’t go through hugely rugged areas, adapted microbuses (or minibuses) are used. As safari vehicles, Toyota Quantums and Mercedes Sprinters are most commonly used. The optimal number in most of these safari vehicles is six to ten people, forward-facing.

When booking a safari, find out from the tour operator which safari vehicle is used, and how many window seats there are, to ensure that everybody gets a window seat and has a good view of the spectacular scenery and amazing animals of Africa.

These safari microbuses are specially adapted for safari travel and are generally equipped with GPS tracking, sliding windows, cooler boxes, fire extinguishers, and First Aid kits. They generally have a softer suspension than other safari vehicles, giving a slightly more comfortable trip. Many of them – especially on  Kenya Safaris – also feature pop-up tops, allowing travellers to stand and view/photograph the countryside and animals from the minibus.

Some minibuses are fitted with air-conditioning. This is a welcome relief from the sweltering African heat but may detract from the whole experience of Africa, as the windows will be closed, blocking out the sounds of the bush.

Recommended small group trips using minibus safari vehicles

5 Days Budget Masai Mara & Lake Nakuru Camping Safari

South Africa’s Garden Route Adventure Tour

3. Land Cruising Safari Vehicles

Land Cruisers and Land Rovers are used on many safari tours. They range from ‘bare-bones’ models i.e. no added ‘mod-cons’, to highly specialized vehicles that may include air-conditioning, MP3 players, and slightly tinted windows for protection from the sun. Some of the newer safari vehicle models also have pop-up roofs, for added viewing potential, especially in Tanzania.

Safari Vehicle Seating Arrangements 

These safari vehicles, in general, can carry four to six (extended version) passengers, all forward-facing. Check the seating configuration with your tour operator before booking. While extended safari vehicles can carry more people, they tend to be slightly more difficult to handle on the road. Most of the Land Cruisers are 4X4s, allowing travel over the rough terrain that Africa is known for… Have a look at images of the road into the Ngorongoro Crater if you want an idea!

While self-hire safari vehicle options are available, tour operators all have experienced drivers who, more often than not have extensive knowledge not only of handling the rough terrain but of the areas through which we travel.

Safety First on Safaris!

Most Land Cruisers are equipped with all possible safety features – fire extinguishers, First Aid kits, seat belts and many have airbags. They have specially designed fuel tanks to allow the economical use of diesel during long journeys and snorkels for travel through rivers.

Luggage Space & How to Pack (light)

In general, luggage is taken either in a trailer or packed on the roof, to keep the safari vehicle as uncluttered as possible inside, for your comfort. Remember to pack lightly!

Recommended 4x4 Trips in Land Cruiser Safari Vehicles

Tanzania Lodge Safari to Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Tarangire

Masai Mara, Samburu, Nakuru 4x4 Kenya Lodge Safari

4x4 Ethiopia Tour - Danakil Depression & Awash National Park

4. Open Game-Viewing Safari Vehicles

Within many of the game parks, smaller, open-sided, or completely open safari vehicles are used for game drives. While these are not suitable for long distances – wind, dust, sun, and Africa’s elements can be harsh! – they are great for game drives as they allow you to get up close and personal with the sights, sounds, and smells of the African bush.

These safari vehicles are most often adapted Land Cruisers which seat between six and nine passengers. Some are designed with tiered seating so that nobody’s view is blocked by the person in front of them’s head!

Protection from The Elements

Due to their being open to the elements, it is vital to protect yourself against the African sun. Hats, scarves, and windbreakers are all excellent shields from fiery hot UV rays. Many of these open safari vehicles do have canvas/plastic canopies that can be closed if the weather becomes uncooperative. Thunderstorms in Africa can be wild, and come on within minutes!

Safari Drivers & Trackers

Most often when going on game drives, there will be a driver and a tracker (often sits on the front of the car, allowing him to track spoor and dung.) The trackers are highly experienced, and allow one to see the best Africa has to offer in wildlife.

Recommended trips with open game-viewing

Chobe, Moremi & Delta Botswana Camping Safari

6-Day Kruger Park & Private Game Reserves Safari (Lodge)

5. Bird’s-Eye View Flying Safaris

‘Air safaris’ are offered at various places in Africa, like Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta . A flight over the delta in a small plane gives you an idea of the vastness of the area. A helicopter flight over Victoria Falls will make you feel like an eagle soaring above this spectacular area!

Helicopters on Safari

The ‘vehicles’ used differ from operator to operator. The helicopters used at Victoria Falls are generally 4- or 6-seaters and many have bubble windows, allowing for good viewing. Do remember that, in the 6-seater, you may land up in the middle seat, making seeing out slightly more difficult.

Light Planes on Safari

In the Okavango Delta, many of the lodges are only reachable by air, especially during the wet season. Many small plane charters are available both as a means to get to the lodges and for a birds-eye view of the delta and spectacular photographic opportunities – a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Recommended safaris with flying components

Victoria Falls Budget Tour Package (Zimbabwe)

Okavango Delta & Chobe Accommodated Safari (North)

6. Hot Air Balloon Rides

What could be better than watching the sun rise over the Serengeti  while floating gently above its vast plains in a hot air balloon? Nothing, really. Hot air balloon rides are offered at various places in Africa (like Masai Mara and Serengeti) and provide an incredible, thrilling, bird’s-eye view of the vastness of Africa, dotted with wildlife.

Recommended trips with balloon safaris

4-Day Masai Mara Luxury Camping Safari  - optional hot-air balloon trip over Masai Mara, Kenya

12-Day Kenya & Tanzania Budget Lodge Safari  - optional hot-air balloon trip over Serengeti, Tanzania

7. Boat to the Great White Sharks

The boat used for our Great White Shark Cage Diving trips in South Africa is a custom-built catamaran. Combining comfort, stability, speed, and safety, this boat ensures not only a good trip for you but also promises minimal interference in the shark’s natural habitat.

The custom-built shark cage diving boat is typically a 46-foot (14m) long catamaran with a spacious upper deck for surface views of the sharks and other marine animals and platforms for the bait and decoy handlers to ensure the best possible shark viewing. It is a lightweight aluminium vessel powered by four big four-stroke 300-hp outboard engines and is equipped with the most advanced electronic navigation equipment. 

Staying dry and comfortable

Featuring a spacious indoor cabin, as well as separate wet and dry outdoor decks, the design ensures that when you’re wet, you’re wet, but once you’re out and want to be dry and comfortable, you can be. The boat usually features a central dining area, storage facilities for personal items, and both male and female toilets.

Electronically, the boat is fully equipped with a tracking device, radios, GPS, radar and navigation equipment, depth finder and echo sounder, and even a 12V charging facility for cameras, cell phones, and laptops.

Safety - yours and the shark's

Safety is of utmost importance and there are life vests for all passengers, fire extinguishers, a life raft, and capsize bottles on the boat. In case of medical emergencies, there are two onboard First Aid kits, oxygen cylinders, and fluid replacement.

Not only is your safety cared for, but that of the sharks too. The cage has no sharp points or edges that could hurt the animals. The cage itself is specially constructed of reinforced steel and can take five people comfortably. It is lowered and winched back up using a winch from a sturdy gantry. Oxygen is supplied from the boat to divers via a ‘hookah’ system with hoses running into the cage.

This, too, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. There’s not much more exhilarating than coming face-to-face with a Great White in its own habitat!

Recommended shark diving tours

2-Day Great White Shark Dive Package

Great White Shark Cage Diving Day Tour

8. Rubber-Ducking the Gorges

Jinja, in Uganda - where the longest river in Africa, The Nile, begins at its source, Lake Victoria - is one of the top whitewater rafting destinations in the world. Add in Victoria Falls, the Fish River Canyon, and the Orange (Gariep) River, where various boat options are offered, from boogie-boarding the rapids through canoeing to rubber ducking both flat water and white water, and it's an adrenaline junkie's dream. Your trip choice depends completely on your adrenaline requirements/limits!

Whichever you choose, be sure to check that the tour operator follows all safety regulations, ensuring that you have a safe, enjoyable trip through the gorge. Life jackets and helmets are non-negotiable, these waters can get wild, and a knowledgeable, trained guide will ensure you get the most out of your trip.

Recommended trips with rubber ducking

Victoria Falls Adventure Tour Package (Zambia)

Masai Mara & Gorilla Trekking Overland Tour or  Uganda Safari & Gorilla Trekking Tour

9. East African Dhows (sailing boats)

There is nothing quite so beautiful as seeing a traditional dhow gliding through the warm, azure waters of the Indian Ocean. Originally used for trading, these long, narrow boats with triangular sails, expertly sailed by locals, are used along the east coast of Africa.

So whether you’re heading off to the Bazaruto Archipelago or exploring the coastline of Zanzibar , do yourself a favour and catch a ride on one of these graceful sailing vessels.

Recommended trips with dhow safaris

22-Day Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique & Kruger Safari

5-Day Zanzibar Holiday Package - Adventure Tour

10. Game Viewing Boat Cruises

One of the best ways to watch wildlife and birds on safari in Africa is without a doubt by boat. It's hard to compete with a laid-back sunset cruise. Exceptional wildlife and bird sightings along the rivers and estuaries in top game reserves of Africa. Stunning scenery. Chilled sundowners and snacks or dinner onboard. Easy-paced, yet exciting and novel. 

The boats used on boat cruises vary but they are typically open-sided motorboats. The larger boats offer standing and sitting rooms and are sometimes double-deckers. 

Chobe National Park in Botswana is one of the best places for boat-based game viewing in Africa. Another favourite spot for scenic boat cruises is the Zambezi River near Victoria Falls. There are plenty of other great destinations for game-viewing boat cruises, from Uganda to South Africa. 

Recommended Safaris with Game-Viewing Boat Cruises

• Botswana:  5-Day Chobe & Okavango Delta Lodge Tour  or  Botswana Exclusive Camping Safari to Chobe & Okavango  - include Chobe River boat cruises (as with most Chobe Safaris)
• Uganda:  Gorilla Trekking & Queen Elizabeth Park Safari  - includes boat cruises on Kazinga Channel (Queen Elizabeth Park) & in Murchison Falls National Park

11. Winding Through the Waterways in Mekoro

If your safari includes a trip into the Okavango Delta , you will more than likely experience the gentle pleasure of a trip in a mokoro canoe. Check with your tour operator that this is included as part of the package, or offered as an optional activity. You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity to get up close and personal with the prolific birds and wildlife – including elephants, hippos, and crocs – of the Okavango Delta.

Mokoro History

These traditional dug-out canoes are made of wood and guided by a ‘poler’, who stands at the helm. While originally made from indigenous trees, such as the Kingella or ‘Sausage Tree’, they are increasingly made of fibreglass these days. While not as ‘authentic’, this is preserving the indigenous trees of the area and provides just-as-good a means of transport through the spectacular waterways of the delta.

Experienced polers

Many people are afraid of hippos overturning a mokoro. While this is not an impossibility – this is Africa, after all, and you’re in their habitat – the polers are experienced in the area and are very aware that hippos are territorial creatures. They are sure to avoid dangerous situations.

A trip on a mokoro allows you to get as close to the sights and sounds of Africa as is physically possible. Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Recommended safaris with Mokoro canoe trips

Botswana Parks & Okavango Delta Budget Lodge Safari

Budget Delta Mokoro Trail & Savuti Safari

12. Kayak & Canoe Safaris

If you're a kayaking or canoeing enthusiast this is the ultimate game-viewing safari vehicle for you. Watch the wilderness glide by as you paddle quietly along the rivers and waterways of Africa. A canoeing or kayaking safari gives you more independence than a mokoro trip where a guide poles you along.

The canoes and kayaks used on safaris vary widely, ranging from inflatable canoes to rugged old-school kayaks.

Some canoe safaris offer game viewing opportunities along the riverbanks and even in the waters whilst most are more about taking in the wild scenery and spotting birds.

