SAFARIS AND WILDLIFE VIEWING IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

Who hasn’t heard thrilling tales of safaris? Of encounters with lions, leopards, giraffes, elephants and many other wild animals.

But what is a typical safari day actually like?
Sydonea Hlatswayo, head ranger at Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, describes a typical safari day like this: When I started out as a ranger many years ago, a dream came true for me – one I have been lucky enough to live anew every day since. Because every safari day is different and always exciting – for us, but even more so for our guests. We are proud to be able to bring you closer to the fascinating animals and wonderful landscapes of Southern Africa on our safaris. And with small differences depending on the region, season and lodge, they follow much the same pattern almost everywhere:

06:00 Breakfast If you want to see a lot on safari, you have to get up early. Shortly after sunrise, many animals are particularly active. So as not to lose any time, we serve our guests just a light breakfast of coffee, tea and a few nibbles – and then we’re off.

06:30 Safari in our open off-road vehicles, which we drive ourselves. It is often still cool, so a jacket is a good idea. The morning light is particularly beautiful for photos. And because many animals are very active at this time of day, there are plenty of different subjects. In our nimble jeeps we can usually get to within a few metres of the animals without disturbing them.

10:00 Brunch By around 10 we are back at camp, where a hearty breakfast awaits our guests. After that, everyone has some time to themselves.

13:00 Lunch Even over lunch you can watch the animals – sometimes they come right up to the lodges.

15:30 Afternoon tea Safaris still have a touch of colonial flair – so of course afternoon tea with a few snacks is a must.

16:00 Safari In the late afternoon, life in the savannah stirs once more – time for the second safari. At sunset we traditionally serve a sundowner by the jeep, so that our guests can savour this unique atmosphere in style with a drink and a few snacks.

19:30 Aperitifs and dinner It is already dark when we return to camp at around 19h. Once our guests have freshened up, we serve aperitifs and dinner.

21:30 Campfire The evening draws to a close around the campfire beneath the sparkling African night sky.

Safari ABC
Depending on the region and season, the lodges offer different safari activities. Each one is different, and each one is fascinating.

Game drives
Out and about in an open four-wheel-drive vehicle, often off the beaten track, to get as close to the animals as possible.

Bush walks (game walks)
Accompanied by experienced rangers, you roam the bush and discover small details that often remain hidden from the jeep. Even though the rangers ensure your safety, a walk like this is still a little thrilling.

Dugout canoe trips (mokoros)
A guide poles the traditional canoe along the rivers, where you can watch birds and many large animals on the banks.

Boat cruises
Motorboats are ideal for watching large animals such as hippos and crocodiles.

Nature walks
Here the focus is on the breathtaking landscapes rather than the animals. Outings at sunset are especially beautiful.

Hides
Several lodges have so-called ‘hides’, from which you can often watch and photograph animals at eye level.

Fly-in safaris
On a fly-in safari in a small propeller plane, the vast scale of these spectacular landscapes and their wildlife is especially impressive.