shelleyk

I just returned from SA. Part of the trip was on a safari. Having experienced it for myself, I'd like to know what you like best about going on a safari.

Gritty

I like not knowing what might be around that next bend in the road, or if you're on foot, what might be around that next tree or bush. It might be an elephant, wild dog, leopard, or "just" a lilac-breasted roller.

To me, the whole safari day schedule has its enjoyable moments. I'm not a morning person, but it is nice to get up to see the sun rise and hear the morning chorus of a set of bird species that is COMPLETELY different from those at home. I love how raucous the francolins can be! The morning drive/walks are almost always the most productive as all of the wildlife begin their daily routine. After a few hours of that, it's nice to take a mid-day nap (don't get to do that at work!) or continue driving around, if I'm self-driving. I love the colors of the afternoon drive/walk, with the impending sunset and tangible slow-down of life--it makes a great pairing with the sundowner drink! After the sun goes down, a different cast of characters begins to emerge, and I love getting to see the civets, genets, and bush babies as they start their "day." Finally, I find few things more enjoyable than listening to the spooky night sounds of the African bush--the hyenas, lions, bush babies, hippos, owls, nightjars, etc.

Then you get to wake up the next morning and experience it all over again!

Kavey

Oh it's hard to narrow it down to one.

There's something truly aweinspiring about observing wildlife in it's own habitat.

I find it romantic, invigorating, exciting, magical...

I love getting up early in the cold, dark mornings and shivering as I get dressed, but feeling so thrilled about what the day will hold.

I love seeing the dawn, feeling the warmth of the sunrise, cowering a little from the harsh light of day and watching the dusk fall.

I love the shapes and colours and textures of the environment.

I love how it's teeming with life, from insect, bird, reptile and mammal small and large.

I love sitting around a camp fire exchanging stories with others of similar attitude.

I love the joy of photography, even knowing I capture only a minute amount of the beauty I see.

I love all of it!

Kavey

Oh yes, the sheer delight of the unexpected! Yes!

And the sounds of the bush, the dawn chorus, the night time rustles and calls...

I could go on and on and on and on!

spassvogel

The thrill of not knowing what comes along the drive!

Besides that there is so much I LOVE about safaris............

Experiencing a totally new world and learning each and every time I am in the bush with a knowledgable guide.

The routine which is focused on to nature and not fashion, museaum, entertaintment etc. which comes with "normal" vacations

Meeting like minded people

Being pampered by the stuff (getting a cup of coffee for wake up, gorgeous meals, drinks, conversations)

The smell of the bush

...........

SV

HariS

The one thing I hate about safaris

- It ends too soon

sandi

Allowing Mother Africa surprise me at every turn

Sleeping under canvas

The amazing sunsets and smells

Simply being in Afree-kah!

flowerpower

I just loved reading this post.

Many years ago we went to S.Africa and I was terrified we would not love it as eveyone else.

Oh my, both of us cried leaving. It was magical, spritual, exciting, unexpected, adventurous; we were always laughing and/or crying...it was life as I have never known during two weeks.

Since then we've been to other continents and even though we've had great times, we would look at each other and say, but it's not Africa is it?

That is how we came to plan the East Africa trip that has taken over my life for the moment.
Of course being an "outdoor designer" just walking outside makes me happy and to be able to spend my entire day out - and seeing foilage,plants,trees, flowers, soil as a backdrop to the magnificant living beings...well, it makes me so happy I am able to experience that "feeling" that all of you know so well.
It can leave you breathless.

FP

atravelynn

I can't add anything else, only to acknowledge what everyone has written.

Great question. Anybody contemplating this type of trip should just read this, then go.

Elizabeth_S

Great question! We're going for the first time in 11 weeks - counting the days!

LAleslie

Add: The local people, whether camp staff or local villagers. It's as much a pleasure to meet them and learn about their lives as it is to see the amazing animals.

But to a city girl, nothing fascinates more than seeing all kinds of animals interacting in their habitat. Unending dramas and surprises.

cw

I felt extremely lucky and privileged to have had the wildlife viewing experience. To be in the bush and see the different animals up close, in their habitat, living their lives as they have forever (albeit without land rovers looking at them), was an absolutely amazing experience. Life is so precarious and precious, I’m so happy I could see this. Every year, it seems as though the land for these animals shrinks and I fear that in the future the wildlife experience could be very different.