Recommended safaris with canoe or kayak trips

• 16-Day Zambia & Malawi Small Group Safari  or 4-Day Victoria Falls Tour in Zambia - include Zambezi River Canoe Trips

4-Day South Africa Garden Route Tour - includes Canoeing in Wilderness National Park

15-Day Zambia & Malawi Small Group Budget Safari  - includes kayaking on Lake Malawi

13. Explore the African Bush on Horseback or Camelback

An incredible way to experience the bush up close! Horseback safaris are allowed in certain game reserves so if you want to experience the bush on horseback you'll need to pick your destinations accordingly. Two of the most popular African safari destinations that offer horseback safaris are Victoria Falls (Zambia or Zimbabwe) and Big 5 game reserves near Cape Town in South Africa. 

For a whole new experience, you can explore Africa by camel. An entirely unique and exotic mode of transport indeed. Camelback safaris are far rarer than horseback safaris. You can only embark on a camelback adventure in a few places, including parts of East Africa.

Recommended trips with optional horseback safaris & camelback safaris

• Experience Southern Africa Exclusive Budget Safari  &  Zimbabwe & Botswana Safari (Lodge Tour)  - optional horseback safaris at Victoria Falls

3 Day Big 5 Cape Town Safari  & 2 Day Big 5 Cape Town Safari  - optional horseback safaris at Aquila Game Reserve

Lake Turkana & Northern Kenya Camping Safari  - includes an overnight camelback safari in Tuum (Samburu District of Kenya)

14. Walking Safaris in Africa

This is (obviously) only an option once you are in the game reserve. Depending on the safety i.e. the presence of dangerous predators, many game reserves offer guided walking tours. This is the ideal way to get a true, African, wildlife experience. By walking through the bush all your senses experience Africa – sight, smell, sounds, touch – unadulterated by the sound of motors and really off the beaten track.

Guides and trackers

Most reserves have highly experienced guides who are a fountain of knowledge regarding the fauna and flora of the area and are excellent trackers. This allows you to not only experience the bush but also learn all sorts of fascinating facts while seeing the birds, insects, and animals that call Africa ‘home.’

If you have the opportunity, do not miss out on a walking safari. You can’t get closer to nature than this.

Recommended walking safari trips

4-Day Kruger Park Walking Safari  or  5-Day Kruger Safari - Hiking Tour

South Africa Walking Safari to Kruger & Zululand

7-Day South Luangwa Tented Camps Walking Safari

Talk to an African travel expert to find the ideal types of safari vehicles and other transport modes for your trip to Africa.

[Updated in 2022: originally posted in 2014]

Briony Chisholm Wordsmith & Pharmacist

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Ultimate African Safari Game Drives For Your Bucketlist

Explore the very best, across 12 countries and dozens of remarkable national parks, game drives for the ultimate african safari experience.

Every game drive on an African safari is different. Not just the animals you see but the landscapes you explore and the thrilling interactions on the savannah.

Led by superb safari guides, game drives are your personal insight into the animal world. Lions battling with buffalo, cheetah chasing antelope, elephants meeting at a waterhole and so many intimate sights all over the landscape.

Discover 50 of the best game drives for your African safari and add these ideas to your travel bucketlist by tapping the heart.

Aberdare Multi-Day Walking Safari

Amboseli National Park Game Drive

Enjoy a full day among Amboseli’s large elephant herds, made famous through the world-renowned work of conservationist Cynthia Moss. Fall in love with the multigenerational gentle giants as they wade, splash, and bathe in the park’s swamps. Keep your eyes peeled for the aquatic birds that share this ecosystem. Picnic with unending views of the snows of Mount Kilimanjaro – Africa’s highest peak.

Central Kalahari Game Drive

Chobe National Park Elephant Game Drive

Chyulu Hills Tailored Safari

Enjoy a fully customised safari in open four-wheel drive vehicles. Traverse ancient volcanic landscapes contiguous with Tsavo West National Park. Journey from the cheetah-inhabited plains of Tsavo and Amboseli into thickets and lush montane forest. Capture long-lasting memories of commonly-sighted species as diverse as elephant, eland, leopard, giraffe and bushbuck. Then delve into the 11km Leviathan (Kisula) Caves – reckoned to be one of the longest lava tubes in the world. A safari in Chyulu Hills is not a normal safari - it’s a mix of wildlife and remarkable natural wonders.

Elerai Conservation Game Drive

A private conservancy some 5000 acres in area. No more than a trickle of other guests sharing the surroundings. Few other vehicles spoiling this extraordinary natural setting. Situated between Amboseli National Park and Mount Kilimanjaro, Elerai boasts a quintessential East African landscape. Grassy plains roll gently towards the horizon, dotted with acacias trimmed to their iconic umbrella shape by the resident giraffes. Lions beware – it’s elephants that rule the roost here. The conservancy is proud of its bull elephants. Their immense bulk and impressive tusks make them the true kings of the savannah.

Etosha National Park Game Drive

Etosha Self Drive Safari

Elephant country is not always the best place to create your own trail. There are very good reasons why African safaris are led by highly trained guides and animal trackers. It’s safer this way. Plus you get to see more.  However, there are always adventurists wanting to push boundaries. Etosha is the best national park in Africa to lead your own four-wheel drive safari. Wide open spaces mean you won’t be ambushed by lions, nor stuck in a tree when charged by an elephant.  A travel designer will help kit you out with a custom safari Land Rover, complete with a popup tent on the roof, rescue kit, camp reservations and maps. And you and your partner can go exploring in some of the wildest big-game country anywhere.

Game Drive in Katavi National Park

A thousand buffalos stare back at you. They’re so close you can hear them exhaling. You’re so engrossed you don’t see the lionesses creeping up from the other side.  Katavi National Park is full of riveting battles between buffalo and lions. On a game drive you may experience a time when it’s hard to know which way to look. Hippos are also abundant and every evening you can watch them emerge to graze.  Hidden away and only really accessible by flight, Katavi is a stunning grassland savannah for a really personal safari experience. Local experts will lead your game drives in this remarkable tract of wilderness. And you can expect to hear animals throughout the night as well.

Gonarezhou NP Game Drive

One of Africa’s forgotten landscapes, Gonarezhou remains unknown and unexplored. Even wildlife researchers don’t know what takes place here. And it’s not an area where locals have lived either. This protected national park is a great add on to a private safari in Malilangwe. You can spend two days on a private reserve safari, then do this full-day game drive in Gonarezhou.  It’s a national park that barely has any four-wheel drive trails. You’ll be bouncing around the bush in search of animals, enveloped by wild scenes and animal sounds.

Gorongosa National Park Wild Africa Safari

Join an expert team of guides for a safari by vehicle, boat, and canoe around Gorongosa. Settle in for a day of big-game actions.  Its diverse landscapes of savannah, woodland and wetlands are home to many of Africa’s most-loved species. There are elephants and lions, as well as kudu, leopards, and even highly-endangered African wild dog.  All these animals live in a setting that puts as much emphasis on sustainable tourism as it does luxury. They’ve rehabilitated the landscape here and the animals have returned.  You will first explore on a game drive, in search of the predators and elephants. A walking safari brings close up encounters with ungulates. Then a boat or canoe ride provides a completely fresh perspective.

Khutse Introductory Game Drive

Botswana safaris are on an unthinkable scale. This is the country where elephants cross the highway and you can go weeks without human contact. But Khutse is a little different to the rest of Botswana. This smaller national park is dominated by shimmering salt pans and herds digging for water. It’s to the south of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and is an ideal place for an introductory safari.  A game drive here will introduce you to the wild, including its variety of animals. Safari here first, get your bearings, and then fly out to appreciate the wilder, more open landscapes elsewhere in Botswana.

Kichwa Tembo Maasai Mara Family Safari

A safari experience both adults and children are sure to fall for. The opportunity to clock the big five and annual Great Wildebeest Migration from a private concession bordering the Maasai Mara. Dedicated family suites are set among grounds where kids can run alongside resident warthogs. The tented camp features a rim-flow pool with views to the animals on the plains below. There’s a Wildchild programme for younger safari goers plus a fully-fledged spa for adults. And there’s also some of the finest safari viewing on the continent.

Kruger Adventure Game Drive

Cross the unfenced boundary into one of the continent’s foremost safari destinations – Kruger National Park. Take advantage of your private game drive to do what you want when you want. Follow in the footsteps of the Big Five. Scan the trees for leopard. Watch as elephants cool off at a water hole. Admire the sheer bulk of a mature male buffalo. Join lions for a snooze in the shade. Feel the smile cross your face as a rhino silently treks across the plains. Kruger’s vast 7000 square mile area and its diverse array of habitats should be more than enough to tempt you away from Sabi Sands.

Lake Manyara Game Drive

Lake Nakuru Rhino and Flamingos Game Drive

The light grey bulk of white rhino contrasting against the fresh green grass. The prospect of encountering their more agile black cousins as they quietly roam the thick bush. A ribbon of pink running across the lake’s shallows, formed by the congregation of up to 2 million greater and lesser flamingos. Popular with big game aficionados and bird watchers, Lake Nakuru boasts 450 species of bird, including Verreaux’s eagle and goliath heron, making it a formidable destination for game drives of all forms.

Lewa Conservancy Game Drive

Lewa’s grasslands support some of the most evocative and yet endangered species in Kenya. Boasting more than 150 highly-endangered black rhino – a significant proportion of the country’s total population – Lewa is one of the leading places to witness these animals in the wild. Add to that the chance to admire the sleek silhouette of endangered Grevy’s zebra, found almost exclusively in Kenya’s north, and you have game drives beyond the usual.

Lewa Rhino Safari

A backdrop of Mount Kenya. The rarest of the big five. One of only a handful of reserves where sightings of both svelte black rhino and bulkier whites are almost guaranteed - rhino numbers equal 14% of Kenya’s entire population here Animals don’t get much rarer than black and white rhino. Hunted near to extinction first for sport and then for their horns, Lewa is helping these majestic beasts back from the brink.

Linyanti Nighttime Game Drive

It’s different at night. It’s spooky, scary, surreal. Sounds and the moon guide your journey. You can hear buffalo munching nearby. Giraffe are silhouetted along the horizon. You may encounter a lion.  Nighttime game drives aren’t possible everywhere. They are a special treat, a showcase into the untold thrills of Africa’s savannah. The guide stops the vehicle and you listen. A spotlight illuminates the animals, many much closer than you can imagine.  Nighttime is when the predators prefer to hunt, so you may see a lion with a zebra carcass, or the piercing blue eyes of a leopard. And somewhere out in the wild you will come face to face with elephants and wild dogs. It will be a private nighttime game drive and you won’t see any other vehicles.

Loisaba Conservancy Afternoon Game Drive

The sun is sinking lower over big-sky country. There’s the carefree wallowing of hippos. Now the elegant bobbing heads of scarce reticulated giraffe and elephants following long-held migration routes. The sound of skittish herds of zebra. No less than three prides of stalking lions. Throw leopard into the mix, and African wild dogs, one of the continent’s rarest predators. Expert trackers and drivers tailor game drives to your individual preferences here, where the footfall is limited to a few vehicles dispersed across 57,000 acres.  Two year-round rivers and several permanent spring-fed waterholes attract 50 mammal and 260 bird species, so afternoon game drives at Loisaba Conservancy are never the same twice.

Londolozi Game Drive

Enter the domain of the legendary leopards of Londolozi. Track their footprints on private game drives through one of South Africa’s original private reserves. Seek out their rest trees on the banks of the Sand River. Join in the constant scientific research that surrounds each of the reserve’s named individuals. Londolozi is more than a private reserve within the Greater Kruger region. It boasts more than 40 years as a leopard hotspot and almost 100 years as a safari destination.  Your visit will contribute to the continued conservation of these beautiful animals. And there are few places on the continent to safely get as close.

