Embark on an Unforgettable Journey: Your Guide to Africa Tours

Nov 16, 2025 0

Planning a trip to Africa can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially for first-timers. From understanding safari lingo to choosing the right destinations, there's much to consider. This guide aims to provide you with essential information and tips to make your African adventure truly unforgettable.

Understanding Safari Terminology

When planning a safari, you're going to hear a lot of jargon that can be confusing. Here's a breakdown of common terms:

Binos: Often abbreviated to ‘binos'- binoculars are a safari essential.
Boma: No luxury safari is complete without a boma dinner.
Braai: Akin to a barbecue, a braai is when meat is cooked over an open fire and is a popular South Africa pastime. A braai just isn't considered a braai if cooked on a gas grill.
Bush Breakfast: Each moment on safari is extraordinary, but some moments really stand out.
Charter Flight: A charter flight is a light aircraft that is scheduled just for you or a small group. These small planes make for a unique experience as you soar over the untamed wilderness, taking in the picturesque views below.
Dry Season: Also known as peak or high season, dry season in safari terms refers to the dry winter months of a destination where animals seek out and congregate in their masses around waterholes and rivers to drink - making them easier to find.
Endemic: Plants or animals that are native and restricted to a certain place.
Game Drive: No safari is complete without at least one game drive. A game drive is an excursion to find some of Africa's most iconic and elusive wildlife. It is led by a guide who is familiar with the terrain and can lead you to the most amazing sightings.
Game Ranger: A game range is primarily responsible for the management of wildlife reserves or national parks. Their duties include the continued well-being of wildlife, population management, game capture and introductions, controlled burning and environmental education - amongst other things.
Game Reserve: Also known as a wildlife preserve or game park, game reserves are a large area of land set aside as a protected area for wild animals.
Gin & Tonic (G&T): G&Ts are arguably the most popular drink on safari.
Green Season: This safari term is a best-kept secret and refers to a specific period in Africa that falls within the warm, rainy months. This is the perfect time to explore a country at its greenest and quietest, when nature is in its fullest bloom. Unlike the dry season, the green season is considered a low period for safari travel.
Guide / Field Guide: The African wilderness can be tricky to navigate on your own - which is where the guides come in. Guides accompany guests on their safari adventures around the reserve, whether it be a nature walk or game drive, and provide interesting and educational insights into all the elements of nature and wildlife surrounding them.
Hides: Safari Lodges and camps use hides as a camouflaged or semi-subterranean shelter that provides a closer look at the wildlife passing by or stopping for a drink at a waterhole.
High Season: Also known as peak or dry season, high season refers to the time when Africa is best for safari action.
Indigenous: Plants, animals or people originating or occurring naturally in a particular place.
Khaki Fever: Who doesn't love a man in uniform, right? Khaki Fever is the term given to the phenomenon of feeling extremely attracted to a khaki-clad ranger or guide while on safari.
Kopje: A Dutch word that translates to ‘little head' and is often used to refer to small hills or rocky islands jutting out of the plains.
Safari Lodge: Any safari accommodation that consists of permanent concrete, stone or wood buildings and structures.
Long Rains: Refers to the time of year when Africa experiences heavy downpours and prolonged periods of rain.
Midden: This is the name given to an animal dung heap or area of communal defecation.
Mobile Camp: Mobile safari camps are lavish, tented affairs with all the creature comforts of a lodge and the added advantages of moving as you explore. These semi-permanent or mobile tented accommodations take inspiration from the vintage-style camps used by early European explorers in Africa. They operate according to the seasons and/or follow the movement of wildlife.
Nature Walk: For those looking for an active thrill that goes beyond a game drive vehicle, nature walks offer the opportunity to connect with the intricacies of the African bush.
Open Borders: This safari terminology refers to private reserves that share an unfenced boundary with a larger national park or game reserve, allowing wildlife to move freely between the two areas.
Private Concessions: Specific areas of a national park or other public reserves that are leased to or owned by a safari operator, lodge or camp for private use, and are run independently from the park itself.
Private-/Exclusive-Use: This safari phrase refers to a safari home-away-from-home, where a lodge or camp can be completely booked out.
Rutting Season: During the Great Wildebeest Migration, April to June is referred to as rutting (breeding) season, and is one of nature's most amazing displays.
Safari: You've heard the word used a thousand times, but what does safari actually mean?
Safari Vehicle: Large open-sided 4X4 vehicles that are modified according to specific regulations that ensure the safety and comfort of visitors on safari.
Savanna: A grassy plain found in tropical and subtropical regions with few trees and scattered bushes.
Siesta: The Spanish word for ‘midday rest' is used in the same manner when on safari.
Star-Beds: The star-bed experience is an unmissable safari adventure that sees you sleeping out under stars in a treehouse-like, open-air room.
Sundowner: One of the most popular rituals on safari is enjoying a sundowner at the end of each day.
Sustainable Travel: Often used interchangeably with responsible travel, green travel and ecotourism, sustainable travels supports the idea of travelling mindfully.
The Great Migration: The Great Migration is nature's greatest show and takes place in the ecosystems of the Serengeti and Masai Mara.
Tour Operator: This is one definition we know all about, we are a tour operator! Since 1998, we've built up a formidable bank of first-hand knowledge of every destination, lodge, camp and activity that we recommend from our 3,000+ safari partners.
Tracker: When on safari, many game viewing experiences often include the presence of a tracker to enhance the activity.
Ugali: Similar to pap, ugali is a maize or cassava-based porridge that is often served with fish, meat or vegetables.
Veldskoen: Often referred to as ‘vellies' for short, veldskoen shoes originated in South Africa and are a leather field shoe that is typically worn on safari.
Wet Season: Also known as rainy season or green season, the wet season refers to the warm, rainy months in Africa. Although the animals are a bit harder to spot among the abundance of new leaves and tall grass, it is also one of the best times to go on safari.

