The history of the African Safari

The African Safari is a tradition which goes back many years. The word safari has its root in the Arabic word ‘safar’ which roughly translated means ‘to make a journey’. This was then borrowed into Swahili as ‘safari’ and simply cane to mean ‘to travel’.  In its original context a safari would refer to any kind of travel and was often used in the context of travelling long trade routes. The modern connotations of khaki shorts, pith helmets and great adventure only came later.

The earliest African safaris were therefore not relaxing holidays but where in fact trading operations. The Arabic and African cultures established great trade routes between them on which large caravans of traders would travel across vast distances to trade their wares. The rich resources of Africa meant that many profitable and highly prized objects were traded throughout Africa on those early African safaris.

As colonisation began European trade caravans quickly joined in on a large scale. European safari caravans were generally very large and required huge numbers of staff to crew them and vast amounts of supplies to sustain them. Some of the routes they travelled became known to be particularly treacherous and required very careful and skilful navigation and bartering to get through safely. This was particularly true as they began to trade increasingly in slaves as well as other precious materials.

It was only with the ending of the slave trade that the purpose of African safaris shifted from one of trade and commerce to one of adventure and exploration. it was at this point that naturalists and explorers  such as William John Burchell and Gustav Fischer redefined what it meant to go on safari. They went on exploratory travels throughout Africa identifying and cataloguing new animals that they encountered.  

It was also at this time that African safaris became known for another popular pursuit, namely hunting. African safaris soon became synonymous with hunting trips with many enthusiastic hunters travelling to Africa in the hopes of bagging the most impressive trophies.

It was this era of African safaris that gave us the connotation of adventure and exploration that are still associated with safaris today. Ironically we also have these early hunters to thank for much of the conservation movement concerned with African wildlife today. This is because many of the great hunters kept great records of their time in Africa. Their stories, writings, drawings and paintings crated a greater awareness of Africa igniting the idea of conserving it for generations to come.

Nowadays African safaris are simply considered a luxury holiday option. While they might still be associated with adventure most of the wildlife shooting is done with cameras and the treacherous travelling by trade caravan has been replaced with landrovers.  The modern African safari involves game drives and walking tours, cocktails at sunset and catered meals under the African stars. But if you long for the iconic African safaris of yesteryear do not despair, for while the pith helmets might be in short supply the khaki shorts still abound.

Source: African Safaris

Kruger Park Safari

The Kruger National park is the largest Game Reserve in South Africa and one of the most successful in Africa. The park is popular due to its large and diverse population of animals, but the park is best known for the safaris that it offers. With approximately two million hectares of land to explore, this national park can offer you a pure African adventure and a safari that is custom made to your expectations and requirements.

Safaris are some of the most sought after holidays in Africa and finding the one that suits your time, travelling party and budget perfectly is easy and absolutely essential. The Kruger National Park offers a range of safaris, ensuring that everyone is given the opportunity to experience the wildlife and find the safari that is best suited to them. The most popular safaris are the self-driven safaris in private vehicles or where game drives are hosted by professional trackers and drivers who have a vast experience and knowledge of the park and its wildlife. Other safari’s can be found which focus on bird-watching, photography, finding the big 5, are designed for children, and which are disability friendly.

Self-driven safaris are one of the reasons why Kruger Park Safaris have their good reputation. Every morning the gates of the parks open to allow locals and tourists staying in its surroundings towns and lodges to come into the park and experience it for a day. By driving their own vehicle they can decide where in the park they want to go and have their own schedule. Many people who opt to stay in the park also use their own vehicles to go exploring – not only does this option give them the freedom of their own transportation and time schedule, but they can decide which areas of the park they would like to explore during their stay. By having your own vehicle in the park another bonus is that you can choose to follow the crowds or go on your own adventure. Often when a great animal sighting is made, several vehicles flock around it to watch – by having your own vehicle you have the opportunity to go deeper into the bush to have your own private game viewing and make your own sightings.

If you are staying in a lodge in the park or in its surrounding areas, game drives led by professional trackers and guides are an incredible way to experience a Kruger park safari. The benefits of this route of game viewing are immense, the most dominant being that you’ll have an experienced and knowledgeable guide to take you around the park and inform you about what you’re seeing and what you wouldn’t otherwise have noticed. You’ll have your own personal tracker to help you find the animals that you’re looking for and it’s likely that your vehicle will have a radio which informs you when a great sighting has been made so that you can go join others in seeing it.  

If you are visiting the park with a specific motive, such as for photography, bird-watching or to help educate your children on wildlife and nature, you can find a safari that will aid you in this mission. If your Kruger Park Safari of choice is to drive your own vehicle then guide books and recommended schedules can be found online or at the park or your accommodations reception centres. If you are entering the park with high hopes of a specific sighting, a guided tour is most likely to be more beneficial than a self-driven Kruger park safari. Tour guides have a knowledge of where and how to find a bird or animal and know where the best photographs can be taken. Specially designed children safaris allow your children to participate in activities with other children, whilst learning about the environment and animals they are seeing. This option gives parents the opportunity to go on longer game drives without their children getting bored or restless.

If you are planning a Kruger Park Safari without a doubt you’ll be able to find one that suits your needs, expectations and schedule. Regardless of whether you’re staying in the park or outside of its gates in the surroundings villages, you will be able to enjoy the park and customise how you experience it. Whether you choose to drive your own vehicle in the park or to go on guided tours, your experience in the park will be thrilling and magical, leaving you satisfied and planning your next vacation there.

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