Maasai Mara Game Drive

The sound of countless hooves charging across the plains. The call of birds in woodland. The clamour of vultures flapping wings from lone acacias. The grunts of hippos in the rivers. The low growl of a fully mature lion making its presence known. The great wildebeest migration is what the Maasai Mara is best known for. However, the reserve hosts large herds year round. This makes it a hotspot for their big cat predators. Patience and the expertise of your dedicated driver-tracker will ensure you get all the best big cat action.

Madikwe Safari Game Drive

Wake to the grunts, roars, and chirruping of wildlife that surrounds you on all sides. Join your expert tracker and guide for an early morning game drive – the light perfect for photography and animals at their most active. Take in the spectacular vistas as you seek out sightings of the Big Five. Keep a look out for the reserve’s pack of African wild dogs on their afternoon hunt.  Celebrate the solitude as safari game drives are reserved exclusively for guests staying at Madikwe’s lodges. So there will be nothing but you, the guides and the wildlife.

Mala Mala Photo Safari

Enjoy the use of a specially adapted open safari vehicle with bucket seats and sliding camera mounts. The dedicated attention of a ranger with wildlife photography experience. No other vehicles within miles. Frontage on the year-round Sand River, attracting species from across the unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park. 33,000 acres of private game reserve that is one of the most consistent places to capture the Big Five on film anywhere in Africa.

Mara Naboisho Leopard Safari

More secretive than an elephant. Harder to spot than a lion. More cunning than either. The growled warnings of a mother baring her sabre-like teeth and the high-pitched squeals of her young offspring as they play. Mara Naboisho provides 50,000 acres of unspoilt wilderness in Kenya’s Maasai Mara region. There’s a higher density of wildlife than even the neighbouring Maasai Mara. Plus an extraordinary chance to capture leopards nursing their cubs.  Mothers retreat here to raise their cubs, as there are fewer vehicles around. And you’ll go in search of them.

Mara North Game Drive

Free of the mass vehicles of the neighbouring Maasai Mara National Reserve, the privately-run not-for-profit Mara North Conservancy is dedicated to low-impact tourism. Situated on the path of the annual migration of two million wildebeest and zebra, the conservancy is also well-known for its density of big cats. What’s more, the year-round game viewing extends to all the big five species of lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and highly-endangered black rhino. Tailored to your specific interests by the highly-trained driver-guide, a Mara North private game drive offers the opportunity to observe 100 mammals and 600 often startlingly-coloured bird species whether in the morning, afternoon, or night.

Mara River Wildebeest Crossing Game Drive

Meru National Park Game Drive

Terrain that is as rugged and untamed as it is varied. Shallow freshwater pools that blend with riverine forest and thick bush. The opportunity to roam the plains of East Africa’s most diverse national park. Here mane-less bush lions scour the grasslands for prospective meals. A population of black and white rhinos occupy their dedicated sanctuary. Buffalo drink at river banks alongside elephant, giraffe and lesser kudu. Hippos disappear beneath the waters with long satisfied grunts as red-necked falcons and Pel’s fishing owl swoop by overhead.

Mikumi National Park Daytime Game Drive

Wildebeest and zebra carpet lush green floodplains. But this is not the Serengeti. You are in Mikumi, a small national park where lions watch you with one eye open.  Hippos dominate the water here and you can hear them grunting and belching throughout the day. Elephants are always conspicuous and there are surprises to be found around the park’s outskirts. Explore Mikumi on a daytime game drive, in a private vehicle with both a driver and guide. It’s a great day trip from Dar es Salaam and the perfect stopping point on an overland safari into Southern Tanzania.

Nairobi National Park Introductory Safari Game Drive

Nairobi National Park is a great stopover that hints at all the natural spectacles Kenya can offer. It’s a wonderful introduction to the safari experiences awaiting further afield. In sight of the city’s central business district, the 300 acre Nairobi National Park has an extraordinary diversity of plains species. Just a short drive from the city’s airports and skyscrapers, highly-endangered black rhino roam. Prides of lion stalk prey including buffalo and hartebeest. Baboons run amok. Hyena, cheetah, and leopard also make their presence known. It’s a wonderful place to explore before a safari elsewhere, proving that Nairobi layovers are never dull.

Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive

Northern Circuit Overland Safari

Nxai Pan Meerkats and Wildlife Safari

Meerkats poke their head from the sand. Their behaviour is bizarre, comical. These legends of the Kalahari are difficult to find, yet your guide knows where they hideout. So follow him for a day of meerkat indulgence.  Nxai Pan isn’t home to that many lions orbig mammals. So it’s ideal for meerkats to go about their day to day. Take a game drive in search of them, before surrounding yourself with their antics.  You may also spot zebra, perhaps kudu or even an elephant. But this travel moment is about enjoying the best place in the world to encounter wild meerkats.

Okavango Delta Game Drive

Okavango Game Drive in Moremi Game Reserve

A blur of black and white stripes gallops past your vehicle. You turn to see a hyena, a strange figure on the savannah. An elephant marches past. Two lionesses watch you as they sleep with one eye open. Now a hippo, a monster emerging from the water.  Moremi is the legendary game reserve at the heart of the Okavango Delta. You will be exploring with a private guide, on a private game drive that can be anywhere from three hours to three days.  This is an oasis of life and sometimes there are so many animals you don’t know which way to look. Red lechwe gather in their thousands. Roan antelope run from leopards. The rhythm of life extends and it’s all yours.

Ol Pejeta Sunrise Game Drive

The solitude of Ol Pejeta private conservancy at sunrise. The tranquillity of sharing its 90,000 acres with just a small handful of other guests. The chance for a tailored experience that combines your tastes with your guide’s expert local knowledge.  The magical hours of early morning are when the conservancy’s multitude of species are at their most active. In this hour you can watch lions tracking their prey and discover so many rare behaviours.

Olare Motorogi Conservancy Game Drive

Enjoy exclusive access to more than 100,000 acres of Kenyan wilderness, in addition to unrestricted access to the Maasai Mara Private Reserve.  Here there is a low vehicle density philosophy that means just one vehicle for every 2,000 acres. This solitude has made it an important habitat for rare species including African wild dogs and rhino. Olare Motorogi also has one of the highest lion densities in Africa and will give you a front row seat to the annual great wildebeest migration. Expect fantastic year-round wildlife viewing opportunities spanning grassland, acacia woodland, and riverine forest.

Phinda Game Drive

A fully customised open vehicle safari across the 70,000 acres of Phinda Private Game Reserve. An expert guide and tracker with unsurpassed knowledge of the reserve’s seven distinct ecosystems. This is a habitat for extremely rare black rhino. It’s a place for lions to rest in the shade. A home to elephants quenching their thirst at water holes. Prowling leopard and belligerent buffalo complete the legendary Big Five. The reserve’s private status means you don’t fight for the best view with other safari vehicles. Rather, expect to be the only ones for miles around, as you come eye to eye with endemic species you won’t find anywhere else but Africa.

Royal Malewane Game Drive

No restrictions to safari times. A maximum of just two vehicles per animal sighting. No public vehicles. The expert tracking and guidance of the most qualified safari team anywhere on the continent. Their 300 years of combined bush experience will be put to good use – spotting the 500 birds, 140 mammals and iconic Big Five species that inhabit the landscapes. You’re in safe hands, with each of the rangers having the highest guiding qualifications available. There are just seven Master Trackers worldwide. Only three operate in the Greater Kruger region. All work at Royal Malewane.

Ruaha National Park Multi-Day Safari

Lost in the heart of Africa, Ruaha National Park continues to provide a very off the beaten path luxury safari. Here there is very little but wildlife and a very wild atmosphere. The elephants are massive and you wake up to them hooting close to the camp. Lions bask in the sun through the day, yet in the early morning you can track them hunting zebra. Giraffe mingle with hippos and buffalo, with over a dozen antelope species the backing cast. Best of all, there are hardly any other safari goers here. So if you seek a luxury safari in a wilderness where few others venture, Ruaha is unrivalled. You will need more than one day and this safari will be tailored to your interests.

Sabi Sabi Early Morning Game Drive

The rising sun casts a golden hue across the varied habitats of Sabi Sands Game Reserve. Birdsong signals the start of another day. The crispness of the early morning air shows itself in condensation rising from the mouths of the ruminants seeking their first feed of the day. Big cats lie bloated beside successful nocturnal hunts. The highly-experienced rangers will gently rouse you from sleep while it’s still dark. After a light breakfast you’ll join the guides in the open safari vehicles, tracking the movement of species free to wander between Sabi Sands and Kruger National Park.

Samburu Game Drive

Gently-flowing river waters. Landscapes that vary between grasses, bushland, and thin bands of forest alive with birdsong. Sandy tracks that wind across them all, crisscrossed by the fresh prints of antelope, big cats, and the giants of the plains. Situated on the north bank of one of Kenya’s most important rivers – the Ewaso Nyiro – a multitude of species are drawn to Samburu’s lush grasses. The big five are well represented, though it’s the national reserve’s rarest inhabitants that make this safari destination stand out. Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, long-necked gerenuk and shapely East African (Beisa) oryx can each get the heart pumping just as much as leopard, lion, buffalo, rhino, and Samburu’s red-dusted elephant herds.

Serengeti Calving Season Safari in Ndutu Area

Serengeti Multi-Day Game Drive Safari

Grass, everywhere. Lions lounging in the grass. Wildebeest scattered for miles across the grass. Zebra huddled together, a black and white mass contrasting the grass.  Welcome to the Serengeti, where there are more large wild mammals than anywhere else on the planet. It’s an enormous grasslands so you can’t come for one day. On this multi-day safari you will follow the predators, as they follow gazelle and wildebeest across the magnificent site.  Expect to see big cats multiple times each day. Plus giraffe, buffalo, elephants and more. You can’t leave your private vehicle in such dangerous territory but you can spend two to three days immersed in the greatest safari destination of all.

Singita Game Drive

A front row seat to all the action in the 33,000-acre private concession within the remoter reaches of Greater Kruger National Park. The solitude that comes with being the only safari vehicle for miles around. The knowledge that regular sightings include hippo, cheetah, and sable, alongside the Big Five. Singita’s relative isolation is to its advantage. The concession’s resident animal populations feel safe and relaxed, allowing you to edge even closer in the high-spec Land Rovers limited to just six guests at any one time.

Tarangire National Park Game Drive

Tarangire, landscape of baobabs and elephants, land of safari surprise and intimate encounters. Somehow, this incredible national park remains overlooked by most people coming to the north of Tanzania. Which means it will be quieter for you.  Elephants move in massive herds, sometimes 50 of them marching past your vehicle. Leopards and cheetahs hide in high grass, hunting a myriad of antelope species. There are so many zebra you will stop noticing them.  Explore Tarangire with an expert guide, on a game drive that can be tailored to your wildlife interests. Either loop around the highlights in half a day, or go off the main tracks for a day of safari excitement in elephant country.

Tarangire Private Concession Safari

Unlike South Africa and Kenya, Tanzania does not have many private concessions. Tarangire is one of them, a place where you can enjoy a more exclusive safari. Access to private concessions is heavily restricted and there are strict rules on vehicles per animal sighting. So on this safari you can have all the elephants and herds to yourself.  Less people and vehicles makes the landscape more attractive to reclusive animals, such as leopards. So you can see more, as well as getting closer by going off the trails.  This Tarangire concession safari can be tailored to your interests, with a mix of drives and walks, along with evenings overlooking a popular waterhole.

Tsavo East Game Drive

Track your favourite animals through Kenya’s largest national park. Seek out the reserve’s famed maneless male lions. Enjoy close encounters with the full quintet of big five species. Journey along the 300km long Yatta Plateau – the longest lava flow in the world. Take in the flowing waters of the Galana River, home to quarrelsome pods of hippo. Cross the rich iron-red earth used as sunscreen by elephants.  Negotiate lush green grasses camouflaging big cats beneath expansive blue skies that are home to 500 different bird species.

