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What is a safari.

When we think of safaris, we often picture vast open savannahs, majestic wild animals, and rugged four-wheel drive vehicles. But what exactly is a safari?

The word “safari” is derived from the Swahili word “safar,” which means journey or travel. Originally used by hunters, a safari now refers to a guided trip or expedition to observe and appreciate wildlife in their natural habitats. Safaris can take many forms, from walking safaris to hot air balloon safaris, and can be tailored to suit a variety of interests and budgets. 

This blog post shares each of the different safaris available to wildlife lovers, in order to help you understand exactly what a safari is and the type that works best for you.

One of the most popular types of safari is the game drive safari. This involves travelling through a wildlife reserve or national park in a specially adapted vehicle, typically a four-wheel drive. These vehicles are designed to provide maximum visibility for passengers and can accommodate a range of group sizes. Game drives are led by experienced guides who are trained to spot wildlife and provide interesting facts and information about the animals and their behaviours.

Game drives are a quintessential part of a safari experience, offering an exciting and immersive way to explore the wilderness and witness wildlife up close. Riding in a specially designed safari vehicle with an experienced guide, participants can venture into national parks, game reserves, or other remote areas to search for a diverse array of wildlife. Game drives offer the opportunity to encounter iconic species like lions, elephants, giraffes, and more, in their natural habitats. 

With keen eyes and deep knowledge of the area, guides can track and interpret animal behaviour, providing fascinating insights into the natural world. Game drives also offer the chance to witness the breathtaking beauty of the landscape, from sweeping savannahs to lush forests, and capture stunning photographs of the wild scenery. The thrill of the chase, the anticipation of a wildlife sighting, and the raw connection with nature make game drives an exhilarating and unforgettable safari experience.

Walking Safari

Walking safaris offer an unparalleled opportunity to intimately explore and connect with the natural world. Instead of observing wildlife from a vehicle, walking safaris allow travellers to step into the wild and experience the sights, sounds, and scents of the wilderness up close. Led by experienced and knowledgeable guides, walkers can learn about the intricacies of the ecosystem, from identifying animal tracks and signs to understanding the complex relationships between different species. 

These safaris typically take place in smaller groups and are led by a guide who is well-versed in the local flora and fauna. Walking safaris can be tailored to suit different fitness levels, and participants can expect to encounter a variety of wildlife, from insects and birds to larger mammals such as elephants and lions.

Walking safaris also provide a deeper cultural immersion, as participants can interact with local communities and gain insights into their way of life. With every step, walkers can encounter unexpected moments of wonder, from spotting a hidden bird’s nest to encountering a herd of elephants at a waterhole. Walking safaris offer a truly authentic and immersive experience, allowing travellers to appreciate the beauty and diversity of nature in a more intimate and mindful way.

Hot Air Balloon Safari

For those looking for a truly unique experience, a hot air balloon safari may be just the thing. These safaris offer a bird’s-eye view of the landscape and wildlife below, providing a different perspective than a ground-based safari.

Hot air balloon safaris are typically conducted early in the morning when the air is calm and the wildlife is most active. As the balloon gently glides through the sky, adventurers can marvel at panoramic views of vast savannahs, rolling hills, or serene landscapes below. The elevated vantage point provides an unparalleled opportunity to capture breathtaking aerial photographs and witness the beauty of the wilderness from a completely different angle. The serene and peaceful experience of floating in a hot air balloon allows for a tranquil and immersive encounter with nature, devoid of the noise and disturbance of vehicles. 

Wildlife sightings from the balloon are often unexpected and awe-inspiring, with the chance to spot animals from a distance without disturbing their natural behaviour. Hot air balloon safaris provide an unforgettable adventure that combines the thrill of soaring through the sky with the unparalleled beauty of the natural world, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Photography Safari

Photography safaris offer a thrilling and immersive experience for nature and wildlife enthusiasts who want to capture the beauty of the natural world through their lenses. Embarking on a photography safari allows photographers to venture into stunning landscapes and remote wilderness areas, where they can capture unique and awe-inspiring shots of wildlife, landscapes, and cultural elements. With the guidance of expert wildlife guides and professional photographers, participants can learn valuable photography techniques, such as composition, lighting, and wildlife behaviour, to enhance their skills and capture stunning images. 

Photography safaris also provide opportunities to observe and photograph rare and elusive species in their natural habitats, creating unforgettable memories and remarkable photographs. Whether it’s tracking lions on the African savannah, photographing polar bears in the Arctic, or capturing the vibrant colours of a tropical rainforest, a photography safari is an extraordinary adventure that combines the thrill of wildlife encounters with the art of photography.

Boat Safari

Boat safaris offer a unique and immersive way to explore the diverse ecosystems and wildlife of rivers, lakes, and waterways. Cruising on a boat allows participants to access remote and untouched areas that may not be reachable by land, providing a different perspective and vantage point for wildlife viewing.

Boats make it possible to spot a wide range of wildlife, such as crocodiles, hippos, water birds, and even elephants and other animals that come to the water’s edge to drink. Guides with specialised knowledge about the local flora and fauna can provide insights and interesting facts about the ecosystem and its inhabitants. The tranquil rhythm of the boat and the serene surroundings create a calming and peaceful experience, perfect for enjoying the beauty of nature and capturing stunning photographs.

Whether it’s gliding through the winding channels of the Okavango Delta, exploring the mighty Amazon River, or cruising along the serene backwaters of Kerala, boat safaris offer a unique and unforgettable adventure for wildlife and nature enthusiasts alike.

No matter what type of safari you choose, it’s important to remember that these experiences are about more than just seeing animals. They are an opportunity to connect with nature, appreciate the beauty and diversity of our planet, and learn about the importance of conservation and sustainability.

Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or a first-time adventurer, a safari is an experience you won’t soon forget.

Anna is the founder of Really Wildlife. She's a 30-something lover of wildlife travel, vegetables and listening to the Lion King soundtrack on full blast.

Safari vs. Jungle — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Safari and Jungle

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Definition of safari

Examples of safari in a sentence.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'safari.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Swahili, journey, from Arabic safarī of a journey

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing safari

• safari jacket
• safari park
• safari suit

Dictionary Entries Near safari

Cite this entry.

“Safari.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/safari. Accessed 17 Jul. 2024.

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What is safari?

Where did the word "safari" come from and what does it mean? How are safaris of the past different from the modern adventuring in Africa? Where to go for the best experience? All about this type of nature vacation - by safari fans and experts.

When we hear the word "safari," we imagine a group of tourists moving through an African savannah in search of large wild animals: lions, rhinos, buffalo, and elephants. In historical pictures, we often see men in pith helmets with guns in their hands, while modern pictures show people in SUVs holding long lens cameras. It is an animal hunt - hunting in the literal sense, or just observing and photo-hunting - in the vastness of the hottest continent. Fashion connoisseurs may also think of beige-colored clothing with a straight cut, the obligatory wide belt, and a wide brimmed hat, inherited from the British military who served in Britain's African colonies. All these are our first associations with the beautiful word "safari," which sounds like it could be an Arabic given name.

A modern-day safari is a sightseeing trip to an African national park, the main purpose of which is to observe wild animals. In the past, safaris were organized with the objective of hunting large animals. Africa's canonical Big Five: the elephant, lion, rhino, African buffalo, and leopard are associated with the hunting traditions of Africa. Among hunters, these five mammals were considered to be the most dangerous and difficult to pursue, and their body parts made the most coveted trophies.

Nowadays, hunting on safari is generally condemned by modern society. Altezza Travel advocates for ethical treatment of animals, participates in projects to rescue and rehabilitate animals, strongly condemns hunting, poaching, commercial exploitation and other unacceptable forms of interaction with animals and nature, which humiliate, first of all, the human dignity. We do not organize hunting safaris, do not work in hunting reserves, do not cooperate with companies that exploit animals, and we urge our guests not to finance such organizations and not to participate in activities involving violence and unethical treatment of animals. However, it is still permitted in a very limited number of reserves. This very expensive pastime is strictly regulated by law. So, the vast majority of safaris today are rides on off-road vehicles that go along the routes designated by national parks, where you can meet wild animals, gaze at them up close or through binoculars, take pictures and observe their behavior in the natural environment.

The word "safari" itself comes from Swahili - the main language of the people of East Africa. It means "journey, trip" and goes back to the Arabic word “safar” with the same meaning. In Swahili-speaking countries, the term refers to any journey. There is even a common phrase, safari njema! It is a wish for a good and pleasant journey.

How has safari become a popular pastime?

The Oxford Dictionary defines “safari” as “a trip to see or hunt wild animals, especially in east or southern Africa”. In the West, this word was popularized by the British traveler Richard Francis Burton, who explored East Africa in the 19th century with John Henning Speke and took great pleasure in learning the languages and customs of the peoples he met. Gradually the word “safari” spread into other languages and was used to refer to travel in the wilds of East Africa.

By the way, Richard Burton became famous not only as a linguist and ethnographer but also as a person who translated into English the ancient Indian Kamasutra as well as the Arabic and Persian tales of the Thousand and One Nights. Moreover, he was a rare non-Muslim pilgrim to Mecca and had to disguise himself as a sheikh or a dervish to secretly make those pilgrimages. Burton is also famous as the first European to discover the great African Lake Tanganyika, which stunned him with its beauty.

One of the most well-known historical African safari trips was the long expedition embarked upon by the 26th U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1909 he went to Africa The Smithsonian–Roosevelt African Expedition took Roosevelt from 1909 to 1910 through what is now the territories of Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan. with his son and a large escort team for almost a year, just after his presidential term ended. Photos of Roosevelt on the hunt were printed in the newspapers, and a documentary about the trip was shown immediately upon his return. There is a book report of African Game Trails written by Roosevelt himself. We may be struck today by the list of animals killed on that safari, which is scrupulously given in the book. But the expedition was equipped by the Smithsonian Institution and allegedly had scientific motivations behind it.

The expedition brought back from Africa more than 23,000 specimens of plants and animals. It is recorded that 512 large animals have been shot personally by the president and his son, and a total of about 11,400 animals were killed or captured. It took the Institute eight years to catalog all the specimens. They became the basis of today's National Museum of Natural History in Washington. Therein lay the contradiction in Theodore Roosevelt's personality: his passion for hunting was joined with his desire to champion the interests of conservationists and scientists. It was he who founded the U.S. Forest Service. Roosevelt was also the first president to establish national parks and numerous protected areas in the United States.

"Roosevelt in Africa" documentary. Filmed in 1909. Library of Congress archives

Safari as a popular cultural phenomenon was heavily influenced by the American journalist and writer Ernest Hemingway. In the 1930s he traveled through Kenya and Tanganyika (as the mainland territory of present-day Tanzania used to be called). It is known that Hemingway was impressed by Africa’s stunning nature as well as by the magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro. Hunting was one of his passions - he hunted a lot in the Serengeti, as well as near Lake Manyara and today's Tarangire National Park. His love of nature and hunting influenced Patrick, the writer's son, who had been traveling with his parents since childhood. Patrick Hemingway eventually moved to Tanzania and lived there for 25 years. He also worked in Uganda and Kenya and even started his own safari business.

