Safaris offer a lot of benefits, but seeing animals in their natural habitat is the most important one. Because of this, safari schedules are meticulously adjusted to coincide with peak animal activity times.
Early morning
After a delightful cup of tea or coffee is brought to your room (or tent) to ease the transition into the morning, you will be ready to get dressed, get into your game-watching vehicle, or begin your day on foot. On drives, your guide will often stop halfway through to set up a viewing station where you can relax with a hot drink, some biscuits, and maybe even get a glimpse of a lion coming back from a hunt or another animal heading towards the river. These viewing stations provide a comfortable and convenient way to take a break and observe the wildlife in their natural habitat. It’s a great opportunity to capture some amazing photographs or simply enjoy the peaceful surroundings before continuing your adventure. It’s a great way to connect with nature and appreciate its beauty.
Late morning
After a successful morning of game watching, it will be time for breakfast. You’ll either return to the lodge for a well-deserved breakfast, or you’ll be treated to a full breakfast in the woods, cooked on gas burners or over an open fire. In any case, there’s a strong possibility the wildlife watching will continue, maybe overlooking the lodge’s waterhole or directly from your breakfast spot on the plains. The remainder of the morning will be spent in camp, relaxing somewhere comfy while the day heats up.
Lunch time
Lunch is usually served at camp.
To keep things interesting, most lodges mix it up with à la carte, buffet and al fresco days, or even fun make-your-own-pizza affairs. Whatever the style, you can be sure you’ll be well taken care of.
Early afternoon
After lunch, amid the heat of the day, you’ll do like the animals do: relax in a shaded place. This leisure time might be spent relaxing by the pool, receiving a spa treatment, or even having a siesta; the choice is yours.
Late afternoon
After high tea or a snack, you’ll head off by vehicle to explore what the wildlife is up to. As the day cools, the animals typically move for a water source again, so a drive down the river or to a waterhole may be extremely rewarding. Some reserves allow game drives to stay until dark, which is incredibly thrilling. Either way, twilight is spent sipping cold beverages and watching the animals go about their nightly rituals, either at camp or out in the wild. As darkness comes, you’ll feel the energy shift as predators rouse up from their rest, ready for their nighttime hunt, while nocturnal animals emerge out of hiding.
Evening
If you haven’t already changed and freshened up, you’ll probably do so before supper. Like lunch, the evening meal might take numerous shapes, but it’s generally savored by romantic lantern light beneath the night sky, in camp or out in the bush, in true safari style. If you’d like some time alone or in the company of your significant other, you may even choose to have supper in your room. Afterwards, visitors congregate by the campfire for stories and stargazing. As it’s early to get up, it’s often early to bed, too.