Tsavo West Game Drive

Hills dotted with volcanic cones. The shimmering pools at Mzima Springs, disappearing below ground nearly as quickly as they appear. Caves created from the ancient lava flows. Gravel roads that lead to unexpected sightings of elephant, lion, and highly endangered black rhino. Made famous by man-eating lions that snatched workers from their tents during the construction of the Nairobi-Mombasa railway, Tsavo West offers a much more diverse landscape than the open plains of the Maasai Mara can. One of Kenya’s largest national parks, rocky escarpments like Poacher’s Lookout give way to riverine forest, acacia woodland, scrub and grassland habitats. Here the safari is wild and you never know what lurks beyond each turn.

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About African Safari Game Drives

Everything you need to know about an african safari game drive.

A safari game drive is a real-life adventure. It’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in the untamed beauty of nature, witness majestic wildlife in their natural habitats, and create unforgettable memories.

In this blog, we’ll explore the essence of game drives, their typical types and itineraries, categories of game drive vehicles, what are the essential items to pack, and look at some of the best game drive destinations in Africa (other than our favoured South Luangwa, of course!).

So, buckle up and get ready for an exhilarating journey through the wilderness!

What is a game drive?

A game drive is a guided expedition into wildlife-rich areas, such as national parks, game reserves, or conservation areas, conducted in specially designed vehicles.

The primary aim is to observe and photograph various species of animals and birds in their natural habitat. Unlike zoo visits, game drives offer a unique opportunity to witness wildlife up close in their native environment, providing a thrilling and immersive experience.

And unlike safaris on foot (also known as bush walks), a vehicle-based safari allows us to approach animals safely and observe them from a close vantage point (as they tend to get used to vehicles); it also allows us to cover more distances.

Are you planning a safari? Download our in depth Zambian Safari planning guide!

What are the basic types of game drives.

• Guided Game Drives : Led by experienced safari guides, these guided and shared game drives offer invaluable expertise and insight into the park’s wildlife and ecosystems. Participants travel in specially equipped safari vehicles, maximizing wildlife sightings and ensuring a safe and enriching experience. Safari lodges typically offer these. They can also be booked as part of à la carte activities near the bigger national parks such as Kruger National Park in South Africa.
• Private Vehicle Hire : To fully control your game drive experience, you can opt to hire a “private vehicle.” This grants you exclusive access to a dedicated vehicle and safari guide, ensuring personalized attention tailored to your specific interests and preferences. Safari lodges may offer this option at an extra cost.
• Self-Drive : Self-drive allows visitors with their own 4×4 vehicles to explore the park independently when allowed. However, self-drive visitors will lack the expertise of a trained safari guide, potentially impacting their wildlife viewing opportunities and overall safety.

What is a typical game drive itinerary?

They will vary depending on the location and duration of the activity. However, it usually follows a similar pattern throughout Eastern and Southern Africa:

1. Morning Drive:

Game drives often commence early in the morning, at dawn, when animals are most active. A small breakfast is usually served before setting off with experienced guides. As the sun rises, the savannah comes to life, offering excellent opportunities to spot predators on the hunt or catch sight of elusive nocturnal creatures returning to their dens. The plains animals welcome the daylight and start browsing and grazing after an (often restless) night.

A morning game drive will typically last for three to four hours and include a short break where the guide will stop so everyone can get out of the vehicle, stretch their legs, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a snack. And probably take a quick loo (behind a tree) break too.

At the end of the game drive, your guide will bring you back to your lodge, in time for an early lunch. Most often, he or she will have lunch with you and everyone can share stories of the wildlife encounters of the morning.

2. Midday Drive:

Some lodges may offer a short midday activity, although usually not a full game drive. It can however include a side trip to a secluded photographic hide.

Read our blog about the advantages of using photographic hides .

3. Afternoon Drive:

After lunch, a relaxing siesta or a dip in the pool, the lodge is likely to offer an afternoon game drive. It typically departs between 3 and 4 pm, once the heat of the day is behind us (animals tend to rest during midday hours). You’ll join your safari guide again, and board the vehicle for an activity that will last another three to four hours, depending if the park allows for “after dark” drives.  The afternoon light casts enchanting hues over the landscape, creating ideal conditions for photography. Guides often navigate through diverse habitats, from open plains to dense forests, in search of a variety of animal species.

4. Sundowner:

An African sundowner is a cherished safari tradition (not just on a game drive!) when we take a pause just before sunset to witness the breathtaking spectacle of the sun descending on the horizon. Typically, the guide will select a picturesque spot, often overlooking sweeping vistas, tranquil waterholes, or a special bend of a river. Here, we raise a glass (filled with your preferred beverage) to toast to the natural beauty of the African bush.    

5. Night Drive:

In some parks, regulations allow for game drives to take place after dark. This is the case in South Luangwa, where we are based. So, when possible, afternoon drives continue into a night drive (after the Sundowner break), and we can then experience a nocturnal safari unveiling a whole new world of wildlife activity under the cover of darkness. The safari guide is often accompanied by a “spotter”, a colleague sitting in the front of the vehicle or on the passenger seat equipped with a powerful spotlight.

Scanning the surroundings, we look for smaller nocturnal mammals such as genets, bushbabies, porcupines and the like. All those creatures remain hidden during the day, so this is a safari not to be missed when available. This is also the chance to observe elusive predators like leopards and hyenas, as well as lions, on the hunt.

Note that the spotlight is not shone on diurnal animals as the rays can temporarily blind them and make them vulnerable to predators.

6. All-Day Drive:

True to its name, the all-day or full-day drive extends from dawn till dusk and sometimes beyond. This immersive adventure takes us deep into the heart of the park, venturing into remote areas inaccessible during shorter drives in search of diverse animal species and hidden natural wonders. A picnic lunch is provided by the guide, allowing for a leisurely break amidst the wilderness. It’s common to pause for an hour or more, indulging in the serenity of the surroundings and perhaps even nodding off to the soothing symphony of the wild.

Full-day drives can extend for up to 12 hours, posing challenges not only for the safari guide but also for our own endurance in coping with the heat and rough terrain. While these extended drives offer a fantastic opportunity to explore deeper into the park, they require special acknowledgement of the guide’s efforts in facilitating such lengthy excursions. Not all lodges offer them, or they may come at an extra charge.

What kind of game-drive vehicles are commonly used?

The vehicles used for game drives are specially designed to navigate rugged terrain and provide optimal wildlife viewing opportunities.

Common types of game-drive vehicles include:

• Open Safari Vehicles : These vehicles feature open sides and elevated seating, offering unobstructed views of the surrounding wilderness. They are ideal for photography enthusiasts and provide an immersive safari experience. They may or may not have a canvas roof to protect passengers from the harsh sun rays or the occasional rain.

These open vehicles are typically 4×4 Toyota Land Cruisers, Hiluxes, or Land Rover Defenders that have been converted to add seating arrangements in the rear, allowing for 4, 6, or more guests across two or three benches.

• Closed Safari Vehicles : Enclosed vehicles offer protection from the elements and are equipped with large windows for panoramic views. Some models include a pop-up roof, enabling passengers to stand when stationary for optimal wildlife sightings. They are suitable for game drives during inclement weather or in areas with safety concerns. The type of vehicles used in activities often depends on the park regulations themselves.

Whatever the type of vehicle used, it is always a good idea to check the maximum number of passengers that the safari company will embark on, as this may impact the quality of your game drive. Or as mentioned above, you can often opt to hire a private vehicle and guide.

What should I bring on a game drive?

Packing the right essentials ensures a comfortable and enjoyable game drive experience. Here’s a list of items to consider bringing along:

• Binoculars : Enhance your wildlife viewing experience by bringing a pair of high-quality binoculars to spot animals from afar.
• Camera and Zoom Lens : Capture stunning photographs of wildlife encounters with a DSLR or mirrorless camera equipped with a telephoto zoom lens.
• Sun Protection : Shield yourself from the sun’s harsh rays by wearing sunscreen, sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, and lightweight, long-sleeved clothing.
• Water : Stay hydrated by bringing plenty of water. Add some snacks if these are not included in the activity.
• Insect Repellent : Keep pesky insects at bay by applying insect repellent to exposed skin areas.
• Field Guide and Notebook : Brush up on your wildlife knowledge with a field guide and jot down observations or interesting facts in a notebook. Some safari lodges may offer wildlife checklists which are particularly handy.
• Light jacket or Fleece : Even in warmer climates, temperatures can drop significantly during early morning or evening game drives, so it’s wise to pack a light jacket or sweater. And if it is the rainy season, make sure to grab a poncho too!
• Sturdy Shoes : While you may not do much walking during the drive itself, sturdy shoes are more comfortable for getting in and out of the vehicles, and can be useful for short nature (loo) breaks.
• Headlamp : When participating in night drives, it’s advisable to bring a small torch or headlamp. These handy tools are helpful at the end of the activity when gathering your belongings.  

Read our blog detailing what to bring on your safari adventure , including our practical checklist.

Hmmm.... What if "I need to go"?

Indeed, let’s address the “call of nature” – quite literally! It’s essential to remember that when you’re out in the wild, there are no fancy restrooms to be found! Mother Nature becomes your restroom, and while the idea might raise a few eyebrows or prompt a nervous laugh, it’s all part of the adventure.

So, if nature calls, don’t be shy to answer it behind a bush or a tree. But make sure to ask your safari guide to select and inspect the “loo” spot first; that’s a basic safety rule.

Game Drives in different parts of Africa

Game Drives in Different African Countries: Game drives offer unique experiences in various countries, each renowned for its diverse landscapes and rich wildlife populations. Let’s explore some top destinations:

Zambia boasts pristine wilderness areas like South Luangwa National Park, Kafue National Park and Lower Zambezi National Park, where visitors can enjoy thrilling guided game drives. Highlights include sightings of lions, leopards, elephants, and hippos along the banks of the parks’ respective rivers. In addition, Zambia is renowned for its exceptional safari guides, known for their exemplary knowledge, professionalism, and ethical conduct. Most game drives are organised directly by the safari lodges or camps and take place in open vehicles. Night drives are allowed for guided safaris but not for self-drives.

Have a look at our blog on the 21 national parks of Zambia .

• South Africa:

South Africa is home to iconic game reserves such as Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands Game Reserve, offering world-class game viewing opportunities. Visitors can expect to encounter the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros, and leopard) and a plethora of other wildlife species against breathtaking African landscapes. The downside is that the parks can become crowded with visitors and self-drive vehicles, potentially diminishing the quality of safaris.

• Kenya & Tanzania:

Kenya’s Masai Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti are renowned for their spectacular wildebeest migrations, often referred to as the “Greatest Wildlife Show on Earth.” Game drives here offer the opportunity to witness vast herds of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles crossing crocodile-infested rivers and thrilling predator-prey interactions. The particularities of Kenya and Tanzania are the huge savannah plains, which allow for extremely large herds, but they are also overcrowded with tourists. For more intimate experiences, one should consider lesser-known parks such as  Amboseli, Tsavo, Samburu (Kenya), and Ngorongoro, Tarangire, and Ruaha (Tanzania). These two countries do not usually allow open vehicles or night drives.

Botswana is renowned for its vast and pristine wilderness areas teeming with wildlife. Game drives are common but often paired with water-based activities, especially in the iconic Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park.  With strict conservation measures in place, including low visitor numbers and exclusive safari experiences, Botswana will ensure a more intimate but expensive safari adventure.

Namibia’s Etosha National Park is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts, with its expansive salt pans and waterholes attracting a myriad of animal species. Game drives in Etosha offer close encounters with desert-adapted elephants, black rhinos, lions, and endemic bird species against the backdrop of starkly beautiful landscapes. Namibia is perfect for self-drive journeys and offers a great variety of landscapes.

