Going on Safari...

"I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them." - Mark Twain

A safari, usually to Africa, is undertaken to view or hunt (were the law permits hunting) large game animals and other wildlife.

A safari is meant to be special, exciting, memorable and should be intended for one to experience nature in its purest form.

Every safari has an element of danger, that's what makes it exciting. While many of the animals you'll encounter can be dangerous, the four that you really have to watch out for are:

• Elephant

• Lion

• Buffalo

• And hippo, add crocodiles to the list if you're near water or intending to go into the water.

In the past, to go on safari was specifically to take part in a hunting expedition, but in the modern age, it is much more common for safaris to involve photography or simply viewing the animals in their natural habitat.

Preparing to go on safari can seem like a daunting task, but by breaking it down into manageable pieces, it becomes much less intimidating.

The first step is to determine what you want to do when you go on safari.

• Are you interested in taking a traditional hunting safari?

• Do you want to take photographs of specific wildlife?

• Are you interested in having a more authentic experience by staying in traditional villages, or would you prefer a more comfort-driven adventure with five-star hotels and luxury transportation?

If you are planning to go on safari with the intent of hunting game (which is illegal in most countries), make sure you are up-to-date on the laws regarding hunting in the country you are visiting. Most big game are protected species and are not available for hunting, but occasionally, unscrupulous safari organizers offer to take people out to hunt them anyway — something that is not only morally questionable, but also very illegal.

If you know the basic laws regarding hunting and poaching in the region you are visiting, you will be aware if what you are doing may put you on the wrong side of the law.

If you are planning to go on safari to take photographs of big game, you have much more flexibility in the kind of animals you can target.

A safari's success is usually measured by the number of animals you've seen along the way. We're not talking zebra and various antelope and gazelles, but the big 5, the spectacular lion kill, a baby giraffe -- something that makes you feel you have witnessed something truly special.

Some tips that will help you maximize your wildlife viewing successes.

Pick the right season.

The dry season is the most optimal season to see animals. The water holes attract a large concentration and a wide variety of animals. This makes it easy for you to view wildlife because many game parks have small shelters that overlook the water holes, or you can simply drive by.

In East Africa the dry seasons are from January through March and July through October. In Southern Africa the dry season runs from May through October. If you are interested in the annual migration of wildebeest and zebra then you also need to time your trip with the weather in mind. In the Masai Mara they usually arrive between August and September, stay through October and head back over to the Serengeti in Tanzania between December and January.

Pick the right time of day.

The best time to spot game is at dawn and dusk. At midday the sun is hot and most animals prefer to siesta under the shade of a tree, usually far from the roads you're driving on.

Go with a guide.

Guides will often be in radio contact with each other, so if one spots a great lion kill they can let your party know so you get to see it too. A guide is also useful in identifying species. Even if you carry a nice guide book, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a female sable and an impala when they are running.

Know where to look.

Look up in the trees if you want to spot a leopard, look in rivers if you want to see crocodiles (especially in patches of reeds) and watch out for steaming dung heaps to give you a good indication how close you might be to an elephant.

Bring binoculars.

Game parks are often bigger than some small European countries and the animals are wearing camouflage.

No two safaris are ever the same, at the evening camp fire, there shall always be different stories being exchanged, and each story is unique and different.

A safari is all about fun, adventure, good memories and hoping lady luck and mother nature smile on you, and remember to always keep your mind and eyes wide open.

“Too often. . .I would hear men boast of the miles covered that day, rarely of what they had seen.” – Louis L’Amour