"Safari" is a Ki-Swahili word meaning "journey," which the British redefined to mean "an expedition in pursuit of wild game." Originally both game and safari referred to hunting, but that has since evolved. Today, safari usually implies only viewing and humans (although not all) are shooting with a camera lens not a rifle. Africa's vast savannas, dense jungles and steamy river deltas are home to thousands of species of wildlife from zebra, hippos and giraffes to wildebeests, mambas, hyenas and flamingoes making Africa the quintessential safari destination.
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Despite the fact that centuries of hunting and poaching have depleted animal populations, eastern and southern Africa still possess abundant game, including the "big five" (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard). Parks in these areas are also the most heavily visited. It is not uncommon to see a circle of Land Rovers filled with tourists dressed in khaki, converged at the site of a recent cheetah kill. In South Africa, in addition to traditional game-viewing safaris by Jeep, there are reserves offering lessons in ranger training, where you spend your days in the bush investigating prints, digging through dung and tracking game.
On a river safari in shallow-hulled canoes down the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe or through Botswana1s Okavango Delta, you're more likely to see hippos, buffalo and crocodiles. In Botswana, which is much less crowded with travelers than Kenya or Tanzania, there are also massive herds of elephant. Tourism in Botswana is very controlled, and local people have a say in which safari companies operate there. Most outfits are staffed with locals, so at least some of the money you spend is funneled back into the immediate community. There are also strict regulations for ecological preservation, making Botswana an intimate, untrampled safari destination.
Outside Africa, the most popular safari destination is South Asia. Tigers are the major draw, as they are found only in the forests of Asia in China, North Korea, Russia, Sumatra, Vietnam, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar. In Nepal's Royal Chitwan National Park and India's Ranthambhore National Park in Rajasthan, you can comb the grasslands in search of this elusive, endangered cat. India is an appealing safari destination because the parks are far less crowded than those in most parts of Africa; however, game is less abundant and the types of animals more obscure. In the forested plains of Sasan Gir National Park in Gujarat, for example, you can spot Asiatic lion, sambar, chowsingha, chinkara and wild boar.
Choosing the right safari will depend on how you want to travel and what you want to experience. The typical mode of safari transport is an open-air, four-wheel-drive vehicle, such as a Land Rover. A walkabout (on foot) is the oldest type of safari. It is the most intimate and intense way to feel the land and its wild inhabitants—also the most active. You'll spend six to eight hours per day walking in the bush tracking animals. On a river safari, you'll spot wildlife while gliding through the waters in an indigenous canoe. There are some wildlife reserves, particularly in Kenya, where you can get a "bird's eye view" from treetop lodges, hot-air balloons and ultralight aircraft. At Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, riding on horseback allows you to get very close to big game—although this type of safari is for experienced equestrians only, since precariously astride an out-of-control horse is not where you want to be when there are lions roaming about. In Nepal and India, the safari takes on an entirely different perspective from atop a 10-foot elephant.
The level of comfort on safari can range from five-star treatment reminiscent of India's Raj era—with cushy beds, private bathrooms in your palatial tent and chilled champagne after a rough day in the bush—to budget camping expeditions where you'll help cook the food and pack up camp each day. In safari economics, however, cost does not always correlate with level of luxury. High fees may have more to do with the isolation of the parks and the amount of resources the outfitter dedicates to ensuring the integrity of the wildlife and the economic well-being of local populations.
Research what season is best for travel and animal viewing in the area you want to visit. Many parks are accessible year-round, but some are closed—owing to extreme heat or torrential rains and may even be dangerous at certain times of the year.
