A Safari Primer
What all those safari terms mean

By Mike Nesbitt, African Safari Company

Types of Safaris. Although types of accommodations vary enormously from country to country, these basic types of safari are available in most of the sub-Saharan safari destinations.

Overland Camping:  Very popular with the youth market, which is on a fixed budget and doesn’t mind the discomforts of living in close proximity with a bunch of strangers for long periods of time.  Most require active participation in setting up and breaking camp, and helping with the cooking chores. These are often extended trips involving several countries over long periods. Small dome and sleeping bags are the norm for accommodations. Budget hotels are used in stays in town are required.

Mobile Camping: This type of safari appeals to those on tighter budgets or more adventurous souls who want to get close to nature. Most are fully staffed and all-inclusive. That means that transport, game viewing, park fees and meals are included in the price. These are always led by an experienced driver/guide. Accommodations are usually in dome tents large enough to stand in or large walk-in ridge tents. The better safari operators use private camp grounds in national parks, and the camps will be packed up and move ahead of the guests to be ready and waiting at the end of the day. Bathrooms are communal in moderate-priced mobile safaris, but private and ensuite in the more expensive ones. The camps are best experienced in Botswana and Tanzania.  Prices vary from moderate to expensive.

Game Lodges: These are brick-and-mortar buildings and vary from large hotel-like buildings with many rooms to small individual “rondavles,” or chalets, catering to as few as 10 guests. Normal hotel type bedding and facilities are offered. Swimming pools and cultural experiences are common. Most are surrounded by electric fences for security from wandering animals. Best experienced in Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia and South Africa.  Prices vary from moderate to very expensive.

Permanent Tented Camps: These are the norm in some countries like Botswana but are also available in the other game viewing areas. The rooms are either traditional safari tents or canvas- walled rooms built on a concrete block or wooden decks. They are semi-permanent structures and feature ensuite bathrooms with hot-and-cold running water and flush toilets. Many also have small swimming pools. They vary in size from as small as three tents to more than 100, depending on the location.  Price varies from moderate to very expensive, with more of the latter being built. Available in all countries.

Vehicles: While most people expect to be conveyed on 4x4 vehicles while “on safari” this is not always the case. Seven-passenger minibuses are the norm in Kenya and Tanzania, while 4x4 vehicles are available on request and are generally only used on the more expensive safaris.  Most offer “pop top” roofs that allow guests to stand upright for unobstructed views (while stationary). Safari camps and lodges situated on private land outside the national parks may offer game drives in open-sided 4x4s in East Africa. In Botswana, Zambia and South Africa, open 4x4 vehicles are the norm. Most have been converted for game viewing, with built-up seating and bucket seats.

Guides: The level of expertise of the guide can make or break your safari.  Not all countries require guides to be licensed and the level of competence varies from country to country, and safari operator to safari operator. Most of the more upscale permanent tented camps and lodges have their own guides and drivers, and ensure a high level of training. Mobile safaris are often owned an operated by ex guides with many years of experience.

Should I spend all my time on one country, one park or one camp? This depends on how much time (and money) you have. My advice is to limit yourself to one or two counties, spending a week in each and visiting two or three game parks or eco-systems. In East Africa, game circuits commonly schedule departures so that you can visit two or three areas, staying two or three nights in each one.

What is the difference between a scheduled and a custom safari? Scheduled safaris are offered based on set departure days and you usually travel in a small group with six or seven guests to a vehicle.  By achieving economies of scale, the safari operator is able to reduce their and thus make the safari more affordable. Scheduled departure itineraries can often be booked on a private basis for a 20% premium. The advantages are lower costs while the drawbacks include long drives between parks and inflexible schedule and accommodation choices.  Common in East Africa.

Custom safaris offer total freedom of choice of schedule and accommodations. They’ll often use  light aircraft for transfers between camps and parks, Because there are no economies of scale on custom safaris, you don’t pay a penalty for custom arrangements. Available in all countries.

The best way to plan your safari is to start with a budget, then choose a safari operator to work with. Give the operator as much information as possible about the  type of safari experience you’d like to have. If you are choosing an operator from the Internet, call the listed 800 number: There is simply no substitute for a live person-to-person question-and-answer session.