Ernest Hemingway's best-known "African" works are the short story "The Snows of Kilimanjaro '', and the "Green Hills of Africa" novella, which essentially is an autobiographical report of his family’s safari travels. His other drafts about Africa were compiled into the “True at First Light” book and published after the writer’s death by Patrick Hemingway.

Adventure novels on the topic of safari started to appear as early as the 19th century. We can remember the classic Jules Verne’s first novel, “Five Weeks in a Balloon”, which was about a journey in the air over Africa. We may also think of a popular novel by Henry Haggard, called “King Solomon's Mines”, about adventures in South Africa, or of the “World Voyage of a Young Parisian” by Louis Boussenard.

Another genre of literature that has preserved many early safari stories was adventure diary entries. Here one may think of William Kingston's “Adventures in Africa by an African Trader”. Allegedly those entries were written by a real but unidentified ivory trader and Kingston used those writings to compile a book. Another notable work of this genre was “Trader Horn: A Young Man's Astounding Adventures in 19th Century Equatorial Africa”, written by another ivory trader, Alfred Horne. Back then many parts of Africa remained unknown to Europeans, and such books fuelled the public interest in the exploration of the African continent with its incredibly rich geographical, cultural, and biological diversity.

The age of cinematography began in the early 20th century, and there were many popular adventure films set in Africa (most often in East or Central Africa) that also added interest to the topic of safari. The above-mentioned “Trader Horn” was adapted in 1931, although greatly augmented by fictional events. In the mid-20th century, the theme of jungle adventure was popular, and on cinema screens, you could see the African expanses being added alongside such locations as the jungles of Southeast Asia and the Amazon. Later, the 1985 film "Out of Africa'' starring Robert Redford and Meryl Streep had a major influence on the return to fashion of the safari style in clothing and interior design. It was based on the autobiographical book by Karen Blixen, who lived for many years in Kenya, and won seven Academy Awards and three Golden Globes, among other honors.

The growing interest in the modern type of safari travel was promoted even further by numerous documentaries, such as those from the National Geographic and Discovery channels, filmed in East African national parks, most notably in the Serengeti. Scenes of people driving through the savannah in an open car and observing various wild animals in their natural habitats while taking photos have encouraged many to plan their personal adventure - a trip to the great natural reserves of East Africa. Many travelers are also pleasantly surprised to find out that apart from driving in a car, there are numerous other ways of visiting the wild places of Africa.

What kinds of safaris are there?

A classic safari in today’s East Africa is a trip in an off-road vehicle with a driver-guide through the expanse of a national park where wild animals live in their natural habitats. The forests and savannas are roamed by herds of elephants, buffalo, zebras, and antelope of different species, as well as by giraffes which wander alone or in small groups. The trees are often occupied by monkeys and birds, while warthogs hide in the shade of bushes. Large herbivores are hunted by lion prides and solitary carnivores such as leopards and cheetahs. Jackals and hyenas choose smaller victims. Hippos and crocodiles hide in rivers from the heat. Travellers who go on safari have a unique opportunity to observe all those spectacular environments that are teeming with life.

What are the advantages of driving around a national park in a car? This allows you to see a large number of animals of different species in just 2-3 hours. Also, when rangers find an interesting sighting such as a large pride of lions or a rhinoceros, they report it to the safari car driver by radio, so that you can quickly go there and see those animals. The off-road vehicle ride is the most popular safari format, but it is not the only one.

In some parks, where safety conditions allow, you can go on safari afoot. This is usually arranged in the areas where attacks by large animals are unlikely and there are no large herds grazing. For further safety, visitors are accompanied by an armed ranger. Safari walks allow you to get as close as possible to the natural environment of the park, observe the local plant world, and explore nature by encountering it directly.

One of the most beautiful and unusual ways to go on safari in Africa is to fly over the savannah in a hot air balloon. This will guarantee a thrilling experience for any visitors to a national park. Flying in the basket of a hot air balloon will allow you to marvel at the vastness of the landscapes below, and feel the true spirit of adventure captured in the pre-industrial era novels and travel diaries. Modern aerial safari is a premium type of recreation, which costs more than the classic car tours but guarantees amazing emotions and unusual angles from the bird's-eye view. A hot air balloon experience is often added as a "highlight" to a regular game-drive safari.

Another fantastic way to look at Africa’s stunning nature from an unfamiliar angle is by traveling on a boat over the surface of lakes, rivers, or even in the ocean. Riding a boat along one of the Tanzanian rivers, you will hear the guide telling you all sorts of interesting facts about crocodiles and hippos. And, of course, you’ll have a chance to observe those magnificent animals in close proximity! On a sea safari, you can go to various islands or ride a boat near the mainland. One of the highlights of a sea safari is getting close to dolphins and observing how those aquatic mammals play.

Where can you go on safari?

Perhaps the most famous destination for those wishing to go on a safari tour is the Serengeti National Park in East Africa. Many consider the iconic landscapes of the Serengeti to be the birthplace of the safari phenomenon. It is located in northern Tanzania. A natural extension of this national park can be found in neighboring Kenya, where it is called Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Another world-famous protected area can be found nearby: the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It contains the world's largest ancient caldera which is truly a unique and breathtaking site. The famous zoologist Bernard Grzimek in his book “Serengeti Shall Not Die” called it a huge natural zoo. It is home to the “Big Five” game (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino) and huge migrating herds of herbivore animals. The caldera’s steep walls make it seem like the animals are surrounded by a sort of natural enclosure.

Other notable parks and protected areas include Kenya's Amboseli and the Laikipia Plateau, Kruger National Park in South Africa, the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park in Botswana, as well as Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, among others. And we can also mention the famous national park in Zambia, Mosi-Oa-Tunya, and Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls National Park. While these two national parks aren’t large, their main advantage is that both are adjacent to the spectacular Victoria Falls. Another remarkable place that can compete with Victoria Falls in popularity is the renowned Mt. Kilimanjaro volcano, whose international fame helped to bring popularity to some less well-known Tanzanian national parks such as Arusha and Tarangire.

There are many more notable national parks in other countries of the continent. Safari has long spread beyond East Africa. Moreover, the name “safari” is frequently attached to tours in national parks of Asia, primarily in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. In India, for example, Ranthambore, Gir forest, and Kanha national parks are popular. The latter is considered to be the inspiration behind the Rudyard Kipling's “Jungle Book”, which is a story about an animal-raised boy named Mowgli. Generally, these days safari has become a global phenomenon. It is often used to name a journey into the wilderness anywhere in the world, even if it is in Australia.

Starting from the 1960s, so-called “safari parks” started to appear in different countries. Those are basically open-air zoos, where animals live in relatively large open areas. Visitors could enter such territories in their own cars or even on foot. Such experimental “zoos” first began in the U.S. and then in Japan, where you could ride past walking lions.

The first full-fledged safari park was Longleat Safari and Adventure Park in England. Today in that well-known place you can find ostriches, giraffes, antelopes, zebras, and other animals, not only those native to Africa. In the 21st century, there is a huge number of such safari parks around the world. The better places, such as Longleat, often invest in conservation, as well as rescue and rehabilitate animals, for example, those who spend their lives in the circus, like Anne the elephant mentioned above. But, of course, many parks are much worse and they can never be the same as the natural environment. The animals there are kept in captivity and frequently isolated, and some of those parks adopt the practices of contact zoos, which many consider unethical and harmful for the animals.

Real safari without violence towards animals can be found where it once originated - in Eastern Africa. Here animals live and thrive in their native environment without people trying to move them to other continents and intrude on their lives. Tanzania has made great progress in establishing national parks and reserves with clear rules and regulations for the visits into those protected areas, which helps to protect the country’s spectacular conservation areas. This, coupled with Tanzania’s outstanding biodiversity and natural beauty, makes it one of the best countries for safari tourism, if not the best in all of Africa.

If we search Instagram for hashtags and geotags with the word "safari" and then analyze the stats, we’ll see that there are three African countries in the top 10: Tanzania, South Africa, and Kenya. The first place is taken by the Victoria Falls National Park, where the main attraction is, of course, the spectacular waterfalls. But among true safari destinations, pictures from the Serengeti National Park are the most “Instagrammed” with over 160.000 photos tagged. All in all, Tanzania appears to be the clear leader when it comes to wildlife safari adventures.

Active development of tourism in the country, high level of security, as well as availability of many other tourist activities can make your trip to Tanzania delightful, safe, and truly memorable. In addition to going on safari, you can learn about the folk traditions and culture of the local tribes in their villages, take tours to lakes, waterfalls, and other places of natural beauty, as well as explore or relax on the beaches of Zanzibar and other islands. Also, you could go to the diving sites off the coast in the Indian Ocean and observe underwater life with your own eyes. And, of course, there are expeditions to Mt. Kilimanjaro. By combining safaris with a variety of other activities, you can build a plan for the perfect African vacation while staying in the same country.

Welcome to the birthplace of safari - Tanzania, East Africa

The most popular protected areas in Tanzania are located in the north of the country, between Lake Victoria and Mount Kilimanjaro. We have already named them: Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Arusha, and Kilimanjaro National Park itself, whose main attraction is the eponymous peak, the highest in Africa. In addition to the Kilimanjaro trek, the north of Tanzania can offer guests two more interesting climbs - to the top of Kilimanjaro’s little brother, Meru volcano, and to Ol Doinyo Lengai, which is considered to be a sacred mountain among the local tribes. Among famous sites nearby there are also Lake Manyara National Park and three major lakes: Manyara, Eyasi, and Natron.

We have long specialized in the organization of nature tours in Tanzania and know all about local safaris. This is why we can confidently say that the incredibly rich travel opportunities of this African country are not limited to the most famous national parks we mentioned above. In the west of Tanzania, as well as in its central and southern parts, there are national parks and reserves that deserve attention. We can especially note Ruaha, Nyerere as part of the Selous, Katavi, as well as Gombe Stream, and Mahale Mountains, among other national parks and reserves.

How much time does going on safari take?

If you plan your trip to Tanzania well, you can ensure a great safari experience in several days, visiting the savannah expanse of the Serengeti with its Great Animal Migration, the famous Ngorongoro crater, as well as the wilderness of Tarangire, where herds of elephants roam among baobabs, the Great Ruaha River, in the waters of which many crocodiles and hippos hide, and the dense forest parks on the coast of Tanganyika, where researchers have spent decades observing chimpanzees.

A good safari trip would take several days. If you can dedicate a couple of weeks or more to your adventure - even better! Every major national park is absolutely worth spending a few days in, and sleeping in lodges A lodge is a hotel in Africa usually located in a wildlife area. Staying in such a place, you can feel closer to nature, and have much more convenient access to safari trips. Most often it is a complex of several houses for guests, which can either be solid buildings or comfortable structures with tent walls. As a rule, at the centre of this complex there is a restaurant which will provide excellent meals for you. The most comfortable lodges are located inside national parks, or nearby. Essentially, lodges are eco-hotels that always have high standards of service and of accommodation facilities. Some of them reach the level of 5 stars. right on the park’s grounds is a great experience. In that case, you’ll have the opportunity to go on safari in the early morning, and in the evening just before sunset. During these periods, the animals are the most active and playful. The majority of interesting scenes of animals interacting with each other usually take place in the morning and evening hours, when they aren’t forced to lazily seek shelter in the shade to avoid the scorching sun.

