Safari Etiquette

Welcome to Lion Roar Safaris (Pty) Ltd – AWARD WINNING TOUR OPERATOR AND KRUGER NATIONAL PARK SAFARI SPECIALIST

10 Tips for good safari etiquette during your Kruger National Park safari

1. Always be on time

It is good Safari Etiquette to always be on time! If your pick-up is arranged for example 4:30am on the morning of the safari, be ready and waiting at least 5 to 10 minutes prior. Plan the night before and get everything ready, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, etc. This will ensure you stay on schedule and get to the Kruger National Park on time to start your safari adventure as soon as possible.

IMPORTANT: Remember, you will possibly share the safari vehicle with other paying guests and if you are late, it is unfair towards them.

Be back at the safari vehicle on time after each stop. The Field Guide will give you a time when you will need to be back at the vehicle to start the next session of your safari. Try your best not to be late (a few minutes can make a big change to a scheduled itinerary and can perhaps prevent you from seeing something amazing in the Kruger during your safari).

2. Be considerate and courteous to other guests on the open safari vehicle

Safari Etiquette meant preparing to share the interests of others in your group, this will hopefully go both ways with interests that you may have. Don’t rush for the ‘best’ seat on the safari vehicle, and if you do get the best seat, you can always ask others if they would like to alternate seats with you every time you stop. Practicing good vehicle etiquette on safari will ensure you get the most out of your experience and other people will respect you for that.

4. Don’t make any sudden movements that can scare away the animal

Avoid standing up or making any sudden movements when you are close to animals on a sighting. Doing this will most likely scare the animal and it will run away or cause it to go into a defensive mode that can be stressful for the animal or even dangerous for yourself and others.

Good Safari Etiquette is also, trying not to move or shuffling in your seat or unnecessary movements “rock” the safari vehicle whilst it is stationed at an animal sighting. The unnecessary movement of the safari vehicle can be disruptive to other guests as they are trying to capture an image or video of a sighting.

5. Patience is key when it comes to good Safari Etiquette

Don’t be “that guest” that does not have patience and expect to see National Geographic and Discovery Channel animal sightings. These film crews spend months and sometimes years, literally waiting to capture the perfect moment on film that might be a few seconds long on TV.  Everything in nature has to do with patience and perfect timing. Prepare yourself to drive and not see anything, but know that the possibilities are there that you might come across the next great sighting that is just around the corner.

There is no script and no guarantee during your safari in Kruger. Everything is as natural as Mother Nature intended it to be, that is the beauty of the Kruger National Park!

Don’t expect to see the “Big Five” on your first safari; you are not visiting a zoo. Our guides will do their best to find every animal you have on your wish list, but there is absolutely no guarantee you’ll see everything.

6. Do not hog the guide

By all means, take the opportunity to learn from your guide by asking questions…but be careful not to hog his/her attention at the expense of the other guests. Don’t hog the guide’s break times when you stop; he/she is allowed to rest, refresh and enjoy their breakfast or lunch break in quiet. Remember they are up early in the morning, and it is trying to entertain guests, drive and look for animals, let them do their own thing during stop breaks.  Who knows, they might get some interesting information from their Field Guide friends during their break that could possibly mean a great animal sighting for you.

9. Smokers on safari

You are allowed to smoke in designated smoking areas when you stop at a rest camp, gate or picnic area on the day of the safari. Please be considerate of non-smokers and see that the smoke is not blowing towards people who are not smoking. If you don’t know where to smoke, ask your Field Guide for advice to safely do so. Please DO NOT leave your cigarette buds stomped into the dirt, when you are done smoking. Keep them with you and dispose of them when you pass a dustbin. No smoking/vaping/e-cigarettes is allowed to be used when on-board the safari vehicle.

10. Good Safari Etiquette for families

If you are on safari with your family and children (under 10 years of age), it is advisable, and sometimes required by most tour and safari operators, to hire the open safari vehicle exclusively for your family. A full day safari can be quite long and young children can easily get bored. To avoid grumpy fellow passengers, and for your own sanity, it’s best to opt for this option. We are a child-friendly safari company and love planning safaris for families.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT! – Good safari Etiquette is all about respecting the environment that you are visiting, as well as your fellow passengers.

Tipping etiquette in South Africa

Don’t forget to tip your Field Guides, drivers, housekeeping staff, waiters, etc.  whilst on safari or during your trip to South Africa. Tips make up a big percentage of the staff’s salary. Whilst tipping is always non-compulsory, we encourage you to do so if you are happy with the service you have received. Read more about the tipping etiquette in South Africa

More about safari etiquette

Respect for wildlife and nature:

• Don’t attract any animal’s attention.
• Don’t imitate animal sounds, clap your hands, pound the vehicle or throw objects to get an animal’s attention.
• Never feed any wild animal
• Never attempt to approach any wild animal on foot

Always respect your environment:

• Never litter
• Do not remove any natural material from wildlife reserves.
• Never tease or corner wild animals.

Respect your fellow passengers:

• Respect your guide’s judgment about your proximity to wild animals, he/she is the expert!
• Your guide is an expert, so always follow his advice and ask him questions if you are unsure of anything.
• Rotating seats in a vehicle on a day-by-day basis is a good courtesy
• Keep noise levels down
• No flash photography, this is disruptive to animals
• Be considerate and turn off or put your phone on silent during the safari, don’t take phone calls during safari, its bad safari etiquette
• Ask before using someone else’s equipment i.e. binoculars

Respect local customs and people:

• Ask permission before taking photos of someone, not all people like this. And if they say no, respect that.
• Dress accordingly and appropriately
• Don’t ask religious, political and racial questions
• Do not take photographs of police and army personnel, border-posts, army barracks and/or police stations.
• Respect all customs, race and religions

Ask the Experts/ Field Guides… and Listen to what they say!

• Important advice is to always listen and obey the advice from your Field Guide. You are not their first visitor – and you are most probably the person least aware of the dangers in the Kruger National Park.
• Field Guides know best how to position the vehicle for the best viewing and to ensure the safety of both visitors and wildlife.
• Field guides have years of experience studying and observing animal behavior and can at most times anticipate animal behavior. Sit back and relax while the Field Guides do their job and show you the best of Kruger.

YES! We offer affordable Kruger National Park safaris

Our rates include the following:

Please note:

Our area of operation covers Nelspruit and surrounding areas, White River | Malelane | Hazyview | Komatipoort | Marloth Park | Kruger National Park | KMI Airport | Skukuza Airport.

Please contact us if your accommodation falls outside of our area of operation.

We also conduct safari tours in the North of Kruger upon request and need. You also have the option to hire the safari vehicle privately, email us to find out more. Additionally, you have the option to add your Kruger entrance fee/conservation fees when you make your booking so you don’t have to go to the office on the morning of the safari to make payment for entrance fees.