What to Expect
In order to get the most out of your safari experience, it is important to know what to expect when you get there. This section will give you an overview of a typical lodge, the accommodation, the daily routine, how to spot wildlife, and how to make the most of your bush visit.
The Lodge
Most lodges are built to fit in with the surrounding environment, typically being of wooden construction, with tented or wattled walls, earth coloured tiles and other rustic decoration. Some lodges are very large, with up to 50 chalets or rondavels (traditional round African huts), whilst others are much smaller and will only accommodate up to 8 couples. The smaller lodges are often popular with couples wanting a more intimate and private experience.
Location
Lodges are usually located next to their own watering hole, in order to attract animals so that guests may be able to view game whilst dining or relaxing at the lodge. Some lodges are located deeper in the reserve than others, but all lodges should feel remote and peaceful.
Fenced or Unfenced
Lodges are either game fenced, which means they have a protective barrier around them to keep out the majority of game, or they are unfenced which means they are essentially in the middle of the bush with no protection from passing animals at all.
Whether a lodge is fenced or unfenced, it is still advisable to be cautious at night, and even in fenced lodges the guides often escort the guests to their rooms, though this is not always necessary depending on the extent of the fencing.
However, both fenced and unfenced lodges should be considered safe. If a lodge is unfenced, please do not go wondering off into the bush on your own!
Food and Dining
Depending on the size of your lodge, they will have kitchen staff to prepare all your meals. Many national park lodges are entirely self-catering though, so you will need to check this when booking. You will often dine outside, weather permitting, or in the dining room area. The dining areas are usually situated within sight of the watering hole.
At night you will often dine in the ‘boma’, which is an enclosed area outdoors (boma means ‘enclosure’), where the lodge staff will build a roaring fire and serve braai type food (barbeque).
The quality of food varies from lodge to lodge, but you will often find exotic things on the menu such as Impala and Kudu. If you don’t like the idea of eating game, all lodges offer more standard fare.
With regards to game food, all reserves need to crop populations of certain animals to preserve the balance of the ecosystem, called the economic carrying capacity (see the Conservation section for more information). So these animals become food for the guests and lodge staff. Nothing in the bush ever goes to waste, and animals are not killed for the benefit of the tourists.
Leisure and Relaxation
Most lodges have a swimming pool or plunge pool, and some even have private plunge pools for each chalet. In addition to this, all lodges have a bar area (often called the ‘lapa’, which is an open-sided thatched building), a lounge area with books to read, and some of the bigger and more luxurious lodges even have spa facilities. However, most visitors, after having to get up for the early morning game drive at 5am, are quite content to sleep, sunbathe and read all day!
Safety
The area of the lodge and the chalets is usually very safe. Even in an unfenced reserve, animals don’t often come right up to the lodge or the chalets, but there are exceptions to this.
Sometimes elephants come into unfenced lodges to drink from the swimming pool or plunge pools. They may look docile and friendly, but please remember these are wild animals and they are not comfortable being close to humans, even if they are the ones approaching you – they are probably expecting you to move away. Never approach a wild animal yourself.
If you do venture off the beaten path around the lodge area, please be careful where you step. Snakes such as puff adders are notorious for sunbathing on paths, and unlike most snakes, they don’t bother to get out of your way. If you step on a puff adder by mistake, it will let you know about it in a very painful way!
At night it is usually safe to sit on your deck, but depending on the time of year there may be too many insects around for this to be a pleasant experience, particularly if your room is next to the watering hole. Always sleep with the windows and doors closed.
The Accommodation
Lodges offer different types of accommodation for guests, from log-cabin type chalets and huts, to luxurious tents.
Rondavels
A rondavel is a rounded hut, usually made with wattle and daub walls and a thatched roof. Many lodges construct their chalets around a typical rondavel theme.
Tents
Tented chalets are not your ordinary tent. The only similarity between a tented safari camp and your average camping tent, is the fact that the walls are made from fabric, and that’s usually where the similarity ends! Tented camps are usually very luxurious, and particularly in the summer months can be a wonderful way to enjoy the bush.
The Staff
On a guided safari, the field guide will be your primary contact during your stay. They will arrange the daytime activities for you, organise what time you want your lunch and evening meals, and assist with any other queries or requests you have during your stay.
