YOUR ONE AND ONLY SAFARI!
What, Why and Where?
What is a safari……..
The word ‘safari’ is a Swahili word meaning journey. So it is synonymous with East Africa. That is where safaris took off. Starting with the British and Europeans settling in places like Kenya and Tanzania, those countries realized the potential of wildlife as a tourist attraction. Now many African countries, e.g. Botswana, Ethiopia, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and of course many regions of South Africa have ever growing economies due to this late 20th century phenomena. South America, that is Chile and Brazil has certain mesmeric wildlife as well.
And then there is India ……
Our first vision of a safari was a dusty old jeep, in the middle of nowhere with a group of strange people wearing funny hats, staring at herds of elephants or buffalo. And yes, it can be like that. Jeeps are used widely in most places, carrying 4 -6 people. There are places where you can do walking safaris but serious wildlifers would not recommend this as you have to remember the golden rule; i.e. you are in the animals’ home, their territory, and you are the guest. Anything that could upset that status must be avoided.
Are the animals dangerous? Of course they are in theory; the likes of an African elephant at 5-6 tons or a lion at 350lbs are very formidable. In practice, and the main reason you are in a vehicle, is that the animal will see that vehicle as whole including all the occupants; that would be too big to tackle. Secondly, in the national parks where visitors are allowed, there is always plenty of prey for the big cats, and quite frankly, deer meat is much more tasty that humans. And on your first foray in the wilderness, although initially quite unnerving, you will find most wild animals curious and they may come very close to the vehicle to inspect you! Finally, by observing the second golden rule that is to keep quiet, don’t wear bright clothes or perfume, all will be well.
Why do it…….
The main reason should be obvious…… because just once in your life you give yourself the opportunity to share what remains of the natural world with your fellow animals. Yes, we Homo Sapiens are just animals, albeit at the top of the food chain with world dominance. But, for that short period, you are their guest, and if you behave correctly, you will see a vast array of creatures behaving naturally, doing what they want to do and when. The experience is unique and totally incomparable.
The less obvious reason is the local economy and wildlife protection. Properly controlled eco-tourism injects money into the economy, providing jobs in the hotel / lodge industry and also for the naturalists, forest guides and trackers who protect the wildlife. Never forget, whilst we contribute and government, NGOs etc. do their best, the vile practices of poaching and trophy hunting are still rife in many places.
Where to go…….
Cost could be the deciding factor. How much time can you allocate? What animals do you want to see, bearing in mind that with truly wild animals there is no absolute guarantee? However, with good advice on the correct time of year and the best place, most touring companies will ensure you are placed with good local guides to eliminate failure.
Africa was, and still is, the go-to place for wildlife. The variety of wildlife rivals anywhere in the world. In most African countries you will see the ‘Big Five’ i.e. elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion and leopard. However, there are now a number of different versions of the big five. We find that the majority of people want to see big cats above all else. Brazil has the jaguar and Chile has the puma. Whilst Brazil has a profusion of birds, and many other creatures, Chile is somewhat sparse, but the puma is magnificent. Both countries need to be visited by the hardened wildlife addict, but maybe not your first or one and only trip.
Apart from the iconic giant panda that advertises the largest animal charity in the world, what is the most loved and revered animal on earth….the Bengal Tiger? Apart from the Siberian and Sumatran sub species which are extremely difficult to see, there is only one place to go to see a tiger…India. It is a huge country approx. 25 x the size of the UK, and has, through careful conservation, increased its tiger numbers to a respectable 3,700 in 2024; that is from approx. 1400 some 15 years ago. Unknown to most, but they have recently re-introduced cheetahs that are now thriving. The state of Gujarat has wolves, foxes, striped hyenas, wild asses, and even lions in Gir national park. Overall, there are in excess of 52 national parks to choose from that hold tiger and leopard populations, but the parks in the state of Madhya Pradesh are guaranteed to produce excellent results. India will also give you good sightings of elephant and buffalo. In the far North East, that is Assam, you can almost guarantee the fabled Indian one horned rhino.
So India does rival Africa. Although the latter may have the edge in diversity, it does not have …the Tiger. If cost is an important factor, however you put that first safari together, you will find India cheaper to visit than Africa.
But, why not do both? Once addicted, It will be difficult to stick with your one and only……
Talk to us and we will point you in the right direction
Graham & Mary Brace
Email:
grahambrace1946@gmail.com