While Malawi may not be as well-known for its wildlife as other African countries, it offers stunning landscapes, diverse scenery, and a range of outdoor activities. Game drives are offered in parks such as Liwonde, Nyika, and Majete. But Malawi is most famously known for its stunning lake, Lake Malawi, which, of course, is best discovered while snorkelling or boating.

Ethical Game Drive Practices

Ethical safaris are founded on principles of respect for nature, wildlife, and fellow travellers. While on safari, it’s essential to adhere to certain guidelines to ensure minimal disruption to the environment and wildlife habitats. Do’s include maintaining a respectful distance from animals to avoid causing stress or altering their natural behavior, staying quiet to minimize noise pollution, and following the guidance of experienced guides. 

It’s crucial to remain patient and allow wildlife to dictate the pace of the safari, rather than rushing or pressuring guides to find specific sightings.

Additionally, limiting off-roading to designated tracks helps preserve vegetation and prevent soil erosion.

On the other hand, don’ts encompass actions like feeding wildlife, littering, or getting too close to animals for the sake of a photo opportunity.

Embarking on a game drive is an adventure like no other, offering a glimpse into the mesmerising world of wildlife in its natural habitat. From the savannahs of Kenya to the deserts of Namibia and beyond, each game drive destination holds its own allure and surprises waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-time safari-goer, the thrill of encountering wild animals in their element is an experience that will leave a lasting impression.

So, pack your bags, grab your camera, and get ready for an unforgettable journey through the untamed wilderness on your next game drive adventure!

At Kafunta Safaris, we offer game drives at all of our properties – Kafunta River Lodge , Three Rivers Camp and Island Bush Camp , along with bush walks and other cultural visits. We can also help you design your dream safari by combining South Luangwa with other parks in Zambia.

Have a look at our selection of packages , keeping in mind that we can customize them to fit your needs.

More questions? Check our Frequently Asked Questions page for answers!

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We tell you what a game drive is, what the different types of game drives and itineraries are usually offered, and a lot more!

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What type of Safari vehicles will you ride on your wildlife Safari?

When on your Safari, you are going to enjoy game driving for at least 8-10 hours a day, sometimes more, sometimes less - you get to choose in most cases and sometimes your guide/weather. You may start early around 6:00 a.m. and end as late at 6:30 to 7:00 p.m when the areas close. You may even go out at night on your night game  drives  from certain lodges.

During this time, you will learn to appreciate your work-horse - your Safari vehicle. Your 4×4 vehicle expertly maneuvered by our experienced knowledgeable Safari guide is your safe house. It will keep you cocooned from the wildlife, the rough terrain bumpety bump ride, and the range of weather elements you will encounter. The vehicle will act as your photography hide, breakfast and/or lunch table especially the bonnet/hood, your napping spot - happens to the best of us, your evening ride home.

In conclusion, where you will spend a lot of your waking hours. For this very reason, I take my vehicle selection from my Safari partners very seriously as it will be a big part of how you will enjoy your Safari!

So, what type of vehicle(s) will you have on your wildlife Safari? Depends on which area you on Safari.

For Tanzania and Kenya, when you fly in an area, like Northern Serengeti or Masai Mara from a city like Arusha or Nairobi, you will hop into an open vehicle. South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, where you mostly fly into an area; open vehicles are your go-to ride.

The open vehicles here will have a roof on top and plastic canvas on the sides should you need to protect yourself from rain. The open vehicle may look different in many areas in South Africa like MalaMala Game Reserve or Sabi Sabi Lodges where they will have open vehicles with no roof giving you a completely open feel.

If you are driving from the city to the parks, especially in Tanzania, you may be in a closed vehicle because doing a drive through the main-road in an open vehicle is not advisable. Going down Ngorongoro Crater is recommened in a closed vehicle.

The closed vehicles that we like, and chose our Safari partners accordingly, have to have large unobstructed windows and a pop-up roof so you can have shade and a panoramic view to enjoy the magnificient scenery.

Regardless of what type of vehicle you will have, your vehicle will have lots of amenities. A cooler with water, soft drinks, wine, beer, etc., plugs to charge your spare camera batteries or iPhone, bean bags for your camera - big or small, binoculars for spotting, lots of guide books, snacks – you do get hungry on Safari ,  blankets to keep you warm from the wind, and raincoat/poncho for the expected or unexpected rain.

If you have any special requests such as need a step stool to get on board, pillow for your back, extra water, etc., we can cater to that as well.

All in all, your vehicle with our professional guides will be ready to show you a great time on Safari with Journey To Africa. Now let’s get you on your Safari.

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A Guide to Safari Vehicles in East and Southern Africa

Image supplied by Governor's Camp

Exploring the Wilderness: A Guide to Safari Vehicles in East and Southern Africa

Embarking on a safari in the expansive landscapes of East and Southern Africa is an exhilarating journey into the heart of the wild. Let’s delve into the world of safari vehicles, each offering a unique perspective on the breathtaking scenery that unfolds before your eyes.

• Vehicle Types

Open Safari Vehicles

• Closed Safari Vehicles

In Southern African countries like South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, open safari vehicles take center stage. These vehicles, characterized by their lack of roofs or side windows, provide an unobstructed view of the surroundings.

This configuration offers an immersive wildlife experience, allowing you to feel the cool breeze and become enveloped in the natural sounds of the wilderness. Perfect for photography enthusiasts, open-sided 4×4 Land Cruisers and Land Rovers, often with tiered seating, are the vehicles of choice.

Despite their openness, many of these safari vehicles are equipped with permanent sunshades (roofs), ensuring passengers stay shaded from the intense African sun.

Closed Safari Vehicles:

In East Africa, particularly in destinations like Kenya and Tanzania, closed safari vehicles become the preferred mode of exploration. This choice is influenced by restrictions on open vehicles in certain areas, such as roads between national parks and specific park regions like Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater.

Safety is paramount, especially on regular roads where open-sided game viewing vehicles are impractical. Additionally, in parks with thriving cheetah populations, closed vehicles offer a secure vantage point for observing these agile hunters.

Most safari destinations in East Africa boast extensive road networks, making closed vehicles the norm for long-distance transfers between airstrips, camps, and lodges. A typical closed game drive vehicle features three rows of seating and a pop-top roof hatch that can be raised for optimal game viewing and photography.

In private wilderness areas, where off-road exploration is the norm, more open configurations are prevalent. These vehicles often feature a canvas roof and adjustable flaps covering the windows, providing a harmonious balance between openness and protection in the untamed wilderness.

Elewana Collection

• Our Top Ten Tips
• Choose Your Seat Wisely:
• Younger children will love the front seat next to the field guide, providing an up-close view of the wildlife.
• Be aware that the top tier or back seat row can be bumpy, so consider this when selecting your spot.
• Embrace the Adventure:
• There’s nothing quite like an early morning snooze on a rolling safari vehicle. The gentle movement and sounds of the wilderness create a unique and peaceful experience for both the young and the young at heart.
• Perfect Photography Spot:
• For stunning wildlife photos, claim the tracker seat in the front. This prime spot offers an unobstructed view, ensuring you capture the beauty of the savannah without interference.
• Capture the Moment:
• If you’re traveling with a group or family, take advantage of the opportunity to capture the quintessential family photo around and on the safari vehicle. These memories will be cherished for a lifetime.
• Stay Organized:
• Utilize the convenient pockets at your knees, or in the middle row, to keep your essentials organized and easily accessible. This ensures you can focus on the wildlife without searching for your belongings. This includes items such as binoculars, sunscreen, water bottles and bird books.
• Treasures on Board:
• Discover the wonders of the safari vehicle’s “boot-type” storage, where treasures like coffee, biltong, amarula, and other delights are stowed. It’s a delightful surprise that adds to the overall safari experience- sunrise and sunset stops, when these are unpacked, are simply the best!
• Arrive Early for the Best View:
• In some vehicles, the front row may be obstructed by a raised windshield. Ask your field guide if this can be lowered.
• If you’re sharing a vehicle, arriving early allows you to secure your favorite spot for optimal viewing.
• Engage in some radio fun during your safari adventure. Some guides may allow guests, especially children, to make radio calls – advising the lodge of your return, adding an interactive and educational element to the journey.
• Prepare for the cool mornings by bundling up with a beanie and blanket. There’s a unique charm in experiencing the crisp morning air while wrapped in warmth, creating a cozy and memorable safari atmosphere.

As you embark on your safari adventure with Timeless Africa Safaris, rest assured that our experienced guides will provide a set of binoculars, a bird book, a blanket in winter, and, in some instances, a hot water bottle for those chilly early morning drives. A top tip for the adventurous: the back-row bench offers the bumpiest ride, so if you crave a bit of excitement, those seats are for you!

In this article

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You may have knowledge about what an African safari  is (overland style), but do you know all the different ways you can go on a safari? If you thought an African safari was just about 4x4s, think again!

Overland trucks

Many people choose to travel through Africa and its game parks on an overlanding tour (which is what we specialise in!). On this kind of trip, which can range from a few days to a few months, you travel on big overlanding trucks which are custom built to endure the tough African roads and self-sufficient to carry everything needed for the trip, from cooking gear to camping gear. e kitchen sink! Overlanding trucks usually have big windows which you can open wide for great wildlife photo opportunities.

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41 day Nairobi to Cape Town overland

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4x4s and open game viewing vehicles

Many game lodges in and around wildlife reserves and parks offer game drives with experienced guides and trackers who track down wildlife as they drive along, to try and find you the best sightings. These game drives are offered in two types of safari vehicles: the most common African safari vehicles you’re likely to come across. The first is 4x4s – usually Land Cruisers or Land Rovers which have been converted for game drives with things like a tracker’s seat in front of the bonnet of the car, radios for communication with the lodge and other guides, large windows and pop up sunroofs, so you can take photos out of the roof of the car. The second type is the open game viewing vehicle – a 4×4 which has been specially adapted with open sides. Sometimes these kinds of vehicles have a canvas roof and sometimes they are completely open. These vehicles are excellent for game viewing, as you have the best unobstructed views of the animals.

Hot air balloons

For a truly memorable game viewing experience, you can take to the skies in a hot air balloon. There are a number of game parks and reserves in Africa that offer hot air balloon safaris , which generally last for about an hour and take off just after dawn.

On our 14 day Namibia and Okavango Delta tour you can do a hot air balloon safari over the Okavango Delta.

Planes and helicopters

If you’ve got the cash to splurge, flying safaris are fantastic. There are safaris you can do where you fly in between camps in a small plane, spotting game high above the wilderness area. The less expensive option is to do a helicopter ride of an hour or two to give you a bird’s eye view of the landscape and the animals. A wonderful place to do a helicopter safari is in the Okavango Delta.

On some of our overlanding tours we offer you the chance to take scenic flights over some of Africa’s most spectacular landscapes:

19 day Johannesburg to Tanzania (fly over the Okavango Delta)

14 day Namibia to Okavango Delta (fly in a helicopter over Victoria Falls)

21 day Victoria Falls to Cape Town (fly over the Namib Desert)

Houseboats and motorised boats

With many bodies of water surrounded by wilderness areas, Africa is a great place to go wildlife spotting by boat. You can stay in a lodge or a campsite and if you’re near a river, opt for a boat cruise of a few hours to spot animals such as elephants, crocodiles and hippos. If you want a longer stay on the water, houseboats in places like Chobe National Park and Lake Kariba are great. You stay on the houseboat for several days and can see wildlife and birds from the deck, or hop onto tender boats to cruise closer to the shore to see more wildlife.

Mokoros are traditional dug out canoes used in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Gliding through the waterways of the Okavango Delta in a mokoro is the best way to see this pristine natural area – one of Africa’s wildest places – and its amazing wildlife.

Here are our popular overlanding safaris that include mokoro trips in the Okavango Delta:

7 day ultimate Botswana budget safari

7 day Okavango Delta and Chobe adventure

8 day Botswana waterways

For experienced riders, doing a horseback safari in Africa is a real treat. You generally spend most of the day in the saddle, getting to go to places in reserves where there are no roads, and getting to see the Big Five outside the confines of a car. There a number of places where you can do horseback safaris, from the Okavango Delta to private reserves in Zambia and South Africa.

