Safari holidays and activity breaks

Tom Le Bas, Travel Editor at timeoutdoors, looks at safari holidays around the globe, and gives advice on what to expect.

A safari means a thrilling encounter with wild animals in their natural surroundings. The scenery tends to be sublime and the experience of being close to wild nature is exhilarating.

WHAT TO EXPECT
The usual routine on safari – at least in Africa, and often in other safari destinations such as India – is to set out very early in the morning in a four-wheel-drive in order to get the best sightings. You’ll then return to base for a late breakfast or brunch, and perhaps a siesta, before heading out again in the mid-afternoon. There may be one day with a longer excursion. A few safaris will include an excursion after dark, although these are only permitted in certain reserves.

Safari packages often take in more than one national park, and are often combined with other activities to make up a longer tour: for example, many safaris to Kenya will visit the Masai Mara before journeying to another Kenyan, or Tanzanian, reserve and perhaps also include a trip to the Great Rift Valley or a beach resort, too. In other parts of the world, the wildlife-spotting may form part of a longer trip which takes in major tourist sights. Such Activity Holidays can last anywhere from a week to three weeks or more. A single-base safari would typically involve thee or four nights, and is the kind of short Activity Break that can be tacked onto an existing holiday. A few itineraries combine the safari with some voluntary work in a local community.

You’ll want to bring a good camera and, crucially, a decent pair of binoculars to get the most out of the experience.

ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation facilities depend on location and the price of your safari, but on the whole you can choose between staying in a safari lodge, which can range from spartan to very comfortable, or in a tent. Camping, generally an option on an African safari, brings you much closer to the wilderness – you’ll be able to hear wildlife close to your tent at night (there’s no danger!) – and some of the larger tents are positively luxurious: in fact, camping can work out more expensive than staying in a lodge. Most people would argue it’s worth it for the experience. You can expect meals and transfers to be included in the price.

WHERE TO GO
The most popular safari locations are in East Africa, none more so than Kenya and Tanzania, with nearby Uganda another possibility. There are also some fabulous reserves in the southern part of the continent – Kruger National Park in South Africa and the Okavango Delta in Botswana, with others in Namibia, Zambia, Malawi and the unique island of Madagascar.

Elsewhere, wildlife safaris are big business in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. In Central and South America, Costa Rica, the Galapagos islands and Brazil (Amazon and the Pantanal wetlands) are the main draws.