SAFARIS AND WILDLIFE WATCHING

4x4 safaris, walking safaris or fly-in safaris … Who hasn’t heard friends talk about the thrilling moments they experienced on safari in South Africa, Namibia, Zambia or Botswana? Encounters with lions, leopards, giraffes, elephants and many other wild animals. But what does a typical day on safari actually look like? We asked Sydonea Hlatswayo, head ranger at Lion Sands Ivory Lodge in South Africa. His answer: ‘When I started out as a ranger many years ago, a dream came true for me – and I live it again every single day. Every day on safari is different and always exciting for us, but even more so for our guests. We are proud to share the fascinating nature of Southern Africa, with its rich wildlife and magnificent landscapes, with you on our safaris.’ Every day is a little miracle – with slight differences depending on the region, the season and the lodge – but wherever you are, it usually goes something like this:

6 h: A light bite
If you want to see as much as possible on safari, you need to be up early. Shortly after sunrise, most animals are at their most active. To save time, we serve our guests a light breakfast with coffee, tea and a few snacks. And off we go!

6:30 h: Setting off on a 4x4 safari
We begin our safari in open 4x4 vehicles. It is often still cool, so we recommend bringing a jacket. The morning light is particularly beautiful for photography, and the animals are very active, offering incredible moments to capture. We can usually drive the jeeps to within a few metres of the animals without disturbing them.

10 h: Breakfast
At around 10 o’clock we are back at camp, where a hearty breakfast awaits you. After that, your time is your own.

13 h: Lunch
You can watch the wildlife even over lunch – sometimes the animals come right up to the lodges.

15:30 h: Afternoon tea safari
Safaris always have a touch of colonial charm, which makes ‘afternoon tea’ with a little something to eat an absolute must.

16 h: Setting off on the second safari
In the late afternoon, the savannah comes back to life: time for the second safari. At sunset, drinks are traditionally served out in the bush while the sun bathes the surrounding landscape in a reddish-orange glow.

19:30 h: Drinks and dinner
As darkness falls, we return to camp at around 19:00 so that you can freshen up and enjoy a drink before dinner is served.

21:30 h: Campfire
Your day comes to a fantastic close around the campfire beneath the extraordinary African night sky.

Safari A to Z
During your stay at a safari lodge, you will be offered a range of activities to discover the fantastic wildlife, depending on the region. Between activities, there is also time to enjoy the amenities of your lodge.
Game drives A game drive is an excursion in an open off-road vehicle (often away from the tracks) to experience the animals at close quarters. Game walks: walking safaris are led by an experienced ranger. They are special moments in which to learn more about the vegetation and the world of the smaller creatures and insects of the African bush that you never get to see on a classic safari.
Canoe trips (mokoros) Accompanied by your mokoro guide, you glide silently through narrow channels often covered with water lilies. These outings offer excellent conditions for spotting the many bird species and sometimes even the larger animals.
Boat rides Ideal for watching big animals in the water, such as hippos and crocodiles, as well as animals coming down to drink. The trips are at their most beautiful at sunset.
4x4 excursions (nature drives) Simply take your seat in the vehicle and enjoy the breathtaking beauty of nature. These tours often lead to viewpoints, and drinks are usually served at sunset.
Hides Several lodges have observation posts known as ‘hides’, from which you can watch and photograph the animals from a different perspective. 
Fly-in safaris A light aircraft is the ideal way to combine different camps. The flight from lodge to lodge and from camp to camp is an experience in itself. From the air, you marvel at the most varied landscapes and reach the most remote regions with ease.