These are the questions you’ll find yourself asking before and during your trip to Africa. What's the difference between a rest camp, fly camp and a tented camp? Which animals make up the Big 5, Little 5, and Ugly 5? What does having a ‘braai in a boma’ mean?

Wildlife Encounters

Africa is renowned for its diverse wildlife. Here are some key animal groupings you might encounter:

Big Five: The term ‘Big Five' is used for lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo. These five large African mammals were known to be the most dangerous to hunt in the heyday of the 19th and early 20th centuries, and the name stuck.
Little Five: You've heard of the Big 5 - now it's time to keep your eyes peeled for the Little 5 when on safari.
Ugly Five: Another grouping of animals to add to your safari must-see list is the ‘Ugly 5′.
Bush Baby: Also known as galagos, bush babies are saucer-eyed primates that spend most of their lives in trees.
Crepuscular: Animals that prefer to be active or appear during the time of day before the sun goes down or just after the sun rises. In short, when the light is not too bright, you'll find these animals skulking the land.
Dagga Boys: Solitary older male buffalos are sometimes referred to as Dagga Boys (dagga meaning ‘mud').
Diurnal Animals: Animals that are active during the day and sleep at night.
Nocturnal: Animals that prefer to be active at night and are usually spotted on night drives.
Pangolin: Often mistaken for a reptile, pangolins are an endangered insect-eating mammals that are covered in distinctive overlapping scales to ward off predators in the wild.

Here's a table summarizing the Big Five, Little Five, and Ugly Five animals:

Category	Animals
Big Five	Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant, African Buffalo
Little Five	(Please provide the specific animals for the Little Five)
Ugly Five	(Please provide the specific animals for the Ugly Five)

Cultural Experiences

Engage with Africa's rich cultural heritage by visiting local tribes:

Hadzabe Tribe: Also known as the ‘Hadza', the Hadzabe tribe are a modern hunter-gatherer people living in northern Tanzania.
Himba Tribe: The resilient people of the Himba tribe live in the desolate Kunene region of northwest Namibia. They are hunter-gatherers and pastoralists and are a nomadic African tribe that traditionally travels from waterhole to waterhole, tending their cattle and goats.
The Maasai: The red-clad Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania are renowned warriors and pastoralists who have roamed the wild of East Africa for hundreds of years.
Samburu: Residing in north-central Kenya, the Samburu tribe are pastoralists from the great plains of the Samburu region.
Southern Ndebele Tribe: Widely distributed throughout the north-east provinces of South Africa, the Ndebele tribes are considered to be the cousins of the Zulu and share many linguistic similarities with them.
Zulu Tribe: The Zulu people are the largest ethnic group in South Africa. They rose into a formidable empire under the leadership of Shaka Zulu in the early 19th century.

