In our tour descriptions, we often write something along the lines of “today you’ll be going on a game drive”.
But what is a game drive? How does it take place? And is there anything in particular you should think about before going on a game drive?
As the name suggests, a game drive is when you go on a drive in search of game.
When you go on safari in Africa, you will typically go on some kind of game drive, where you drive out to see the animals in their natural surroundings.
There will often be a driver and a guide, or a driver who doubles as a guide, while in some places it is possible to go on self-drive game drive, such as in Etosha National Park in Namibia or Addo National Park in South Africa.
A game drive can vary a little depending on where you are in Africa and what time of the day you head out.
In East Africa, a game drive typically takes place in a 4-wheel drive Land Cruiser, where the roof can be lifted to allow you to stand up in the car and look out at the animals (when the car is stationary!). The good thing about this is that it puts you at a good height in relation to the animals and gives you a fantastic view. If you have a large camera with you, you can also rest it on the ledge of the car to take pictures.
In southern Africa, the safari cars are typically open, i.e. with either a roof and no windows or neither a roof nor windows. The advantage of this is that you really get the feeling of being at one with nature because it is so close you could touch it (please keep your hands inside, though!). What’s more, you can constantly survey the landscape and help spot the animals – even when the car is driving.
In Africa, you can experience animals on safari at one of the many African national parks or at a private game reserve.
More rules apply when you go on safari in the national parks. You have to stick to the established roads, for example, while in the private game reserves, you can go off-road. This means that you are sometimes in with a better chance of getting closer to the animals at a private game reserve. On the other hand, the national parks are often much larger, giving you a feeling that you really are here on nature’s and the animals’ terms.
At a private game reserve (e.g. Kariega Game Reserve in South Africa), you can, in principle, go on a game drive around the clock, allowing you to choose the times when the different animals are most active. At the national parks, on the other hand, you are usually restricted to a time between sunrise and sunset.
No matter where and when you are on the game drive, however, there is always one rule: listen to the guide and always follow his advice! The animals don’t know if they are in a national park or in a private game reserve.
You can go on a game drive at various times throughout the day. When, largely depends on where you are. Sometimes you can even be on a game drive without realising it – for example when you are being transported from A to B through an area where the animals live in the wild.
A game drive in the middle of the day can be somewhat sweltering. And the animals think so, too, so there’s not as much “action” on a game drive in the middle of the day as in the morning or evening. This said, you can get some really good pictures because the animals don’t tend to move around as much. And there’s something quite magical about the hot air, which almost makes the horizon quiver – it doesn’t get much more African than that!
In the morning and at the end of the day, the animals are more lively. They make their way down to the waterholes, graze or begin to prepare for the hunt.
Sometimes, you may also be lucky enough to go on a game drive after dark. At this time of the day, the guide will often use a red light that doesn’t hurt the animals’ eyes but allows you to see them in the dark.
You spend many hours in the car on safari. If you are driving at a time when the sun is down, you should be aware that African nights can get pretty chilly – so bring warm clothes with you!
Well, it’s almost impossible to say.
The animals and nature set the agenda.
Prepare for the unexpected.
You may be falling asleep out of sheer boredom because you’ve only seen ostriches and wildebeest and then – boom – there’s a lion lying in the middle of the road! And then the next day, you might find the driver braking hard right outside your lodge or tent camp, because an elephant has fallen in love with a tree right there, and that’s as far as you get that day.
Nature doesn’t work to a schedule, and no two game drives are alike. But that is also what makes going on safari so fascinating!
This is the classic Kenya tour with the biggest highlights. From the elephants of Amboseli, the tour takes you to the hippos of Lake Naivasha before concluding in Masai Mara.
Stay at a pleasant 4* star lodge close to Kruger National Park. Experience the fantastic animal life on a safari in the park and get a safari experience for life.
Do you dream of a safari – but have limited time? Then this short safari tour is perfect. Experience Africa’s unique animal life and nature while staying at a tent camp in Serengeti.
Combine your relaxing beach holiday in Mombasa with a safari where you experience the gorgeous nature and fantastic animal life of three national parks, Amboseli, Tsavo East and Tsavo West.
Adventure and relaxation ahead. First, five days of classic Kenya safari await you with the greatest highlights before the tour continues by train to a beach holiday at Mombasa with views of the Indian Ocean.
On this tour, you experience the biggest highlights of Kenya; Amboseli, Lake Naivasha and Masai Mara. The tour concludes with a relaxing holiday on the exotic island of Zanzibar.
This tour is for those who want a slightly more in-depth look at Kenya. You experience the fantastic animal life and wonderful nature in Kenya’s best and most varied national parks.
From baobab trees in Tarangire to the flat plains of Serengeti and the lush hills of Ngorongoro. Experience incredible nature and unique animal life in four of Tanzania’s national parks.
Forget about malaria pills on the Eastern Cape and enjoy an “all inclusive” safari experience, bushwalk and visit to a local village. End your tour with a city break in beautiful Cape Town.
Experience the exciting and rich animal life on a safari tour in South Africa’s renowned Kruger National Park. Join a bushwalk, see the Panorama Trail and finish your tour in beautiful Cape Town.
Experience Africa’s iconic animals on a short safari tour. Get up close to nature and sleep in comfortable tents on the Serengeti. The tour concludes with a beach holiday in wonderful Zanzibar.
First you experience South Africa’s beautiful nature and animal life from your lodge, which is close to Kruger National Park. Finish your tour with one of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls.