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Why is it called a game drive?

What is the difference between a game drive and a safari, receive photography and travel tips.

What is a game drive on safari? A definition

The definition of a game drive on safari is: ‘a guided excursion or self-drive by (preferably 4 wheel drive) open-sided safari vehicle in a National Park, reserve, or conservancy to spot and observe African wildlife and birdlife in their natural habitat.’ A game drive (sometimes written as ‘gamedrive’) is one of the most popular ways to see wildlife in Africa from the comfort of a 4X4 safari vehicle. Other activities that are part of wildlife tourism are walking safaris , boat safaris, horseback safaris, and balloon safaris . All of them have their own charm and offer the chance of spotting wildlife, but safari game drives are the most common, and the chances of having spectacular sightings are the highest!  

The word ' game ' in 'game drive' refers to wild animals or wildlife. This term originally comes from the hunt on the most difficult and dangerous animals in Africa on foot. This is also how the term ‘ Big Five ’ game animals were coined. Nowadays, the term 'game' refers to the game of finding and spotting animals in the wild and the term 'Big Five' is used to describe the top five animals to see on a safari game drive . The word drive obviously refers to the drive in a vehicle. You, a driver, or a private guide will be driving the 4WD vehicle searching for wildlife. 

If you thought a safari is the same as a game drive, you're wrong. Basically, you can't go on safari in Africa without going on a game drive! Safari is a Swahili word meaning journey , but it’s also used to refer to the activity of seeing wildlife in Africa. The term game drive is clearly referring to the excursion of seeing African wildlife as explained above. 

The difference between a safari and a game drive is that a safari means the whole trip or itinerary and a game drive is an activity or excursion part of that safari itinerary where wildlife viewing is the main focus of the trip. For example; you are going on a safari for seven days, which includes 8 game drives. If a trip involves days without animal viewing, it’s for example a 7-day trip to Kenya , including a 3-day safari in the Masai Mara . This 3-day safari can include several morning or afternoon game drives, but also a safari walk.

RELATED:   What to expect on a game drive in Africa including important things you need to know to make the most out of your game drive!

What is a game drive as part of your Africa safari itinerary? Pin this article for later use!

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Safari Vehicles – Everything You Need to Know About Cars for the Bush

Safari vehicles come in all shapes and sizes and offer different ways to experience the African bush. The car is something that you would probably overlook when choosing one for your safari, but it can be the pivotal factor in how you experience your safari.

From the safari enthusiast who knows nothing about cars to the weekend explorer who has the 4×4 with all the extras you can imagine, this is a guide on everything you need to know.  It breaks down what to expect from the safari vehicles you will be using when going on your first safari trip.

If you haven’t quite got as far as booking your first trip, then this guide to the best safaris in Africa for first-timers is the perfect starting point.

What is a Safari Vehicle?

You might be asking yourself what African safari cars are and why they matter? In general, they are large 4×4 vehicles that have been modified to ensure the passengers’ safety. It is worth remembering that the regulations about the vehicles differ from national parks to private reserves and from province to province.

Big, small, open, or closed — there are a few different types of vehicles for safaris that the different national parks use. The vehicle should suit your needs or what you want to get out of the safari.

Unfortunately, you don’t always have a choice when it comes to what safari cars are available. So here is everything that you need to know to help prepare you for what to expect and how to choose what vehicle is best for you on safari.

If you are more of the adventurous type and would rather rent your own vehicle, this will also help you in understanding what vehicle would be best. All safari vehicles should at least have some, if not all of these features:

• Snorkel to handle deep water
• Upgraded suspension for extra comfort and durability
• Upgraded wheels and tires suited to the terrain

African Safari Vehicles

When it comes to an African safari car, there are a number of different types of vehicles that could be used on your drive. Most safaris however will be in a 4×4 safari where the terrain requires a 4-wheel drive vehicle to pass through. But there are other routes that will allow you to travel in a much larger group in more comfort, such as in a sprinter van on a hardpack road.

Some National Park’s offer a pickup service for a private tour where the guide will pick you up in the safari vehicle, with the canvas sides closed. They will then open the sides once you start your safari. You wouldn’t exactly want to be in an open vehicle driving along the freeway but on the game drive, it is perfect. A closed vehicle would be more comfortable in that scenario but not as good on the game drive itself with limited viewing available.

The two most common vehicles used are either safari Jeeps or Toyota safari vehicles. They both have their own advantages and disadvantages but are some of the best for the job.

Toyota Safari Vehicles

The legendary and most reliable of them all, most game parks use Toyota Land Cruisers as their vehicle of choice. Having replaced the trusty Land Rover Defender and the African safari Jeep a few decades ago, Toyota changed the game forever.

There are both enclosed and open Toyota safari vehicles, depending on the location and guidelines of the park. Fully open vehicles provide unrestricted views of the world around you, perfect for the photographers who want to get that perfect shot. An open vehicle has no doors, windows, or frames to block your view. You also have the ability to listen and talk to your guide, ensuring that you don’t miss a thing and know what is going on at all times.

The closed version offers more protection from the elements on those colder and wetter days. The downside, though, is that your view is more restricted and you have to look through windows. This isn’t ideal for those wanting to take photographs but perfect for those who want a comfortable experience.

Safari Trucks

If you really want to go off the grid and live in the bush, then a safari truck is the answer. These beasts are normally caravans on wheels with either 4×4 or 6×6 capabilities and can live in the middle of nowhere for weeks on end. Other safari trucks that are used are normal vans, such as a sprinter van. These will take you and a group of your friends in amazing comfort on more maintained and established tracks.

Types of Safari

The type of safari that you choose to do will have an impact on the type of safari vehicle that will be available to you. Not only that but the location of your safari will also be a factor in what vehicle is available.

Kenya and Tanzania prefer to use fully enclosed vehicles with their passengers but with the added modification of an expanding or opening roof. This means that if you get tired of looking through the window with limited visibility, you can stand for an uninterrupted view. The roof is then closed once the safari is over. This is different in South Africa where mostly open-air vehicles are used for a much better experience.

Guided Game Drive

The most popular of the safari options are the guided game drives on private game reserves and National Parks. These are the go-to for anyone who is visiting a game reserve.

The professional guides will either use an open or enclosed vehicle depending on their rules and preference. If you visit during the summertime, don’t forget a hat to protect you from the sun. If you brave the winter months then layer up as it can get really cold in the bush at all times, especially when the sun goes down.

If you are wanting the full open vehicle experience then this short afternoon safari in the Kruger is a beautiful and quick excursion into the African landscape. Don’t forget to wear a solid pair of boots and clothes that you wouldn’t mind getting dirty as well, as you can expect a lot of mud and dust.

Self-Drive Safaris

For the mavericks and explorers among us, the self-drive safari is one of the top bucket list adventures. Renting or taking your own vehicle through a national park and going at your own pace to explore the landscape is the perfect option. It is possible to do a self-drive safari in any car with plenty of accommodation options in National Parks. For the ultimate experience, you’d want a 4×4 with all the bells and whistles.

Different Safari Cars for a Different Experience

Now that you know that a safari car isn’t just a car and that they are different, you will be able to choose the perfect safari to suit your needs. If you are wanting a photographic excursion into the wild then an open safari car is the best.

If you want to feel a little more protected then an enclosed vehicle is your car of choice. If you are planning a trip to Africa or Kenya in particular, then this guide on all you need to know about safaris in Kenya will help plan your trip.

Why not give this 3-day safari adventure in Nairobi a try? It is a beautiful drive into the Kenyan landscape.

Don’t forget to dress appropriately for the car that you will be driving in and enjoy every moment of your safari.

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Safari Vehicles 101

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF SAFARI VEHICLES?

There are two  main types of safari vehicles — open and closed. While open safari vehicles live up to their name, generally with three rows of tiered seating and completely open sides, closed safari vehicles are a bit more nuanced. They have closed sides (as you see in the picture above), but the tops pop open so safari-goers can stand up to get a better view. Windows also slide open so that travelers can take photos unimpeded.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

The type of vehicle that will be used for a safari often has to do with WHERE that safari is taking place and is not just a random happenstance. The basic rule of thumb is that in Southern Africa (South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia) you’ll find more open vehicles, while in Eastern Africa (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania), vehicles are more closed.

Well, in Southern Africa, most camps are in private concessions and thus have fewer rules and regulations, meaning they can have more open vehicles. In East Africa, there are more regulations about where open vehicles can be used — they’re not permitted when driving between national parks or even in some national parks (Ngorongoro Crater, for example). So, you won’t see as many open vehicles in East Africa.

Plus, any time you have a longer road transfer, you’ll be using a closed vehicle, since you really don’t want to drive for hours exposed to the elements the way you would be in an open vehicle.

ROAD TRANSFERS VS. CHARTER FLIGHTS

While there isn’t much opportunity for choice when it comes to which vehicle you will be using for your safaris, if you are in closed vehicles due to road transfers, it is sometimes possible to substitute charter flights, allowing you to do game drives in a camp’s (open) safari vehicles. But this varies greatly based on location, so if this is a concern, let us know and we’ll see how we can adjust!

PROS AND CONS

While, for the most part, we recognize that open vehicles are better suited for wildlife viewing, closed vehicles truly don’t take away significantly from the experience. It is a different experience, but you can still see and photograph the wildlife, and with the excellent guides we work with, you’re going to get up-close-and-personal with the animals either way. Maybe there are even a few advantages — like air conditioning (sometimes), protection from the elements, and even a refrigerator that keeps drinks cool for the hot afternoons.

When you’re ready to plan your trip, we’d love it if you’d reach out for our assistance! Click the button below to get started!

One Comment

Will be leaving to South Africa on 02.09.24 through Paris and including safari tour Looks like closed vehicles are more preferable..

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Game drives

We know that the epitome of any safari is the game drive, so we aim to give you the best possible experience, with specially equipped vehicles and knowledgeable guides..

Game drives are typically enjoyed twice  per  day at all  Asilia’s   safari camps :  in the early morning and late afternoon.   Our robust, custom-modified 4×4s and highly trained driver-guides  take  guests  over  rough terrain  to  discover incredible new slices of nature, crossing low rivers  and  overcoming steep gullies  to  cruising over vast ,  open plains.   

Start your early morning with the  roar of  an  engine  and the  promise  of  adventure. The rugged tyres  of our vehicles  churn up the mud  of the plains ,  keep ing  you on track in your quest to find herds of wildebeest or elusive leopard s . The open sides and high seats of our  custom  vehicles mean you will never miss a thing as you scan the horizon.   

For those traveling longer distances ,  closed vehicles with pop-up roofs  are used  to take you on game   drives that  will tra nsfer you to your next safari camp . These  offer protection from gusts of wind ,  while still allowing you to enjoy incredible sightings  of  birds of prey circling overhead  and  other wildlife . Both styles of vehicle are equipped with a fridge and picnic bag  to ensure you have all you need on your game drive .  

Guests  choose when to stop  on their game drive  for a delicious homemade breakfast sandwich and a thermos of hot coffee  in the morning . If you’re out for a late-afternoon drive,  we’ll  park  the vehicle  and sip on a well-deserved  gin and tonic  to  watch the sun set .  

For photography enthusiasts,  Asilia also offers  special ty   photographic game vehicles , and for those seeking extra privacy ,   ask about our private game vehicles.

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What are the Different Types of African Safari Vehicles?

Game Viewing Experience What are the Different Types of African Safari Vehicles?

The type of safari vehicle you will be riding in will generally vary depending on the style of safari you choose and your African destination . The design and purpose of these different safari vehicles are to provide the most comfort and enhance your game-viewing experience . Below is an overview of the most common vehicles used based on destination.

