safari jeep in africa

Open Safari Jeeps

Open-side  4×4 safari jeeps – types of safari vehicles.

Types of 4WD  Open-Side  Safari Vehicles

This is the type you will likely use if you decide to take a luxury fly-in safari.   They are almost always found within the parks and reserves and will only pick you up from the airstrip when you flight arrives.

When it comes variation, the Open Side Safari Jeep is no exception.  Some will be completely open allowing unfettered interaction with nature – getting up close and personal with the sights, sounds and smells of the bush.  Other types of Open Safari vehicles  will have a canopy on the top to protect you from the sun and rain.

Safari Destinations Where the 4×4 Open Jeep is Used

They are mostly used for safaris in southern Africa destination, namely  Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and  Zambia . But as mentioned above, a good number of private conservancies in Eastern Africa safari destinations of Kenya and Tanzania also prefer  the  use the open safari jeeps.

Are Open Safari Jeeps Safe? All precautions and common-sense approach employed, the answer is YES. most of Africa’s wildlife do not see human beings in an open-sided safari vehicles as a threat. A leopard or lion can walk past you in an open-sided vehicle and not give it a second look. This means a safari in an open vehicle is safe providing the proper precautions are taken. Many of these precautions are common sense: for example, talking in low voices and making no sudden movements.

Choose and Book Open-Side Jeep Safari Packages

03 Days Masai Mara Flight Safari from Mombasa and Diani

03 Days Open-Side Jeep Safari to Masai Mara

04 Days Masai Mara Safari By Air

04 Days Masai Mara Safari to Salas Camp By Air

04 Days Sabi Sabi Kruger Fly In Safari

04 Days Selous Reserve Safari Package

05 Days Amboseli and Masai Mara Flight from Mombasa

05 Days Serengeti – Ngorongoro – Fly in Safari

05 days serengeti - ngorongoro - fly in safari.

07 Days Botswana Honeymoon Safari

07 Days Singita Sabi & Kruger South Africas Elite Adventure

07 days singita sabi & kruger south africas elite adventure.

• No of Days: 4 Days/3 Nights

08 Days Namibia Fly-In Safari

08 Days Serengeti – Ngorongoro – Manyara Safari By Air

08 days serengeti - ngorongoro - manyara safari by air, photography and game viewing while using the open jeep for safaris.

Seating Arrangement On the Open Safari Jeep

As the name suggests, they are open on both sides, making them ideal for game viewing, photography,  bird-watching while offering an intimate and real connection with the African wilderness.

It is important to note that since these vehicles are mostly stationed in the safari camps and lodge – and so there are fewer them stationed there.  That means one will almost always have to content with sharing  with other guests from the camp or lodge where they are staying. If you prefer to have exclusive use of an open vehicle this needs to be arranged, at extra cost, in advance. Some open safari jeeps  are designed with tiered seating, so that nobody’s view is blocked by the person in front of them.

Protection from the Weather Elements

Due to their being open, there is obviously limited protection from the the elements, it is therefore  vital that you protect yourself against the sun. Hats, scarves and windbreakers are all excellent shields from fierce and hot Ultra Violet rays.  Some of these vehicles do have canvas/plastic canopies that can be closed, if the weather becomes un co-operative. Thunderstorms in Africa can be wild, and come on within minutes!

Ask for a tailor-made open side luxury safari here

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SAFARI JEEP

See africa our way - in 4 x 4 land cruiser safari jeeps, we call it “the essential safari vehicle”, starting from/returning to nairobi area hotels, airport, or location of your choice..

Why? Because the Jeep was built for the rugged demands of safari adventure. No other vehicle can get you as close to the wildlife. So on all Africa Kenya Safari journeys, we guarantee you a 4 x 4 pop-top Safari Jeep at no extra charge!

No matter the terrain – muddy rivers, deep forests, or tough hills, our solid 4 x 4’s will forge over dirt, rock, and bush, bringing you deeper into the wild. With its higher elevation and pop-top roof, you’ll get wide-open views of lions, elephants, and vast herds of wildebeests streaming across the savannah.

What Makes the African Safari Jeep so Special?

Think of African safaris and you’re sure to picture a Jeep tearing across the plains and over the hills, in pursuit of cheetah, buffalo, and herding zebras. Decades of safari expeditions have evolved the 4 x 4 Land Cruiser making it the perfect safari ride.

• 4 x 4 all-wheel-drive, high platform, and powerful torque get through the toughest terrain, mud, and water crossings. You’ll off-road to where other vehicles wouldn’t dare
• The Jeep’s high platform also means higher seating and better views to spot game further afield
• For on roading or off, the Jeep’s rugged suspension ensures a more comfortable ride
• The Jeep is built on safari experience – 2 fuel tanks and 2 spare tires
• Lots of doors for quick and easy access
• Big windows and a pop-top roof to see the vast expanse of land and wildlife
• The Jeep is more stable and roomier than a minivan.
• This is the ultimate safari vehicle – 70 years of off-roading experience!

Picture Yourself Next to Your Safari Jeep

You’ll be taking lots of photos on safari: the wildlife, the land, yourself… and probably the platform that brought you there – your 4 x 4 Land Cruiser Jeep.

Since 1951 the Land Cruiser Jeep has been to adventure what the lion has been to the African safari – the absolute must. Make sure your photos show you alongside your authentic 4 x 4 Land Cruiser Jeep.

Here is Our 4 x 4 African Safari Jeep Guarantee

It’s simple – when you book your safari with Africa Kenya Safaris , you’ll adventure out to Kenya’s fantastic wildlife in one of our 4 x 4 Jeeps, guaranteed. At no additional cost.

Other safari outfits will put you in a minivan. Do you really want to experience the greatest adventure of your life in a minivan?

Or, the others will try to upsell you a 4 x 4 at an additional charge. Not us.

A customized, rugged, and dependable 4 x 4 Jeep is included in your safari fee. The choice is easy.

We hope to see you soon for an amazing wildlife adventure in the ultimate safari vehicle – your 4 x 4 Land Cruiser Jeep.

You’ll Find All These Extras in Your 4 x 4 Jeep

(at no extra charge).

