The Best Luxury Safari Activities – From Game Drives to Walking Safaris

An African safari is a journey of discovery, a chance to witness the world’s most spectacular wildlife in its natural habitat. While the classic game drive is the foundation of any safari, the modern luxury experience offers a remarkable variety of ways to explore the wilderness. From the thrill of tracking animals on foot to the silent glide of a canoe, each activity provides a unique perspective and a deeper connection to the environment.

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The Best Luxury Safari Activities – From Game Drives to Walking Safaris

Today’s premier safari destinations have moved far beyond a one-size-fits-all approach. Whether you seek high adventure, quiet contemplation, or unique photographic opportunities, there is an activity tailored to your interests. Exploring these different options is the key to designing a truly personal and unforgettable adventure.

The Classic Game Drive, Elevated

The quintessential safari experience is the game drive, typically conducted in the early morning and late afternoon when animals are most active. In the world of luxury safaris, this is far from a standard tour. You will explore in a comfortable, open-sided 4×4 vehicle, often privately, with an expert guide and tracker who know the terrain and its inhabitants intimately.

These drives are unhurried, allowing for prolonged observations and incredible photographic moments. Many private reserves, such as those in South Africa’s Greater Kruger National Park, also permit off-road driving for special sightings and night drives to find elusive nocturnal creatures. Lodges like Ngala Safari Lodge in the Ngala Private Game Reserve excel at providing this exclusive and flexible approach to wildlife viewing.

On Foot: The Thrill of a Walking Safari

To truly immerse yourself in the bush, there is no substitute for a walking safari. Leaving the vehicle behind and venturing out on foot engages all your senses, from the scent of wild herbs to the distant call of a fish eagle. Led by highly trained and armed guides, these walks are a safe and profound way to connect with the wild. The focus shifts from covering long distances to noticing the small wonders often missed from a vehicle, such as animal tracks, intricate insect life, and medicinal plants.

Zambia is widely considered the birthplace of the walking safari, and destinations like the Lower Zambezi National Park offer incredible on-foot experiences. At a camp such as Chiawa Camp, you can spend hours tracking big game with your guide, learning to read the signs of the bush in a way that is both educational and exhilarating.

Water-Based Safaris: A Different Perspective

In destinations blessed with rivers and wetlands, water-based activities offer a serene alternative to land excursions. The Okavango Delta in Botswana is famous for its mokoro safaris, where you glide silently through pristine channels in a traditional dugout canoe. Propelled by a skilled local poler, a mokoro allows you to approach wildlife with minimal disturbance, offering eye-level views of everything from tiny reed frogs to drinking elephants. Lodges such as Duba Plains Camp are perfectly positioned for these iconic water adventures.

On larger rivers like the Zambezi, motorboat and canoeing safaris provide opportunities to see large pods of hippos, sunbathing crocodiles, and vast herds of animals gathering at the water's edge. This change of pace and perspective is a welcome addition to any itinerary.

Unique and Unforgettable Experiences

Beyond the core activities, luxury lodges offer an array of specialized experiences. Crafting an itinerary that includes one or two of these can elevate your safari from great to truly exceptional. At SAFARI FRANK, we delight in matching our clients with the perfect blend of activities.

Frank Steenhuisen, Co-founder and lead safari expert, explains, “A great safari is not just about what you see, but how you see it. A walking safari engages all your senses, while a mokoro trip offers a peacefulness you cannot find in a vehicle. We love to combine these for a richer, more complete picture of the environment.”

Some of the most sought-after luxury activities include:

• Hot Air Ballooning: Floating silently over the plains of the Serengeti or Masai Mara at sunrise is an iconic experience. It provides a breathtaking bird's-eye view of the vast landscapes and the wildlife within them, followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush. This is available at lodges in Tanzania, such as Lamai Serengeti.
• Horseback Safaris: For experienced riders, a horseback safari offers a unique way to get close to plains game like zebra and giraffe, which often accept horses as part of the herd. It is an adventurous and intimate way to explore, offered in places like Kenya’s Chyulu Hills and Botswana's Okavango Delta at camps like Macatoo Camp.
• Sleep-Outs and Star Beds: Spend a night under a blanket of stars in a luxurious “star bed.” These secure, open-air platforms, often set on a raised deck away from the main lodge, provide the ultimate romantic and immersive bush experience, with the sounds of the African night all around you.
• Photographic Hides: For keen photographers, a session in a photographic hide is a must. These cleverly designed bunkers, often submerged at water level, allow you to get incredibly close, eye-level shots of animals coming to drink, completely undetected.

From the classic game drive to the thrill of a walking safari and the tranquility of a mokoro journey, the possibilities are endless. A well-planned luxury safari combines these different elements to create a dynamic and deeply personal adventure. The team at SAFARI FRANK can help you navigate the options to design a trip that perfectly aligns with your vision, ensuring every moment in the African wilderness is a memory in the making.

About Frank Steenhuisen
Frank is the lead safari expert at specialists in exclusive safari adventures SAFARI FRANK, helping travelers experience Africa’s wildlife safely and sustainably. Learn more at SAFARI FRANK.