Raw, real, and wild; a wildlife safari in Africa is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. But how to choose which one to do? Julia shares her tips on what to look out for when living out your Lion King dreams.

 

Wildlife safaris in Africa are full of profound, pinch-me moments. Firstly, you’re out of your comfort zone, far from cityscapes and civilisation, deeply entrenched in the wild. Secondly, you’re outnumbered, made to feel small in the world, observing the world’s largest land animals and endangered species roaming freely, coexisting, and most exhilaratingly, going in for the kill (it’s the circle of life, after all).

 

And thirdly, the continent is full of dreamy landscapes that are also worthy of multiple shutter clicks.

While the once-in-a-lifetime trip isn’t the cheapest of getaways, particularly from Australia, I guarantee a safari is one you’ll never forget. But how do you choose your safari, and where?

I’ve done my fair share of safari adventures across the continent and couldn’t believe my luck in South Africa, travelling with MW Tours. I saw the Big Five (elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, buffalo), walked up to a cheetah lounging in its territory, and got to be one of the very few to see a leopard up a tree. What it was doing was mind-blowing – but more on that later.

I’ll guide you through the differences between types of safaris and how you can elevate your African experience.

What’s the difference between a safari and a game drive?

Before strapping yourself in an open-vehicle ride to see wildlife galore, let’s get the terminology right. Safari, game drive – what’s what?

Let’s start with safari. Deriving from Swahili, ‘safari’ means journey. A wildlife safari in Africa generally encompasses the whole shebang: accommodation and activities, including a game drive.

‘Game’ refers to animals. A game drive is an expedition through wilderness areas to observe Africa’s famous and elusive animals in their element. Game drives typically last only a few hours and are regarded as the highlight of an African safari adventure.

Game drives involve driving around a national park or private game reserve in search of wildlife. Often in a 4WD open-air vehicle with tiered seating and a shaded canopy (driven by a guide), an overland adventure vehicle, or in a hired car (yes, you can drive around the African bush yourself!).

Choosing to drive yourself, while fun to do with your crew, means you’ll miss out on learning about African wildlife from a guide and having a tracker onboard to determine where to locate animals or spot disturbed areas. The African outback isn’t a place to skimp on expertise.

The difference between national parks and private game reserves

Firstly, not all wilderness areas are created equal. National parks are owned and managed by the province or state and are traditionally open to the public. While they’re accessible to many, national parks draw larger crowds and queues, particularly during peak season, and may hinder any chance of having an intimate, solitary experience with Africa’s wildlife. In most cases, game drives in national parks are restricted to driving along roads. On the plus side, going on a game drive at a national park is generally less expensive than in a private game reserve.

 

 

I’ve visited many national parks across Africa, including Tanzania’s Serengeti and Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park. While they’re both extraordinary places, depending on the time of year you visit, they may be swarmed by vehicles, which can hinder the wildlife experience you’re after.

As I watched a lion eat the remains of a zebra in the Serengeti, the moment was marred by cars snaking along the road to catch a glimpse. There were so many cars that it felt like peak hour, a larger-than-life zoo experience.

To avoid being in the wild with the masses, consider going on safari in a private game reserve, which offers unique and intimate wildlife experiences.

‘With fewer vehicles allowed on game drives, guests can enjoy uncrowded sightings, and more time spent observing animals in their natural habitats’, MW Tours Managing Director, Navy Wang says.

‘The flexibility of private reserves also allows for off-road game viewing and night drives, offering encounters not typically possible in national parks.’

I can attest to this. Never did I imagine I’d walk up to cheetahs in the wild in South Africa’s Karongwe Private Game Reserve, or go off-road to sit under the shadows of a leopard feasting on impala legs, hung like a scarf on a tree branch in Klaserie Private Nature Reserve.

You have a greater chance of experiencing these incredible moments with trained guides and vehicles that can go off-road or stop to host activities, like sundowners or dinner, in the wilderness of a private game reserve.

Choosing to be more adventurous in Africa may also help the environment.

Navy reveals how visiting a private reserve instead of a national park in South Africa may aid conservation efforts, with many invested in sustainable tourism and wildlife protection.

‘They [private game reserves] often operate on smaller scales with dedicated anti-poaching teams, rehabilitation programs, and active involvement in breeding endangered species’, Mr Wang tells me.

‘Compared to national parks, private reserves tend to have more control over their land management practices, allowing them to implement innovative conservation strategies and support local communities through employment and education initiatives.’

Now, going back to that leopard. I was staying at Simbavati Camp George Lodge, a small hotel in Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. It’s one of the largest private reserves in South Africa, spanning 60,000 hectares within the Greater Kruger National Park. There’s no boundary between the national park and its famous sister park, permitting animals to roam freely between. At Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, there are fewer cars and less disturbance, allowing wildlife to thrive in their natural habitats.

I’ll never forget the piercing crunch as the leopard ripped into the leftovers of impala legs hanging over a thick tree branch. Our driver steered us his way to get a closer look at the cat feasting on its days-old buffet. It was mesmerising and, I admit, a bit eerie, being mere metres from this elusive, hungry, lone predator.

 

 

I don’t know whose jaw was bigger, the leopards’ or mine, in shock and awe of what I was witnessing. We were one of two cars watching the leopard tuck into its feast for about half an hour before we departed, the leopard still going for it.

It was a pinch-me moment that may not have ever happened if not for being in a private game reserve, almost alone. And being out in the African wilderness, that’s definitely a time when solitude is bliss.

 

Julia D’Orazio, the author, was a guest of South Africa Tourism and MW Tours, and all thoughts and opinions are her own. 

Wildlife Encounters Make for the Best Adventures

This piece was brought to you by a real living human who felt the wind in their hair and described their adventure in their own words. This is because we rate authenticity and the sharing of great experiences in the natural world – it’s all part of our ethos here at We Are Explorers. You can read more about it in our Editorial Standards.