4 premium quality binoculars per Jeep to bring those big cats even closer

All our Jeeps are equipped with long-range, high-frequency radios for any-time communications

We offer onboard 4G/LTE broadband WiFi to share your photos and video in real-time

Child and baby seats are always available on request

Included side steps make it easy for everyone to come along on safari

The pop-top roof gives easy access to 360 0 views of the savannah and wildlife

Our safari vehicles come with plug-in power – AC 230V 50Hz 300Watts (3 flat pin type sockets)

Well-equipped First Aid Kits

An assortment of safari guidebooks to learn about the wildlife, the environment, and the parks

Innovative sandbags support cameras with long lenses for steady photo shooting

Just reach for the included 22-liter portable fridge if you get thirsty – stores plenty of drinks, fruit, and snacks

And the Best Feature of Your 4 x 4 Jeep

Your friendly, expert safari guide.

We Speak Safari

We Kenyans love languages – Kiswahili, English and usually one or more of our local dialects.

But our guides are also fluent in other languages as well – Spanish, French, Italian, and German.

So when you journey with Africa Kenya Safaris , we’ll make sure you enjoy your safari in your native language. Just let us know your preference when you book your journey with us.

Our clients

Driving technology for leading brands, our accreditations and booking security.

Africa Kenya Safaris Ltd is licensed under the Kenya Tourism Regulatory Authority ( TRA ) . It is Bonded member No. AS/720 of the Kenya Association of Tour Operators ( KATO ) , Ecotourism Kenya , East African Wildlife Society, and the African Travel and Tourism Association ( ATTA )

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8 Days Kenya Lodge Safari To Samburu - Aberdare - Nakuru and Masai Mara

• Photography
• Wildlife & Nature Photography

8 Days Kenya LUXURY Family Safari & Beach Holiday Tour

Wonderful 7 nights journey through Masai Mara, lake Nakuru and Amboseli. Edouard, our tour guide, has been the most patient and accommodating person. He is a terrific guide who can spot animals miles away! We obviously saw the big 5 on many occasions and much more! He has ensured our journey was smooth and was the sweetest person with our 10 years old. The hotel selection was v nice, with high levels of comfort. Albert, the owner of the company, is a v nice man, has been v helpful and accommodating during the preparation of the journey and during. Again a v smooth and fabulous journey. Ps money wise, safari is not a cheap experience but I have found albert company to be v competitive in comparison with others and again this is the trip of a lifetime! Thank you

7 Day Kenya Classic Small Group Safari in 4X4 Jeep

Our 7 Days Kenya Safari was awesome . Our Guide Sammy was very knowledgeable showing us the Big 5 animals within this time. The lodges were very nice and close the nature! the food was so good even the vegetarian meals were excellent . Thanks Pam Safaris team for making our holidays a dream come true. Highly recommended.

• In-depth Cultural
• Great Migration

Kenya: A Classic Safari with Nairobi & Amboseli

3 days Group joining safari to Maasai Mara using a Land Cruiser Jeep

07 Days Classic Kenya Camping Safari in 4X4 Jeep

9 Day Kenya Lodge Safari to Ark Lodge - Samburu - Bogoria and Masai Mara

08 Days Kenya Lodge Safari

07 Days Kenya Luxury Rhino Safari

10 Day Best of Kenya Luxury Family Safari

08 Days Kenya Luxury Lodge Safari

7 Day Highlights of Kenya Safari

08 Days Kenya Lodge Safari tour 4x4 Jeep

Kenya Self-Drive Tour Wakati

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Kenya Jeep Safari Reviews

My guide Sammy was great. The communication and clarity between tour radar and myself could have been a little better and more timely. All in all a good experience.

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• Types of Safari Vehicles,…

Types of Safari Vehicles, Overland Trucks & More: 14 Best Ways to Explore Africa

Posted by Briony Chisholm on September 16 2022 in Adventure Travel & Activities Enquire Now!

So you’re going on a safari to see the open plains and incredible wildlife of Africa? One of the most important details to check, before booking your trip, is what types of African safari vehicles, overlanding trucks, and other forms of transportation are used.

The range of safari vehicles is enormous. From walking safaris with enclosed transfer vehicles to pop-top 4X4 safari vehicles, and from 4-seater to 44-seater overland trucks. You can go bare-bones or air-conditioned high-luxury, local dugout mokoro, horseback, or air safaris for a bird's eye view. The important thing is to choose the type of African safari vehicle or overlanding truck, and other means of exploring (or combination) that suits you, for the ultimate African safari experience.

We’ll start with the biggest African safari vehicles and end with the ‘on foot’ transportation mode.

Safari Vehicles, Overland Trucks & Ways to Explore Africa - Quick Links

• Overlanding Vehicles (Overland Trucks)
• Minibus or Microbus Safari Vehicles
• Land Rover & Cruiser Safari Vehicles
• Open Game Viewing Safari Vehicles
• Flying African Safaris
• Hot Air Balloon Trips
• Shark Cage Diving Boats
• Rubber Ducks
• Dhow Sailing Boats
• Game Viewing Boat Cruises
• Mokoro Dug-out Canoes
• Kayak & Canoe Safaris
• Horseback & Camel Safaris
• Walking Safaris (on foot & by vehicle)

1. Africa Overlanding Vehicles (Overland Trucks)

These expedition trucks are specially built to deal with the rough roads of Africa, where potholes, deep ruts, and river crossings are pretty ‘every day.’ They are normally used for longer and larger (12 to 44 people) overland Africa tours, so need to be able to carry a fair amount of equipment while still offering the budget traveller a relatively comfortable trip and good views of the passing scenery and wildlife.

African tour operators choose the best overland truck for each trip, according to the area being visited and the anticipated terrain that will be covered. 

Overland Vehicle Seating Arrangements

Overland trucks may differ in their seating formation and size. Some have all forward-facing seats, while others may have some backward- or side-facing seats. The seats are generally raised, allowing for good views over the African landscapes, especially in grassy areas, where you want to be able to spot animals in the grass. Ask your tour operator about seating formation and how many are seated in a row – some overland trucks seat up to three per row, which makes seeing out a bit more difficult if you’re in the middle – before booking your overland tour.

Windows, Pop-up Roofs, and Taking Photos on Overland Trucks

The overland trucks generally have large windows, some of which open vertically, others horizontally – allowing for good views. Many of them also have a pop-up roof. This allows you to stand up and get 360-degree views and photos.

