Game Drives

Game drives are how most people experience safari, and for good reason: a vehicle lets you cover ground, get close to big animals safely and stay with a sighting as it develops. The difference between an ordinary game drive and an exceptional one comes down to a few things worth knowing before you book.

A typical day

Most camps run two drives a day. The morning drive leaves around sunrise, when predators are often still active, and returns late morning. After lunch and a rest through the heat, the afternoon drive heads out around 3.30 or 4pm and usually ends with a sundowner stop before returning after dark.

What makes a good game drive

• The guide. More than anything else. A great guide reads behaviour, predicts what will happen and explains what you are seeing.
• Vehicle numbers. In busy national parks, a lion sighting can attract many vehicles. Private concessions and conservancies limit how many vehicles can be at a sighting.
• Off-road and night driving. National parks often require vehicles to stay on roads and return by dusk. Private reserves usually allow off-road driving to follow animals and spotlit night drives for nocturnal species.
• Seats. Ask how many guests share a vehicle. Fewer guests means everyone gets a good view, and some camps offer a private vehicle.

Open or closed vehicles?

Southern African camps mostly use open-sided 4x4s. In East Africa, pop-top minibuses and closed 4x4s are common, especially on longer road transfers. Open vehicles feel more immersive; pop-tops give good standing views for photography. Both are safe as long as you stay seated and inside.

Where game drives shine

• Serengeti, Tanzania and Maasai Mara, Kenya — big cats and the great migration.
• Kenya’s conservancies — Mara game drives with strict vehicle limits.
• Etosha, Namibia — waterholes in the dry season, ideal for self-drive.
• Botswana’s private concessions — off-road, night drives and very few vehicles.

Frequently asked questions