The incredible diversity of Tanzania’s flora and fauna allows for a variety of experiences. If you have the opportunity to stay on safari for longer than two weeks, don't miss that chance. Theodore Roosevelt spent almost a year in Africa, Ernest Hemingway came twice, and each time it was an extended trip.

All I wanted to do now was get back to Africa. We had not left it yet, but when I would wake in the night, I would lie, listening, homesick for it already.

Ernest Hemingway, “Green Hills of Africa”

What to expect from your safari trip in Tanzania?

There are three elements to a safari trip: safari vehicle rides, rest at one of the nearby hotels, and transfers between the hotel and the national park. Good planning allows you to minimize transfer time so that you will have more time to enjoy the main activities or rest.

Typically, it’s a good idea to stay within the same park for at least three days, ideally five days. This way you can experience the best things a park has to offer, visiting the interesting places that are often missed by hurried tourists.

When choosing hotels, we strongly recommend that you pay attention not so much to the number of stars or interior details, but to the specific conditions you’re looking for in your accommodation. A very important factor is the hotel’s location. A lodge located within a national park often wins even against a luxury hotel in the nearest town. Time spent in transfer should be kept to a minimum, this will allow you to experience more of Tanzania’s spectacular nature. The opportunity to be deep in the park in the hours of the early morning is priceless! And the overall impression at the end of the safari is made up of these individual episodes.

An ideal safari day can be described as follows: the guests wake up early, shower, and take a safari vehicle to the park, taking their lunchboxes with them. This way it’s possible to see the morning predator hunt and lots of animals standing or laying down right on the road or nearby (before dozens of other safari vehicles have arrived). Shortly after that visitors can enjoy an outdoor breakfast at one of the park's picnic sites. Later, they ride some more around the park and return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, the guests rest in the cool rooms while it is hot outside, and in the afternoon they go on safari again. Again they see many different animals, take beautiful pictures and return to the lodge as it is getting dark. In the evening they enjoy a delicious dinner, cozy outdoor gatherings, and a nice rest before going to bed.

When is the best time to go on safari?

Tanzania is amazing because it is located near the equator and has several geographic regions. This means that you can travel here at any time of the year, as long as you don't set a specific goal, such as seeing antelopes forcing the rivers of Serengeti, which falls on June-August, during the Great Migration. However, Tanzania’s climate and weather conditions allow you to observe animal life almost all year round.

If you are worried about the rainy seasons, let us reassure you - the seasonality of rainy and dry periods in Tanzania these days is rather arbitrary. In any case, some rain very rarely prevents our guests from enjoying a safari. In addition, the so-called rainy season has many advantages, the key ones being the absence of crowds of tourists on popular trails in the parks, and lower hotel prices.

If you can't wait to start planning your safari trip to the heart of Africa, check out Altezza Travel's safari programs. While we offer numerous different tours, a customized program can be even better. Just contact our managers and ask them to put together a program that will be the most suitable for you. A couple of short articles with practical tips may also be helpful: on how to prepare for a safari in Tanzania, and what to bring with you on your trip.

Don't hesitate to ask questions, and feel free to ask us to expand your safari tour program - Tanzania has a lot to offer. We look forward to seeing you on safari!

Valentina, a creative artist with Altezza Travel, draws inspiration from Africa's natural wonders, dividing her time between Tanzania and South Africa. With over 8 years of living across various African regions, she offers invaluable insights and practical travel tips on our blog for those eager to explore this remarkable continent. Having immersed herself in numerous cities, towns, and villages, Valentina has a rich knowledge of African culture, community, and life.

Is there any age limit on safari? My son will be 6 this year

Hi Sandi! You question has inspired us to write a detailed article about it!

To give you a short answer:

1.There are no age limits set by the National Parks.

2. Some lodges and camps have age restrictions, some not accepting children under 5 years old.

3. Ultimately, it depends on your child. Even 3-year-olds can enjoy a safari, while a 14-year-old teenager might be bored and spend all their time on their smartphone. It all depends on the child's behavior. There are even a lot of adults who aren't interested in wildlife. However, we believe that taking kids on an African safari can really spark their interest in wildlife and exploration. Just keep in mind that safaris involve dust, rough roads, and hot sun.

We've had many families go on safari with their kids and they've enjoyed every single day in Tanzania. It's really like the Lion King movie - kids will see elephants, giraffes, zebras from a very short distance from the car - they will definitely fall in love.

10 Types of African Safaris: Different Ways to Experience a Safari

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Aerial safari

There are countless ways to experience a safari, from open-vehicle game drives to guided walks and horseback riding, and we have compiled 10 types of African safaris you can choose from.

From open savannahs and forested havens to breathtaking mountain landscapes with rolling hills overlooking water channels, the scene is set for a dramatic animal encounter, no matter how you choose to safari.

Whether it's a complete experience or a combination of options, your safari is bound to be unforgettable, no matter which option you decide upon.

1. Guided Game Drives

2. walking safaris, 3. aerial safaris, 4. mountain bike safaris, 5. water safaris, 6. horseback safaris, 7. primate safaris, 8. mobile safaris, 9. photographic safaris, 10. hideout safari experiences, experience the best types of african safaris.

Game drive in Kruger National Park, South Africa

Stepping into an open 4x4 safari vehicle, you may get a sense that something quite unique is about to begin. The optimum viewing platform, a game drive is not only the most popular way to experience a safari, but one that allows you to traverse vast landscapes for a stunning experience in Africa.

Journey across open savannahs, through rocky outcrops, and forested hideouts, coming across a herd of elephants or a lone kudu as you quietly pass wildlife in action. Game drives are an excellent way to see the wildlife, whether on Kruger National Park safaris or Serengeti safaris .

Night drives provide an opportunity to spot nocturnal favorites such as aardvark and civet, and experience the haunting yet exhilarating sounds of the bush after dark. Guides and trackers will use spotlights to reveal wildlife in trees and on land as you navigate under a brilliant African night sky.

Best Places for Guided Game Drives: Kruger National Park, South Africa • Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa • Masai Mara National Park, Kenya • Serengeti National Park, Tanzania • Chobe National Park, Botswana • Okavango Delta, Botswana • South Luangwa, Zambia

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Bush walk with Marataba Safari in South Africa. Photo courtesy MORE Family Collection

A walking safari gives you a more intimate experience of the land and wildlife, guided by a trained professional who understands the terrain and animal life across the best African safari countries .

Tribal communities have lived in proximity to wildlife for millennia, with guides sharing their respect for the environment and its inhabitants with safari walkers.

Get a deeper understanding of the flora and fauna around you and enjoy up-close and personal encounters with the smaller members of the animal kingdom, such as beetles and small birds.

Best Places for Walking Safaris: Chief’s Island, Okavango Delta • Kruger National Park, South Africa •  North Luangwa, Zambia • Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania • Serengeti National Park, Tanzania • Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Aerial safari in Tanzania

An aerial safari gives you a macro panorama of the landscape and wildlife of any destination, the action and drama unfolding beneath you.

Such a safari could take the form of a hot-air balloon ride, microlight flight, helicopter flip, or one on a small plane conducting air-hops between destinations, each providing a view of the scale and wonder of the wilderness, no matter when you go on an African safari .

You may find herds swirling across the grasslands or plains lined with marching elephants, each sighting unique in its unfolding. A safari from the air is one of the most incredible ways to enhance such an experience, with exceptional options on Masai Mara safaris .

Best Places for Aerial Safaris: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania • Masai Mara National Park, Kenya • Okavango Delta, Botswana • Virunga National Park, Rwanda • Kafue National Park, Zambia

Biking in Kenya

Picture traversing a vast landscape on 27-inch tires as you take a mountain bike safari through nature reserves and parks, keeping an eye out for game along the way.

Terrain changes from open savannahs to rugged pathways set among lush rainforests, with opportunities to spot animals in trees and around rocky outcrops. Your qualified guide will point out, from a safe distance, a variety of wildlife.

Enjoy the freshness of the great outdoors, the satisfaction of being active, and the thrill of cycling through parks and reserves, immediately at one with the African bush.

Best Places for Mountain Bike Safaris: Northern Tuli Reserve, Botswana • Laikipia, Kenya • Lower Zambezi, Zambia • Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve, South Africa • Gonarezhou-Malilangwe, Zimbabwe

Mokoro boat safari in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

With a huge focus on water for the land’s survival, it makes sense that one of the more popular ways of experiencing a safari is on water.

With predators and prey tentatively eyeing permanent water sources, game viewing from a mokoro (dugout canoe) or small boat brings you close to the action in a unique way, even when looking for the Big Five and Little Five .

Channels, rivers, and lakes reveal wildlife beneath the surface and on land nearby, creating an immersive yet slow-paced exploration. Boat safaris are one of the best ways to experience the wilderness by waterways, especially on Okavango Delta safaris .

Best Places For Water Safaris: Okavango Delta, Botswana • Chobe Game Reserve, Botswana • Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania • Lake Manyara, Tanzania • Lake Nakuru, Kenya  • Kruger National Park, South Africa • Etosha National Park, Namibia

Lewa Conservancy, Kenya

A horseback safari is one of the most unusual yet inspiring ways to experience the wilderness. Skilled and semi-skilled riders follow trails and tracks through nature reserves and forested parks where predators are a safe distance away.

Imagine coming across a tower of giraffe grazing in the trees above or leading your horse to a shaded rest spot where, once dismounted, a warm beverage awaits you.

Discover parts of a game park or reserve where vehicles may not be allowed to take advantage of snapping some wonderful wildlife shots as you quietly approach antelope, birds, and diverse and breathtaking landscapes and habitats .

Best Places for Horseback Safaris: Makalali Game Reserve, South Africa • Matlapeng Reserve, Botswana • Tuli Reserve, Botswana • Pakamisa Private Game Reserve, South Africa • Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe • Masai Mara, Kenya

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda

A primate safari takes you deep into the jungle or forested terrain of East Africa in search of wildlife like mountain gorillas or chimpanzees.

Discover the wonders of a guided trek through otherwise impenetrable forests, ending up on lush mountain slopes in search of primates swinging from tree to tree or chewing on plant matter. From Rwanda gorilla trekking to Uganda safaris , the encounters with primates are sensational on these expeditions.

This type of safari requires planning well ahead, with opportunities to incorporate other safari types before or after a gorilla or chimpanzee trek.

Best Places for Primate Safaris: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda • Volcanoes National Park • Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda • Kibale Forest, Uganda • Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania • Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

The beauty of a mobile safari is being able to wake up in one location, then end your day sipping a beverage of choice beneath the stars in a different spot.

Reducing a safari-goer’s carbon footprint and being able to relocate as often as your itinerary allows make mobile safaris popular.

Accommodations are comfortable and simple, easy to pack up and move, with all the mod cons necessary for this kind of experience. Gain access to more sites and sounds with a mobile camping safari.

