Safari vehicle mistakes - Candid tips by Howard Hillman

Safari vehicle
mistakes

Safari tips you can trust

Going on a safari in
a minivan instead of
in a four-wheel-drive
safari vehicle

Minivan tours

One will save you money. However, you'll feel like a sardine in a can - and your field of vision will be noticeably obscured.

Jarring ride

Moreover, a safari normally requires many several-hour-long rides down bumpy, rutted dirt roads. This will prove quite uncomfortable to passengers because while the suspension systems of Land Rovers and Land Cruisers are built to handle the jolting bounces, those of minivans are not.

Incongruous experience

Being on safari in a minivan does not create an "Out of Africa" feeling.

Driving your own
vehicle on a safari
or renting one

Penny wise, pound foolish

What you save in money usually does not compensate for the downsides:

Your lack of expertise

A knowledgeable guide or guide-driver is essential for getting the most out of your trip. He knows from years of experience where to find the rare animals. He teaches you insider insights. Without him, you would likely see, learn and experience comparatively little.

Misplaced focus

Your attention will be focused mainly on driving, not on looking for wildlife or catching up on your safari guidebook.

Wrong turns

You could get lost.

Emergency repairs

You could have a mechanical breakdown in the middle of nowhere.

Vehicle damage

Car damage caused by terribly bumpy, rutted roads could be costly.