Common Safari Terms to Know to Have the Best Safari Experience
If you're going on safari for the first time, you can expect to hear lots of new words and phrases, some of which are fun to know and some of which will be helpful to learn. You might hear guides use a few terms to describe and explain what you're seeing and why, offering up detailed information to fill in the blanks. Since you won't want to miss a word of the conversation, becoming familiar with some basic terminology will keep you on track.
For example, have you ever heard of a kopje or a boma? Do you know which animals are considered the Big Five, the Little Five, and the Ugly Five?
Read on to get acquainted with a selection of common words, phrases, and local terms you're likely to hear on safari.
Common Safari Terms About Animals
The Big Five
The term "The Big Five" is an old hunting term referring to the five game animals that were sought as trophies in the days of open hunting and were the most difficult to hunt. Lions, leopards, elephants, African buffalo and rhinos are the biggest, most dangerous, and hardest animals to hunt. These animals were recklessly and relentlessly hunted during the 19th and 20th centuries. But now, thanks to concerted conservation efforts by the Tanzanian government that levies severe punishments for poachers, the animal populations are either recovering or at least holding on.
The Little Five
Well, there are big things and little things in nature. So, next time when you are on an African safari pay close attention to your surroundings or you may miss these wonderful little creatures. This cute sounding group of animals are: ant lion, buffalo weaver, rhino beetle, leopard tortoise and elephant shrew. These animals may be tiny but play an important role in maintaining the ecological balance and biodiversity of the continent.
The Ugly Five
Don't judge a book by its cover. What the wildebeest, warthog, spotted hyena, marabou stork, and vulture might lack in physical attractiveness, they show in scrappy survivability, which counts for a lot on the African savanna. And never fear, you'll easily spot these creatures when out on safari. You could call them the Ubiquitous Five!
Crepuscular Animals
Time for a quick biology lesson: Crepuscular animals do their hunting and foraging at sunrise and sunset. You'll spot them slinking and skulking through the bush whenever the sun is above or below the horizon, and the light is dim. Lions belong in this group (as do bats!), which is why we always recommend heading out on safari game drives before dawn.
Diurnal Animals
This one is a no-brainer. Diurnal animals are active during the day when the sun is high and sleep during the night.
Cheetahs are primarily diurnal, hunting in the early morning and late afternoon. By being diurnal, cheetahs can avoid most competition from larger and stronger predators who are usually active at night. Additionally, cheetahs are diurnal because they need good light conditions for their hunts which takes place at very high speeds.
Nocturnal
Approximately 70% of animals are nocturnal and most active at night. Night drives will be the best time to catch leopards, bush babies, and the porcupine on the move.
Endemic
Endemic plants or animals are considered native species but are restricted to a particular geographical location. A few animals endemic to Tanzania include the black-throated monitor lizard and the kipunji monkey.
Indigenous
People often confuse indigenous with endemic. When a species is indigenous to a place, it simply meamns that it occurs there naturally. It is a native. But a species can be indigenous to a number of places at once. In contrast, a species is endemic to a certain place, we mean that it occurs naturally only in that place.
Tuskers
Tuskers are elephants or wild boars with prominent, well-developed tusks.
Bush Baby
Contrary to popular belief, bush babies are not human babies lost and raised in the wild. They are a nocturnal primate species sporting saucer-shaped eyes. Also known as galagos, these cute little monkeys call the African continent their home and live most of their lives in trees foraging for food.
Common Safari Terms About Places and Geography
Boma
Most Maasai don’t live in villages. Instead, they live in family compounds called bomas. A boma is a homestead headed by one male, with many huts in which his wives and children live. As the family grows, more huts are added to the boma. Livestock also live inside a boma to protect them from predators.
Bush
“The bush” is a colloquial term for any African savanna or grassland inhabited by many different animals.
Conservancy
These are designated areas of a national park or other public reserve maintained by private organizations to preserve wildlife and the environment.
Game Reserve
Also known as a wildlife preserve or game park, game reserves are large areas of land set aside as protected areas for wild animals. For example, the Serengeti National Park is one of the largest game reserves in the world.
Hides
Hides are camouflaged, semi-subterranean shelters from which you can get a closer look at wildlife. These are usually built at vantage points near waterholes, where you expect many animals to stop for a drink.
Kopje
Kopje is a Dutch term that roughly translates to "little head" and, in this context, refers to the rocky islands spread throughout the Serengeti plains.
Safari Lodge
A Safari lodge is a permanent structure comprised of concrete, stone, or wood buildings, providing accommodations that tend to be bigger and have more amenities than safari camps.
Midden
This is the name given to an animal dung heap that many mammals, the white rhino in particular, return to and build up as a territorial marker. The rhino dung heaps can get as big as nine feet wide and be seen from the side of the road.
National Park
A dedicated region set aside by the government to protect the natural environment and wildlife from human encroachment.
Nature Reserve
In the same vein as national parks, nature reserves are designated tracts of land managed either by the government or any private organization to preserve its wildlife.
Open Borders
Some private reserves share an unfenced boundary with a larger national park or game reserve to allow wildlife to move freely between the two areas.
Private Concessions
These are specific areas of a national park or a public reserve that are leased to a safari operator for private use, camping, and game drive purposes. These are run independently from the park itself. These places give you an exclusive safari experience that is usually not possible otherwise, for example night game drives.
Savanna
A savanna is a grassy plain found in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa populated with few trees and scattered bushes. The savanna ecosystem has only two seasons – the wet and dry seasons and is famous for supporting the evolution of many big mammals, including prey and predators.