Best Places for Mobile Safaris: Chobe Game Reserve, Botswana • Serengeti National Park, Tanzania • Masai Mara National Park, Kenya • Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Game Drive Photo Vehicle in South Africa. Photo courtesy of MalaMala Camp. Photo courtesy of MalaMala Camp

Embark on a photographic-focused safari, during which time doesn’t seem to exist as you patiently wait to capture that perfect shot, the African bush your inspiration.

Professional guides help direct you to ensure you are positioned just right to get that winning picture. Staying on a siting or venturing into unique locations within parks and reserves, your time out on safari is yours to get as creative as you want.

Vehicles are fitted with special camera holders, each guest assured of optimal viewing throughout the drive. For a walking safari experience, your guide will ensure open spaces, great lighting, and perfect timing are the order of the day. How you want to experience your photographic safari is one of the many reasons to plan your trip with a safari travel specialist .

Best Places for Photographic Safaris: Okavango Delta, Botswana • Tsavo West, Kenya • Kruger National Park, South Africa •  Sabi Sands, South Africa • Amboseli National Park, Kenya •  Timbavati Game Reserve, South Africa • Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Etosha National Park, Namibia

This may seem a strange way to conduct a safari, but viewing animals from the safety and comfort of a hideout offers a unique perspective on game viewing.

Whether coming upon a hidden locale or strategically located structure, sometimes slightly underground, hides offer seating and windows to the show unfolding before you. Unseen, you have the chance to spot without being spotted, including when exploring the best places to visit in Africa on safari .

Some have you placed at eye level with game at a watering hole, while others may see you set high up in a tree, a bird’s-eye view of your surroundings offering an opportunity to spot wildlife far and wide.

Best Places for a Hide Safari Experience: Kruger National Park, South Africa • Sabi Sands, South Africa • Timbavati Game Reserve, South Africa • Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa • South Luangwa, Zambia • Etosha National Park, Namibia

With a variety of ways to experience an African safari, the choices may seem impossible. However, depending on time and preferences, options are available as stand-alone adventures or a combination of a few. Imagine a few days on a guided game drive followed by a walking safari expedition or primate discovery.

To discover a wealth of information and inspiration, visit our African safari travel guide and take a look at our African safaris . One of our expert safari specialists will be on hand to assist you when you are ready to book your specific safari style.

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• air corridor
• amenity kit
• caravanning
• high season
• phrase book
• post-holiday
• put something up
• ranger station
• tourist trap
• trailer park

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the moon when it is shaped like a crescent, or a time when it is shaped like this

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A safari is a trip on land, usually in jungle or savanna environments, which is engaged in for the purpose of viewing or hunting animals. Most often, the modern safari involves viewing, photographing, and experiencing animals in their natural habitats. With greater laws for the preservation of many animal species, fewer people undertake a safari to hunt animals.

Safari is a Swahili word, which originally derives from the Arabic word for travel, safara . Most associate the idea of going on safari with Africa, but actually there are many safari destinations throughout the world. For example, one can take safari trips in India, Australia, Antarctica, Alaska, Brazil or Peru. Essentially any place where one can observe animals in their true habitats can be a safari destination.

Some safari trips are done mostly by motor transport. It may simply be too dangerous to be walking around lions, tigers, and bears, or other possibly deadly animals. It can also be dangerous to the animals to closely interact with humans. Watching animals from the security of a vehicle allows one to come more closely to the animals with less danger to both animals and humans.

Other safari trips are walking trips, and armed guides usually lead them. They may take place on wildlife preserves. People might camp out for a night on the African Savannah, for example, in tent cabins or semi-permanent camps. These are usually the cheapest way to take a safari, but they do have their privations. For example, access to toilets and ability to bathe or shower may be quite limited.

Alternately, many lodges are built near animal reservations. Lodges can also vary in price. Some of the most expensive can cost over 500 US dollars (USD) a night. They usually include meals in the price, and one can experience some fantastic meals if one is willing to fork over quite a bit of money for the more expensive lodges.

With sufficient funds, one can take a vast variety of transport on a safari. Some lodges offer air balloon or helicopter rides. Others may provide boat trips down rivers, or even journeys on elephants, or camels. Many safari lodges also provide additional activities and luxuries to keep guests amused when not viewing animals.

A safari, meaning the actual tour to see or hunt animals, can last anywhere from two days to two weeks. One might also spend part of this time traveling by air or bus to several locations in order to see the best sights. A single safari could involve camping or staying in multiple locations, which makes packing light a good idea, particularly on the more budget oriented safaris.

Though Africa has the largest number of safari offerings, those in Australia, Asia and South America often can be equally exciting. Many are constructed on the same principals as African safaris, with lodges or semi-permanent camps based near wildlife reservations. In places like Alaska, one can also take one-day tours to view grizzly, Kodiak and polar bears in their native environment. These tend to be offered in conjunction with cruises to Alaska.

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African jungle: 10 misconceptions about animals, plants, & more

The African jungle is one of the world’s most incredible environments.

It contains Earth’s most magnificent ecosystems and is a beautiful wilderness rich in biodiversity . There are many animals in the African rainforest that you’ve probably heard of.

However, Hollywood movies often depict the rainforest, and the animals that live inside it, in a way that follows a storyline, not a reality.

This article clears up 10 common misconceptions about Africa with regard to rainforest animals , plants , and people .

1. The Rainforest and Jungle in Africa Are the Same Things

Although often used interchangeably, jungle and rainforest are slightly different in meaning. Jungle is a descriptive term , used to define an area of land (typically in the tropics) overgrown with vegetation and dense forest.

A rainforest, like a jungle, has a thick vegetation. However, a rainforest also has a layer of tall trees (a canopy) that obstruct sunlight from reaching most areas.

Considering these two terms are so similar, the term “jungle” is another common word for a rainforest in Africa.

2. Gorillas Are Dangerous African Rainforest Animals

Although gorillas are large, strong creatures , they tend to be peaceful and rarely show aggression . In fact, gorillas usually only direct violence at other gorillas, not humans.

Before a violent attack, gorillas will display a warning sign , like chest-pounding or grunting. This sends a signal to the perpetrator to back off. Violence is almost always a last resort measure.

Gorillas don’t hunt other animals either . They are mostly herbivores, with a diet consisting of bamboo shoots , stems , and fruits . Some gorillas also eat termites and ants .

The most dangerous African animals might surprise you. Mosquitos are the most deadly. These tiny, pesky insects spread malaria and other diseases that result in nearly half a million deaths annually.

The hippo is Africa’s deadliest mammal . These animals are highly territorial and will charge when threatened. They can run at speeds exceeding 30 kph and their canines can reach 50 cm.

3. Elephants Are Friendly, Docile Creatures

Elephants are the largest land animals on the planet. Movies often depict them as friendly, caring creatures, yet, that is not always the case .

Elephants are expressive mammals who are capable of cognition. They experience deep feelings, such as love, compassion, grief, and anger.

Elephants are responsible for 100-500 deaths a year . A musth elephant is especially dangerous.

Musth is a period in a bull elephant’s life when they express highly aggressive behavior. They are even known to attack and kill their own family members, including calves.

Although elephants can be dangerous, they are also fairly predictable . Before they charge, they will stomp their feet and flutter their ears. This display of power is a warning sign to back off before things escalate.

4. The Lion is the King of the Jungle

African jungles are full of fascinating, large animals. Lions , however, live in savannahs and grasslands .

Their prey includes other animals that live in this habitat, like antelope , zebra , and Cape buffalo . They camouflage well with the tall grass and scattered trees.

Considering lions possess exceptional power and strength in comparison to other animals, they could claim the title “ King of the savannah ”.

5. Tigers and Jaguars Are African Rainforest Animals

Africa is home to three big cat species : the lion, leopard , and cheetah . Tigers have never lived in the wild in Africa. They are native to Asia and live throughout the continent, from eastern Russia to Indonesia.

Many people also assume that jaguars are native to Africa, when in fact, they live in South and Central America. The movie “Tarzan” perpetuates this myth. It’s set in Africa, and one of the characters, Sabor, looks more like a jaguar than a leopard .

The physical difference between these cat species is slight . Jaguars have large patches on their body (called rosettes) which contain smaller black spots inside. Leopards, on the other hand, have smaller, empty rosettes.

6. African Jungle Animals Are Like Timon and Pumbaa

Unlike in the Disney movie “The Lion King”, it’s not all Hakuna Matata between rainforest animals. Everyone has to fend for themselves. In the wild, a meerkat and a warthog would not form a bond, and a lion’s diet includes warthog.

An interspecies friendship can form between animals that live in the jungle, although it’s not very common.

Some African species that form bonds include Nile crocodile s and Egyptian plovers, zebras and oxpeckers , and elephants and baboons . These “friendships” form to serve a practical purpose.

The Egyptian plover eats decaying meat out of the crocodile’s teeth. The oxpecker nibbles on the ticks and parasites from a zebra’s back.

Baboons help themselves to the makeshift waterholes elephants dig in the ground using their massive tusks.

In exchange for this easy access to water, baboons will keep a lookout and alert elephants of potential danger with loud screams and screeches.

7. The Jungles of Africa Span the Whole Continent

Africa’s vast landscape comprises a variety of vegetation zones and geographic features. The rainforests cover nearly a quarter of the continent. Approximately 18-22% of the world’s tropical rainforests reside in Africa.

The Amazon in South America contains the world’s largest tropical forest region. Africa contains the second, yet, it’s often overlooked by the third-largest tropical forest region, which is in Southeast Asia.

Africa’s largest rainforest region is in the Congo basin , in the central part of the continent. It spans approximately 3.4 million square kilometers.

Nine countries have territory in the basin: Angola , Cameroon , Central African Republic , the Democratic Republic of the Congo , Republic of the Congo , Burundi , Rwanda , Tanzania , and Zambia .

The rainforests of the Atsinanana in eastern Madagascar also contain a large portion of the African jungle.

8. Everyone Who Lives in Africa Lives in the Jungle

Although people do inhabit the jungles in Africa, the population numbers are not as high as you may think. Only a small minority of people on the continent inhabit the rainforest.

African Pygmies are jungle-dwelling people. These forest populations tend to have smaller body statures that rarely exceed 1.5 meters.

Their size enables them to move about the jungle more easily and dissipate their body temperature more efficiently.

The Congo Pygmies live in the jungles of the Congo basin. Their group sizes range from 15-70 people.

They are mostly nomadic and move to new areas of the jungle a few times a year. This lifestyle is less damaging to the environment as their shorter stays mean they do not over-exploit the land and local game.

An estimated total number of 250 000 to 600 000 Pygmies live in the Congo rainforest. Unfortunately, this number is rapidly decreasing. Factors such as poverty, westernization, and deforestation affect their way of life.

9. Animals in the Jungle Swing on Vines

Although monkeys are capable of swinging across vines, this isn’t as common as movies like “Tarzan” and “The Jungle Book” indicate.

Vines have roots, which means they grow from the ground. For this reason, swinging from them is not practical.

Liana  is a common type of thick vine that grows in the rainforest. It attaches to other trees for support and climbs up in search of sunlight. They can grow up to 60 cm in diameter. As you can imagine, getting a firm grip on one would be difficult.