Luggage Space on Overlanding Trucks

All overland trucks are equipped with storage space (some lockable) for luggage and equipment – some under the seating section, others at the back of the truck, and some with a detachable trailer. Obviously, space is at a premium, so be sure to pack only the absolute essentials. Also, when packing, use soft luggage rather than hard (e.g. Samsonite), as it is much easier to fit into lockers and overhead compartments.

Most overland trucks have a safe onboard for the storage of valuables.

Mobile Kitchen & Diner

Many meals while on safari are prepared and eaten out in the bush, far from civilization. The overland trucks are fully equipped for this. Most safari trucks have a ‘kitchen’ section (often fold-out, beneath the seating area) with a stove and hand dish-washing area. They also have a fridge/freezer/cooler boxes to keep supplies and drinks fresh in the African heat. Africa Overland Tours are thirsty work!

Safety First on Safari!

Safety is non-negotiable. Check with your tour operator that there is a fully-stocked First Aid kit onboard, safety belts on all seats, and some means of communication (radio, etc.), in case of emergencies while on safari. All legitimate tour operators have their client’s safety first in mind and ensure that their overland trucks are kept in a good condition and are reliable for long trips – larger fuel and water tanks, spare tyres, knowledgeable and well-trained drivers, etc.

Overland Truck Gadgets

Modern overlanding trucks come fully equipped with the modern gadgets that we've all got used to. With iPod/MP3 points, you can listen to your own soundtrack as you watch the African landscape slide by. They also have onboard charging facilities so ensure that your camera remains fully charged and you don't lose that once-in-a-lifetime shot of a lion hunting his prey!

Some smaller tours use smaller overland trucks – seven to nine-seaters – which provide window seats only, so nobody has to be in a middle seat.

Luxury Overlanding Trucks

These are state-of-the-art 4x4 overland vehicles used on small-group overland tours. A custom-built luxury overland truck comfortably accommodates up to 12 guests. They are specially designed to provide extra space and amenities. This is the overland vehicle of choice for a more luxurious overlanding Africa experience with all the adventure in added style and comfort.

Features include an onboard toilet and a water filtration system for purified drinking water on the road. The luxury overland trucks have reclining leather seats that rotate 180 degrees and lock into your preferred position (for example, window or front-facing).

Each seat has overhead air-conditioning vents that can be independently operated for individual control of airflow and temperature. Every seat also features a USB port panel for charging your electronic devices and there is a reading light above each seat. Each seat has a safety deposit unit with individual key code access, for storing your passports, phones, and smaller valuables.

Recommended Africa Overland Tours

20-Day East African Overland Tour - South  or  20-Day Cape Town to Victoria Falls Overland Tour - Camping Safari

Best of Namibia Safari Adventure - Overland Camping Tour

Small Group Tours in Luxury Overland Trucks:  South Africa Safari Adventure ,  Delta & Chobe Safari Adventure  &  Explore Namibia Safari Adventure

More Overland Africa Tours

2. Minibus or Microbus Safari Vehicles

For smaller safari groups and shorter tours that don’t go through hugely rugged areas, adapted microbuses (or minibuses) are used. As safari vehicles, Toyota Quantums and Mercedes Sprinters are most commonly used. The optimal number in most of these safari vehicles is six to ten people, forward-facing.

When booking a safari, find out from the tour operator which safari vehicle is used, and how many window seats there are, to ensure that everybody gets a window seat and has a good view of the spectacular scenery and amazing animals of Africa.

These safari microbuses are specially adapted for safari travel and are generally equipped with GPS tracking, sliding windows, cooler boxes, fire extinguishers, and First Aid kits. They generally have a softer suspension than other safari vehicles, giving a slightly more comfortable trip. Many of them – especially on  Kenya Safaris – also feature pop-up tops, allowing travellers to stand and view/photograph the countryside and animals from the minibus.

Some minibuses are fitted with air-conditioning. This is a welcome relief from the sweltering African heat but may detract from the whole experience of Africa, as the windows will be closed, blocking out the sounds of the bush.

Recommended small group trips using minibus safari vehicles

5 Days Budget Masai Mara & Lake Nakuru Camping Safari

South Africa’s Garden Route Adventure Tour

3. Land Cruising Safari Vehicles

Land Cruisers and Land Rovers are used on many safari tours. They range from ‘bare-bones’ models i.e. no added ‘mod-cons’, to highly specialized vehicles that may include air-conditioning, MP3 players, and slightly tinted windows for protection from the sun. Some of the newer safari vehicle models also have pop-up roofs, for added viewing potential, especially in Tanzania.

Safari Vehicle Seating Arrangements 

These safari vehicles, in general, can carry four to six (extended version) passengers, all forward-facing. Check the seating configuration with your tour operator before booking. While extended safari vehicles can carry more people, they tend to be slightly more difficult to handle on the road. Most of the Land Cruisers are 4X4s, allowing travel over the rough terrain that Africa is known for… Have a look at images of the road into the Ngorongoro Crater if you want an idea!

While self-hire safari vehicle options are available, tour operators all have experienced drivers who, more often than not have extensive knowledge not only of handling the rough terrain but of the areas through which we travel.

Safety First on Safaris!

Most Land Cruisers are equipped with all possible safety features – fire extinguishers, First Aid kits, seat belts and many have airbags. They have specially designed fuel tanks to allow the economical use of diesel during long journeys and snorkels for travel through rivers.

Luggage Space & How to Pack (light)

In general, luggage is taken either in a trailer or packed on the roof, to keep the safari vehicle as uncluttered as possible inside, for your comfort. Remember to pack lightly!

Recommended 4x4 Trips in Land Cruiser Safari Vehicles

Tanzania Lodge Safari to Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Tarangire

Masai Mara, Samburu, Nakuru 4x4 Kenya Lodge Safari

4x4 Ethiopia Tour - Danakil Depression & Awash National Park

4. Open Game-Viewing Safari Vehicles

Within many of the game parks, smaller, open-sided, or completely open safari vehicles are used for game drives. While these are not suitable for long distances – wind, dust, sun, and Africa’s elements can be harsh! – they are great for game drives as they allow you to get up close and personal with the sights, sounds, and smells of the African bush.