Added to this, was the wonderful people we met in South Africa, and the quality lodgings, staff, and guiding we experienced. That was the big picture. The smaller thrills are harder to describe—coffee laced with Amarula early morning in the Timbavati just after seeing new lion brothers in the area; late night stories around the boma with new-found friends; walking through the bush seeing the small features of the ecosystem; watching the silly playful young impala jumping and galloping around the herd; and too many more moments to describe. Can’t wait to return. I learned so much, yet have so much more to learn. Africa was where it all began, and I felt humbled to be able to make that connection. (Boy, I hope that doesn't sound as sappy as I think!)

Shelley, on another thread you said you did not enjoy part of your South Africa trip as much as you thought. Was this the safari part?

Lifeman

We've just returned from a couple of weeks in SA, including 2 nights in Shamwari. We enjoyed everything about the game drives, even the getting up at 5:30am.

Being on foot and 20 feet away from 5 rhinos has its own special appeal!

shelleyk

cw-At the risk of being banned from the Africa board, I have to admit that I did not enjoy the safari part of our trip as much as some of the other parts of the trip, or as much as I anticipated I would. It was not because we did not see the animals because we were lucky enough to see many species numerous times. It was just that after seeing hundreds of ellephants, and many rhinos, wildebeasts and buffalos in different settings, it seemed to be enough. Same with some of the other animals we saw. Just as some people get churched out in Europe, or templed out in Thailand and Cambodia, I got animalled out in Africa (I believe I made up a new term, but you know what I mean). It's not that we did not enjoy the experience. We did. But would we do it again. I do not think so.

jules39

Shelly I did wonder when I read this post if your answer was not going to be the same as the others that immediately followed your question. Congrats on being brave enough to be so honest. It would be terrible if we all loved exactly the same things. It would be a boring world indeed! Happy travels. J

jules39

Forgot to add that I do love safari for a lot of the reasons others have mentioned. I just love being out there. But I also love travelling to other places also for totally different types of experiences that I just love. J

cw

shelley,

Thanks for your honest answer. In some ways you're lucky--think of the thousands of dollars you can save to spend in other favorite locations!

I suspect many safari goers are one-time visitors and that the Africa board attracts those of us who loved the experience and never stop planning, even virtually, the next trip. Until the next safari, I live vicariously through the trip reports of others.

Did you stay at a private lodge or do a self-drive? I ask, because I wonder what our experience would have been if we had done a different kind of first-time trip. As it was, we stayed in private reserves.

napamatt_2

Last time I heard "animaled out" was at Mombo, but the poor dears were on their third game drive out of four (they stayed in bed for #4) - we got a private vehicle - score!

I like the thread's question though Shelley, and the previous responses are so good I hesitate to throw mine in, but here goes.

1. Getting off the plane at Mala Mala.
2. Meeting old friends.
3. First Lion / Leopard / Ele...you get the point.
4. First afternoon game drive.
5. Looking at spoor first thing in the morning around camp.
6. Being so close to a big cat you can almost hear them breathe.
7. The Lion's roar.
8. The Hyena's wup.

atravelynn

I've actually posted threads soliciting responses like Shelleyk's. I knew that sentiment had to be out there. It's good to have a variety of reactions.

Here's a question for Shelleyk, at home, do you prefer to spend time immersed in nature, or would you rather do other things?

shelleyk

cw-We did not do a self drive. The first safari was in Hluhluwe Game Reserve in an open sided 8 passenger vehicle. The second was in Kruger NP, again in an open sided vehicle. We stayed just outside of Kruger at the Protea Main Gate which I thought was a wonderful hotel with a very African feel. The dinners in the boma were very good. The rooms were spacious and clean. Best of all, the viewing deck near the bar overlooked Kruger NP and the Sabie River, so I could sit with my binoculars and observe the elephants and other animals coming down to the river to drink and dine on the nearby trees and shrubs. I actually enjoyed this more than riding around in the vehicles.

Atravelynn, when at home I enjoy spending time outdoors either hiking or taking long walks, as well as going to museums. One of the best parts of this trip was walking around Table Mountain and Kirstenbach Gardens where we spent several hours. Maybe one of the reasons I was not too keen on the safari experience is that I found riding in the vehicles for hours at a time to be very confining as well as boring. I did like the stops at Skukuza for breakfast where we saw many wildebeasts and buffalos at the river. But even though we saw hundreds of animals, (I counted more than 25 different kinds), I found it less exciting as each hour in the vehicle passed.