What not to do on Safari.
Safaris are exciting and no doubt one of the most thrilling experiences you will ever have. If coming to Africa for the first time or even as a seasoned safari goer, it’s always good to know the do’s and dont’s.
Although the safari industry is extremely vast, we will focus on mainly South Africa and its private Game Reserves and National Parks. In South Africa, the National Parks are managed by the Government and might have some private companies involved with conservation, media security and animal welfare. On a private Game Reserve it is private property, and privately managed. Whether it be a national park or a private game reserve, you are in the wild therefore the safety of you and the animals should always be a priority.
Following these key factors and safety rules can be life saving, give better quality to your experience and even increase the chances of seeing a variety of more animals. Here are few safari dont’s.
1. Do not stand up on safari
The vehicles that the guides use to take you around in are mostly open safari vehicles. Some may even have a canvas canopy. Standing up is a big no no. You can alert the wild animal to human presence and scare them off or put them in a very difficult situation where they feel threatened and have to take action of flight or fight. The whole idea of viewing the wild animals is to observe in their natural habitat and to see them in their daily lives without us interfering. You can also possibly fall out of the vehicle, which is both embarrassing and dangerous. It is possible that you may obscure the view for others which might influence them to stand up as well, creating an unsafe environment for both the guests and animals.
2. Do not call the animals
These are wild animals and will most likely not respond to kitty kitty or pssss pssss or whatever noises we use for our pets. There aren’t animals in the wild making those noises so it’s very unnatural. This can alert the animal to your presence, which you might think is great, but is in fact very dangerous. You want them to act as natural as possible. You can also distract the animal and in a split second put them and yourself in a harmful or dangerous situation where it can become prey or end up in a life threatening situation.
3. Do not make noise
When on Safari, try to keep the noise levels down. Sound travels really quick and very far in the bush. A lot of the very shy animals like leopard will hear this and simply disappear before you could even get a look at it. The all rely on quietness and stealth.
4. Do not reach out to vegetation
This seems simple, but in Africa we have a lot of plants species with thorns on them. These thorns are often hidden behind luscious green leaves, and you will realize your mistake when it’s too late.
5. Do not litter
Guides will provide mostly brown paper bags for anything you need to discard, if not then please ask your guide. These are fairly standard issued in most safari vehicles. A piece of plastic could go decades without breaking up and can potentially be eaten by a animal, causing an unnatural, human caused death or illness.
6. Do not get off the vehicle
Stay on the vehicle at all times unless the guide tells you it is safe to get down for a leg stretch or comfort break.
Do not throw things at animals: yes we have had this before, people throwing objects at the animal to get their attention, this causes the same effect as referenced in number 2.
7. Do not wander off
You will most likely stop for the famous “sundowners”, where you will get out the vehicle to stretch your legs and enjoy a cold beverage watching the sun set over beautiful Africa. Do not wander off. Stay close to the group as you are still in a wildlife area, and a animal can come from anywhere and you will need to get back in the car.
8. Do not smoke
Especially in the dry winter months, a cigarette or amber can cause massive damage and destroy a wildlife area very quickly. Only smoke at designated areas and make sure to extinguish it properly.
Hopefully these tips will help you have the best safari experience 😉
This blog post was written by André Erasmus. André has over 18 years experience as a safari and trails guide. He completed his Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) qualification in 2007. A FGASA qualification is more than just a certification, it is a commitment to the highest standards of professionalism in tourist guiding. The standards of training go above and beyond the minimum requirement, making those with a FGASA qualification highly sort after within the safari tourism, cultural and heritage tourism, and marine tourism industries.
André is also a passionate wildlife photographer and photographic safari guide, and hosts photographic safaris all over South Africa and Botswana. I’ll link his Instagram’s to this post!
Make sure to subscribe if you want more travel advice, tips, & trips! I appreciate the love and support so much! <3
Leave a Reply