These safari vehicles are most often adapted Land Cruisers which seat between six and nine passengers. Some are designed with tiered seating so that nobody’s view is blocked by the person in front of them’s head!

Protection from The Elements

Due to their being open to the elements, it is vital to protect yourself against the African sun. Hats, scarves, and windbreakers are all excellent shields from fiery hot UV rays. Many of these open safari vehicles do have canvas/plastic canopies that can be closed if the weather becomes uncooperative. Thunderstorms in Africa can be wild, and come on within minutes!

Safari Drivers & Trackers

Most often when going on game drives, there will be a driver and a tracker (often sits on the front of the car, allowing him to track spoor and dung.) The trackers are highly experienced, and allow one to see the best Africa has to offer in wildlife.

Recommended trips with open game-viewing

Chobe, Moremi & Delta Botswana Camping Safari

6-Day Kruger Park & Private Game Reserves Safari (Lodge)

5. Bird’s-Eye View Flying Safaris

‘Air safaris’ are offered at various places in Africa, like Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta . A flight over the delta in a small plane gives you an idea of the vastness of the area. A helicopter flight over Victoria Falls will make you feel like an eagle soaring above this spectacular area!

Helicopters on Safari

The ‘vehicles’ used differ from operator to operator. The helicopters used at Victoria Falls are generally 4- or 6-seaters and many have bubble windows, allowing for good viewing. Do remember that, in the 6-seater, you may land up in the middle seat, making seeing out slightly more difficult.

Light Planes on Safari

In the Okavango Delta, many of the lodges are only reachable by air, especially during the wet season. Many small plane charters are available both as a means to get to the lodges and for a birds-eye view of the delta and spectacular photographic opportunities – a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Recommended safaris with flying components

Victoria Falls Budget Tour Package (Zimbabwe)

Okavango Delta & Chobe Accommodated Safari (North)

6. Hot Air Balloon Rides

What could be better than watching the sun rise over the Serengeti  while floating gently above its vast plains in a hot air balloon? Nothing, really. Hot air balloon rides are offered at various places in Africa (like Masai Mara and Serengeti) and provide an incredible, thrilling, bird’s-eye view of the vastness of Africa, dotted with wildlife.

Recommended trips with balloon safaris

4-Day Masai Mara Luxury Camping Safari  - optional hot-air balloon trip over Masai Mara, Kenya

12-Day Kenya & Tanzania Budget Lodge Safari  - optional hot-air balloon trip over Serengeti, Tanzania

7. Boat to the Great White Sharks

The boat used for our Great White Shark Cage Diving trips in South Africa is a custom-built catamaran. Combining comfort, stability, speed, and safety, this boat ensures not only a good trip for you but also promises minimal interference in the shark’s natural habitat.

The custom-built shark cage diving boat is typically a 46-foot (14m) long catamaran with a spacious upper deck for surface views of the sharks and other marine animals and platforms for the bait and decoy handlers to ensure the best possible shark viewing. It is a lightweight aluminium vessel powered by four big four-stroke 300-hp outboard engines and is equipped with the most advanced electronic navigation equipment. 

Staying dry and comfortable

Featuring a spacious indoor cabin, as well as separate wet and dry outdoor decks, the design ensures that when you’re wet, you’re wet, but once you’re out and want to be dry and comfortable, you can be. The boat usually features a central dining area, storage facilities for personal items, and both male and female toilets.

Electronically, the boat is fully equipped with a tracking device, radios, GPS, radar and navigation equipment, depth finder and echo sounder, and even a 12V charging facility for cameras, cell phones, and laptops.

Safety - yours and the shark's

Safety is of utmost importance and there are life vests for all passengers, fire extinguishers, a life raft, and capsize bottles on the boat. In case of medical emergencies, there are two onboard First Aid kits, oxygen cylinders, and fluid replacement.

Not only is your safety cared for, but that of the sharks too. The cage has no sharp points or edges that could hurt the animals. The cage itself is specially constructed of reinforced steel and can take five people comfortably. It is lowered and winched back up using a winch from a sturdy gantry. Oxygen is supplied from the boat to divers via a ‘hookah’ system with hoses running into the cage.

This, too, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. There’s not much more exhilarating than coming face-to-face with a Great White in its own habitat!

Recommended shark diving tours

2-Day Great White Shark Dive Package

Great White Shark Cage Diving Day Tour

8. Rubber-Ducking the Gorges

Jinja, in Uganda - where the longest river in Africa, The Nile, begins at its source, Lake Victoria - is one of the top whitewater rafting destinations in the world. Add in Victoria Falls, the Fish River Canyon, and the Orange (Gariep) River, where various boat options are offered, from boogie-boarding the rapids through canoeing to rubber ducking both flat water and white water, and it's an adrenaline junkie's dream. Your trip choice depends completely on your adrenaline requirements/limits!

Whichever you choose, be sure to check that the tour operator follows all safety regulations, ensuring that you have a safe, enjoyable trip through the gorge. Life jackets and helmets are non-negotiable, these waters can get wild, and a knowledgeable, trained guide will ensure you get the most out of your trip.

Recommended trips with rubber ducking

Victoria Falls Adventure Tour Package (Zambia)

Masai Mara & Gorilla Trekking Overland Tour or  Uganda Safari & Gorilla Trekking Tour

9. East African Dhows (sailing boats)

There is nothing quite so beautiful as seeing a traditional dhow gliding through the warm, azure waters of the Indian Ocean. Originally used for trading, these long, narrow boats with triangular sails, expertly sailed by locals, are used along the east coast of Africa.

So whether you’re heading off to the Bazaruto Archipelago or exploring the coastline of Zanzibar , do yourself a favour and catch a ride on one of these graceful sailing vessels.

Recommended trips with dhow safaris

22-Day Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique & Kruger Safari

5-Day Zanzibar Holiday Package - Adventure Tour

10. Game Viewing Boat Cruises

One of the best ways to watch wildlife and birds on safari in Africa is without a doubt by boat. It's hard to compete with a laid-back sunset cruise. Exceptional wildlife and bird sightings along the rivers and estuaries in top game reserves of Africa. Stunning scenery. Chilled sundowners and snacks or dinner onboard. Easy-paced, yet exciting and novel. 

