Published 10th Jan. 2025
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If you’ve ever planned a safari holiday (or, more wisely, enlisted our help to do so), it’s likely you’ll have encountered some unfamiliar safari-related words along the way. From the commonsensical to the nonsensical – it can often be tricky to decipher their meaning without a little help. That’s where we come in. We consulted our team of safari experts to help us demystify the most common safari-speak, so you can forget awkward moments and misunderstandings on your trip. Ready for your safari schooling? Read on for our roundup of the most common safari terms…
Not to be confused with a game of cards. In a safari context, the game refers to the wildlife you’ll see on safari. You can reserve the former for around the campfire…
This often refers to a camp package that includes all meals, house drinks and shared safari activities with in-house guides.
As safari terms go, this one is self-explanatory: it’s when you have a private driver, guide and vehicle for your safari adventures. This gives you greater flexibility over where you go and what you see and is the best option for families and photographers.
Instead of a traditional vehicle-centred safari, on a walking safari, you (surprise, surprise) explore on foot. Led safely by an experienced guide, it’s considered the most authentic and immersive way to interact with your surroundings and often occurs in areas inaccessible to vehicles. Zambia is considered a pioneer of the walking safari.
A specialist individual who guides tourists through the African bush, helping to track and spot wildlife on game drives.
Different from guides, rangers are the people working in national parks, game reserves and conservancies, looking after wildlife and landscapes. All very important stuff.
A Swahili word referring to an enclosure that secures and protects livestock or a community. It can also refer to a homestead or small fortress.
A traditional African BBQ cooked over a fire that often involves a lot of meat (and even more beer).
Binoculars. Every safari-goer should have a decent pair of durable binoculars with at least 8x43 magnification. Trust us, there’s nothing worse than sitting in a vehicle, not being able to see the leopard lounging in the branches of a tree…
A cost authorities impose on suppliers that set up camps in particular sites.
Like above, these refer to the fees for setting up a camp in a conservancy.
Otherwise known as the wet or rainy season, the green season is associated with the flourishing of often dry, arid plains into lush landscapes. It’s a more affordable time to go on safari, and offers spectacular photography opportunities.
We get it, safari words can be confusing. This is safari-speak for enjoying a drink and snack while watching the sunset during a game drive. Count us in.
Traditionally, this is a wooden dug-out canoe used in water-based safaris – in the likes of the Okavango Delta – where a guide poles you through the channels from the back of the canoe. These days, they’re usually built of fibreglass instead of wood.
A tucked away, camouflaged area where visitors can watch animals from close up without being intrusive (hippo and bird hides are popular options). This creates a more authentic experience, as animals’ natural behaviour isn’t interrupted. Who knows what you’ll spot?
Similar to a traditional hide, except this is built into the ground. Nowadays, it's often a container that is sunk into the ground, with slots at ground level allowing you to spy on wildlife. These are commonly placed beside waterholes, so guests can watch thirsty animals taking a drink. It’s particularly thrilling to watch elephants, who you observe from their feet up.
This refers to sleeping out under the open night sky on a roll mat (covered with a mosquito net, of course). This unforgettable experience is completely out in the wilderness, under the stars. Perhaps not one for the fainthearted.
Last up on our list of common safari terms, star beds are similar to sleep-outs, except you’d usually sleep on elevated wooden platforms under the stars (most are covered by a mosquito net too). Let sensational stargazing begin…
Header image by Olivier Romano
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