Essential Phrases

Knowing a few local phrases can enhance your experience:

Safari Njema: A rough translation of this Swahili phrase means ‘have a nice trip'.
Yoh: One of the most common South African phrases you'll hear is ‘yoh'.

Unique Activities

Consider these unique activities to spice up your safari:

Chimp Trekking: Also known as chimpanzee trekking, chimp trekking sees you walking through the great ape's natural habitat in Uganda.
Desert Safari: Namibia and the Kalahari are two fantastic destinations to enjoy a desert safari - a holiday that consists of game drives through the arid landscape, spotting desert-adapted wildlife, including meerkats, lions, elephants, and rhinos.
Fly Camping: When fly camping, you'll have the opportunity to sleep-out under the stars in a simple yet comfortable tent. It is an adventurous, private and unique experience that immerses you into tranquil, untamed nature.
Gorilla Trekking: Many who have experienced this holiday type have described it as a life changing activity.
Horseback Safari: Experience the untamed African wilderness and encounter big game on horseback.
Hot Air Balloon Safari: A must-do adventure when travelling to East Africa is sailing through skies in a hot air balloon as you enjoy a birds-eye view of the picturesque wilderness and wildlife below.
Marine Safari: Take to the water and encounter the majestic marine wildlife that inhabit Africa's azure oceans.
Positive Impact Safaris: Go2Africa's Positive Impact Safaris are journeys that support our many inspiring initiatives across the continent. Each trip includes a donation to one (or more) of our Community, Environment or Wildlife partnerships.
Self-Drive Safari: Take your safari into your own hands on a self-drive adventure. On this activity, you'll get your own dedicated 4X4 vehicle and drive yourself across the African destination of your choice.
Urban Safari: The safari doesn't end when you land in a big city like Cape Town, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Durban and Stone Town.
Walking Safari: Guides lead you on a slow-paced walk with the objective to explore different wildlife species along the bush.

Top 10 African Safari Destinations

Must-See African Destinations

Africa boasts numerous iconic landmarks and natural wonders:

Pyramids of Giza, Egypt: The Pyramids of Giza, near Cairo, are a testament to the ingenuity of ancient Egyptian civilization. As the last remaining wonder of the ancient world, these monumental tombs, including the Great Pyramid of Khufu and the Sphinx, attract visitors from around the globe.
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe/Zambia: Victoria Falls is one of the world's most spectacular waterfalls. Known locally as ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya' (The Smoke That Thunders), this UNESCO World Heritage Site stretches over a mile wide and plunges over 100 meters, creating a breathtaking display of nature's power. Be careful when visiting, because you'll be near cliff faces.
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania: Famous for its annual wildebeest migration, the Serengeti National Park is a symbol of Africa's wildlife and natural beauty.
Table Mountain, South Africa: South Africa's most iconic landmarks. Visitors can hike to the top or take a cable car for panoramic views of the city and the Atlantic Ocean. The surrounding Table Mountain National Park is rich in biodiversity and scenic beauty.
Luxor Temple, Egypt: It's right next to the Nile River and dates back to 1400 BCE. If you want to experience Egypt's history first-hand, this is the place to go. The temple was initially built for Egyptians to celebrate the Opet Festival, and Ramses II and Amenhotep III built it. This temple is massive and is filled with tons of statues, ruins, and more that you won't want to miss out on. Make sure you get to Luxor Temple bright and early to avoid all of the crowds.
Hell's Gate National Park, Kenya: Kenya, Africa. It's right near Nairobi and Lake Naivasha. It's genuinely one of the most unique places to visit in Africa and was officially established in 1984. In addition to its gorgeous scenery, Hell's Gate National Park is home to diverse wildlife, which is what it's most well-known for. There's a vast bird population here. This is the perfect place to go if you want to experience nature in Africa. It is possible to reach Hell's Gate National Park by public transportation. You can take a bus from Kenya and then hop on a taxi if you'd like! Otherwise, you'll have to take a car.
Timbuktu, Mali: Once a flourishing center of trade and Islamic learning, Timbuktu is steeped in history and mystery.