A Tanzanian safari, a must for your safari wish list. An amazing safari experience including Serengeti & Ngorongoro. A 4-star beach stay, on the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar a perfect ending.
Enjoy unforgettable safari experiences in Samburu, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara, before concluding your tour with a relaxing beach holiday on the white sandy beaches of Mombasa.
Explore South Africa’s nature and animal life on your safari tour from your pleasant lodge up close to Kruger National Park and relax on the exotic beaches of Mauritius.
Enjoy the best of Kenya. You get up close to the nature and unique animal life in some of the country’s best national parks before digesting your experiences on white sandy beaches in Zanzibar.
Fly to the Serengeti, where great animal experiences await. You drive through the landscape on a fantastic safari to the Ngorongoro crater before flying to Zanzibar on a beach holiday.
Waterfall, safari and city. Discover the three highlights of southern Africa in one tour: the mighty Victoria Falls, the Chobe National Park in Botswana and the wonderful metropolis of Cape Town.
Fancy experiencing Serengeti’s animal life without compromising on comfort? Then this is your tour! Enjoy the view from your lodge in the middle of the Serengeti and conclude the tour in Zanzibar.
Serengeti & Masai Mara: Visit two of the world’s best safari destinations on one tour. You travel from Kenya to Tanzania – and back, from where you can choose to extend your tour with a beach holiday.
Experience the absolute highlights of Uganda; Lake Victoria, the world’s second largest freshwater lake, the Equator and the 3 national parks Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi Impenetrable and Lake Mburu.
This is the classic Kenya tour with the biggest highlights. From the elephants of Amboseli, the tour takes you to the hippos of Lake Naivasha before concluding in Masai Mara.
Stay at a pleasant 4* star lodge close to Kruger National Park. Experience the fantastic animal life on a safari in the park and get a safari experience for life.
Do you dream of a safari – but have limited time? Then this short safari tour is perfect. Experience Africa’s unique animal life and nature while staying at a tent camp in Serengeti.
Combine your relaxing beach holiday in Mombasa with a safari where you experience the gorgeous nature and fantastic animal life of three national parks, Amboseli, Tsavo East and Tsavo West.
Adventure and relaxation ahead. First, five days of classic Kenya safari await you with the greatest highlights before the tour continues by train to a beach holiday at Mombasa with views of the Indian Ocean.
On this tour, you experience the biggest highlights of Kenya; Amboseli, Lake Naivasha and Masai Mara. The tour concludes with a relaxing holiday on the exotic island of Zanzibar.
This tour is for those who want a slightly more in-depth look at Kenya. You experience the fantastic animal life and wonderful nature in Kenya’s best and most varied national parks.
From baobab trees in Tarangire to the flat plains of Serengeti and the lush hills of Ngorongoro. Experience incredible nature and unique animal life in four of Tanzania’s national parks.
Forget about malaria pills on the Eastern Cape and enjoy an “all inclusive” safari experience, bushwalk and visit to a local village. End your tour with a city break in beautiful Cape Town.
Experience the exciting and rich animal life on a safari tour in South Africa’s renowned Kruger National Park. Join a bushwalk, see the Panorama Trail and finish your tour in beautiful Cape Town.
Experience Africa’s iconic animals on a short safari tour. Get up close to nature and sleep in comfortable tents on the Serengeti. The tour concludes with a beach holiday in wonderful Zanzibar.
First you experience South Africa’s beautiful nature and animal life from your lodge, which is close to Kruger National Park. Finish your tour with one of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls.
A Tanzanian safari, a must for your safari wish list. An amazing safari experience including Serengeti & Ngorongoro. A 4-star beach stay, on the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar a perfect ending.
Enjoy unforgettable safari experiences in Samburu, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara, before concluding your tour with a relaxing beach holiday on the white sandy beaches of Mombasa.
Explore South Africa’s nature and animal life on your safari tour from your pleasant lodge up close to Kruger National Park and relax on the exotic beaches of Mauritius.
Enjoy the best of Kenya. You get up close to the nature and unique animal life in some of the country’s best national parks before digesting your experiences on white sandy beaches in Zanzibar.
Fly to the Serengeti, where great animal experiences await. You drive through the landscape on a fantastic safari to the Ngorongoro crater before flying to Zanzibar on a beach holiday.
Waterfall, safari and city. Discover the three highlights of southern Africa in one tour: the mighty Victoria Falls, the Chobe National Park in Botswana and the wonderful metropolis of Cape Town.
Fancy experiencing Serengeti’s animal life without compromising on comfort? Then this is your tour! Enjoy the view from your lodge in the middle of the Serengeti and conclude the tour in Zanzibar.
Serengeti & Masai Mara: Visit two of the world’s best safari destinations on one tour. You travel from Kenya to Tanzania – and back, from where you can choose to extend your tour with a beach holiday.
Experience the absolute highlights of Uganda; Lake Victoria, the world’s second largest freshwater lake, the Equator and the 3 national parks Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi Impenetrable and Lake Mburu.
It’s wonderful to experience the African animals on a game drive, for example.
When planning your safari, it’s a good idea to prepare for the game drive itself, e.g. think about what clothes to pack. Layering is good, so there is always something to take off – or put on.
It may also be a good idea to bring some snacks for the game drive itself. The fresh air and excitement can give you quite the appetite, and it would be a shame to lose focus because hunger has struck. And remember to bring something to drink – particularly in the middle of the day – as it can get hot when the sun is high in the sky.
TourCompass – From tourist to traveller