Some primates practice Brachiation . This is a form of locomotion that uses arm strength to swing from one tree limb to another. The body alternates to support each forelimb.

10. Males Lead All Social Hierarchies in the Rainforest

It’s a common assumption that males lead animal hierarchies in the African rainforest. Although this is true in some species, such as the pygmy hippo and the chimpanzee, it’s not the norm in all cases .

Females can rule the roost too. Elephants, for example, form a matriarchal society .

Adult males tend to live a life of solitude, whereas female elephants live in a herd made up of relatives: aunts, sisters, mothers, and daughters. The largest and oldest female in the herd leads the group.

Ring-tailed lemurs , who are native to the rainforests of Madagascar , also live in societies where females dominate over males.

Although spotted hyenas aren’t animals found in the jungle of Africa, they also live in matriarchal societies.

Their social organization is quite interesting. Females are larger than males and built more muscular. They are alpha over their male counterparts.

Clearing Up Misconceptions About African Jungles

Many different types of terrain make up the African landscape. Although the jungle is full of beauty and diversity, it doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves.

Misconceptions easily form from false depictions of the rainforest and jungle animals in films.

Movies like “Tarzan” and “The Lion King” provide great entertainment, yet, they don’t always reflect reality. This article sets the record straight on some of the most common stereotypes and myths.

If you want to experience the real African jungle, don’t watch a movie, book a wildlife safari .

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Carnegie Museum of Natural History

One of the Four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh

The Meaning of Safari

Watching a gorgeous sunset over the South African terrain, I’ve never felt more connected to my life’s calling of conserving wild animals and wild places. I was half-way around the world, experiencing nature in a way that I never had before. This experience has shaped the very core of who I am, what I believe in and what I fight for.

The meaning of the word ‘safari’ has changed over the last few hundred years. The term ‘safari’ originally referenced large scale game hunts, with participants often hunted Africa’s ‘big five,’ which includes the lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, and Cape buffalo. These animals were on the verge of extinction by the late 1700s. Through the decades, the term has taken on new meaning. Today’s safaris focus on observing, photographing, or recording wildlife in its natural state. Safaris provide us a chance to appreciate and experience our wild spaces it in a completely different way.

In 2011, poachers attacked three rhinos at the Aquila Reserve, two of whom succumbed to their gruesome injuries. Rhino poachers seek illegal body parts, like rhino horns, to sell to the highest bidder. Poachers are only interested in adult animals with large horns, often leaving juvenile rhinos to die without a care giving parent. In response to the 2011 attack, Saving Private Rhino was born. This non-profit organization has grown over the years to be a vital resource for the rhinos of South Africa. Saving Private Rhino provides many critical resources including telephone support; rhino ‘ carer’ dispatches to reserves; transportation of orphaned rhinos to orphanages; training on orphan care; and reconstructive surgery performed by a veterinarian–all free of charge. This 24-hour service is offered to reserves in South Africa. Saving Private Rhino has also launched its first training course designed to train rangers in anti-poaching tactics with a goal of having two trained rangers working at every reserve.

But my experiences went far beyond just viewing nature. My idea of a ‘safari’ had changed forever. Aquila isn‘t just a space where you can observe wildlife; it’s a place where an entire community is working together towards a sustainable future, providing the resources and education needed to protect and conserve local wildlife. It reminds me that we all have power with our choices. And we can use our power to support organizations that contribute to sustainability, conservation and community advancement.

In Swahili, safari merely means, ‘journey.’ I visited Aquila in 2017, but a new chapter of my journey had just begun.

Leslie Wilson is the On-Site Program Manager and Veterinary Technician for Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Museum employees are encouraged to write about their experiences so they can be shared on the blog. Leslie wrote this blog specifically for our Super Science Saturday: Stuffed Animal Safari program.

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The History of Safari - How it All Began Throughout the 20th century, the safari has been popularized in film and literature through grand tales of adventure, romance and thrills. But just how long has this activity been going on? What was going on safari like 100 years ago? Read on to learn about where it all started … First, the word safari originated from the word “safar”, which is an Arabic verb that roughly translates to mean “to make a journey.’” From there, you get the noun “safariya,” or journey and then to safari which is actually a Swahili synonym of the Arabic word. Clearly, in this original definition, you do not get connotations of tents, backpacks, hiking and Land Rovers that are currently associated with the concept of safari. Rather, in its original context, it referred to the long distances people would have to traverse for trade routes and so forth.

The earliest safaris recorded were primarily focused around the trading industry. With the Arabic and African cultures so closely connected during our early in human history, there would often be large caravans of traders traveling across vast landscapes to bring their wares from one city to the next. According to The History of Safari, Travel Africa, in the 18th century, trading was a profitable and successful business as many prized items -- and unfortunately, even people -- were sold and used for barter.

According to Gemma Pitcher in Tanzania’s Safari History, European safari caravans were large-scale operations that involved a huge contingent of staff and crew along with supplies and weapons. Some of these trade routes were rather treacherous, so skillful bartering and negotiating also played a crucial role in getting from point A to point B, especially when dealing with trading slaves.

Fortunately, the safari that was associated with slave trade ended before the turn of the 20th century, changing the purpose of safaris from a business focus to a fun adventure or exploration.  According to People Behind the Names, African Wildlife & Conservation, early naturalists and explorers like William John Burchell, Thomas Ayres and Gustav Adolf Fischer not only redefined the purpose of the safari, but were instrumental in identifying several species of animals. Their legacy is the great work they did during their exploratory travels, and of course, the animals that now carry their names:

• Burchell’s Coucal, Courser, Sandgrouse, Starling and Zebra • Ayres’ Hawk-Eagle and Cisticola • Fischer’s Lovebird, Sparrow-Lark and Turaco

Unfortunately, along with these great naturalists and men of science came the hunters, who revealed a more negative side of human nature -- the side that wants to rule and dominate. In some cases, the safari become associated with the “hunt”, that is, conquering the big unattainable wild beast and returning from the hunt with trophies ranging from hides, skins and heads, to an entire beast. Of great renown were hunters like William Cornwallis Harris, who not only hunted big game, but documented the hunts so that everyone would be aware of his courageous adventures into the African wilderness. 

Despite his fame for hunting, Cornwallis was also a keen observer of nature, garnering credit for his discovery of the sable antelope (aka Harris Buck). Oddly, his writings and watercolor drawings of the mother continent created a new sense of awareness and appreciation for the wildlife of Africa. Another great hunter/explorer was Frederick Selous, whose safari exploits in East Africa consisted of shooting elephants and collecting specimens for museums in Europe.

Ironically, it’s because of men like Seleous and Harris that the conservation movement ignited. This movement would ultimately sanction saving these pillaged areas of Africa and the native wildlife, allowing them to continue to exist unspoiled for future generations and leading up to today’s photographic safaris.

Eyes on Africa , an African safari company, boasts an extremely knowledgeable team of staff members, who are passionate about every aspect of travel to Africa, including its wildlife and safari destinations. When you're ready to plan your African safari, a holiday in Africa, or if you just have questions, please feel free to contact us toll free at 800-457-9575 or visit our web site at http://www.eyesonafrica.net/contactus.htm and complete an information request form.

15 Animals to See on an African Safari

The word "Africa" is an evocative one that usually goes hand-in-hand with mental images of vast savanna plains dotted with exotic game. The majority of overseas visitors to Africa will go on  safari and, in doing so, discover that there is nothing more magical than a close encounter with the continent's incredible wildlife. Most of the species one sees on safari are unique to Africa, and many of them are instantly recognizable. In this article, we look at 15 of the continent's most iconic animals, including those that make up the African Big Five . 

TripSavvy / Felicia Martinez

To see a lion in its natural habitat is one of the most humbling, impressive sights an African safari can offer. However, while witnessing a kill is the ultimate prize, you're more likely to see one sleeping than in active pursuit of dinner. Lions spend up to 20 hours a day at rest and are most active at dusk and dawn. They are the most social of all wild cat species, living in prides consisting of between five and 10 adult lions. Tragically, lions are threatened by human expansion throughout Africa, with experts prophesying that populations could fall by as much as five percent in the next 20 years.

Best Places to See Lions: Head to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on the border of South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana; or to Tanzania's Serengeti National Park during the wildebeest migration. 

There is nothing quite like the first time you see an  African elephant  in the wild. As the largest living terrestrial animal on Earth, their size alone is overwhelming; but many visitors also find themselves drawn by the elephants' tangible aura of wisdom. Elephants are found in various sub-Saharan habitats, including forests, deserts, and savanna. They are herbivorous, processing up to 600 pounds of vegetation per day. Although most elephants are peaceful by nature, they can be dangerous if provoked; however, they are far more at risk from humans than we are from them. 

Best Places to See Elephants: Vast elephant herds roam Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe and Chobe National Park in Botswana. 

As the tallest animal on Earth, you'd think that giraffes would be easy to spot on safari. However, their distinctive brown and white markings serve as excellent camouflage, and it's not unusual for giraffes to materialize out of the bush just a few feet away. There are nine subspecies found across sub-Saharan Africa, all of which boast blue tongues, stubby horn-like protrusions on their heads, and of course, outrageously long necks. To drink without losing consciousness, the giraffe's neck contains unique veins and valves that regulate the flow of blood to its head. 

Best Places to See Giraffes: Spot large herds of Masai giraffe in the Serengeti, or head to Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda to see the endangered Rothschild's giraffe. 

The elusive  African leopard  is a subspecies of leopard found only in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite its wide range, leopards are among the most difficult of all safari animals to see, as they are both nocturnal and exceptionally wary of humans. Leopards use trees as observation platforms and for protection, and that is where they are most often spotted during daylight hours. They are solitary animals with exceptional predatory skills, including the ability to climb, swim, and drag prey weighing up to three times their body weight up into the trees. Leopards are classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. 

Best Places to See Leopards: South Africa's Sabi Sands Game Reserve and South Luangwa National Park in Zambia are famous for leopard sightings. 

White Rhino

Thomas Halle/ Getty Images

The easiest way to tell Africa's two rhino species apart is by the shape of their bottom lip: wide and square for white rhinos and pointed for black rhinos. The name "white" rhino comes from a mistranslation of the Dutch word for "wide." Although the survival of both species is threatened by widespread poaching, white rhinos are more numerous and therefore easier to spot, especially in Southern Africa, where they prefer grassland and savanna habitats. White rhinos are the largest of five extant rhino species. Adult males averaging around 5,100 pounds are also one of the world's heaviest land mammals.

Best Places to See White Rhinos: Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park and Kruger National Park in South Africa offer a good chance of spotting white rhinos.

Black Rhino

Manuel ROMARIS/Getty Images

Once found across Southern and East Africa, the black rhino is now considered critically endangered, with fewer than 5,000 individuals left in the wild and three subspecies already classified as extinct. Adult black rhinos have no natural predators, and their population collapse is predominantly due to poaching. They are killed for their horns, made of keratin, and exported to Asia for use in traditional Chinese medicine. Unlike white rhinos, which can sometimes be seen living in herds, black rhinos are generally solitary (although the bond between mother and calf is strong). They favor thick scrub and bushland.

