What are Game Drives? All about Savannah and Thrill

A safari drive, which is also known as a game drive, is one of the most memorable and iconic experiences during a trip, especially to Africa. For many travellers, the image of driving through the savannah in an open 4x4 vehicle, the wind in your hair, and the distant roar of a lion is the ultimate bucket-list adventure and that is why it is important to understand what exactly are game drives, what can you expect, and how best you can prepare before you set out for it.

Know about Game Drives

Game drives are mostly guided wildlife tours that happen in open or semi-open safari vehicles that allow visitors to observe animals in the wild. This experience places you in the natural habitat of African wildlife and therefore witness lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, leopards, rhinos, and more from a respectful distance and with strict safety protocols in place.

These drives are usually led by professional guides and trackers who are trained to spot animals using visual and auditory clues, explain animal behaviour and share cultural or ecological insights about the reserve or national park. In other words, you are in good hands.

However, if you are feeling a bit more adventurous, you can also opt for self-drive game drives. Parks such as the Nairobi National Park in Kenya, Kruger National Park in South Africa, and Etosha National Park in Namibia are places where you can take the adventure into your own hands.

But there are rules and caveats for the same, such as the fact that you need to make sure you have a reliable map of the park or have Google Maps in offline mode. You also need to ensure to follow park rules and guidelines, fuel up before you begin your safari adventure, as well as act in a respectful manner towards the wildlife from distant zones.

Game drives are a Waiting Game

While a game drive sounds thrilling however you will that you will need to be patient. While it is common to assume that the moment you set out on your safari you would be greeted with wild, majestic animals all around you, however, this is not the case and you may have to be ready to test your patience as you may need to wait, observe, and be on guard before a sighting happens.

This is the reason why many safari itineraries include full-day game drives or multiple sessions across different times and days so that you do not miss your chance of seeing key animals, especially the Big Five - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino.

In addition, you can choose parks that offer nature walking trails, like Hell’s Gate National Park in Kenya, to stretch your legs and experience this safari downtime in a tranquil manner. You can also select itineraries that provide scrumptious picnic lunches at picnic sites within the park where you can relax with food and drinks. Besides this, you can also carry your camera and binoculars that will help you to spot the diverse insects and birdlife that the savannah has to offer.

The Best Time to Spot Wildlife

Early mornings are usually the best time to set out on a journey across the savannah because this is one of the most active periods. You are likely to find predators like lions and leopards may still be in pursuit of prey after a night’s hunt, and grazers such as antelopes and zebras are out feeding in the cooler temperatures.

In the afternoons, however it may become difficult to spot the wildlife because of the scorching heat from the noon sun and animals prefer the shade under bushes.

During the evening time, the wild animals start emerging again as the sun sets and the temperatures begin to drop. Some private conservancies such as the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in the Laikipia region, Maasai Mara Private Conservancies, Samburu National Reserve Private areas, among others, also offer night game drives where you can get the chance to observe nocturnal species like hyenas, civets and also leopards if you are lucky to spot them in the dark.

In essence, Game drives are super-thrilling undoubtedly, but it is also important to keep certain things in mind. Firstly, dress in neutral colours like green, brown, and khaki so that you can blend in with the surroundings. Secondly, be quiet during sightings because these wild animals can get alarmed by sudden noises and lastly, always follow the instructions of the guides for your safety so that your experience is not just secure but also fun and memorable.

The safari is the ultimate highlight you can check out the Classic Kenya Safari or the Ultimate Kenya Safari, whichever suits the convenience of your travel plans!