Southern Africa Game Drive Vehicles

• South Africa

In southern Africa, camps and lodges are generally located in private concessions and therefore safari vehicles tend to be more open. Most often Open-sided 4×4 Land Cruisers and Land Rovers with tiered seating are used during game drives. The open safari vehicles allow you to feel closer to the wildlife and nature as well as offer great visibility and awesome photography opportunities. In private game reserves, these open vehicles also tend to have removable roofs that your driver can pop on and can provide shade from the sun or can keep you dry during a light shower. In addition, game drive vehicles in South Africa tend to have a bucket seat mounted on the front of the car for the tracker. This allows the tracker to read the roads for wildlife tracks or droppings in order to find animals quicker.

Eastern Africa Game Drive Vehicles

Vehicles in East Africa are generally less open . This is mainly due to open vehicles not being permitted in certain areas such as driving between national parks as well as in some parks- Ngorongoro Crater. This is mostly for your safety. Open-sided vehicles are not suitable for normal roads or where wildlife animals are more likely to jump or climb on the vehicles. For example, in parks where there is a big cheetah population or baboons. Although this makes for an exciting safari and thrilling encounter, it is best to enjoy these animals from behind the car door. Also traveling from park-to-park, between airstrips, or transfers from camps/lodges may require going long-distances which make being in a closed vehicle more comfortable. As well as provide protection against unexpected rains, winds, and dust.

The closed vehicles used by Safari Ventures generally are modified Landcruiser 4×4’s. The vehicle has three rows of comfy seating and seats 6 guests where everyone gets a window seat to the greatest show on earth and features a pop-top roof hatch which can be raised for 360 degrees game viewing and taking amazing photography within the national parks. Although we cannot totally avoid the amazing “African massage” you may experience on your safari, the vehicles we use have a special suspension system to help counteract the uneven roads and terrain in the game parks and provide maximum comfort while driving.

In private game areas, the vehicles used are exclusively for off-road game drives and tend to be open vehicles, often having a removable roof canvas for shade like the safari vehicles used mostly in Southern Africa.

As you can see the type of safari vehicle can vary depending on the destination and safari type. Nonetheless, we at Safari Ventures make it a mission that you will have one of the most memorable and exciting safari experiences.

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How do Game Drives Work on a Safari and Will You Spot The Big Five?

Matthys van Aswegen

Safari Travel Planner

Author: Matthys van Aswegen - 24 June 2020

Last Update: 6 May 2024

Game drives are the highlight of any safari . Let’s be honest, game drives can make or break your experience. Just close your eyes and imagine yourself on a game drive with the gentle wind blowing through your hair, the smell of nature surrounding you and the exciting feeling you get when your guide takes you offroad to get a better view of a wildlife sighting. There is just nothing like it!

Are you planning a safari and confused as to how the game drives work? We’ve got you covered. We’ve curated some information that will give you a clear indication as to what you can expect.

Location of Safari

Most game drives all around Africa more or less work the same. However, there are some differences to bear in mind. If you are going on a safari in Southern Africa , you can expect your game drives to take place in areas surrounding your specific lodge. Most Safari vehicles in Southern Africa are open-sided four-by-four vehicles. This type of vehicle gives one much exposure to wildlife.

You often feel like you can reach your hand out and touch them (which we do not recommend at all). Going on a safari in East Africa you can expect game drives to be longer and more tiring. Your game drives here are more extensive as longer distances are travelled from one park to the next. The game drive vehicles in East Africa are enclosed. Photographers, do not worry! Most game drive vehicles here have pop-top rooves, allowing for some great photographs on your safari .

Amount of game drives per day

Generally, this is how a game drive would work: Upon arrival, depending on what time you arrive, you are usually welcomed with your very first-afternoon game drive. You might even be lucky enough to score a “sundowner” in the bush. The following days consist out of two game drives per day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, lasting about three to five hours each.

On your day of departure, you can also have one last morning game drive before departing to your next destination. For example, if you were staying at a lodge for three nights, you score approximately six game drives. In other areas, you could have one long game drive per day, which usually includes a packed picnic lunch and lasts for about ten hours. These types of game drives are more popular in East Africa.

Amount of people on a game drive

The amount of people allowed on a game drives mainly depends on the lodge you’re staying at and the area you’re in. In Southern Africa, game drives generally consist of a maximum number of six passengers per vehicle (excluding the guide). This enables each passenger to have a “window seat”. In East Africa, you will find game drive vehicles can take a higher capacity.

Some game drive vehicles in East Africa can take up to 12 passengers, however, they prefer taking less than ten. As mentioned, this all depends on the lodge you choose, as well as the type of trip your on e.g. part of a group or on a private basis. No matter where you are, one also has the option to book your game drives on a private basis only. This would mean you have the vehicle all to yourself. This type of experience, however, does come at a large cost.

The Big Five

One expects to find the Big Five (leopard, lion, buffalo, elephant and rhino) to be quite a mission, but this is not always the case. The number of days it would take you to spot the Big Five, all depends on the area and your guide. If you are in a Big Five rich area and you have a guide who knows a thing or two, then the possibility of you spotting the Big Five in just two days is highly possible. It is however recommended to give yourself at least three to four days to spot the Big Five, whether you’re in Southern or Eastern Africa .

A game drives depend on the lodge you’re staying at and the area you’re in. We would recommend the shorter morning and afternoon game drives, as game drives can often be quite tiring. The break in between each game drive is much appreciated. Game drives are an important part of any Safari, make sure you know what to expect so that you can truly enjoy all game drives at a pace and capacity that you’re happy and comfortable with. Happy game driving!

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Solar-powered safari vehicles for a clean game drive : The modern traveler wants a sustainable safari, not just productive game drives and cosy accommodations, from their African safari. What constitutes a sustainable safari? A sustainable safari takes socioeconomic, cultural, and/or environmental aspects into account. It could include things like ethically compensated, trained guides, tour operators that support their communities, and safari lodges that aim to be carbon neutral or negative. And now, companies that use electric safari vehicles.

Electric vehicles and the safari experience .

The classic method of experiencing an African safari is through a game drive. You can travel a long way while on a game drive. Large is the Land Cruiser. Perched almost a meter above the earth, you have an excellent vantage point for surveying the surroundings and keeping an eye out for potential predators. With a vehicle, you can get up close and personal with potentially dangerous wildlife without endangering yourself or them. The main activities on safari are game drives in the early morning and late afternoon.

Fuel-based safari vehicles .

Game drives in typical safari vehicles use a fair amount of fuel; on average, a vehicle gets less than 18 miles per gallon, or roughly 8 kilometres per litre. Safari cars that run on fuel, especially diesel ones, make noise. If you’re lucky enough to see a lion cub from a moving safari vehicle, its cries won’t be audible until the engine of the vehicle is switched off. Animals that are timid or skittish frequently run away when they hear a car approaching. It can be difficult to hear what your guide is saying if you’re seated in the back rows.

Safari vehicles powered by electricity are cost, you’ll need to consider a luxury or high-end safari if you want solar-powered vehicles on your safari. Compared to combustion engine vehicles, clean energy vehicles are notably quieter.

Every company is based in a different nation and has dedicated itself to using photovoltaic safari cars to generate clean energy.

Campi ya Kanzi .

Situated between the Tsavo and Amboseli National Parks, Campi ya Kanzi is ideally situated in the Chyulu Hills region. It was founded by Luca Belpietro, who first visited the 283,000 acres Maasai reservation in 1975 when he was only 11 years old. Twenty years later, Luca came back and joined forces with Maasai landowners to build the boutique ecolodge, which is owned by the community.

When Campi ya Kanzi officially opened its doors in 1998, it was Africa’s first lodge powered exclusively by solar energy. However, they didn’t end there. By converting a conventional fuel vehicle into an electric one, Campi ya Kanzi became the first safari company in Kenya to operate an electric vehicle. Luca Belpietro, the founder and visionary, was interviewed by Your African Safari to learn more about their e-vehicles and the implications for their safari guests.

This is the first lodge in Africa to have zero carbon emissions and to be carbon negative. All kitchens are induction; there is only photovoltaic electricity. Eight cars can be charged at once by the camp’s 320 kW photovoltaic system. Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, or MWCT, is the owner of both Chyulu Club and Campi ya Kanzi. All tourism-related revenue goes towards the trust.

Safari Gamedrives

So what really are ''game drives'' in Serengeti or during an African Safari, as anyone thinking of booking a Safari in Tanzania for example will have seen gamedrives indicated throughout the itinerary. Well, the meaning of a safari game drive is an adventure excursion by vehicle into a wildlife area such as a National Park or Reserve, for example Serengeti, with the purpose of exploring the park and seeing a variety of wild animals in their natural habitat. As for how long is a Safari game drive is, typically in Tanzania, the drives last 2 to 3 hours per drive in the morning and afternoon hours, with morning timings usually scheduled from 6.30am to 9am and afternoon timings being 3.30pm to 6.30pm, though travelers may sometimes opt for a full day gamedrive generally from 10am to 4pm, in which case the excursion will include a packed picnic lunch to be had inside the Serengeti National Park at a designated picnic spot, during lunch hours anytime from 12.30pm to 2.30pm. Regarding the cost of Game drives in Serengeti, prices start from USD 75 per person per gamedrive and in case you wish to have an exclusive vehicle hired from the camp for a full day drive the cost will be US$ 300 to US$ 550 per vehicle depending on the camp. However it costs less overall to book all inclusive Safari packages that include several game drives, accommodation, meals and flights from Arusha.

Most road safaris include private safari gamedrives while Fly~In tour packages, where gamedrives are provided by the Camp, will usually have non-private gamedrives, meaning other travelers may also occupy the same vehicle. Seating capacity of the vehicles is usually a maximum of 8 passengers so not too large a group. Private game drives nonetheless have their advantages as you have a higher level of personal freedom and flexibility in terms of timings and convenience. Tourists with special interests such as Photography or Bird Watching are advised to opt for private drives. Night Gamedrives are also always a curiosity for many visitors to Serengeti. Note that night drives are not permitted inside the main Serengeti National Park and only happen on private or group conservancies which border the main Reserve. Timings range from 7pm to 9pm, varying depending on which camp or lodge offers these night excursions to their guests. Lastly, we often get asked about the difference between a Safari and a Gamedrive. Well, a Safari is an entire Tour that may include many gamedrives at various locations and parks, while a gamedrive is just that, a single gamedrive while on a Safari.

types of safari vehicles

Vehicles used for game drives and other complete safaris in Tanzania are mostly provided by the Safari operator especially when you book a Road Safari starting from Arusha. These vehicles could be Four Wheel Drive Toyota Land Cruiser Jeeps or non 4x4 Tour Vans also known as Minibuses. Certain tour vans also come with 4WD. Both these vehicle types have game viewing roofs and are safari customized. However if you fly into Serengeti and book game drives with the Lodge or Camp , then you may find some of these camps offer game drives in 'open' sided 4x4 safari jeeps. These open side vehicles are not suitable for highway travel hence are restricted to ferrying tourists only in the reserve.

4x4 Toyota Land cruiser Safari jeeps

These safari jeeps are universally used by Tour operators in Tanzania and by most camps and lodges in Serengeti as they tend to perform best in all-weather and all-terrain conditions. These Land Cruiser vehicles optimally seat 6 passengers but can seat upto 8 adults with an extra seat included and with one person sitting beside the Driver. The cars have multiple game viewing roofs. Reliable, robust and spacious enough while also being marginally more comfortable than the only other option, the Tour Van / Minibus listed below. You may see more detailed information on hiring these safari vehicles in Tanzania at this page. Note that these vehicles come in stretched and normal versions, with the latter seating only 4 to 5 passegers. The open- sided versions of these (see below) are used exclusively inside the parks due to not being fully suited for highway travel.

safari tour minibus / van

These vehicles offer the best value and unsurprisingly, the vast majority of Safari tourists to Tanzania still do Less costly than 4x4 Landcruiser or Land Rover Jeeps, minibuses seat 6 people in comfort each with their own window seat, though some vehicles are configured to take upto 9 passengers. Though not usually 4x4, these safari vans are agile, reliable and are perfectly capable of handling almost all road Safari trips available in Tanzania. Only a few select locations in Tanzania necessitate using a 4x4 Safari Jeep either due to road conditions or due to local conservancy rules which allow entry only for 4x4 vehicles.

