How to Make the Most of Your Safari Experience

There’s nothing quite like an authentic South African safari experience. At Sun International’s Sun City Resort, you can experience the Big Five without having to travel too far from the luxury of your hotel. Whether you are a seasoned traveler who has seen the Big Five so many times that you count them as friends, or a nature-loving novice, each safari adventure is guaranteed to be unique and special.

Here’s our handy guide to making the most of your safari or game drive adventure.

There’s a season for everything

No one can argue that the savannahs don’t look picture-perfect during the wet season. However, if you are interested in spotting animals, then consider enjoying your safari vacation during the dry season. In the dry season it is easier to spot animals as the usually lush vegetation dries out revealing some of the animals’ favorite hiding places. Also, thirsty animals are likely to gather around the watering holes for extended periods during the dry season.

Did you know: in southern Africa the dry season runs from May until October?

The early bird catches the worm… and the wildlife

It might be hard to convince yourself to set your alarm and wake up early when you are supposed to be relaxing on holiday, but do it anyway. Sunrise safari game drives are an excellent opportunity to see a variety of wild animals, especially those that are notoriously reclusive. Still having a hard time convincing yourself? Well, think of it this way, on a safari holiday, you have the opportunity to experience the life of the lion – active in the morning and evening, and resting and relaxing during the afternoon.

Did you know: lethargic lions can sleep up to 20 hours a day?

Beauty is in the eye of the binoculars holder

Invest in a quality pair of binoculars and marvel at the details that aren’t always obvious to the naked eye. Also great for bird watching, binoculars help you to identify different species of birds.

Did you know: the Pilanesberg Game Reserve adjacent to Sun City is over 500km²?

Safety first

Although some of the animals may look cute and furry, remember that the animals are wild and potentially dangerous, albeit extremely photogenic! To keep safe, don’t make too much noise and respect your surrounds. To keep the animals safe, reconsider geo-tagging your photos. Poachers have been known to make use of the geo-tags in their hunting.

Did you know: the Pilanesberg is the only game reserve set in an alkaline ring complex, there are only three such ring complexes in the world.

Silence is golden

Remember to be courteous to others and keep chatting (and camera sound effects) to a minimum when enjoying a serene game drive. Revel in the silence, press the mute button and most importantly, be mindful not to focus too much on getting the perfect photo. While photos are memories that last forever, remember to be in the moment and to appreciate the beauty beyond the lens.

Take note(s)! It might be difficult to believe that you could ever forget the names of the incredible wild animals that you encounter on your game drive, keep a notebook just in case. That way, you won’t have to subject your family to endless albums of wildlife photos vaguely titled “some bucks and other creatures”.

See the bush from a new and exciting perspective. Exploring the African bush on a safari adventure is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Make the most of your limited time by enjoying all of the safari options available to Sun International guests.

With Sun International, your amazing safari adventure is not limited to game drives, guests of Sun City Resort can discover their wild side with safari options including:

• Airtrackers hot air balloon safaris
• Quad bike adventure safaris

Tell us: What animal are you hoping to spot on your next game adventure?