A safari is a trip to observe or hunt animals in their natural habitat, often associated with Africa but available worldwide. Some safaris use motor transport for safety, while others are walking trips with armed guides. Lodges near reserves offer additional activities and luxuries. Safaris can last from two days to two weeks and can involve camping or staying in multiple locations. Other destinations for safaris include Australia, Asia, and South America, with day tours available in Alaska.
A safari is a land trip, usually to jungle or savannah environments, that is undertaken for the purpose of observing or hunting animals. Most often, the modern safari involves observing, photographing and experiencing animals in their natural habitat. With increased conservation laws for many animal species, fewer people go on safari to hunt animals.
Safari is a Swahili word, originally derived from the Arabic word for travel, safari. Most associate the idea of going on safari with Africa, but there are actually many safari destinations around the world. For example, you can go on safari in India, Australia, Antarctica, Alaska, Brazil or Peru. Basically, any place where you can observe animals in their true habitat can be a safari destination.
Some safaris are done mainly with motor transport. It may just be too dangerous to walk around lions, tigers and bears or other potentially deadly animals. It can also be dangerous for animals to interact closely with humans. Watching animals from the safety of a vehicle allows you to get up close to animals with less danger to both animals and humans.
Other safaris are walking trips and usually lead by armed guides. They can take place in nature reserves. People might camp overnight on the African savannah, for example, in tented huts or semi-permanent camps. These are usually the cheapest way to go on safari, but they have their deprivations. For example, access to toilets and the ability to bathe or shower can be quite limited.
Alternatively, many lodges are built near animal reserves. Lodges can also range in price. Some of the more expensive ones can cost over 500 US Dollars (USD) per night. They usually include meals in the price, and some fantastic meals can be had if you are willing to shell out big bucks for the more expensive lodges.
With sufficient funds, a variety of means of transportation can be used during a safari. Some lodges offer balloon or helicopter flights. Others may provide boat trips along rivers, or even elephant or camel rides. Many safari lodges also offer additional activities and luxuries to keep guests entertained when not observing animals.
A safari, or the actual tour to see or hunt animals, can last anywhere from two days to two weeks. You could also spend some of this time traveling by plane or bus to different locations to see the best attractions. A single safari might involve camping or staying in multiple locations, which makes packing lightly a good idea, particularly on more budget-oriented safaris.
While Africa has the most safari offerings, those in Australia, Asia and South America can often be equally exciting. Many are built on the same principles as African safaris, with semi-permanent lodges or camps located near nature reserves. In places like Alaska, day tours can also be taken to see grizzlies, Kodiaks, and polar bears in their native environment. These tend to be offered in conjunction with Alaska cruises.
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