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5 great things to do on safari other than a game drive

Think safari and the first thing that normally comes to mind is a group of people on a vehicle wearing neutral tones and watching for animals. This is the core of any safari adventure but with the growth in luxury safari holidays new and exciting activities are being introduced to add even more to the safari experience. 1. Have a spa treatment One of the biggest trends in travel is the growth in wellness holidays and safari is no exception. Being out on game drives can have you returning hot and dusty – and often a bit cramped from sitting. Having a spa treatment after this in the middle of the game reserve feels like complete decadence! The best lodges work with the local communities to understand their special techniques and most important ingredients to provide a unique spa experience. Thanda Safari is located in Zululand and has developed signature treatments that combine Western techniques with ancient Zulu practices. The signature Marula Balm massage combines Shea Butter and African Marula oil applied with a pressure level of your choice for relaxation and soft skin. The spa areas at game reserves like Thanda would not be out of place in Asia. Thanda has its own spa area with a pool and lounge chairs, relaxation area, treatment rooms and even a sauna! 2. Have an African culinary experience The meals served at many top end Safari Reserves would not be out of place in the top restaurants of London and Paris. There is no longer a culinary compromise required to experience Africa’s Big 5! The general rule of the safari kitchen is that the more remote the camp the simpler the menu – and the more central the more sophisticated. Having said that even the most central reserve needs some distance from towns to allow for the wildlife so you will see few a la carte menus in safari lodges. Due to their locations, many reserves grow their own or only use local herbs and vegetables giving a local flavour. Safari menus also often feature some of the types of animals you may have seen on a game drive that day such as Antelope and Kudu. Cooked properly these meats are delicious and offer a different and exciting food experience. Many safari reserves also utilise their spaces to offer unique dining experiences. This can take the form of dinners out under the stars, pit bbqs outside or near your room or one of my favourites which was a bush bbq served with sundowners in the middle of the savannah. Meals are also provided takeaway depending on your drive schedule for the day. One of the loveliest parts of safari is when the vehicle stops and you are able to enjoy a coffee and a snack in the middle of the reserve with only the sound of birds as an accompaniment. 3. Refine your photography skills 70% of safari guests arrive with only a smartphone to capture their experience. This can lead to moments of longing when on a game drive with others who sport long lenses and know how to use them. However, it is now possible to combine safari and improving your photographic skills. Christian Sperka is the resident photographer at Thanda Private Game Reserve. Many camps have a photographer but the difference with Thanda is that every guest is offered a 90-minute complimentary photography lesson – with a smartphone focus. Christian is a natural teacher and offers practical tips on how to get some great shots from your phone. These include everything from focussing on wide shots, cheap kit that can add a zoom function to your phone and low-cost apps with game-changing filters. The Green Mamba is a vehicle that Christian has specially designed for photographers if you are looking to take your skills to the next level. It includes adjustable seats to allow for more comfortable capturing of those critical eye to eye animal shots as well as side rests to get the ultimate stillness for a great shot. And even better there is a Nespresso machine on board so it is possible to have a flat white on the Savannah! 4. Experience art The amazing colours and light of Africa are perfect for both photographers and artists. Traditionally the primary artist on a safari has generally been the photographer. However, art safaris are now providing current and budding artists with an opportunity to draw rather than photograph the animals. These range from offers for beginners to the more advanced and the entire safari can be tailored to this area. Game Reserves and Lodges are also offering guests the opportunity to take sketching lessons whilst visiting. Additionally, art is being used as part of efforts to work with the community to raise funds. Thanda Safari is now running an annual art project where a well-known artist spends two months on the reserve painting to a theme. These paintings are then toured in South Africa and the United States before they are auctioned off to raise funds for local charities. The current artist in residence is Swede Johan Falkman. He is recreating biblical scenes using models from the local community – including a Zulu princess! – and will generate up to 30 canvases. It is an extraordinary site to see an artist and canvases on the top of a mountain in the Savannahs of Africa! 5. Learn about the community The community in Africa is more than the local tribes. It also includes the care of the land and the animals that make up any national park or game reserve. Most safari operators of any repute will have conservation programs and initiatives with the members of the local community. Many safari operators now offer guests the chance to learn about these activities first hand. Guests can visit the local communities or join the communities for appropriate activities. It is often possible to meet students, local tribesmen or visit traditional homes. Spending an afternoon with the conservation team can provide a whole different type of animal experience. It is fascinating to learn about how the animals are tracked, tagged and supported. This is also often a chance to learn more about animal behaviours and how they are utilised in conservation efforts. Safari is such a wonderful experience. Absolutely do as many game drives as you can fit in but don’t forget that there is more to a memorable safari experience that just sighting the Big 5. Amanda OBrien is Owner of The Boutique Adventurer. The Boutique Adventurer focusses on luxury adventures in emerging destinations that end with a high thread count on the sheets in the evening. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

Amanda O’Brien

The Boutique Adventurer was started by Amanda O’Brien in November 2016. Amanda spent over 15 years working for big global companies in marketing. During that time she took every possible day of holidays and managed to visit over 80 countries with her beloved Nikon DSLR in hand. Her blog focuses on luxury adventures in emerging destinations that end with a high thread count on the sheets in the evening. The blog is designed for travellers over 35.

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6 Comments

  1. You won’t find it in any of the brochures, but when I went on safari for the first time in Tanzania, I got to play football (soccer) with the camp staff out on the Serengeti plain. We just found a flat area near the grass runway strip, and had a kick-about. It was great fun and just as memorable as some of the other amazing things we witnessed on the trip. It was only later in the day that I heard that there was a pride of lions resting not all that far from where we had been playing. I might have thought twice had I realised, but I’m sure the rangers were keeping a careful watch on the situation!

  2. I had never thought of going for a spa when on safari but now I am keen to try it. I think it sounds like the perfect place to relax as especially after seeing animals in their natural environment you certainly can feel philosophical and tranquil. Community is the thing I love learning about when travelling especially learning about the different cultures and traditions. It’s so lovely how so m any communities open their warm welcome to visitors. I would really enjoy learning about the different tribes and especially meeting the lovely children.

  3. I would recommend a walking Safari too as a change from Game Drives. Experience the landscape as the indigenous population lived it for century after century. Your guide will teach you how to track animals. He – and I’m not being sexist here because the men did the hunting – will get you to taste the local vegetation. Telling you which leafs were good for colds, tummy ache, indigestion and dozens of other ailments. Walking is the best way to gain an intimate knowledge of the countryside.

  4. Oh my! That Green Mamba vehicle is amazing. I wish all tour vehicles have something like this. Imagine being able to have coffee while sightseeing. And you’re basically practicing your photography wherever you’re touring anyway, so this vehicle should be a hit.

  5. Thanks for the tips! This would be useful when it comes to planning a safari itinerary that’s a little different than usual. Game drives are definitely exciting but after reading your post I’ve realized there’s other activities available for me to try. It would be great to mix things up and it’d probably be a more memorable experience to do so!

  6. I love traveling. Thank you for sharing information. People should also try Tsavo in Kenya. It is amazing

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