Safari Glossary: 30 Terms Explained in Plain English

Safari has its own vocabulary, from game drives to sundowners. Here is a plain-English guide to the words you will hear before and during your trip.

Safari basics

• Safari: From the Swahili word for journey. Today it means a trip to see wildlife.
• Game drive: A guided drive in an open vehicle to look for wildlife. See A Day on Safari.
• The bush: Wild, undeveloped countryside.
• Big Five: Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. See The Big Five Explained.
• Little Five: Ant lion, elephant shrew, buffalo weaver, leopard tortoise and rhinoceros beetle. See Little Five.
• Green season: The rainy, lush months. Read Africa in the Green Season.

People on safari

• Guide: A trained professional who leads your drive and explains the bush.
• Tracker: A specialist who reads tracks and signs, often sitting at the front of the vehicle.
• Camp manager: The person who runs your camp day to day.

Places and camps

• Camp: A small, often tented, safari accommodation. See Canvas and Comfort.
• Lodge: A more permanent building, usually with fixed rooms.
• Concession: A defined area of land leased for exclusive use by a camp.
• Conservancy: A privately managed area that protects wildlife and benefits local communities. See Laikipia.
• Exclusive-use camp: A camp booked entirely by one party. Read What Is an Exclusive-Use Safari Camp?.
• Fly camp: A simple, temporary camp set up for a night under the stars.
• Boma: A circular enclosure with a fire, used for dinners.
• Hide: A shelter for watching wildlife at close range.

Activities

• Sundowner: Drinks in the bush at sunset. See Sundowners.
• Walking safari: A guided walk, on foot. See On Foot in the Wild.
• Night drive: A drive after dark with a spotlight. Read After Dark.
• Mokoro: A traditional dugout canoe used in the Delta. See Gliding the Delta.
• Bush breakfast: A meal set up in the wild after a morning drive.

Landscapes and nature

• Pan: A flat, shallow depression that may hold water or salt. See Makgadikgadi Pans.
• Vlei: A low-lying, marshy area.
• Kopje: A rocky outcrop, a favourite place for leopards.
• Savanna: Open grassland with scattered trees.
• Migration: The seasonal movement of herds. See The Great Migration.
• Spoor: Animal tracks.

Travel terms

• Charter flight: A private small-aircraft flight between camps. Read private charter flights.
• Malaria-free reserve: A reserve in an area where malaria is not present. See Safari Health Guide.
• Private guide: A guide and vehicle for your party only.
• Shoulder season: The months between peak and low seasons.

Ready to put the words to use?

Speak with a specialist to start planning your private journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does safari mean?

It means journey in Swahili.

What is a sundowner?

A drink taken in the bush as the sun sets.

What is the difference between a camp and a lodge?

Camps are often tented and smaller. Lodges are usually permanent buildings.

What is a concession?

A defined area of land leased to a camp, often with limited vehicles.

What is a tracker?

A specialist who finds animals by reading signs on the ground.