The boats used on boat cruises vary but they are typically open-sided motorboats. The larger boats offer standing and sitting room and are sometimes double-deckers. 

Chobe National Park in Botswana is one of the best places for boat-based game viewing in Africa. Another favourite spot for scenic boat cruises is the Zambezi River near Victoria Falls. There are plenty of other great destinations for game-viewing boat cruises, from Uganda to South Africa. 

Recommended Safaris with Game-Viewing Boat Cruises

• Botswana:  5-Day Chobe & Okavango Delta Lodge Tour  or  Botswana Exclusive Camping Safari to Chobe & Okavango  - include Chobe River boat cruises (as with most Chobe Safaris)
• Uganda:  Gorilla Trekking & Queen Elizabeth Park Safari  - includes boat cruises on Kazinga Channel (Queen Elizabeth Park) & in Murchison Falls National Park

11. Winding Through the Waterways in Mekoro

If your safari includes a trip into the Okavango Delta , you will more-than-likely experience the gentle pleasure of a trip in a mokoro canoe. Check with your tour operator that this is included as part of the package, or offered as an optional activity. You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity to get up close and personal with the prolific birds and wildlife – including elephants, hippos, and crocs – of the Okavango Delta.

Mokoro History

These traditional dug-out canoes are made of wood and guided by a ‘poler’, who stands at the helm. While originally made from indigenous trees, such as the Kingella or ‘Sausage Tree’, they are increasingly made of fibreglass these days. While not as ‘authentic’, this is preserving the indigenous trees of the area and provides just-as-good a means of transport through the spectacular waterways of the delta.

Experienced polers

Many people are afraid of hippos overturning a mokoro. While this is not an impossibility – this is Africa, after all, and you’re in their habitat – the polers are experienced in the area and are very aware that hippos are territorial creatures. They are sure to avoid dangerous situations.

A trip on a mokoro allows you to get as close to the sights and sounds of Africa as is physically possible. Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Recommended safaris with Mokoro canoe trips

Botswana Parks & Okavango Delta Budget Lodge Safari

Budget Delta Mokoro Trail & Savuti Safari

12. Kayak & Canoe Safaris

If you're a kayaking or canoeing enthusiast this is the ultimate game-viewing safari vehicle for you. Watch the wilderness glide by as you paddle quietly along the rivers and waterways of Africa. A canoeing or kayaking safari gives you more independence than a mokoro trip where a guide poles you along.

The canoes and kayaks used on safaris vary widely, ranging from inflatable canoes to rugged old-school kayaks.

Some canoe safaris offer game viewing opportunities along the riverbanks and even in the waters whilst most are more about taking in the wild scenery and spotting birds.

Recommended safaris with canoe or kayak trips

• 16-Day Zambia & Malawi Small Group Safari  or 4-Day Victoria Falls Tour in Zambia - include Zambezi River Canoe Trips

4-Day South Africa Garden Route Tour - includes Canoeing in Wilderness National Park

15-Day Zambia & Malawi Small Group Budget Safari  - includes kayaking on Lake Malawi

13. Explore the African Bush on Horseback or Camelback

An incredible way to experience the bush up close! Horseback safaris are allowed in certain game reserves so if you want to experience the bush on horseback you'll need to pick your destinations accordingly. Two of the most popular African safari destinations that offer horseback safaris are Victoria Falls (Zambia or Zimbabwe) and Big 5 game reserves near Cape Town in South Africa. 

For a whole new experience, you can explore Africa by camel. An entirely unique and exotic mode of transport indeed. Camelback safaris are far rarer than horseback safaris. You can only embark on a camelback adventure in a few places, including parts of East Africa.

Recommended trips with optional horseback safaris & camelback safaris

• Experience Southern Africa Exclusive Budget Safari  &  Zimbabwe & Botswana Safari (Lodge Tour)  - optional horseback safaris at Victoria Falls

3 Day Big 5 Cape Town Safari  & 2 Day Big 5 Cape Town Safari  - optional horseback safaris at Aquila Game Reserve

Lake Turkana & Northern Kenya Camping Safari  - includes an overnight camelback safari in Tuum (Samburu District of Kenya)

14. Walking Safaris in Africa

This is (obviously) only an option once you are in the game reserve. Depending on the safety i.e. the presence of dangerous predators, many game reserves offer guided walking tours. This is the ideal way to get a true, African, wildlife experience. By walking through the bush all your senses experience Africa – sight, smell, sounds, touch – unadulterated by the sound of motors and really off the beaten track.

Guides and trackers

Most reserves have highly experienced guides who are a fountain of knowledge regarding the fauna and flora of the area and are excellent trackers. This allows you to not only experience the bush but also learn all sorts of fascinating facts while seeing the birds, insects, and animals that call Africa ‘home.’

If you have the opportunity, do not miss out on a walking safari. You can’t get closer to nature than this.

Recommended walking safari trips

4-Day Kruger Park Walking Safari  or  5-Day Kruger Safari - Hiking Tour

South Africa Walking Safari to Kruger & Zululand

7-Day South Luangwa Tented Camps Walking Safari

Talk to an Africa travel expert to find the ideal types of safari vehicles and other transport modes for your trip to Africa.

[Updated in 2022: originally posted in 2014]

About the Author

Briony chisholm wordsmith & pharmacist.

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How electric 4x4 jeeps are transforming safaris in Africa's wild

• Silent and eco-friendly safari jeeps have started prowling the vast landscapes of some of the most well-known game reserves in Africa.

For Sipps Maswanganyi, a safari guide with 20 years of experience in the African bush, it was one memorable sighting that sold him on electric safari vehicles.

“I could hear this buffalo panting heavily deep in the bushes," recalls Maswanganyi, head guide at Cheetah Plains, a luxury outfit in South Africa’s Sabi Sands Game Reserve. Following those faint sounds, he found a 1,500-pound bovine on its last breaths, being taken down by seven stealthy lionesses. “If I was in a noisy diesel vehicle, I would have driven right past, not hearing a thing, and we would have missed it all."

Also check these Vehicles

Although the diesel-hungry Land Rover chugging noisily across the African savannais a time-honored trope of the safari industry, it’s an image steadily being replaced by eco-friendly, whisper-quiet vehicles powered bysunshine.

