Safari holidays with Saga

If you’re planning a safari holiday, Africa tops the list for the classic safari experience, with some of the world’s most unforgettable wildlife-spotting opportunities and iconic national parks. From Kenya and Tanzania to South Africa, Botswana and Namibia, you’re spoiled for choice when you consider where to go on an African safari.

Watch the Great Migration between the Serengeti and Masai Mara, see one of the world’s highest concentrations of elephants in Botswana, or explore the vast Kruger National park in South Africa, just for starters. But you’re not limited to Africa for a safari holiday, with a chance to see tigers, leopards and sloth bears in India, venturing into jungles and taking jeep drives through some of the most unspoiled corners of the country.

There are more spectacular wildlife holidays across the world as well, from the rich variety of animals in Costa Rica to orangutans in Borneo, the wildlife of Peru in the depths of the Amazon rainforest, the spectacular Galapagos Islands, home to creatures found nowhere else on earth, or even snow monkeys in Japan.

The best time for a safari in Africa is during the dry season, when animals cluster around water holes and find fewer hiding places in the undergrowth, making them easier to see.

The dry season varies slightly across different countries in Africa, with July to September among the best months for East Africa, and June to September in southern Africa, although South Africa’s varying climates mean you can find a safari holiday almost year-round. Some countries also have a shorter dry season around January and February, when there’s a better chance of seeing newborn animals too.

The classic safari experience involves game drives, usually just after dawn and just before sunset, during the coolest periods of the day, when you have the best chance of seeing the wildlife. Most African safari holidays work to this schedule, although you’ll also find some offer walking safaris where you can head out on foot, including nature walks while on safari in India.

Some safari holidays in southern Africa also include a river safari, cruising along the water to see everything from hippos and elephants to crocodiles, as well as birds. In Zimbabwe, the Zambezi river is Africa’s fourth-longest river, flowing above Victoria Falls, while in neighbouring Botswana, the Chobe River gives another view of Chobe National Park.

Each destination will give you a slightly different set of wildlife-spotting opportunities, so if you’ve got your heart set on seeing a particular animal, it pays to choose your safari holiday carefully. Africa is famous for the ‘Big Five’ – lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo – although you won’t find these iconic creatures in every national park. Kruger National Park is one of the best places to see all five, along with the Masai Mara in Kenya.

The Serengeti and Masai Mara are particularly good for spotting lions, while some of Kenya’s national parks have some of the continent’s most significant rhino populations. For elephant and buffalo, it’s hard to beat Chobe National Park in Botswana, with over 120,000 elephants and huge Cape buffalo herds numbering in the thousands too.

But that’s only the start of what you can see; spot cheetah, hippo and hyena across much of Africa, along with the plains animals such as giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and various species of antelope. Or discover the ‘Little Five’, a set of much tinier animals made up of the elephant shrew, the ant lion, the buffalo weaver, the rhinoceros beetle and the leopard tortoise, not to mention a whole string of other smaller mammals and reptiles. Africa is also a wonderful destination for bird-watchers too, with over 500 different species seen in many of the continent’s national parks, including migratory species.

The Big Five originally had a rather darker meaning, used to refer to the most dangerous big game animals to hunt, but is now used by safari-goers as their must-see list of Africa’s iconic wildlife. The Big Five themselves are lions, leopards, elephants, rhino and buffalo (also known as Cape Buffalo).

One of the biggest considerations when you’re choosing what to wear on safari is the colour of your clothing; neutral shades, such as khaki, browns, beige and muted greens are best, although avoid camouflage print because of its military connotations. Bright colours which stand out aren’t a great idea, while both blue and black attract tsetse flies, with the darker shades also feeling very hot in the African sun. Cream shades are fine but not always practical when it’s very dusty during the dry season or in the mud of the rainy season.

Most safari holidays in Africa take place during the dry season, when it’s often cool in the mornings and overnight, but hot during the day, so you’ll also need layers. A fleece or hoody is useful for early morning game drives, while a scarf can be handy in the evenings. Otherwise, comfort is key so consider lightweight layers such as loose trousers or shorts for hotter temperatures.

You won’t need anything particularly smart, with a relaxed dress code at most safari camps and lodges. Casual clothes are best for the daytime between your game drives, including a swimming costume if there’s a pool at your accommodation.

Closed-toe shoes are also the most practical option for a safari, which will protect your feet against thorns, insects and uneven ground, while a lightweight, breathable rain jacket is also useful if you’re travelling during the rainier months or shoulder season when it also tends to be hot and humid.

Yes, safaris are extremely safe if you travel with a reputable operator and follow common sense precautions and any advice from your guides. Never approach animals on safari, remain quiet and still around the wildlife and don’t leave your vehicle unless advised to by your guide.

It’s vital to remember that these are wild animals and most can be extremely dangerous, especially if they do feel threatened – it’s not only obvious predators such as lions either, hippos are the most dangerous large land mammal in Africa, as they’re territorial, aggressive and surprisingly fast. Cape Buffalo can also be very aggressive and unpredictable, especially when protecting their young. It's not just the large animals which can be dangerous, with snakes and insects also posing a potential threat. Taking sensible precautions, such as wearing appropriate footwear and insect repellent will help, while safari lodges are also well equipped to keep guests safe.

Choosing a guided safari holiday is also a good idea to avoid other risks, such as getting lost in the wide expanse of the national parks, vehicle breakdowns and difficult road conditions during wet weather.

Yes, animals do notice safari vehicles but won’t typically see them as either a threat or as prey. In the larger national parks, the sight of the vehicles is familiar to the wildlife and they’re accepted as no threat, so they generally ignore them unless there’s any unexpected behaviour – such as people making loud noises or putting arms outside the vehicle – which might provoke or alarm them. Many larger predators, such as lions, will be looking for smaller, moving prey and their instincts are triggered by specific shapes and sudden movements. A stationary, silent safari vehicle containing people who are also quiet and still doesn’t register; it’s also bigger than the prey they’d usually attack, and lions will perceive the vehicle as a whole, not the individuals inside it.

As a rule, most wild animals won’t come near humans if they can avoid it and guides are experts in knowing how to avoid any behaviour which might have an impact on the wildlife, whether that’s causing fear, aggression or simply affecting their natural behaviour. Occasionally younger animals, such as lion cubs, can be curious about safari vehicles but as long as you follow your guide’s advice, you’re very unlikely to be at any risk.

Yes, safaris can be vital for conservation, with tourism helping to raise money to protect the national parks, as well as preventing poaching, either by providing alternative jobs or encouraging security measures. Raised awareness of some critically endangered animals, particularly rhinos and wild dogs, has also led to new conservation projects and sanctuaries to protect the wildlife.

Needless to say, it’s important to choose an ethical tour operator when you’re planning a safari, ideally ones which invest in conservation, plus those supporting sustainable initiatives benefiting both the local communities and the wildlife. With more focus on green travel, you’ll also find more lodges using solar energy, and traditional jeeps being swapped for electric vehicles.