Game drive vs safari
Game Drives.
What is a game drive? It has nothing to do with computer gaming or gaming devices if you are still curious… Game drives are short experiences that tourists get to explore wildlife from the comfort of a vehicle. There are different kinds of vehicles that can be used for game drives. The only thing that matters is if the vehicle can handle the rough terrain of the national park roads and pathways.
Tourists are able to use one of the following vehicles while on game drives;
- 4X4 Landcruiser van
- A pop-up roof Landcruiser.
- A pop-up roof van.
- Minibus
- Canvas roofed vehicles
All these work differently. The choice of which will be according to the space requirements of the tourist and the price. National parks require that all vehicles that are used within their boundaries are enclosed. The canvas roofed vehicles that are removable may be used in national reserves.
Safari Drives.
Safari Drives on the other hand is just the main trip that tourists take en route during the drive to the hotel. The safari drive is basically the parent category of the game drive. Safari drives are not quite complicated because, unlike game drives that focus mainly on seeing wildlife in safari vans, with safari drives, tourists are able to discover more than just wild animals.
How to get the most out of safari game drives?
Getting the most out of a game drive will fully depend on each and every individual on safari and how they involve themself with the tour and the tour operator. Getting the most out of a game drive will literally be the heart of a safari. This is because the animals are the most fascinating things that you will see while on your whole safari. Counting on actually seeing the safari animals is a different story altogether. So, tourists must try to at least make and enjoy themselves while on their game drive. Here are five ways to get the most out of a game drive safari;
1. Take Pictures
Taking pictures is common in today’s Instagram-filled generation. Not only that, YouTubers have begun taking fancy accounts of their safari experiences and posting them on their social media accounts and youtube channels. This is one way of getting the most out of your safari game drive since you will have an account of how you spent it in digital form.
2. Dress Well.
Dressing the part is another key aspect of making the most of your game drive or safari. This is however not just for show, it is also for your personal protection as a tourist. Safari clothing or outfit must be light, dull-colored, and able to fully protect the body and feet from external threats while on the game drive. Plus, if you look good, it will be an added advantage for better pictures for the ‘gram’.
3. Choose the right time for your safari.
Pick the right time to visit Kenya for a safari. This is very important when it comes to deciding and analyzing what you will ultimately gain out of your safari. The advantage of visiting Kenya for a safari is that Kenya is a very conducive country because of its weather. The weather is practically the same all through the year, so you could typically choose any time of the year to go for a safari.
However, the best time to go on a safari will be fully dependent on your schedule as a tourist and the advice of the tour planner or the tour operator.
4. Pack everything that you need.
Packing should be at the top of the list. There are a handful of important documents, health necessities, and clothes that you need to pack in order to make the most out of your trip. Of course, tourists are able to find these things and buy them while on their safari. But for the convenience of the success of the safari, it is good to pack everything that you will think you will need during the game drive or safari in general.
5. Ask a lot of questions if you are on a guided safari.
Asking questions is a great way to personally indulge oneself in the safari. Safari guides mostly try to provide as much information to travelers as they can in different languages. A good tour guide will be able to respond to any questions appropriately to make the best out of the safari on your behalf. So, keep asking those questions!
READ MY OTHER POSTS ON THESE TWO IMPORTANT TOPICS;
What to Wear on a safari.
Dress to kill! (metaphorically)
When deciding what to wear on any given day, there is alot that on has to do to make an outfit stand out. But that is not the case with a safari outfit. With a safari outfit, by dress to kill, i mean dress to capture the moment and mostly protect yourself from the wild; that may mostly want to harm you. Having a great safari outfit not only keeps you safe, it also keeps you comfortable, while enjoying your safari. So, here is what you should wear while on a kenyan safari;
What to wear on a Safari Game Drive;
While on a game drive, there are things that you are supposed to do; be quiet, be discreet etc. This maintains the game drive setting as its own original natural environment. Hence does not startle the wild environment to harm you. Your dress code plays a huge role in maintaining this environment. Wearing something that is either green, brown or khaki enables you to blend in. That’s why you see most safari vans colored green or brown. These colors have been proven to not attract the attention of the animals that you go to see on a game drive.
Africa is hot. The weather sometimes gets to extreme temperatures during the day. So wear something that has a light fabric during your game drive under the hot sun. It is also advised to carry with you a light jacket incase the weather becomes a little chilly. Light fabric clothing makes you feel free and it gives you a better chance of enjoying your game drive!
Many tourists come to Africa to enjoy the heat from the sun. Too much of something however, is poisonous. Exposing your skin to the sun for a long period of time may cause sun burn. Despite having sun lotion or sun cream or sunscreen, the effects of getting sun burn from a game drive safari can be drastic. Thats why it is good to have an extra layer of protection of your skin from the sun by wearing long sleeved clothing.
While on a game drive, we all at some point, have been tempted to take out our cameras to take a quick selfie or picture of a lion that came up to your safari van window. Having pockets to keep our gadgets close to us helps us capture those moments before we actually miss them. Wearing shorts with lots of pockets will help in storing hand held electronics or gadgets or even money for buying souvenirs.
What to wear on a safari; Shoes or sandals? Shoes protect our feet from the dangers of the game drive terrain. You might be on a walking safari, or just stepped out of your safari van for a breath of fresh air. Having the right shoes will protect your feet from not only the dangers of the wild but will also give you a certain level of comfort throughout your game drive. Sandals on the other hand can be worn at your hotel after the game drive; or at a lodge with a pool where you can relax and not worry too much about your feet.
A hat is just some additional protection from the hot sun while on your game drive. When picking out what to wear on a safari, be sure to also pick out either a hat, or a cap that will protect you from the scorching sun. The hat may come in handy when you may be asked to have a walking expedition or walking safari or just when you are viewing animals while on your game drive.
Wearing sunglasses would add a little style to your safari outfit. Shades or even spectacles will do the trick! You want to make sure that you take good care of them while on your game drive. These kinds of things seem to be misplaced alot. Sunglasses, as the name suggests protects your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun on a sunny day.
There are some lodges and camps that have a swimming pool. Everybody loves swimming after a long game drive. Wear a swim suit!
During safari evenings, sitting out around a bonfire or just at dinner, it is advised to wear light colored clothing. When choosing what to wear on a safari, light colored clothing should take priority. These types of clothes help repel mosquitoes during the evenings. This is different however, from the game drive attire. I came up with a comprehensive list of what to pack for a kenyan safari. Check it out HERE!
Grab a souvenir while you are at it…and check out some of these nice designs!