“It was an easy decision," says Cheetah Plains owner Japie van Niekerk ofthe decision to offer an all-electric fleet of safari vehicles. “They are silent. They’re low on maintenance. And there are huge logistical benefits, as we don’t have to deliver fuel to the lodge out in the bush. But more than that, it’s the right thing. We are guests in nature, so why leave a footprint when we can be silent and blend in?"

Van Niekerk is just one of roughly a dozen early adopters, who since 2014 have begun ditchingdiesel engines. Now, with the technology becoming more affordable, and agrowing awareness around sustainable travelcausing safari outfitters to doubledown on greening their operations, the trend—which transforms the safari experience for guests, too—is finally gaining traction.

Disrupting the Disruption

Today’s electric safari vehicles (ESVs) are typically rebuilt Land Rovers or Toyota Land Cruisers, the diesel-driven industry standards. Private companies in South Africa and Kenya are responsible for making most conversions, replacing the engine, gearbox, and combustion components with an electric motor, batteries, and control system. The extensive retrofit often allows for more whimsical upgrades, too, from in-built seat-warmers to USB charge points. The process costs from $35,000 to $45,000 per vehicle.

Although prices have come down, that’s still a substantial investment, even for the largest safari operators in Africa, whichexplainswhy the likes of AndBeyond, Singita, and Wilderness Safaris have yet to add ESVs to their fleets.

“In time, we will convert to electric vehicles," explains Andrea Ferry, Singita's group sustainability coordinator. “The reason we’re not there yet is simply about priorities. Right now, it’s better to spend our available funds on renewable energy."

With 67 game vehicles in operation across its lodges in East Africa and Southern Africa, Ferry says that converting Singita’s fleet would cost around $3.5 million dollars. That’s the equivalent of 1,400 bednights at current rates, money she argues is better spent on taking lodges off the national grid via solar power.Electric motors capable of driving heavy off-road vehicles draw plenty of power, and the solar roof panels that charge the vehicles’ batteries have only recently become efficient enough to meet those needs.

“There’s no point having an electric vehicle charged by a coal-driven national grid. You need to be on solarand charge the vehicle on solar," agrees Tony Adams, conservation and community impact director at AndBeyond. “Electric vehicles are phenomenal in terms of guest experience, but our focus is on the work we’re doing in the communities—converting onto solar—and the reduction of our overall carbon footprint."

The Economic Upside

For lodges with sufficient solar capacity and capital to spare, electric vehicles offer significant economic advantages.

Converting the three Land Cruisers at Emboo River, in Kenya's culturallyrich Maasai Mara National Reserve, cost $105,000, an expense co-founder Valery Super estimates will be recouped in three years, thanks to lowered operational costs. AtOl Pejeta Bush Camp in a rhino-dense corner ofnorthern Kenya, Asilia Africa is running a trialona single ESV and already counts savings of around $8,000 per year in fuel and maintenance. And Chobe Game Lodge in northern Botswana has had such success with ESV jeeps thatit has also invested in electric boats.

“Since we went electric [in 2014], the vehicles have saved close on 50,000 liters of diesel, and the boats have saved 50,000 liters of petrol," says Chobe’s marketing manager Andrew Flatt, who estimates that the lodge recouped its initial investment in four years.

Capability isn’t a concern. Electrical components in modified safari vehicles are surprisingly rugged; sealed engines allowguides to ford rivers and wade through deep sand, just as they could with a traditional, combustion-driven vehicle.

“In the beginning, I was worried about torque," says Maswanganyi from Cheetah Plains. “You wonder if you’re going to get stuck in mud or deep sands,but after three years we’ve never had a problem."

Super, from Emboo River, goes one further: “We’ve been using these to tow stuck diesel vehicles out of the water," she laughs.

A Better, Greener Safari

All thismeans that guests won’t be limited as towhere they can go,much less what they can see. While early conversions suffered from range and recharging issues, current ESVs manage around 100 kilometers (62 miles)on a single charge, roughly twice the distance of your average game drive.

And the benefits are tangible. For wildlife enthusiasts, the metallic rattle of a diesel engine may feel exhilarating—proof of adventure—until it spooks the herd of red lechwe that were about to become supper for a lurking leopard. With the help of electric vehicles, even birders can silently reposition for better views without scaring off a dream sighting. There’s an entire bushveld chorus that most people miss out on.

“Without the noise of a diesel engine, you can really connect to your guests and to nature,"Maswanganyi says.

Even he has been surprised by some of what he’d been missing under the roar of his engine all this time. “You can hear the hyenas call while you’re driving," he explains. “And on some nights," he continues, “you can even hear porcupines walking through the bush."

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Safari Vehicles – Everything You Need to Know About Cars for the Bush

Safari vehicles come in all shapes and sizes and offer different ways to experience the African bush. The car is something that you would probably overlook when choosing one for your safari, but it can be the pivotal factor in how you experience your safari.

From the safari enthusiast who knows nothing about cars to the weekend explorer who has the 4×4 with all the extras you can imagine, this is a guide on everything you need to know.  It breaks down what to expect from the safari vehicles you will be using when going on your first safari trip.

If you haven’t quite got as far as booking your first trip, then this guide to the best safaris in Africa for first-timers is the perfect starting point.

What is a Safari Vehicle?

You might be asking yourself what African safari cars are and why they matter? In general, they are large 4×4 vehicles that have been modified to ensure the passengers’ safety. It is worth remembering that the regulations about the vehicles differ from national parks to private reserves and from province to province.

Big, small, open, or closed — there are a few different types of vehicles for safaris that the different national parks use. The vehicle should suit your needs or what you want to get out of the safari.

Unfortunately, you don’t always have a choice when it comes to what safari cars are available. So here is everything that you need to know to help prepare you for what to expect and how to choose what vehicle is best for you on safari.

If you are more of the adventurous type and would rather rent your own vehicle, this will also help you in understanding what vehicle would be best. All safari vehicles should at least have some, if not all of these features:

• Snorkel to handle deep water
• Upgraded suspension for extra comfort and durability
• Upgraded wheels and tires suited to the terrain

African Safari Vehicles

When it comes to an African safari car, there are a number of different types of vehicles that could be used on your drive. Most safaris however will be in a 4×4 safari where the terrain requires a 4-wheel drive vehicle to pass through. But there are other routes that will allow you to travel in a much larger group in more comfort, such as in a sprinter van on a hardpack road.

