What is the best animal on safari ?

The truth is, everyone that has been on safari will probably answer this question differently. It’s amazing to watch these wild animals go about their day and watch them socialise, fight, hunt, avoid being hunted, care for their young, the list goes on. The opportunity to witness these moments is an absolute privilege and picking a favourite after your trip will be nigh on impossible.

The big 5 ( lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo) will nearly always be the main attraction for guests when they arrive in Africa and for good reason. Your first experience with a bull elephant or the first time you hear a lion roar will always stay with you. But so does your experience with a host of other animals. Whether it be watching a giraffe gracefully meander through the bush or a jackal cheekily darting in and out from a lion kill trying to pick up some scraps. Even watching small birds of different species mount an attack on much larger raptors (an action called mobbing) gives an appreciation for the spirit of even the smallest wildlife in the bush. These moments of connection, whether grand or seemingly minute, weave a tapestry that binds us to the essence of the wild. While the Big Five may serve as the initial draw, it's the symphony of life in all its forms that orchestrates an unforgettable experience, leaving us with profound appreciation for the intricate web of existence that unfolds in the bush.

Recently some animals such as hyenas and wild dogs have become more and more popular with guests. These beautiful animals were once looked at as basically vermin and their decline represented this thought. Now they’ve rightfully started to become some of the most requested wildlife that people are hoping to see. A hyena’s ‘whoop’ in the night is still my favourite noise in the wild fyi.

One thing that very few people come to Africa to see and end up fascinated with are the smallest creatures. I’ve often had guests who have spent the afternoon with lions but when sharing a drink over the fire at night all their questions are about the intricacies of the termite mound we saw or asking to go over the different types of dung beetles. An animal doesn’t even always need to be right there to stoke your curiosity. Many people are awed by throwing themselves into learning how to tell a lion track from a leopard track or how to predict where an animal is going.

When you go on safari you become a part of the complex web of life and relationships that unfolds in the bush everyday (and night). You might come to see leopards or lions but you won’t know which particular animal is going to leave the longest imprint until you experience it. One thing that is for certain is that once you spend some time in the African bush surrounded by wildlife and stars and sunsets, it’s not something you will be able to shrug off. Not everyone gets to experience it but those that do are usually counting down the days until they can experience it again.

If you want to be one of those people then we can help you get there.

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