Ten Safari Etiquette Tips to Remember When you Travel in Africa
Not sure what is expected of you when on a safari? We've got 10 great tips to help you improve your safari etiquette and make sure you, as well as everyone else, enjoy the safari experience when travelling in Africa.
Ten Safari Etiquette Tips to Remember When you Travel in Africa
Posted by Dalene Ingham-Brown on 23 Jan 2012, 12:51
Categories: Top 10
Out of respect you wouldn’t race an old lady to the last chair in the home affairs office. Showing respect when exploring Mother Nature’s landscapes shouldn’t be any different. Here are a few safari etiquette tips to help you follow respectful rules and regulations, for when you decide to travel in Africa.
Here are a few safari etiquette tips:
1. Stick to Paths
Believe it or not, hardcore Africa’s vegetation is extremely sensitive. When you’re on a self-drive game drive, sticking to the designated paths means less erosion and decreases the amount of unwanted vegetation spreading.
2. Sssssh!
You wouldn’t like it if someone rolled a marching band past your bedroom, so remember to observe wildlife silently, disturbing their natural activities as much as possible. Even loud talking is often enough to scare animals away.
3. Don't disrupt
Excessive use of spotlights during night drives ruins the experience. Not only are the activities of nocturnal animals’ disrupted, but they also end up suffering from temporary blindness and disorientation.
4. Don't tease
Teasing or cornering wild animals is a no-no! The animal may feel threatened or agitated and lash out with an unpredictable response, and probably a dangerous one too. You may believe that the human race is at the top of the food chain, but tease a lion and we’ll soon see who’s eating who for dinner.
5. Don't attract attention
Never try to attract an animal's attention. Imitating animal sounds, clapping one’s hands, banging on the safari vehicle and throwing objects is not on. If someone did any of those to you to attract your attention, you would most probably snap at them. Wildlife is no different.
6. Your guide is an expert
Your guide is an expert when it comes to the African wilderness, so it’s a really good idea to listen to him, follow his advice and ask him questions if there is something you want to know.
7. Don't get too Close
When you’re on a game drive on your travels in Africa, trust that your guide has your best interests at heart. He will go as close as possible to wildlife, within a proximity that ensures the safety of his important passengers. Therefore insisting that he take you closer to wildlife, isn’t a good idea. If a safari vehicle is driven too close to where wildlife are going about their daily activities, it can disrupt a hunt and mean that predators lose out on the chance to catch their dinner.
8. Don't sleep outside
On that note; never sleep outside. A variety of creepy crawlies, buzzards and hungry predators love a sitting duck.
9. Don't smoke
You should try and not smoke on game drives. One stray cigarette butt could easily ignite a flash fire, killing defenseless animals.
10. Conserve Nature
Ever heard of the saying “Take nothing but photo’s, leave nothing but footprints”? It is a great principle to stand by in the name of nature conservation. Removing natural material from wildlife reserves disrupts the ecology of the area and increases the spread of disease amongst wildlife and vegetation. Also, littering in a wildlife reserve results in animals chocking and being poisoned, harming the surrounding eco system.
General good etiquette when you travel in Africa means showing your guide, and nature, the respect they deserve. If you follow these few simple safari etiquette tips, you (and those around you) will be able to enjoy an unspoiled safari in Africa.
Now that you know what to do, the only thing left to decide, is where to go! Browse a variety of luxury safari options: Savuti Camp, Tubu Tree Camp, Chobe Game Lodge, Jock Safari Lodge or Bumi Hills Safari Lodge.