Some National Park’s offer a pickup service for a private tour where the guide will pick you up in the safari vehicle, with the canvas sides closed. They will then open the sides once you start your safari. You wouldn’t exactly want to be in an open vehicle driving along the freeway but on the game drive, it is perfect. A closed vehicle would be more comfortable in that scenario but not as good on the game drive itself with limited viewing available.

The two most common vehicles used are either safari Jeeps or Toyota safari vehicles. They both have their own advantages and disadvantages but are some of the best for the job.

Toyota Safari Vehicles

The legendary and most reliable of them all, most game parks use Toyota Land Cruisers as their vehicle of choice. Having replaced the trusty Land Rover Defender and the African safari Jeep a few decades ago, Toyota changed the game forever.

There are both enclosed and open Toyota safari vehicles, depending on the location and guidelines of the park. Fully open vehicles provide unrestricted views of the world around you, perfect for the photographers who want to get that perfect shot. An open vehicle has no doors, windows, or frames to block your view. You also have the ability to listen and talk to your guide, ensuring that you don’t miss a thing and know what is going on at all times.

The closed version offers more protection from the elements on those colder and wetter days. The downside, though, is that your view is more restricted and you have to look through windows. This isn’t ideal for those wanting to take photographs but perfect for those who want a comfortable experience.

Safari Trucks

If you really want to go off the grid and live in the bush, then a safari truck is the answer. These beasts are normally caravans on wheels with either 4×4 or 6×6 capabilities and can live in the middle of nowhere for weeks on end. Other safari trucks that are used are normal vans, such as a sprinter van. These will take you and a group of your friends in amazing comfort on more maintained and established tracks.

Types of Safari

The type of safari that you choose to do will have an impact on the type of safari vehicle that will be available to you. Not only that but the location of your safari will also be a factor in what vehicle is available.

Kenya and Tanzania prefer to use fully enclosed vehicles with their passengers but with the added modification of an expanding or opening roof. This means that if you get tired of looking through the window with limited visibility, you can stand for an uninterrupted view. The roof is then closed once the safari is over. This is different in South Africa where mostly open-air vehicles are used for a much better experience.

Guided Game Drive

The most popular of the safari options are the guided game drives on private game reserves and National Parks. These are the go-to for anyone who is visiting a game reserve.

The professional guides will either use an open or enclosed vehicle depending on their rules and preference. If you visit during the summertime, don’t forget a hat to protect you from the sun. If you brave the winter months then layer up as it can get really cold in the bush at all times, especially when the sun goes down.

If you are wanting the full open vehicle experience then this short afternoon safari in the Kruger is a beautiful and quick excursion into the African landscape. Don’t forget to wear a solid pair of boots and clothes that you wouldn’t mind getting dirty as well, as you can expect a lot of mud and dust.

Self-Drive Safaris

For the mavericks and explorers among us, the self-drive safari is one of the top bucket list adventures. Renting or taking your own vehicle through a national park and going at your own pace to explore the landscape is the perfect option. It is possible to do a self-drive safari in any car with plenty of accommodation options in National Parks. For the ultimate experience, you’d want a 4×4 with all the bells and whistles.

Different Safari Cars for a Different Experience

Now that you know that a safari car isn’t just a car and that they are different, you will be able to choose the perfect safari to suit your needs. If you are wanting a photographic excursion into the wild then an open safari car is the best.

If you want to feel a little more protected then an enclosed vehicle is your car of choice. If you are planning a trip to Africa or Kenya in particular, then this guide on all you need to know about safaris in Kenya will help plan your trip.

Why not give this 3-day safari adventure in Nairobi a try? It is a beautiful drive into the Kenyan landscape.

Don’t forget to dress appropriately for the car that you will be driving in and enjoy every moment of your safari.

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Recent projections, delegate tracker, pennsylvania primaries 2024: lee and fitzpatrick survive, matchups set for november, videos show terrifying moment bull elephant lifts safari truck.

The safari guide who warded off the elephant was praised by wildlife experts.

Frightened tourists can be seen ducking between seats during a tense standoff between a bull elephant and a safari truck in Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa.

Videos of Monday’s incident show a bull elephant lifting the 22-seat truck up several times with his trunk before letting it drop. The driver can be heard calling for the elephant to "go away" and slapping his hand against the side of the truck to scare away the animal.

Hendry Blom, a bystander who caught the incident on camera, told ABC News: "We were definitely scared, especially for the people in the truck because we thought they might die."

Another video from inside the truck shows frightened tourists cowering on the floor of the vehicle. One woman can be heard praying as the elephant approaches.

MORE: Global warming could increase risk of human-elephant conflict, researchers say

Poncho Mogodiri, field operations manager of Mankwe Game Trackers, the tour company involved in the incident, told ABC News the guide and guests were in animal hide when the bull elephant approached. "Hides provide you with the rare opportunity to unobtrusively view the wildlife and birds at close quarters," according to Pilanesberg National Park.

Mogodiri said some of the tourists "came too close to the elephant to take pictures and he started getting aggressive."

The guide's actions -- revving the engine, slamming car doors and shouting to ward the elephant away -- have been widely praised by wildlife experts. Mogodiri said the guide reacted "by the book."

"Anyone that’s worked with elephants will tell you when a bull like that charges, you don’t turn and run, you need to make as much noise and stand your ground," said Ron Magill, communications director at Zoo Miami.

MORE: 80-year-old man pleads guilty to genetically engineering giant hybrid sheep in 'audacious scheme,' DOJ announces

Mogodiri confirmed the bull was in musth, or when an elephant "experiences an increase in reproductive hormones and becomes highly aggressive," according to the Pilanesberg National Park website.

No one was injured in the incident, though Mankwe Game Trackers told ABC News one family had been offered counseling after being left "extremely rattled." The Pilanesberg National Park said it will be conducting an internal investigation of the incident.

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Many people are unaware that the types of vehicles typically used for wildlife viewing safaris in eastern Africa differ from those used in southern Africa.

