I have khaki fever; yes I have said it and here is some self-expression. I love time in the bush, and I love a self-safari. It is not for everyone, but it is for me and for many others. It is something that at one time only locals could participate in, but now it is open to everyone.
Maybe I have even come up with a new term with self-safari? I will explain. I visit game reserves and parks that are home to Africa’s most iconic wildlife. When there I self-drive and I self-cater and sometimes I am by myself.
With a rental car I am able to get myself around. I pre-plan where I am going to shop and have a list of all the must take items for self-catering. I also have a few things that are essential for the self-safari that I take on every visit: torch, headlamp, maps, books, camera, etc. My shopping list always has the following items: Charcoal, firelighters, matches, water, beer, boerewors, chips, chakalaka, toilet paper, etc.
A self-safari is not something I would recommend to a first-time person on a safari style holiday. I would always suggest take a couple of organised game drives or start off with a lodge that offers a fully catered option and that includes two games drives a day. You need to have a feeling for your surroundings and be comfortable driving where all wildlife has the right of way.
A few things that I have learnt over the years are to never drive through dung, like elephant or rhino, as it could well contain dung beetles. Dung beetles have the right of way as do elephants and rhinos that left the dung. With elephants you need to keep a safe distance and I would always suggest two hundred meters. Animals are comfortable with cars but can always be skittish and unpredictable. Buffalo can do you and your car some real damage. I only ever get out of my hire car at designated points and only if I have good vision of the surrounding bush. This year whilst at a lion sighting a car pulled up behind me and the passenger got out to give himself a better photo opportunity. This was an incredibly stupid thing to do. The lions took cover in thick undergrowth and I shouted at the man. All the photos below are from earlier this year on my self-safari adventures to give you an idea of the overall experience. If you are interested in a self-safari or any type of safari, holiday, adventure or road trip, please drop me a line.
