The word safari comes from the Arabic verb "safar," meaning "to make a journey," while "safarlya" is a Swahili synonym of "safar." Arabian and African cultures were intertwined in early history with traders in caravans bringing their goods from city to city. The first safaris were used for trading. Besides trading wares, eighteenth century trading even involved humans who were sold. Slave trading ended in the late 1800s, changing the goal of safaris from business to adventure or exploration. Naturalists, such as William John Burchell, and others gave safaris a nobler purpose and were instrumental in identifying animal species. However, on a negative note, these pioneer naturalists placed an overemphasis on hunting, clearing away much wildlife. Thus, the conservation movement followed, changing the purpose of safaris from hunting to studying and photographing animals.
There are different types of safaris, depending on terrain, climate and someone's personal preference for adventure. Most safaris travel to various camps or lodges, spending one to three nights at each site. Before dawn the adventure begins with a game drive. Motor transport tours are the safest type of safari when viewing dangerous animals as bears, tigers and lions. Canoe safaris, although common in Southern Africa, as well as other areas, aren't popular in Eastern African countries as Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Elephant safaris let people interact with Africa's largest animal as they enjoy rides through wilderness areas. Game walks, led by armed guides are usually the cheapest type of safari. They also offer the best opportunities to see more animals than taking an entire trip in vehicles, because often animals pop out of bushes that wouldn't be as visible from a truck or jeep.
Anti-malaria medication isn't required in every country, but is strongly recommended. Talk to your physician about any shots or immunizations you may need to take for your safari. Visit the Center of Disease Control website to learn the requirements for different countries. Contact the area where you plan to go to find out the time when the animals are most dense and visible. Usually, the best time of the year is during a region's dry season. In addition to being able to walk around, you can see and photograph more animals when it's dry because the grass grows too too tall to see some of the animals during the rainy season. Botswana in Southern Africa and Tanzania in Eastern Africa are considered the best countries for wildlife safaris. However, you get two different experiences with each country. While Botswana offers the best wildlife, such as plentiful elephant herds, Tanzania has the best scenery, including Mount Kilimanjaro.
What to wear on a safari depends on where you're going. If taking a hot African safari, chances are you'll need to wear shorts and a T-shirt during the day, but then change into long pants and long sleeves at night for mosquito protection. Also, some areas have extreme changes in temperature from day to night, so bring light layers of clothing. On the other hand, if you are going on an Alaskan wildlife safari, bring warm clothes, including socks, gloves and a hat. Dress in layers so you can peel clothes off, storing them in your backpack. Also bring a change of clothes for a sudden storm, as Alaskan weather is usually unpredictable.
Families may not want to bring along their children, fearing it is too unsafe. However, a safari adventure doesn't have to venture into a country's deepest and most dangerous areas to have a full safari experience. Also, many areas where safaris are offered are malaria-free.
Travelers should always invest in travel insurance before leaving for a trip. Throughout the trip, be alert for changing travel advisories and warnings. By going to an area against official advice, you can risk not getting covered by your travel insurance. Safaris are not for people who enjoy being independent. Always stay with your safari group and at do not veer away from your camp or lodge at night. By wandering off alone from your base, you risk the danger of meeting dangerous animals or getting lost.