Trekking and Beaches

For adventure seekers and relaxation enthusiasts:

Read also: Amazing Facts About Africa

Mountain Treks: The Atlas Mountains in Morocco provide unique trekking experiences, combining natural beauty with cultural insights into the Berber villages. These treks offer not just physical challenges but also stunning vistas of Africa's landscapes.
Beaches and Coastal Activities: Africa's vast coastline boasts some of the world's most beautiful beaches. The Seychelles, Mauritius, and Zanzibar are known for their idyllic sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, ideal for snorkeling, diving, and relaxation. The coasts of Mozambique and Madagascar are also emerging as top beach destinations with rich marine life.

Africa Tours Travel Tips

Make sure you pay attention to visa requirements for every country in Africa because they can vary. Sometimes you might spend a bit longer along the border than initially thought. Prepare ahead of time when you're crossing borders.

Prepare to be outdoors a lot because many of Africa's best spots to adventure through is outside! Bring sunscreen, a hat, and wear comfortable walking shoes.

When using public transport, it's common to greet and be polite to your fellow passengers and the driver. In more rural areas, transport can be less frequent, and it's often necessary to plan ahead.

Cuisine

North Africa is known for its aromatic and flavorful cuisine. Moroccan tagines, slow-cooked stews with meat and vegetables, and couscous are quintessential dishes. Marrakech or Fez offer authentic dining experiences.

Nigerian jollof rice, a one-pot dish with rice, tomatoes, and spices, is a must-try. Ghana's fufu, made from pounded yams and served with soup, reflects the region's staple ingredients. Markets and street food stalls are great places to sample these dishes.

Read also: Discover Thula Thula

Languages

Languages in Africa are incredibly diverse, with over 2,000 languages spoken across the continent. From Swahili in East Africa to Zulu in Southern Africa and Arabic in the North, each language carries its own cultural significance. Many Africans are multilingual, often speaking a local or tribal language at home and a colonial language such as English, French, or Portuguese in public life.

Transportation

In many African cities, public buses and minibusses, often called 'matatus' in East Africa or 'tro-tros' in West Africa, are common. They are affordable and frequent but can be crowded. Major cities like Johannesburg, Nairobi, and Cairo also have more formal bus systems and, in some cases, metro systems.

Festivals

Festivals across Africa are vibrant and colorful, celebrating everything from religious beliefs to harvests and historical events. In Nigeria, the Eyo Festival showcases the rich Yoruba culture, while Ethiopia's Timkat Festival, a celebration of Epiphany, is marked by joyous processions and traditional rituals. These festivals are not just tourist attractions; they are vital expressions of each region's identity.

Deserts

The deserts of Africa, like the Sahara in the north and the Namib in the southwest, offer unique landscapes for exploration. Activities like camel trekking in Morocco's Erg Chebbi and sandboarding in Namibia's dunes provide a different kind of outdoor adventure.

Tour Operators

Several tour operators offer structured ways to explore Africa:

Gate1 Travel: Provides various travel options, including escorted tours and river cruises, to diverse destinations across Africa.
G Adventures: Offers over 1000 Small Group Travel Trips across Africa, embracing authentic accommodation and local transportation for deep immersion.
Intrepid: Provides small group adventures across Africa, with distinct travel styles and themes like hiking to Machu Picchu or homestays in Kerala, as the world's largest travel B Corp.
Globus Tours: Offers vacation packages across Africa on six continents, ensuring a top-notch experience no matter where you want to travel.
Contiki Tours: Provides unique travel experiences for young adults across Africa, focusing on social and adventurous trips.
Discovery By Gate1: Specializes in intimate small group tours across Africa, providing an authentic view of local cultures and natural beauty.

Types of Tours

Escorted Tours: Journey through Africa on our guided Escorted Tours. Our Escorted Tours in Africa provide a structured way to explore the Africa region. Experience Africa seamlessly with our Escorted Tours.
Guided/Hosted Tours: Journey through Africa on our insightful Guided/Hosted Tours. Our Guided/Hosted Tours in Africa provide local representatives and independence. Experience Africa with guidance on our Guided/Hosted Tours.
Independent Vacations: Explore Africa with our personalized Independent Vacations. Our Independent Vacations in Africa provide local insights and flexibility. Enjoy self-guided travel through Africa with our Independent Vacations.
River Cruises: Journey through Africa on our immersive River Cruises. Our River Cruises in Africa provide a comfortable way to experience the Africa region. Enjoy serene River Cruises through Africa.

Word Search Puzzles

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