In eastern Africa (namely Ke nya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda) you will typically find closed safari vehicles including the ubiquitous minibus’s. As these countries have extensive road networks many safaris are conducted with a driver and vehicle which stay with you from the moment you arrive to the time you depart. Closed vehicles are not ideal for wildlife viewing (which I will explain below) but their use in eastern Africa on road based safaris makes sense as travelers would not want to drive for hours, at speed, along paved highways and on dirt roads – in an open vehicle subjected to wind, rain, cold, heat, and dust.

Looking more closely at safari vehicles in eastern Africa I will focus on Tanzania which has the region’s best wildlife viewing. Closed safari vehicles in Tanzania typically take up to 6 guests in 3 rows of seating with a pop-top roof hatch which is raised for wildlife viewing (see photos). They can be minibuses (which in some areas are more abundant than the wildlife) or 4×4 Land Cruisers or 4×4 Land Rovers. At Ultimate Africa we do not book minibuses for clients.

For wildlife viewing you stand and pop your head and shoulders through the hatch. If you don’t wish to stand you can open a window although on Land Cruisers and Land Rovers the sliding windows can be quite small. Also note that most safari vehicles in eastern Africa are fitted with internal framing which can get in the way of moving around within the vehicle and viewing game. Closed vehicles can also become very hot as they often do not have AC. One bonus with the closed vehicles used for long road based safaris – they often have a small fridge (although the noise can be distracting when watching animals). Open safari vehicles typically have a cooler filled with ice and drinks.

  Tanzania now has good value, reliable, light airplane service which can fly guest’s to their specific safari lodges and camps – this saves a tremendous amount of driving time (as an example you can fly 1.5 hours from Arusha to the Serengeti rather than driving 12 hours). It allows many of these properties to offer open safari vehicles. As you will see below, when it comes to wildlife viewing, open vehicles are the way to go and Tanzanian properties that offer them are high on our list of places to stay!

When flying between our preferred Tanzanian safari camps and lodges you will use their open vehicles and their resident guides who know what the animals in the area are up to and where to find them. Guides based in towns such as Arusha (near Kilimanjaro Airport where many Tanzania visitors arrive), who conduct road based safaris, often have no clue what is happening wildlife wise in an area. While driving they will call other guides (either by radio or on their cell phone) for updates. Upon arrival at each safari camp or lodge they will ask the resident guides what is going on. I have also gotten lost with Arusha based guides as they are not out in remote areas every day and don’t know which roads are best to use.

If you opt for a road based safari in Tanzania you will have the benefit of a private vehicle for yourself but you will not be able to partake in open vehicle game drives at the camps and lodges that offer them without paying additional surcharge (on a road based safari you have your own vehicle and guide and therefore pay a lower nightly rate at each property as you are not using the property’s guides / vehicles). When using a lodge or camps open vehicle, with their guide, you typically share the vehicle with other guests who are also staying at the property. If you prefer to have exclusive use of an open vehicle this needs to be arranged, at extra cost, in advance.

At Ngorongoro Crater, a must see for many visitors to Tanzania, all of the safari vehicles are closed. Guests visiting the crater will land 50 miles away at the Lake Manyara Airstrip and then transfer by road 1 hour to their accommodations on the crater rim. The crater rim, at 7,500 feet, is often cool and drizzly – hidden in clouds / fog making arrival by plane impossible. As the vehicles that are used to transfer guests are the same that are used for wildlife viewing they are closed for guest comfort.

In southern Africa open vehicles are the norm and minibus’s are rarely seen. Most safaris in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe are conducted in open sided 4×4 vehicles – Land Cruisers and Land Rovers. Road based safaris are not common and in some countries, such as Botswana where the road networks are very limited, flying between safari properties makes much more sense… in some parts of Botswana a 20 minute flight can save over 24 hours of very slow, remote wilderness, driving.

When on safari in an open vehicle there is nothing between you and Africa’s wilderness and wildlife. Sounds are more easily heard, smells are easier to pick up, and most importantly it is far easier to take photos and follow animals as they move around.

  Seating is tiered with 3 rows typically taking no more than 6 guests – 2 guests per row. For guests who wish to sit up front next to the guide this is often possible… simply ask. Vehicles are shared with other guests from the camp or lodge where you are staying. If you prefer to have exclusive use of an open vehicle this needs to be arranged, at extra cost, in advance.

Although completely open on the sides many open vehicles normally have permanent sun shades which also help keep you dry if you get caught in the odd rainstorm. Note: If you are at a safari camp or lodge and it is dumping with rain most guides don’t recommend game drives in either type of vehicle – you generally see little game and the vehicles can really tear up the roads and natural areas. The chances of getting stuck are also much higher. Some safari properties have fitted roll down clear plastic windows to be used in the event of rains. Once rolled down and snapped / zipped / velcroed into place they are impossible to see through and often fog up… more trouble than they are worth.

Some open vehicles have a fold down seat attached to the front bumper for a tracker to sit on. In my opinion having a tracker up front makes no difference in spotting game. In addition upon encountering predators such as lion and leopard your guide will need to stop as the tracker will need to climb into the front seat next to the guide.

I have been going on safari for 20 years now and I cannot recall one person who has ever said they prefer a closed vehicle for wildlife viewing.

Where to sit in the safari vehicle? The most comfortable, least bouncy seats are up front or in the first row of seats… the last row, especially appealing in open vehicles where the seating is tiered, is by far the bounciest. Back problems – sit up front… you will be much happier!

One last consideration when planning an African safari. When on a road based safari the weight and size of your luggage is not as important as when on a flying safari. Within eastern Africa most light air transfers limit guests to 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of luggage packed in a soft bag. In southern Africa most light air transfers are limit travelers to 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of luggage packed in a soft bag or bags. As a point of reference when I travel my duffel bag weighs near 17 to 20 pounds including clothing and shoes. My carryon, often a backpack or other smaller bag, holds my computer, camera, phone, chargers, toiletries and such… it weighs close to 15 pounds. I readily admit that after traveling to Africa several times a year for 20 years I do have the packing down to an art (both Lorna and I include packing tips, so you too can travel lightly, in the predeparture information we provide to all clients upon booking.

Ian Proctor Ultimate Africa founder and president

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