When we set off on our African Safari through Zambia last October, we weren’t really sure what to expect. Not only was it our first time on an African Safari, it was also our first time in Zambia. The tour company we booked through did a fantastic job giving us all of the information we needed to have an amazing adventure. But whenever you leave to fly to a new country, especially one that’s half way around the world, there’s still a little bit of aura of mystery and unknown, even for the most seasoned travelers.
If this is your first time on an African Safari, here’s what you should expect on the ultimate adventure of a lifetime. You’ll get a glimpse into day-to-day life on safari, activities we recommend, and more.
The African Safari Wildlife is Incredible, but You Won’t See the Big 5 Every Day
In fact, you likely won’t see the Big 5 at all. With so few black rhinos left, their whereabouts remain closely guarded government secrets. So like us, you’ll likely have to settle for the “Big 4” instead. We saw three of the Big 5 on our first day, but didn’t get our first leopard sighting until a few days later. There’s so much more wildlife to see than just the Big 5, so don’t get fixated on just them.
Not surprisingly, wildlife activity can be fickle and will vary from day-to-day. One day, you may have the most incredible sightings of your trip. The next day, you may not see much beyond a few impalas. That being said, wildlife activity most days will fall somewhere in between those two extremes.
Try a Walking Safari for an Incredibly Intimate Wildlife Experience
Born in South Luangwa National Park, the walking safari is the most unique and intimate way to experience any African Safari destination. Outside the safety of the vehicle, you’ll feel an incredible sense of vulnerability being a visitor on the turf of some pretty serious predators. Even seeing elephants and giraffe at a distance will make you feel really small. But rest assured. Under the watch of your guide, you’ll be perfectly safe on your walking safari.
African Safaris are Often Hot and Dusty
On your African Safari, you spend a lot of time in the safari vehicle. Most safari vehicles are open-air Jeeps or Land Rovers. They don’t have windows or doors, but will have a canvas top to give you shade. The vehicles themselves are very comfortable to sit in for hours at a time, even when you’re getting tossed around on rugged dirt tracks.
African Safaris take place during the dry season, which runs from late May through early November in much of Southern Africa. With August and September being the most popular months for safaris, you can expect hot and dusty conditions. As a result, make sure you wear plenty of sun protection and stay hydrated. Make sure to fill your water bottle from the cooler at the bushcamp before heading out on each game drive.
Additionally, take any necessary precautions to protect your camera equipment. Don’t change lenses any more than you have to. I also wiped down all my photography gear with a damp cloth at the end of each day.
A Winter African Safari Can Be Very Cold
While most people book their African Safaris for the warmer months, winter can be a phenomenal time for a safari as well. The wildlife is still active, and there are far fewer people around. Keep in mind that most African Safari destinations are in the southern hemisphere, which means that the winter season runs from June to September. Even at tropical latitudes in places like Zambia, winter temperatures can drop to near freezing at night. July is the coldest month for safari destinations in Southern Africa.
African Safari Days are Incredibly Well-Structured
To take full advantage of wildlife activity, days on safari start early and end early. Your guides pack a lot into each day so you stay engaged and don’t get bored. Yet at the same time, you’ll still have plenty of down time for yourself.
What to Expect: A Typical Day’s Schedule on African Safari
The exact timing of your safari’s schedule may deviate a bit from these times, depending on where you are and what time of year it is. We grew to expect this schedule every day on our African Safari at South Luangwa National Park in Zambia.
5 or 5:30 AM: Wake Up Call
Either your guide or one of the camp hosts will come to your door in the morning for a wake up call. Once you respond that you’re awake, they’ll move on to the next room.
6 AM: Breakfast
Breakfasts on safari are light, usually consisting of coffee/tea, cereal, and toast. Many camps have a designated breakfast area where you can watch the sun rise as you eat. I found toast cooked over the open fire was a fantastic way to start each day on safari. Bring everything you need for the morning game drive to breakfast so you don’t hold the group up when it’s time to depart.
6:30 AM to 10:45 AM: Morning Game Drive
After a quick breakfast, you’ll load up in the safari vehicles for the morning game drive. There’s an incredible amount of activity as the wildlife wakes up to start their day. About half way through — usually around 9 or 9:30 AM — you’ll stop for the morning coffee break. Afterwards, witness another surge of wildlife activity as the animals settle down to escape the heat of the day before you head back to camp.
11 AM: Brunch
By the time you return from the morning game drive, you will be hungry. Not to worry, as a big, delicious brunch will be waiting for you when you get back to camp. Brunch usually consists of three courses — a starter, the main course, and dessert. By the time you finish, you’ll be ready for a nap.
12 Noon to 3 PM: Down Time at the Bushcamp
Because your days on safari are so full, most people use the midday downtime to rest and relax. On our safari, I used the time to freshen up in the outdoor shower and take a nap. I used the remaining down time to offload pictures and videos from my camera and/or hang out in the common area at the bushcamp to visit with the guides, camp hosts, and fellow safari members.
