What to expect when going on game drives

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You decide

Our safaris are private, so a driver and a vehicle are reserved for you alone. While you are in town (on arrival day, for instance) that use is restricted, but from the moment the safari starts, both the car and your guide are entirely yours. That gives you room to shape each safari day as you like. On a game drive you can simply follow your instincts, whether those instincts pull you towards big cats, birds or elephants. Nobody will hurry you along when you would rather watch or photograph one animal for hours. Fancy heading back to the lodge early for a quiet sundowner overlooking the savannah? Go right ahead. There is even a chance of spotting wildlife from your own tent.

The guide

To make the most of that freedom, talk through your wishes with your guide at the first briefing, and again whenever you like during the trip. Your guide normally speaks English, drives the vehicle and knows the national parks you visit inside out: the wildlife and plants, the route, the hotels and the park regulations. As a game drive expert, he can offer ideas that make your day even better. Between the two of you, you shape your own perfect safari day.

The perfect day

In an ideal world, a safari day starts early, waking to the sounds of the African savannah. After a healthy breakfast you set off in the safari vehicle with your guide. This is the finest time for wildlife, because animals are at their most active just after sunrise (and again just before sunset).

You roam the savannah until it is time for the packed lunch the lodge has prepared, eaten at one of the park's picnic areas. Then the exploring continues until sunset, when you pause at a lovely spot for the classic safari sundowner. A good shower, a generous dinner and an early night round off the day. And when the sun rises the next morning? The whole thing begins again.

Park rules

One important thing does restrict this freedom of movement: the park rules. A park entry fee covers only ONE entry per 24 hours. That matters if you stay outside the park, because you cannot reuse the same permit to come back the following morning, or to pop out to the lodge for lunch. In addition, game drives are permitted only between 7 AM (sunrise) and 6 PM (sunset), and guests are expected to be in the lodge outside those times.

How to plan your day

A day of game drives can be as full or as laid-back as you want. Below are two examples of how a complete day of game drives in the national parks might unfold. Days spent travelling to the next park naturally follow their own rhythm, given the distances involved.

No worries about food

Whenever you book a safari, the meal plan is always full board. In practice, on safari that typically works out as follows:

Breakfast

Breakfast buffet and coffee, tea, juice and water.

Lunch

The packed lunch usually has a sandwich, pasta salad, potatoes, some fruit, a muffin and a drink pack.

Dinner

Buffet or à la carte menus, with options for starters, main courses, and desserts. Dietary requests are taken into account when communicated in advance. Drinks are not included in the dinner price. Prices are usually 3 USD for soft drinks, 3 to 6 USD for a beer, and 25 USD for a bottle of wine (prices are an indication).

During the day

Our jeeps always have bottles of water in the fridge. Other drinks and snacks can be booked for a small additional charge per person per day.