Best Places to See Black Rhinos: Etosha National Park in Namibia is a rhino conservation success story with a thriving black rhino population. Kenya's Ol Pejeta Conservancy is another renowned sanctuary for black rhinos.

TripSavvy / Jess Macdonald

The cheetah is the most slender of Africa's big cats, a magnificent animal known for its incredible speed. They are capable of short bursts of up to 70 miles per hour, making them the world's fastest land animal. However, cheetahs often have their kills stolen by other, more powerful predators despite their speed. They are a vulnerable species with only around 7,100 individuals left in the wild, including a tiny population of approximately 40 individuals in Iran. Cheetahs are found throughout Southern and East Africa in wide-open spaces that allow them to reach their top speed while pursuing prey. 

Best Places to See Cheetahs: The Maasai Mara National Reserve provides the ideal habitat for cheetahs. Alternatively, track rehabilitated cheetah on foot at  Okonjima Game Reserve in Namibia. 

African buffalo have a robust build and distinctive fused horns. They are grazers, typically moving in herds, with no natural predators except lions and crocodiles. Unlike other species of wild buffalo, the African buffalo has never been successfully tamed, thanks to its naturally aggressive and unpredictable nature. Although seeing a buffalo herd ranging across the savanna is undoubtedly an unforgettable sight, it's crucial to treat these animals with respect. They are responsible for multiple human fatalities every year and are considered one of the continent's most dangerous species. 

Best Places to See Buffalo: Katavi National Park in Tanzania is famous for its enormous buffalo herds. Chobe National Park is another good bet. 

Hippopotamus

Hippos are a common sight in Southern and East Africa's rivers, swamps, and lakes. Often found in groups of up to 100 individuals, hippos spend most of their life in water, only leaving their aquatic homes to graze on the riverbanks at dusk. They have several fascinating adaptations, including webbed feet, large canine tusks, and the ability to secrete a kind of natural sunscreen. Male hippos are territorial and, like buffalo, can be exceptionally aggressive when provoked. Similarly, take care never to get between a hippo mother and her calf. 

Best Places to See Hippos:  Zambia's  Luangwa Valley  is home to the world's largest concentration of hippos. The Okavango Delta in Botswana is also full of them. 

Nile Crocodile

After the saltwater crocodile, Nile crocodiles are the world's largest living reptile, with the biggest on record exceeding 20 feet in length. In sub-Saharan Africa, they are found in various aquatic habitats, including lakes, rivers, and deltas. Crocodiles are well camouflaged in the water and are most often spotted sunning themselves on the riverbank. They have been around for millions of years, and with heavily armored skin and powerful jaws, they certainly look prehistoric. Nile crocodiles are perfect predators, employing ambush tactics to take their prey unawares. 

Best Place to See Crocodiles: Watch herds of wildebeest and zebra crossing the Mara River during East Africa's annual migration to see Nile crocodiles in action. 

There are three species of zebra in Africa; the plains zebra most commonly seen throughout East and Southern Africa , and the rarer mountain and Grévy's zebras. Although they may look like domestic horses, zebras are almost impossible to tame; their distinctive stripe patterns are unique to each individual as a human's fingerprints. Zebras live on grass, and in some areas, form great migratory herds to seek out the best grazing grounds. They often create a mutually beneficial relationship with another African species during the migration, the wildebeest . 

Best Places to See Zebra: For sheer numbers, you can't beat the Serengeti or the Maasai Mara during migration season. To see the endangered Grévy's zebra, head to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in northern Kenya. 

Thomas Retterath/Getty Images

Easily recognizable by their tan, black, and white fur, African wild dogs are the largest (and one of the rarest) canids in Africa. They are highly social animals, living in packs led by an alpha male and female and communicating with a series of high-pitched twittering sounds. Wild dogs hunt as a team, chasing their prey until it collapses from exhaustion. Unlike other social carnivores, weaned pups are allowed to eat first at the kill to give them the best chance of survival. Nevertheless, African wild dogs are endangered, with populations declining due to habitat fragmentation, human conflict, and diseases spread by domestic dogs.

Best Places to See Wild Dogs: Top destinations for spotting wild dogs include Ruaha National Park in Tanzania, Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa, and Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe.

The most common large carnivore on the African continent, the Hyaenidae family comprises four species of hyena: spotted, brown, striped, and aardwolf. Though their mighty jaws and strong digestive tract are ideally suited for scavenging, hyenas only feed on carrion and other refuse for 30 percent of their meals; for the other 70 percent, they prey on animals of all different sizes and shapes, including wildebeest, antelope, birds, and snakes. Hyena clans can consist of up to 100 members, and individuals will communicate with each other through wailing, screaming, and "laughing." Hyenas (particularly spotted) live in a range of habitats throughout sub-Saharan Africa, from savannas and grasslands to subdeserts and mountains.

Best Places to See Hyena: You can find hyenas in many national parks in Africa, including Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, Namibia's Cape Cross Seal Reserve , and Ruaha National Park in Tanzania. For your best chance at seeing them, plan to sign up for a night safari.

This antelope species can be subdivided into the greater kudu and the lesser kudu subspecies, both of which can be identified by their white vertical stripes, spots, and chevron pattern between their eyes. Greater kudus are most prevalent throughout southern Africa's lowland Bushveld but can also be found throughout East Africa—particularly Kenya and the Horn of Africa region; similarly, lesser kudus tend to prefer the dense thornbush around East Africa. Males, characterized by elongated horns that can grow up to 6 feet in length, can typically be seen alone or with other bachelors, though you may find them with females during mating season. On the other hand, female kudus live in small herds with their offspring.

Best Places to See Kudu: Greater kudus are best seen in Kenya's Tsavo National Park and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.

Warthogs thrive in savanna woodland, grasslands, and marshes, taking up natural burrows and abandoned aardvark holes. With the use of their strong neck muscles and padded knees, warthogs will spend the day foraging for food, digging through soil to uncover tubers, roots, berries, and grass. Sows can be found in matriarchal groups comprising up to 40 female warthogs and piglets, while boars prefer to live alone or with other bachelors.

Best Places to See Warthog: Warthogs live all over sub-Saharan Africa but are most common in the eastern and southern parts of the continent. If you want to spot them on safari, consider planning a trip to Kruger National Park , Masai Mara , or South Luangwa National Park in Zambia.

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• Tips For Jungle Safari For An Adventure-Laden Trip Into The Wild

08 Dec 2021

A jungle safari is one of the most coveted experiences to sight wild animals, birds, and exotic flora in a natural habitat. But there are certain rules and tips for jungle safari that one needs to keep in mind before and during the safari tour to ensure it’s an enjoyable and safe experience. While traversing in a jungle is fun and adventurous, it can turn into a disaster if not planned and executed properly .

Whether you are going on your tenth safari or first, preparing for it beforehand cannot be taken lightly. Right from booking well in time, packing the right safari luggage, wearing proper clothes, preparing for the unexpected, to maintaining one’s safety and welfare inside the park, everything needs to be spick and span for a memorable time inside the jungle. Thus, we have compiled for you some essential safari tips that will let you have the most fabulous time inside the world’s biodiversity hotspots teeming with exotic flora, fauna, and avifauna.

Find Below The Best Tips For Jungle Safari

Leave your worldly pleasures and flashy gadgets back home and experience the magic of being one with nature. The more time you spend in the midst of the world’s most primitive parts, the more connected you’ll feel with your inner self. All you need to do is make sure you respect the given rules of the jungle and follow the mentioned hacks for a better safari experience.

1. Planning & Research

The best tips for jungle safari would be to do proper research about the forest reserve you’re visiting and plan your trip accordingly. A well-planned jungle safari in India and abroad can help you have the best safari experience as well as cut down on unnecessary costs.

Know About The Safari Reserve

Do a proper research about the place you wish to explore through your safari tour – everything from the distance, area, best time to visit, type of flora and fauna you’ll encounter, to the rules and regulations set down by the respective forest authorities. One should be well aware of what the place holds, not only to enjoy a great safari experience but also to determine what to carry.

Set Down A Budget

From the transport you’re using to get to the location, to services like a guide, safari vehicle (jeep, canter, elephant, trek), safari duration, entrance fee, food, and accommodation, you will be required to pay for a lot of things, especially during India safari tours. So set down a limit to your expenditures. At the same time, try and be flexible with your expenditures as the cost may fluctuate.

Plan Your Safari In Dry Season

Must Read: Best Safari In South Africa: Adrenaline Pumping Experiences In The Wildest Corner Of The World

It is always advised to plan your safari in the dry season as the heat during this time forces the animals to lurk around waterholes more often. Other than that, there is hardly any vegetation around water holes which ultimately exposes the fauna and enhances the chance to spot them. Besides, many wildlife sanctuaries and reserves remain closed for tourists during the monsoon season since the chances of landslides and marshy terrains increases during this time.

Be Open To Staying Primitive

Too addicted to your tech? A jungle safari and camping is probably not a good idea for you then! One can only enjoy a jungle safari when they allow themselves to blend in with nature, disconnecting from the outside world, and forgetting about the worries of life and work. A safari trip takes you deep into the heart of nature, amid everything serene and secluded, so that you might be able to get a taste of how peaceful life was before urbanization and industrialization set in.

Be Prepared For Temperature Fluctuations

While the afternoons would squeeze the last drop of sweat out of you, the evenings might freeze you to death. It is always a good idea to keep a constant check on the temperature variations and predictions about the reserve area you’re visiting and prepare yourself likewise. Thanks to Google, it is ever so easy to stay up to date on such information so that you may not have to suffer nasty surprises on your trip into the wild.

Pre-Book Your Safari And Accommodation

Suggested Read: Things You Ought To Know Before Traveling #PackingHacksIncluded

Most African safari tips would tell you to pre-book safaris so as to avoid last minute hassles of waiting outside the ticket counter in long queues. If you’ve pre-planned your vacay, then booking your safari in advance is the best idea. Indian wildlife reserves and nature parks too offer online booking facilities these days to spare visitors the trouble of standing in long queues before slow ticket counters.

Bookings start way before the onset of summer. With limited safari tours per day in a limited number of vehicles per wildlife sanctuary, your chance of taking your family on that much-awaited safari tour will grow lesser with every delay. So make sure you book well in time to reserve yourself and your loved ones a seat on the vehicle of your choice and a room in the best hotel, lodge, or eco stay in the area.

Opt For Guided Organised Safari Tours

If you’re a pro at wildlife safaris, you can surely opt for a private tour. But then there’s no way you can know more than the (government authorized) forest guides who spend half their life inside the jungle you’re visiting. They are well equipped with the who, what, when, why, and how of every animal and bird in that jungle so that they’ll get you to the right place at the right time well before the beast has even graced the spot with his presence. All it takes them is a glance at that footprint to tell you which animal had crossed your path, and how long ago!

Book A Dawn Or Dusk Safari

Image Source

Suggested Read: 18 Places You Need To Visit For The Best Wildlife Experience in India

The animals and birds are most active at this time, which is why most tips for jungle safari would tell you to book a dawn or dusk safari, or a full day safari beginning at dawn and ending at dusk. Don’t forget to leave very early in the morning for a dawn safari so as to avoid waiting at the entrance gates for things like permit checks.

