• Remain seated and keep your arms, legs, and cameras inside the car

 

• Don't scream, lower your voice, and don’t make sudden moves when you're close to wildlife

 

• Turn your phone to airplane mode and on silent

 

• Don’t wear colorful clothes, but think 50 shades of khaki

 

• It's better to not drink or eat while moving

 

• Take lots of images, but respect endangered animals (think twice about what you post on social media)

 

• If you're on a night game drive, don't use your flash; your guide will use a spotlight

 

• Always listen to your guide

 

You can't predict what you get to see on a safari game drive. We simply don’t have any influence on the animals' behavior. In fact, we don’t even want to influence their behavior because we try not to disturb the animals in their own natural habitat.

 

It’s good to know that the amount and diversity of animals differ in every safari destination in Africa. Generally, you will spot zebra and various antelopes like impala or gazelle. Other animals that are relatively easy to spot are baboons, giraffes, wildebeests, and warthogs.

 

Most people aren’t very interested in birds, but did you know that Africa is home to more than 2000 bird species? From bright-colored small birds to prehistoric shoebills and huge pink male ostriches. Africa is a true birdwatcher’s paradise!

 

When you go on a few morning and afternoon game drives in a row, the chances of seeing bigger animals like elephants, lions, cheetahs, and buffalo are higher. Out of the Big Five, Rhinos and leopards are the most elusive animals to spot.

 

Some people expect to see the so-called 'Big Five' easily because safaris are often advertised with the Big 5

 

What are the Big 5 of Africa? The Big Five animals of Africa, in short, 'The Big 5'   include the African elephant , rhinoceros , lion , leopard , and Cape buffalo . These five big game animal species are..

 game animals. Keep in mind that it can be hard to spot all of these wild animals, especially in one single game drive. Also, do some research if the Big Five animals are home to the safari destination you are visiting. Some African National Parks or game reserves don't have all of the Big Five and you don’t want to be disappointed because your expectations weren’t realistic.

 

Some safari vehicles have a pop-up roof (mostly in East Africa), others have a roof but open sides, which treats you to an amazing 360-degree sight. These safari cars are mostly found in Southern Africa. If you're driving in an open vehicle like that, it might be windy, so don't forget to wear layers.

 

A game drive activity is possible throughout the day and even a full-day game drive is a good option. Some parks limit driving, for example from sunrise (6 AM) to sunset (6 PM). It also depends on where you are.

 

The best time to go on a game drive in Africa is usually the hours around sunrise and sunset. These are the coolest hours of the day when the animals are more lively. In the early morning or early evening chances of seeing animals hunt are higher. In the middle of the day, when it's usually hot, there's less action. Lots of animals hide in the shade or in the bushes. If you for example find lions, they are most likely relaxing or sleeping. But, the bush is the bush and you'll never know what happens, therefore I love full-day game drives to take it all in.

 

Morning game drives typically start around 06.00 - 6.30 am when the sun slowly starts to rise. After a cup of coffee and a pre-breakfast snack, it’s time to leave for a morning game drive. It can be cold in the morning, so it’s good to put on warm layered clothes. You are driving in an open vehicle, so the wind can be harsh. The advantage of the lower temperature in the morning is that animals are most active. During the morning it can warm up quickly, for that reason it’s good to wear layers.

 

An afternoon game drive typically starts between 3 pm and 4 pm. After a well-deserved lunch and some relaxing time, you go out for a lovely wildlife adventure. During the game drive, the sky will treat you with the magical colors of an iconic African sunset.

 

During a night drive, it’s also possible to bump into a leopard, hippos, and lions. After sunset, hippos go out of the water to graze, and lions are more active hunters at night. Your guide will use red (UV) light that doesn't hurt the animals' eyes but allows you to observe the animals in the dark. Spotting animals on a night drive is more challenging, but a cool experience.