4x4 open side safari vehicles

Almost always only found stationed at Safari Camps or Lodges withing parks or reserves, these vehicles are popular as they allow an unhindered side view during game drives. Visitors to Serengeti who absolutely require this type of vehicle are advised to bring this up with their Safari outfitter during the trip planning process and this would most likely result in the operator booking a ''Flying Safari package'' which simly means you take a short one hour flight from Arusha to Serengeti, where you will then be provided game drives in this type of vehicle, though you may want to note that there are certain lodges and camps which do NOT use these open sided vehicles and opt for the more common enclosed safari jeep with overhead game viewing roofs. Do check these details at time of booking.

video of safari gamedrive in serengeti

Video footage of a Safari gamedrive in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.

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Maasai Mara bans private cars for safaris & approves only 3 types of vehicles

Self-driving allows individuals to connect with nature on a more personal level, immersing themselves in the sights, sounds, and smells of the African wilderness.

• Narok County Government has banned private vehicles in Maasai Mara National Game Reserve
• Only select safari vehicles such as trucks, land cruisers, and vans are allowed for game drives
• The decision has sparked excitement and controversy among wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists

The Narok County Government has announced a ban on private vehicles in the iconic Maasai Mara National Game Reserve.

According to a memo to all gates by Chief Park Administrator Alex Nabaala, only select vehicles will be allowed access to the game reserve.

“In line with the implementation of the Maasai Mara Management Plan, we have banned the usage of private vehicles for game drives. The vehicles that will be used for game drives are only the safari trucks, safari land cruisers and safari vans. Kindly adhere to this strictly,” the document reads.

Previously private cars with the capability to manoeuvre the terrain were allowed for motorists who wished to drive themselves accompanied by a guide.

All cars are expected to stick to the established vehicle tracks to avoid interfering with the ecosystem and also endangering their lives.

However, often rangers have had to rein in vehicles that strayed off the tracks or over-ambitious safari enthusiasts who dare drive close to the animals.

This decision to ban private vehicles from safaris has sparked both excitement and controversy among wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists alike.

While some applaud the measure as a step towards preserving the delicate ecosystem, others raise concerns about the impact on self-drive safaris and the unique experiences they offer.

READ: VIDEO: Tourist secretly follows girlfriend from U.S. to Kenya to propose

Advantages and disadvantages of self-driving on safari

The Maasai Mara, located in southwestern Kenya, is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and abundant wildlife.

It is home to the famous Great Migration, where millions of wildebeest, zebras, and other herbivores traverse the vast plains in search of greener pastures.

This natural spectacle attracts thousands of tourists every year, eager to witness nature's grandeur up close.

The decision by the Narok County Government to ban private vehicles within the reserve aims to address the growing concerns over environmental degradation and wildlife disturbance.

By limiting access to designated safari vehicles, the authorities hope to minimise the negative impact of human presence on the delicate ecosystem.

This move aligns with the county's commitment to sustainable tourism and the long-term conservation of Maasai Mara's unique biodiversity.

However, the ban has sparked a debate among safari enthusiasts who prefer the freedom and flexibility of self-drive safaris. For many, the ability to navigate the reserve at their own pace and explore off-the-beaten-path areas is an integral part of the safari experience.

One of the advantages of self-driving on safari is the sense of adventure and independence it offers. It allows travellers to set their schedule and discover hidden gems that might not be part of the typical tourist itinerary.

This freedom can lead to unique encounters with wildlife and a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

However, self-driving also comes with its fair share of challenges. Navigating unfamiliar terrain, ensuring personal safety, and adhering to park rules and regulations can be daunting for inexperienced visitors.

Moreover, the lack of expert guidance may result in missed opportunities to spot elusive wildlife or fully understand the complex dynamics of the ecosystem.

On the other hand, safari vehicles used by professional guides and tour operators are specially designed or modified to optimize the wildlife viewing experience.

These vehicles are equipped with open roofs, allowing for unobstructed views and excellent photography opportunities.

Additionally, they are designed to be sturdy and resilient, capable of withstanding the rugged terrain and unpredictable weather conditions often encountered in the Maasai Mara.

Furthermore, safari vehicles are equipped with advanced communication systems that enable guides to share real-time information about wildlife sightings.

This invaluable network ensures that visitors have the best chance of witnessing extraordinary moments, such as a lioness hunting or a cheetah sprinting across the plains.

The expertise of experienced guides adds another layer of depth to the safari experience, as they share their knowledge and passion for the natural world.

Narok's ban on private vehicles in the Maasai Mara National Game Reserve marks a significant shift in the way wildlife safaris are conducted.

While it may limit the freedom of self-drive enthusiasts, it is a crucial step towards preserving the fragile ecosystem and ensuring the long-term conservation of this natural wonder.

The advantages and disadvantages of self-driving on safari must be carefully weighed, considering the impact on both the environment and the visitor experience.

Ultimately, it is the shared responsibility of visitors, authorities, and tour operators to strike a balance between accessibility, sustainability, and the protection of Maasai Mara's precious wildlife.

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Maasai Mara National Reserve bans private vehicles for game drives

In a move aimed at preserving the delicate ecosystem and ensuring sustainable tourism, the Narok County Government has announced a ban on private vehicles within the iconic Maasai Mara National Game Reserve. According to a memo from Chief Park Administrator Alex Nabaala, only select safari vehicles will be permitted for game drives in the reserve.

The approved vehicles include safari trucks, safari land cruisers and safari vans, specifically designed and equipped to optimize the wildlife viewing experience while minimizing the environmental impact.

Previously, private cars capable of navigating the terrain were allowed, accompanied by a guide. However, concerns arose over vehicles straying off designated tracks, endangering both the ecosystem and visitors’ safety.

This decision has sparked a mix of reactions from wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists. While some applaud the measure as a crucial step towards preserving the Maasai Mara’s unique biodiversity, others raise concerns about the impact on self-drive safaris and their unique experiences.

Source: Visit Nairobi Kenya

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Giraffe Lifts Texas Toddler Out of Car at Drive-Thru Safari in Viral Video

A giraffe lifted a Texas toddler out of a car at a drive-through safari, a viral video shows.

The video shows the large giraffe reaching down into the vehicle and briefly lifting up the child, identified by ABC News as Paisley Toten, 2,

According to Today, the incident occurred at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, Texas, and the child was not injured.

“You want to feed the giraffe,” the mother said in video before the giraffe lifted the child up.

The Giraffe Was ‘Looking for a Snack,’ Reports Say

The animal was “looking for a snack,” according to Today. The wildlife center told Today that an “incident like this” had never happened before at the site and stressed the center was “taking immediate action to make sure it won’t happen again.”

The girl and her family went to the gift shop where the girl got a toy giraffe after the encounter, Today reported, adding that the giraffe lifted the girl several feet into the air.

The wildlife center’s website warns, “Toss the pellets on the ground and away from your vehicle. Only giraffes can be fed by hand. This is for your safety, as animals besides giraffe can bite.”

The Girl’s Mother Spoke Out About Critics on Facebook

Sierra Robert, the girl’s mom, has shared her thoughts on the incident on her Facebook page. “Let me make something very clear. Anything can happen anytime and anywhere,” she wrote. “Had we gone to the park that day instead (aka outside) she could have been bitten by a snake. Snakes are everywhere this time of year and yet noone would have called me a bad mom for taking my child to the park to play where there would potentially be snakes.”

The mother’s post says:

Had I taken my daughter to the another fun child establishment, on the way there we could have gotten in a wreck. Noone would have called me a bad mom or ridiculed me for putting her in the car because we could have potentially wrecked. There are always dangers in the world, no matter where you go, or what you do. I refuse to teach my child to be afraid of her own shadow because she could possibly be hurt by something out of her control. I had personally never visited a safari so when I saw that you could ride in the bed of your truck, I assumed that it would be perfectly safe since the park allowed it. With that being said we do not blame the park or the giraffe for what happened. And I still will NOT shelter my child from experiencing the world. I dont starve my child. I don’t beat my child. I dont neglect my child in any way. I simply wanted to experience something I thought would have been a fun memory with her and the unexpected happened. Growing up I rode in the back of the truck all the time. Trick or treating in town. At the lake driving back to our cabin. Down to a friends house who didn’t live to far. And soooo many others have done the same. Im sure even some of you who are acting like your perfect have done something similar. At the end of the day, god knows the kind of parents we are. Your opinions have no relevance to us, but I pray yall wake up and see that being bitter and scared of anything that could possibly hurt you is going to cause you to live a very boring life and you only have so many days on this earth. So god bless and I’ll be praying y’all someday grow into decent humans who don’t mom shame or belittle people to make you feel better about yourself. God bless 🫶🏻

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The post Giraffe Lifts Texas Toddler Out of Car at Drive-Thru Safari in Viral Video appeared first on Heavy.com .

Family speaks out after giraffe picks up toddler in heart-stopping video

The toddler was feeding the giraffe from the back of her family’s truck.

A couple from Texas experienced a shocking incident during their visit to a wildlife center when a giraffe picked up their toddler during a safari drive-thru.

Over the weekend, the family visited Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, where the visitors are allowed to drive themselves through a path to get a closer look at and to feed the wildlife.

Paisley Toten, 2, was sitting at the back of her family's truck with her mom, feeding the giraffe, when the animal grabbed her by the shirt and lifted her into the air.

The moment was caught on camera by Paisley's mom, Sierra Robert, and the visitors in the car behind them.

"By the time I, like, looked back over, she was gone," Robert recalled to "Good Morning America." "It was just really shock, you know, adrenaline sets in."

"My heart just stopped," Jason Toten, Paisley's dad, added.

Rhino gives chase to tourists on safari

Paisley's dad, Jason Toten, told ABC News his daughter was eventually released by the giraffe and did not suffer any injuries. When Paisley fell, Robert was able to catch her daughter in her arms.

"Her falling to me, me having to catch her like, it’s all in slow motion," Robert recounted.

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According to the rules on the center's website , during the drive-thru, "Only giraffes can be fed by hand. This is for your safety, as animals besides giraffe[s] can bite."

Corbin Maxey, a wildlife expert, told "GMA" the giraffe who picked up Paisley likely is comfortable with human interaction.

"This is a giraffe that's used to eating from visitors. And what happened is a toddler was holding that bag of food really, really close and the giraffe leaned in, something it normally does. And by getting the bag of food, it accidentally grabbed the toddler's shirt," Maxey said.

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center issued a statement to ABC News on Wednesday.

"We were recently made aware of an incident involving one of our giraffes that occurred this past weekend," the statement read. "The incident was first reported to us on Monday June 3rd. The safety of our guests and animals is always of utmost importance to us. Although an incident like this has never occurred here previously, we are taking immediate action to make sure it won't happen again."

The statement continued, "Effective immediately Fossil Rim will no longer be allowing guests to ride through the park in truck beds. Fossil Rim offers a variety of experiences guided by knowledgeable staff so guests can continue to have up-close and memorable animal encounters, and support our mission to save threatened and endangered species."

The Toten family said they have no ill will toward the wildlife center and plan to return to the park in the future.

"The giraffe was just trying to get some food and it got a little bit more than it bargained for," Jason Toten said.

Two-year-old Paisley is also taking the incident in stride and said she still likes giraffes.

Experts say the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is highly accredited with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and upholds the highest standards but remind the public to do their research before visiting any zoo, especially if the zoo allows interaction with animals.

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