2. What To Carry

Image Source Packing right is essential for a jungle safari in India and anywhere overseas. If you’re wondering what to take on safari, here are the things that we’d suggest:

• Electronics: A charged camera, extra batteries, extra memory cards, binoculars (ideal – 8X40 or 10X50)
• Sun Protection: A sunscreen lotion, sunshades, a wide brimmed hat, scarf (for dust)
• Personal Safety: Antiseptic cream, insect repellent cream, medication (if allergic to dust or certain flora type), antiviral hand wash, first aid kit, flashlight
• Important Documents: ID proof, tickets, booking confirmation (scanned beforehand)
• Food: Packed snacks like glucose biscuits, energy bars food (only to be eaten during break time), sufficient water
• Clothes: Thin layers (since the weather can be unpredictable)
• Some handy cash

Now, here are some things that ought NOT be in your safari luggage:

• A radio or any other musical item
• Perfume, deodorant, or any other kind of body fragrance
• Unwrapped, pungent food items

3. Dressing Up

Suggested Read: Kruger National Park In South Africa Is Your Ultimate Date With The Wild

You may be a fashionista back home, but here, you have to dress up according to the norms of the jungle. Following are some basic things you need to keep in mind while dressing up for your safari. Abiding by these tips for jungle safari will ensure your safety and that of others.

• Wear comfortable, airy t-shirts, convertible cargo pants (preferably waterproof), fleece jackets
• Wear colours like Greens, Browns, Olives, and Khakis to blend in. Some African safari clothing tips tell visitors to avoid loud colours & bold prints
• Pick cloth material that is lightweight and breathable, like cotton
• Dress in layers to avoid plant allergies and beat the changing weather
• Avoid wearing flashy things like jewelry
• Cover your arms and legs. Sleeveless tops & capris won’t protect against insect bites
• Wear strong, comfortable, and covered sports shoes (or sneakers) with socks
• Mask your face to protect from the dust
• Wear a hat or a cap to keep the heat away

A jungle safari will surely take you on a joyride amid the wild and let you get up and close with nature. Though filled with exotic flora and fauna, a jungle can be dangerous if one isn’t cautious. It is imperative to stay safe as one wrong move can turn your ‘fun’ into a disaster. Any general safari advice will always include the below mentioned safety tips.

Follow these DOs and DON’Ts of jungle safari in India and abroad for an enjoyable and safe time inside the jungle.

DOs Of Jungle Safari

• Familiarise yourself with the park’s rules and regulations beforehand and make sure you follow them when inside the park
• Follow the safari guide’s instructions at all times like your life depends on it (and it does!)
• Maintain silence during the safari
• Drive slowly and cautiously to avoid hitting animals as they might appear suddenly
• Maintain a safe distance from the animals
• You must follow the park timings
• Allow the animals to cross first while driving through the forest
• Honour safari timings. Reach on time and leave on time
• Keep the camera flash off
• Bring a flexible camera cover to protect it against the dirt and dust
• Empty your bowels and bladders before you set off on the safari or wait for the toilet break

DON’Ts Of Jungle Safari

• Speak loudly or play music inside the park reserve
• Use your mobile phone as much as possible
• Drink or smoke in the forest
• Leave combustibles in the car
• Offer eatables to birds and animals
• Tease, disturb, or hit animals
• Eat at any time other than the allotted break time
• Litter around
• Get off your vehicle unless asked to
• Wear bright and exposing clothes
• Wear deodorants and perfumes
• Bring infants or children with dust and fur allergies
• Enter restricted and prohibited areas

Suggested Read: 10 Packing & Luggage Hacks For The Smart Traveler

The forest may be a tourist attraction for you, but it’s the home of the wild animals and birds you find inside it. They rule it, not you! If you expect your guests to respect the rules and regulations of your house, then you also need to follow the norms of the jungle where you are the guests. There can’t be better tips for jungle safari to make one understand the importance of abiding by the guidelines set down by wildlife sanctuaries across the world.

5. Wildlife Spotting

You’ve planned your trip well, you have all you need for your safari by your side, and you are also following the forest rules. But, alas, you still haven’t been able to spot a single wild animal or bird. Where then, did you go wrong?

There are certain factors you need to consider before embarking on a jungle safari so that you have the maximum chance of spotting the beast of the jungle that you came all the way to see. The following tips for jungle safari will help you while you’re planning and executing your safari ride so that you can make the most of your visit to the jungle.

• Read about the animals and birds in the park to know where you are most likely to spot them on your tour
• As established, visit the jungle in the dry season. During summers, most of the animals can be found lurking near the water holes, exposed owing to the less amount of vegetation at these spots
• Start the safari at dawn and end it by dusk as most of the animals can be found outside their shelters during this time. Reptiles and crocodiles can be spotted during midday
• Stay longer at the hotspots, like canals, river banks, lakes, ponds, etc
• Pick a good guide. Safari guides always stay in contact with each other, so if one spots the highlight animal of the park, it will be communicated to the others and everyone will get a chance to witness it
• Make use of your binoculars (or your camera’s zoom lens). They can help you identify animals hiding in the bushes
• Familiarise yourself with the sounds of different birds if you’re into bird watching and photography
• Be still and maintain silence while observing or photographing fauna, especially birds

In the end, let’s wrap up with a very important safari advice – respect wildlife and do your bit to conserve nature .

Further Read: 15 Best Wildlife Resorts In India For A Thrilling Experience

We hope these tips for jungle safari will help you have an adventure of a lifetime when you traverse deep into the mighty jungle. Follow these guidelines to make the most of your trip and also stay safe at the same time. Know of any more safari tips? Let us know in the comments below.

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Jungle Animals

An in-depth look at 13  iconic jungle species from around the globe.

Jungle animals are some of the most diverse and numerous of any habit on the planet. Before we look at some iconic jungle species it’s worth taking a moment to understand exactly what we mean by the term ‘jungle’.

What exactly is a jungle?

Nearly everyone has an idea about how they’d define the biome, and usage of the term ‘jungle’ has evolved significantly over the past fifty or so years.

Prior to the 1970s, all tropical forests were generically referred to as jungle, whether they were rainforests, cloud forests, or mangroves. Since then the terms ‘tropical forest’ and ‘rainforest’ have more or less completely replaced the term ‘jungle’ to describe humid tropical forests.

These days ‘jungle’ is used to describe the ground level of densely forested tropical areas where there is tangled vegetation and underbrush. Plants such as shrubs, grasses, vines, and moss thrive in jungles, which makes it very difficult for humans to penetrate on foot without cutting a path through.

Put simply, a jungle is a forested area that combines warm temperatures with dense, ground-level vegetation.

Is there a difference between a jungle and a rainforest?

Rainforests and jungles are similar in many ways – they are both warm, tropical forest habitats filled with thick vegetation – but there are also some key differences.

Jungles don’t have as much skyscraping vegetation, so unlike rainforests don’t have a thick canopy. In a rainforest the canopy block sunlight reaching the forest floor, so restricts vegetation growing on the forest floor, and holds in the moisture and humidity.

Because jungles have a much sparser canopy they are drier and lighter than rainforests and have much more vegetation growing at ground level.

13 Iconic jungle animals

Like rainforests, jungles tend to be areas unhampered by humans, so can provide one of the most exhilarating places (if difficult) places to spot wild animals in their natural habitat. Here’s our pick of 13 of the most iconic jungle animals:

One horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis)

Found: india and nepal.

one horned rhino

Whilst Africa’s  rhinos are beasts to be extremely wary of, north-east India is home to the relatively approachable one-horned rhino. The expansive flat grasslands of Kaziranga National Park is fringed with jungle   has a population of over 1,600 Indian one-horned rhinos, comprising over two-thirds of the world’s total.

The extra twist with rhino-spotting in Kaziranga is the option of an elephant-back ride around the park, which allows you to get within a couple of meters of the very relaxed rhinos.

Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica)

Found: india.

asiatic lion

Today’s Asiatic lion exists only in India’s Gir National Park and the surrounding areas. The habitat in the park is dry scrub land and open deciduous forest, which could certainly be described as jungle. There are around 300 Asiatic lions in Gir National Park and perhaps only 500 left in the whole world.

Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus)

Found: indian sub-continent.

A sloth bear in grassland

Sloth bears live in a range of dry and moist forests across the Indian subcontinent, seeking out trees, boulders, and shrubs to provide shelter. They are omnivorous but tend to stick to a diet of ants, termites, and fruits. Not yet endangered, sloth bears are listed by IUCN as vulnerable due to habitat loss.

Elephant (Loxodonta)

Found: west and central africa and south asia.

African forest elephant on the edge of the jungle

Whilst African elephants thought of as being found out in the open on the African savannas, there is a second elephant species in Africa known as the African forest elephant. As with their Asian elephant cousins, African forest elephants are significantly smaller than African savanna elephants, to allow them to move with suprising ease through the dense jungles and rainforests of West Africa and the Congo Basin.

African forest elephants and Asian elephants have similar diets of fruits, seeds, and young leaves, and a more varied diet than the African savanna elephant due to the richness of their habitat. They are considered vital to their respective jungle environments as distributors of seeds, as they spend their days foraging.

Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)

A Bengal tiger lounging in the jungle shade

Bengal tigers are native to India and Nepal. These stunning cats are the most common tiger, accounting for around half the world’s tiger population.  Bengal tigers are found predominantly in subtropical and elevated forests across the subcontinent, as well as thriving in the Sundarbans mango region on the India/Bangladesh border.

Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)

Found: west and central africa.

Mother carrying baby chimpanzee on back

These great apes are found in a number of habitats across Central and West Africa. Chimpanzees actually have the widest range of all great apes, living in tropical rainforests and grasslands, as well as being jungle-dwelling animals.

Sharing around 99% of their genes with humans, these animals are our closest living relatives, and quite possibly the smartest animals on Earth other than Man.

Three-toed sloth ( Bradypodidae bradypus )

Found: central and south america.

3 toed sloth hanging in the rainforest canopy

Sloths have an incredibly low metabolic rate and need only a few leaves and twigs for nutrition, along with a very slow digestive system leading to their sluggish pace. In combination, the sloth’s anatomical structure differs from other mammals in having very long arms with very short shoulder -blades, which allows them a large reach without the effort of too much movement, and adds to their languid style of movement.

The three-toed sloth is, in fact, the slowest mammal in the world , moving at the hair raising speed of up to 2.4 meters per minute on the ground. When they’re up in their favored rainforest canopy they’re able to pick up their speed to around a 4.6 meters per minute.

Jaguar (Panthera onca)

A stunning jaguar walks towards the camera

Jaguars are found in South and Central America, preferring wet lowland habitats, swampy savannas, and tropical rain forests. They are known to almost anything they can catch, including deer, crocodiles, snakes, monkeys, deer, sloths, tapirs, turtles, eggs,  frogs and toads , and fish. The jaguar has the strongest bite of all the cat family – with a bite-force 1.4M kg per m² its bite is twice as strong as a lion’s.

Learn more about jaguars.   How are jaguars different from leopards?