3 PM: Tea and Snacks
Your safari group will gather with your guide in the common area at camp for a little sustinence before the afternoon game drive. Iced tea on a searingly hot afternoon tasted so good. Snacks are usually pastries or baked goods, but you will sometimes get chicken wings or sausage bites too.
3:30 PM to 7:45 PM: Afternoon Game Drive
Watch the animals re-emerge as temperatures start to cool in the afternoon. Your guide will know exactly where to go to see the best wildlife. About half way through, you’ll stop for sundowner cocktails as you watch the peak of the evening wildlife activity. Then after sunset, transition into the night drive to see a whole new side of the wildlife on your African Safari.
8 PM: Dinner
Like all the other meals, you’ll eat dinners family-style at the bushcamps with your guides and safari group. Conversations usually revolve around the wildlife you saw today, how your pictures and videos turned out, and what you’d like to try and see tomorrow. After another incredible three-course meal, you’ll be ready for bed.
The Food is Incredible
You’ll eat western-style meals on your African Safari that have African influences. The veggies are fresh, the meats are cooked to perfection, and the desserts are simply to die for. One thing that is for certain is that you will not go hungry on your African Safari. Just don’t eat the bush meat.
When you book your African Safari, the tour company will likely ask you if you have any special dietary needs or restrictions. You can also inform your hosts when you arrive at the bushcamps. They can accommodate any dietary restrictions you may have.
The Water is (for the Most Part) Safe to Drink
Because African Safari lodges and bushcamps are so remote, many countries in Southern Africa simply do not have the infrastructure in place to connect them to the water grid. As a result, the bushcamps, including the ones we stayed at in Zambia, use boreholes to source water directly from the ground.
You should always ask your hosts, but the borehole water at the bushcamps in Zambia was not only perfectly safe to drink, it tasted great too! If you’re unsure, the lodges and bushcamps always have bottled water on hand, as well as a source of clean water to refill reusable water bottles.
There are No Power Outlets in the Rooms at the Bushcamps
When you don’t know what to expect on your African Safari, its easy to be caught off guard. And this one surprises a lot of people. Because the bushcamps are in such remote areas, they must generate their own power, which they do through solar. As a result, power is limited, so rooms and chalets at the bushcamps do not have power outlets in them. Some of the larger and newer lodges may have an outlet or two in the room, but don’t rely on them actually working.
If you need to charge phones, cameras, or anything else, there are power strips in the common area at each lodge or bushcamp. A little pro tip: bring a couple of solar charging bricks on your African Safari. Plug them in at the charging station when you leave for your game drive. They’ll be charged when you return. Then, bring them back to your room and charge your devices in your room.
Sundowner Cocktails are a Highlight of the African Safari Experience
If there’s one thing besides the wildlife to look forward to on your African Safari, it’s the sundowner cocktails. Every evening, your guide will find a safe and scenic spot to pull over and sip on refreshing cocktails as you watch the wildlife activity at sunset. Because of the British influences in Southern Africa, beer and gin and tonic are the two most commonly served cocktails. I had a few rum and cokes too. If you’re not feeling like consuming any alcohol, they also have juice, soda, and water available, as well as plenty of snacks.
You’ll Meet Incredible People from all Over the World
It’s no secret that we both love the social aspect of group tours. Heck, one of our dreams is to be able to run our own group adventures some day. Not only is a group safari more affordable, but you’ll also meet some incredible people from all over the world who share the same passions and interests you do. By the time you leave, it will feel like you’re saying goodbye to family.
Don’t Expect Much WiFi or Cell Service on Your African Safari
You came on safari to look at the wildlife, not a screen. Enjoy the absolute bliss of disconnecting from the rest of the world and enjoy your little slice of paradise. Cell service in most national parks in Africa is non-existent. While many of the traditional safari lodges have WiFi, it can be hit-or-miss. None of the bushcamps we stayed at had WiFi.
In the event of an emergency, your guides will use shortwave radio to communicate with park headquarters. They have access to both phone and internet, and will arrange for you to get whatever help you require.
Your Guides Will Escort You to and from Your Room After Dark
Many of the lodges and bushcamps are not fenced in, which means that wildlife can wander through as it pleases. While seeing wildlife at camp is really fascinating during the day, it can be deadly after dark. As a result, your guides or hosts will escort you to and from your room at night in order to keep both you and the animals safe. Our guides at South Luangwa National Park said that while it’s primarily elephants and hippos that wander through camp at night, they have seen both lions and leopards in camp after dark as well.
Final Thoughts
It’s the bucket list adventure of a lifetime. However, many people don’t know exactly what to expect on their African Safari. That’s exactly what we love about travel and adventure and what drives us to step out of our comfort zones. Because when you set proper expectations, you’ll have an even more amazing, memorable, and fulfilling adventure.