Commons Safari Terms About Seasons and Natural Events
Dry / Peak / High Season
Also known as peak or high season, the dry season in Tanzania refers to the dry winter months where animals seek out and congregate in their masses around waterholes and rivers to drink - making them easier to find. This is arguably the best time to go on safari as vegetation also thins out. Popular safari destinations see high visitor numbers during this season as it provides excellent game viewing, including nature’s grandest show – the Great Migration.
Green / Rainy / Wet / Low Season
This safari term is a best-kept secret and refers to a specific period in Africa that falls within the warm, rainy months. This is the perfect time to explore the country at its greenest and quietest, when nature is in its fullest bloom. Unlike the dry season, the green season is considered a low period for safari travel. Wildlife may be harder to spot among the abundance of new leaves and tall grass, but you could take advantage of some great travel discounts. It is also one of the best times to go on safari, as you get to witness an abundance of newborn life.
Shoulder Season
This is an industry term referring to the transitional months between winter and summer – the in-between period where there may be an occasional shower but no steady rains yet.
Rutting Season
During the Great Wildebeest Migration, April to June is referred to as the rutting (breeding) season and is one of nature’s most amazing displays. This is when males fight for dominance in a noisy and violent affair for patches of prime grazing, and half a million wildebeest mate.
Calving Season
The wildebeest continue their migration south following the rain and the fresh grass it brings, and they enter the Ndutu region, which connects the southern Serengeti and the northwestern Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This is where almost two million wildebeest congregate for the calving season.
From late December through March, over 8,000 calves are born each day. These vast herds, with hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelle, feed on the nutritious grass growing in the fertile volcanic soil which helps in feeding the hungry calves.
The Great Migration
The Great Migration is nature’s greatest show and takes place in the broader Serengeti ecosystem which includes the Masai Mara. An annual event, the Great Migration is the largest migration of land mammals in the world, which sees almost two million animals, including wildebeest, zebra and gazelle, migrate between the two regions on a circular journey each year in search of water and food.
Common Safari Terms About Game Drives and Types of Safaris
Guide / Field Guide
The African wilderness can be tricky to navigate on your own. Our guides will accompany you on all safari adventures throughout the national parks, whether it be a nature walk or game drive, and provide interesting insights into the geography and wildlife around you. You can call them your tour guides to Tanzania (and family at the end of your safari).
Khaki Fever
Who doesn’t love khaki uniforms? You know you have Khaki Fever If you are feeling extremely inspired by a khaki-clad ranger or guide while on safari, and eventually get addicted to the African wilderness.
Nature Walk / Walking Safari
If you want to get out of the safari vehicle and experience a different side to the wilderness, you can sign up for a nature walk. It will give you the opportunity to witness the intricacies of the African wildlife and the ecosystem at large. With the guidance of your armed guide, you will walk in the footprints of wild animals and track their daily lives on this adventure.
Night Game Drive
This is a game drive in a comfortable 4X4 safari vehicle that operates after dark, using a powerful spotlight to observe Africa’s nocturnal creatures at night, such as leopards, bush babies, and aardvarks.
Private-/Exclusive-Use
This refers to a special safari package where you can book a lodge or camp exclusively for your family’s use. This means that children of all ages are welcome, and you’ll have full access to a private safari vehicle with a personal driver guide for the duration of your stay - in addition to other luxury and personalized services.
Safari
You’ve heard the word thrown around a thousand times, but what does safari actually mean? Safari is the Swahili word for “travel”. Nowadays, it means a land journey to witness the wildlife of a particular region. Africa has become very famous for safaris over the last century due to its rich wildlife and heritage.
Star-Beds
The star-bed experience is a safari adventure where you sleep under the night sky under a mosquito net in a tree house or an open-air surroundings. You can hear the natural lullaby of crickets and other wildlife with the occasional nocturnal calls of lions and hyenas.
Sundowner
One of the most popular rituals on safari is enjoying a sundowner at the end of the day. It involves stopping for a drink at dusk, usually at a scenic location or viewpoint, and witnessing a serene sunset.
Tracker
When on safari, many safari operators often have a tracker in the team to track wildlife activity. A tracker’s job is to show remarkable skill in following animal tracks to locate wildlife in the area.
Horseback Safari
If you are feeling adventurous, you can go on a horseback safari to encounter big game on horseback. You will be able to explore in detail your surroundings when you are riding the African savannah on a horse’s back.
Hot Air Balloon Safari
Want to appreciate the beauty of Tanzania from a bird's eye view perspective? You can enjoy Tanzania from the sky; a must-do adventure when traveling to East Africa is sailing through the skies in a hot air balloon as you enjoy a birds-eye view of the picturesque and vast wilderness and wildlife below. Balloon safaris usually start with the sunrise early in the morning with a hot steaming cup of coffee.
Photographic Safari
On a photographic safari, you go on an adventurous expedition into the wild, where your sole goal is to take pictures of the amazing wildlife and scenery around you. It gives ample opportunity for both professional photographers and avid amateurs to take memorable pictures for their albums.
Urban Safari
Your safari doesn’t end when you land in places like Arusha or Zanzibar. Urban safaris are a guided experience through Tanzania’s tourism cities, allowing you to immerse yourself in local life, taste the local cuisine and learn the local culture.
Communication is the Key!
When embarking on a Tanzanian safari, it's helpful to be familiar with the local wildlife and geography. Familiarizing yourself with the local language and common terms can help you better understand the region and the safari experience. By learning a few key words, you'll be better prepared to ask questions, explain your needs and get the most out of your adventure. Finally, understanding the local customs and culture can make your experience even more enjoyable and memorable.
Sababu Safaris guides are passionate about helping travelers explore and understand the beauty of Tanzania. We offer personalized safari adventures that will take you off the beaten path and help you discover the wild, diverse landscape of Tanzania. Whether you want to explore the Serengeti on game drives or on a hot-air balloon ride, our expert guides will help you create the perfect Tanzanian safari experience.