Gorilla (Gorilla)

A western lowland gorilla gives the camera the eye

Although the most numerous of all gorilla subspecies, the western lowland gorilla (pictured) is still an endangered species . They inhabit the remote, dense tropical rainforests of Angola, Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Equatorial Guinea.

Their remote and secluded habitats make it difficult to accurately estimate their numbers, but conservationists put the total population at almost 100,000 . This number is known to be decreasing, however, with the animals threatened by poaching, disease, climate change, habitat degradation, and destruction.

Okapi (Okapia johnstoni)

Found: democratic republic of the congo.

An okapi’s head and hindquarters

Despite having zebra-like markings the rare and unusual looking okapi is actually a member of the giraffe family. Their striking striped hindquarters camouflaged them and help them disappear into the forest.

Living in the dense tropical rainforests of Central Africa they use their long, sticky, giraffe-like tongues to graze on leaves, ferns, grasses, and fruit.

Black howler monkey (Alouatta caraya)

Found: south america.

Black howler monkey

The black howler monkey is so named because of the loud howl it makes when marking its territory. Their call has been described as a strong wind blowing through a tunnel, and can be heard up to 3 kilometers away, carrying across the jungle vegetation.

Sulawesi bear cuscus (Ailurops ursinus)

Found: indonesia.

Sulawesi bear cuscus

The Sulawesi bear cuscus is actually an arboreal marsupial rather than a bear but is so named for it’s dark, thick bear-like fur. As with most marsupials newborns are underdeveloped and carried in a pouch on the mothers’ belly until they can navigate the Indonesian jungle themselves.

Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus)

Found: south east asia.

Siamang chilling in the canopy

Growing up to 1.5meters long siamangs are the largest species of gibbons in the world. They have long, shaggy black hair and a mostly hairless face, and are known for their loud whooping call made using an inflatable throat pouch. As with black howler monkeys, these calls are used to mark territorial boundaries between groups.

What did you think of these iconic jungle animals? Have you had the opportunity to see any of these creatures in the wild? Let us know in the comments section below!

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10 Reasons Why Jungle Safari in India is a Must-Do Adventure!

by Forsyth | May 23, 2023

As an avid adventurer, I have always been drawn to the beauty of nature. And nothing beats the thrill of a jungle safari adventure in India! There’s something awe-inspiring about being in the midst of the wild, surrounded by the beauty of nature, and spotting exotic animals in their natural habitat. In this article, I am going to share 10 reasons why jungle safari in India is a must-do adventure.

Introduction to Jungle Safari Adventure in India

Here’s why jungle safari in India is a must-do adventure. India is a land of diverse flora and fauna, and jungle safaris are an excellent way to explore this rich biodiversity. The country boasts of over 400 wildlife sanctuaries and 80 national parks, which are home to a variety of animals, birds, and reptiles. Whether you’re a nature lover, a wildlife enthusiast, or an adventure seeker, a jungle safari in India is the perfect way to explore the wilderness.

Biodiversity in Indian Jungles

India is blessed with an incredible variety of flora and fauna, and its jungles are home to some of the rarest and most exotic species of animals and birds. From the majestic Bengal tiger to the elusive leopard, from the Indian rhinoceros to the Asiatic elephant, from the Indian giant squirrel to the Nilgiri tahr, Indian jungles offer a unique and unforgettable experience for wildlife lovers. The country’s diverse landscape, ranging from the Himalayas to the deserts of Rajasthan, provides a wide range of habitats for its wildlife. Each region has its unique biodiversity, and a jungle safari in India is an excellent way to explore this rich diversity.

Wildlife Sightings in Indian Jungles

One of the most exciting aspects of a jungle safari in India is the opportunity to spot some of the rarest and most exotic species of wildlife. The thrill of spotting a tiger or a leopard in the wild is unmatched! Apart from these big cats, Indian jungles are home to a variety of other animals, including elephants, rhinoceros, deer, wild boars, langurs, macaques, and many more. Birdwatchers will also be delighted by the variety of birds found in Indian jungles. From the majestic peacock to the colourful kingfisher, from the beautiful hornbill to the rare vulture, Indian jungles are a birdwatcher’s paradise.

Best Time to Go on a Jungle Safari in India

The best time to go on a jungle safari in India depends on the region you plan to visit. The winter months (November to February) are the best time to visit most of the national parks in North India, while the summer months (March to June) are ideal for exploring the parks in Central and South India. The monsoon season (July to September) is not the best time for a jungle safari as most parks are closed during this period. However, the monsoon season is an excellent time to visit some of the parks in Northeast India, where the rainfall is less intense.

Different Types of Jungle Safaris in India

There are different types of jungle safaris available in India, ranging from jeep safaris and elephant safaris to walking safaris and canoe safaris. Jeep safaris are the most popular and allow visitors to explore the parks in comfort. Elephant safaris provide a unique and unforgettable experience as visitors ride on the back of an elephant and explore the jungle. Walking safaris are ideal for those who want to explore the jungle on foot and get up close and personal with nature. Canoe safaris are perfect for exploring the wetlands and water bodies in the parks.

Jungle Safari Experience in Popular National Parks

India has some of the best national parks in the world, and each park offers a unique jungle safari experience. Some of the popular national parks for jungle safaris in India are:

• Satpura National Park
• Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh
• Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh
• Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand
• Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan

Safety Measures to Follow During a Jungle Safari Adventure

While a jungle safari is an exciting and thrilling experience, it is essential to follow safety guidelines to ensure your safety and the safety of the animals. Some of the safety measures to follow during a jungle safari are:

• Always listen to your guide’s instructions and follow them
• Do not get too close to the animals
• Do not litter in the park
• Do not make loud noises or use flash photography
• Do not step out of the vehicle or the designated area

Tips for a Successful Jungle Safari Adventure

To make the most of your jungle safari adventure in India, here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable shoes
• Carry a hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent
• Carry a good camera with a zoom lens
• Be patient and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife
• Respect the animals and their habitat

Benefits of Jungle Safari Adventure

Apart from the thrill of spotting exotic wildlife and exploring the wilderness, a jungle safari adventure in India has several other benefits. It allows you to connect with nature, de-stress, and rejuvenate your mind and body. It is also an excellent opportunity to learn about the biodiversity of the region, the conservation efforts being made, and the significance of wildlife in our ecosystem.

Conclusion – Why Jungle Safari in India is a Must-Do Adventure!

In conclusion, why jungle safari in India is a must-do adventure for anyone who loves nature, wildlife, and adventure. It is an excellent way to explore the rich biodiversity of the country, spot exotic animals in their natural habitat, and connect with nature. So, book your adventure now at Forsyth Lodge , and experience the thrill of a lifetime!

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India’s best jungle safari destinations for the season

Precious Rongmei , TIMESOFINDIA.COM , TRAVEL TRENDS , INDIA Updated : Nov 12, 2023, 10:15 IST

India’s unparalleled biodiversity is the main reason why jungle safaris are such incredibly fun things to do. India’s wild has some of the rarest animals in the world and offers a chance to see diverse landscapes. From dense forests to unending grasslands and marshes, there’s so much to see in India’s wild, and all these enhance the safari experience by adding an element of adventure and thrill.

Here's a friendly advice, if you are out for safaris, keep an open mind that you may or may not get tiger sightings. A true friend of wildlife will simply enjoy nature and everything around. And lucky for us, our forests are stunning!

Jawai Bandh Leopard Conservation Reserve, Rajasthan

Take a break from the tigers and elephants and give chance to the leopards. They are known to be elusive and they don't come out in the open so much. But that's not the case in Jawai. This is their natural habitat and this is where they thrive. Take a jeep safari around to see them in their best element. When here, you can opt for a traditional stay with a homestay accommodation; the place is also home to some reputed luxe brands, including the Sujan Jawai Camp, Korta Escape and more for those in mood to splurge some.

Kabini, Karnataka

Kabini is one of the best places in south India where you can have unforgettable safari experiences. There are jeep, bus and elephant safaris available, but the jeep safari is the most popular one. Reason being, it offers more in-depth exploration of the forest. When in Kabini, watch out for leopards, dholes, elephants, tigers, gaurs, bears and bison. Did you know that the forest of Kabini is also home to India's only known black panther? This sighting is as rare as they come. The panther is lovingly named Saaya, meaning, shadow.

Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand

Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest and one of the most famous national parks in India. Here, jungle safaris take you to the heart of the forest to see the majestic tigers, leopards, elephants, and close to 600 species of birds!

Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan

Ranthambore is known for its thriving tiger population and offers excellent opportunities for tiger sightings. When in Ranthambore, one can’t help but be completely mesmerised by the diverse landscape. From dense forest patches and dry grasslands to rocky outcrops, find them all here.

Kaziranga National Park, Assam

Kaziranga is one of the most popular safari destinations in India, mainly because of the unique experiences. From elephant safaris into the rhino territories to a chance to sight some of the rarest animals and birds like the white tiger and Bengal florican, Kaziranga is an experience you will never forget.

Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh

Kanha National Park is known for its lush sal and bamboo forests, the home to the majestic Bengal tigers. The forests of Kanha are some of the most beautiful in India, and they are great places to spot tigers, leopards, and barasingha (swamp deer). Kanha National Park is also one of India’s top birding destinations.

Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal

When we talk about the best and the most unique, Sundarbans is one of the first names that comes up. The Sundarbans is a unique mangrove forest known for its population of Bengal tigers that swim and hunt in the water. It's also home to saltwater crocodiles and various bird species. The mangrove boat safaris are unforgettable.

Periyar National Park, Kerala

It’s a mix of jungle safari and boat safari at Periyar National Park. Here you are in elephant territory so the best thing to do is sit tight and enjoy the gentle giants of the forest. The banks of the Periyar River are some of the best places to see wild elephant herds in action.

Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh

Bandhavgarh has given us some of the most legendary tigers India has ever seen. From the legends of the past like Sita, Charger and Bamera to the present-day star like Mahaman, Bandhavgarh’s tigers have given us numerous stories, and we keep going for more.

Bandipur National Park, Karnataka

Bandipur is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and offers opportunities to see tigers, elephants, and a variety of bird species. It's known for its lush forests and scenic beauty.

Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

Tadoba is one of the best places to spot the Bengal tiger. As of now, it’s the tigress Maya that has been ruling the forest for quite some time now and is a big crowd-puller. This beauty is fearless and one of the most photogenic big cats you will ever come across.

Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra

The lush forest of Pench inspired Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book and we can see why. The forest’s beauty is unparalleled. The dense sal forest and the vast grasslands give some of the best photo-ops in the wild. This park is known for its rich biodiversity and is home to tigers, leopards, and various bird species.

Jhalana Leopard Safari Park, Rajasthan

Jhalana Leopard Safari Park is small in size, just 23 sq km in total, but it gives some of the most thrilling wildlife experiences. The park is home to around 30-35 leopards. Leopard sighting is not at all difficult here. The park is also located in the heart of Jaipur city, so it makes for a great quick getaway.

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India’s unparalleled biodiversity is the main reason why jungle safaris are such incredibly fun things to do. India’s wild has some of the rarest animals in the world and offers a chance to see divers...