Many safari operations are aware that the survival of the land and the well-being of its inhabitants are crucial to their business, and have integrated environmental awareness and ecological protection into the safari experience. But the environmental focus varies greatly—some operations reinvest money in local communities and environmental protection, while others believe paying the mandatory park fees is enough of a contribution. Poaching (illegal hunting of protected game) is still alive and well in Africa and Asia. The public (with its much-needed tourist dollars) plays a very important role in animal preservation, in safeguarding fragile lands and in sustaining local economies. Find out where your money is going. Are you supporting a company that employs guides from the surrounding area? Local guides will not only be able to provide deeper, more instinctive knowledge of their own lands, but will likely have a more long-term, vested interest in their protection. A guide from Kenya's Masai tribe may offer you a richer safari experience than a guide transplanted from California would.
The awareness that you bring to and take away from your safari experience can be vital to sustaining local cultures and environments.
The new Canon 10 x 30 IS (800-652-2666, www.canon.com, $500) borrows the company's camcorder image stabilization technology and uses a high-tech system to reduce the shake often associated with high-powered binoculars. Waterproof, fogproof Konica Minolta 8 x 42 (201-825-4000, http://www.konicaminolta.com/ , $686) binoculars will suit wildlife voyeurs and bird-watchers alike. They have ample eye relief and are durable yet light. Pentax DCF WP 8 x 42 (800-255-0415, http://www.pentax.com/ or http://www.pentaximaging.com/, $780) waterproof binoculars feature fully multicoated lenses, long-eye relief and magnesium frames to reduce weight. New to the Steiner line-up, the Safari 9 x 40 (800-257-7742, www.pioneer-research.com, $349) are auto-focusing binoculars built to withstand Mother Nature's temperamental side and have wrap-around eyecups to minimize sidelight.
The new Kodak MC3 Unit (888-368-6600, www.kodak.com, $200) is a camera, digital video/audio recorder, walkman built into one device no bigger than your hand. Just don't forget your memory cards, which add about $50-$200 to the price.
Proper footwear is key to any safari. If you're walking through brush, keep the vipers at bay with Russell's Snake Proof Boots (920-361-2252, www.russellmoccasin.com, $375). Russell has been making boots for more than 100 years and designed these 16-inch boots precisely for comfort and protection from snakes. Keep your feet safe and dry in and out of the water with Merrell's funky, comfortable Aqua Moc (616-866-5500, http://www.merrell.com/, $65), with great traction, breathable mesh and quick-drying ventilation.
The next consideration is your head. Keep the hot sun and driving rain off your face with a hat from Miller Hats (800-789-0839, www.millerhats.com), the largest online hat store, with everything from a safari to a bush hat to a Stetson. Cover your eyes with Serengeti's lightweight Apogee 2000 (800-846-0013, http://www.serengeti-eyewear.com/, $125) sunglasses with a nongradient copper lens perfect for viewing animals. Sunburn is a big factor out there. Ombrelle full spectrum sunscreen (www.ombrelle.ca), to protect against burning (thereby skin cancer and premature aging), is tried and true by lifeguards and others who work long hours in the sun.
Thick brush, UV rays or local custom often dictate that you wear pants even when it's so hot you'd prefer not to do so. Mountain Hardwear's Canyon (800-953-8375, www.mountainhardwear.com, Men's and Women's styles; pant $90, shirt $82) trekking pants and shirts provide ultralight, quick drying, deep-pocketed, vented salvation. Bring a fleece for cool nights. Napapijri makes high-end fleeces designed for adventure travel (970-827-9091, http://www.napapijri.com/).
While Magellan's Terramar or CoolMax undies (800-962-4943, www.magellans.com, boxers $17, undies $16) won't aid a safari seduction, they're comfy, dry quickly, and make spontaneous dips in the Zambezi much more appealing.
Petzl's Duo headlamp (801-327-3805, www.petzl.com, $66) has two bulbs, a high-powered halogen bulb and a standard bulb to keep you from tripping over slumbering beasts during nighttime animal viewing.
Finally, bring a multipurpose tool like the Leatherman Wave (800-847-8665, www.leatherman.com, $100) with pliers, wood saw, wire stripper, serrated knife and several screwdriver options for any task that confronts you.