Aside from the field guide, there will also be catering staff that will prepare and serve your meals, and at bigger lodges there will be general administration and reception staff to help with other queries.
The Routine
The daily routine varies from lodge to lodge, but on a guided vehicle safari, the routine is usually as follows:
4am to 5am: Wake up, assemble at the lodge for tea and coffee.
6am to 9am: The morning game drive. Ideally this will be conducted even earlier. Prime game viewing time is at first light, so anytime from 4.30am onwards is ideal. If you have arranged a bush walk, this will take place during this time. During the drive, the guide will usually park in a scenic spot and you will be able to stretch your legs and walk around, whilst the guide provides everyone with refreshments and a snack.
9am to 4pm: Free time. You will have a proper breakfast at the lodge, and usually a lunch or snack during the day. During this time you can sunbathe, read, use the leisure facilities or catch up on your sleep!
4pm to 7pm: Assemble at the lodge for afternoon tea, and then the evening game drive. It gets dark around 6pm, so the guide will pull over for sundowners, so that you can stretch your legs and enjoy a drink in the bush under a beautiful African sunset.
7pm onwards: The evening meal is served at the lodge, either in the dining room or outside in the boma. In smaller lodges all the guests sit together on one big table, and the guide will often join them for the meal.
If you want a more private experience or if you’re feeling anti-social, please inform the guide and ask to be seated on your own table. Some lodges will even provide you with a meal in your room or on the deck of your chalet.
Once you have finished your meal you are free to return to your chalet at whatever time you like. Some guests stay up quite late talking to the guide or amongst themselves, enjoying the bush night.
Spotting Wildlife
Spotting animals is a skill that often requires some practice. Especially if you live in a city, your eyes will not be accustomed to the bland colours of the bush and the myriad of tangled flora that hides the animals. Remember, most of the animals are camouflaged specifically so they won’t be spotted, so you are immediately put at a disadvantage!
In time, you will develop what we call ‘busheyes’. No, don’t worry, this isn’t some form of exotic disease, it’s a skill whereby you will be able to spot wildlife much easier.
The best way to develop your spotting skills is to learn to look through the bush, not at it. Whilst walking or viewing from the vehicle, concentrate on a medium distance, looking through the bush at nothing in particular, until your eyes naturally fall on something that catches your attention.
Look for shapes and colours that appear out of place, and for movement. Switch your field of vision from close up, to medium ground to long distance. And don’t forget to look up in the trees for birds, snakes and if you’re very lucky, leopard.
If you do spot an animal that the guide or other guests don’t appear to have seen, please inform the guide or tracker, as they cannot spot everything, and often guests in the back of the vehicle are higher up and have a much better view of the surrounding bush than the guide.
Hearing Wildlife
On a vehicle safari all you will hear is the diesel engine whilst travelling along the park roads, but the guide will turn this off when you stop to view game and you can enjoy the natural sounds of the bush.
When you stop for evening sundowners, try to listen very carefully for the call of lions. This is a very guttural sound, full of bass. If you are fortunate enough to hear this up close, it is one of the most awe inspiring experiences of the bush. The sound literally reverberates through your body, so it’s no wonder you can hear these beasts from 3km away!
The Big Five
The ‘Big Five’ animals that are so often referred to in tourism literature are the lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and rhinos. While these animals are undoubtedly impressive creatures, please remember that the bush is full of hundreds of other no-less fascinating and beautiful animals. Furthermore, although it is often suggested in safari marketing, perhaps between the lines, that you will see the ‘Big Five’ during your stay, please note that this is by no means guaranteed. Animals such as leopards are extremely elusive creatures and if you do see one, you can count yourself very, very lucky. Some guides can spend a whole year in the bush and never see a leopard.
Planning Your Safari Experience
The field guide will often ask you what kind of game you’re hoping to see, so that the guide can better plan the game drive or bush walk. If you have a particular interest, such as birding or botany, please inform the guide so they can plan the best possible experience for you. Even if you are riding on a vehicle with a number of other guests, the guide will try to make the drive fit around everyone’s needs.
If you are going on a Self-Drive safari, it’s worth studying the maps of the park roads to find the most likely places to spot game. Go to the watering holes in the early morning and late afternoon, and any roads near these sites, as the animals are likely to be coming to and from the watering holes.
