Game drives are really an awesome way to experience and enjoy the wildlife. From the comfort of an open vehicle, you can explore the wild, taking your time to absorb and appreciate the nature around you.

Most safari vehicles are four-wheel-drive, customized to maximize your game-viewing experience. The exact design of the vehicle will differ from reserve to reserve and the preference of your African safari tour operator. Many will have been individually converted. Those in Southern Africa are traditionally completely open-sided and with tiered seats rising up behind the driver to ensure every traveller has a clear view. You will most likely travel in a well-maintained, specially designed vehicle that provides flexibility, protection from the sun, and support.

Some also have a small tracker’s seat that folds out on the hood at the front of the vehicle, allowing a specialist guide to track spoor through the bush and help find a route across broken ground. A canvas shade is sometimes fitted, but a hat against the sun is always a sensible precaution.

In East Africa, minivans are still a popular way of experiencing an African safari. These tend to be four-wheel-drive with flip-top or elevated roofs so guests can stand up to get the best vantage point. Game drive vehicles will allow tourists not only to focus on the big aspects of nature but also on the smaller things that most people miss when they only drive around.

Some experts believe that these specially designed vehicles allow you to see more because your human scent and shape is disguised and you’re no longer seen as a threat. Wild animals will often let a vehicle much closer than they would a person on foot. It is easy to track game and, when you find it, a vehicle keeps you safe and secure. A four-wheel-drive vehicle will easily climb steep inclines to give access to great views with plenty of handy places to keep your binoculars, blankets, scarves and gloves for the chilly winter mornings.

Drivers are often selected not only for their safe driving practices but also –very importantly - for their safari expertise and knowledge of the area and the wildlife!

For those who desire to experience Africa in the real intimate way, and depending on the game reserve of ranch visited, there might also be guided walks through nature. The visitors will then be accompanied by an armed guide ensuring their safety wherever they go whilst also teaching them about plant and animal life along the way.

When you are with a trained guide, either in a private game reserve or on a guided safari trip, you should have little reason for fear!

Safe Driving in the Game Ranch / Nature Reserve

At game ranches where there are guided game drives, you will usually find between two to three game drives each day. The first start just before sunrise, the second takes place in the afternoon and the last later on in the evening, coming back to camp at nightfall. In private reserves where night-drives are permitted, a guided safari might last long after dark.

Game-drives after dark or at dawn are often a real highlight as you’re also likely to encounter a whole range of nocturnal species: leopard, porcupine, hyena and countless owl species, located by their glinting eyes and brought into sharp focus by high-powered spotlights.

We would like to focus on safe driving advice where safe driving is in the hands of the visitor. We would like to provide the following recommendations:

• You should only travel in a vehicle that is well serviced and roadworthy.
• Prepare carefully – enquire from game rangers and management at the reserve about the roads and whether your vehicle will be capable of travelling on these roads.
• Do not “test” the capabilities of your vehicle and avoid driving where you cannot see the surface of the road.
• Before you embark on your safari, inform others where you will be travelling and when you could be expected to return. [It is best to drive in a convoy!]
• Remain on the paths at all times and do not leave them – you will not be aware of nasty surprises next to the roads.
• Expect roads to be narrow with few overtaking opportunities. 
• Be alert to varying road conditions, changes in road surface, sharp corners or crests which reduce visibility – adjust your speed accordingly.
• Visibility is often reduced by the presence of encroaching roadside vegetation and sharp corners.
• Patience needs to be demonstrated when sharing the road with other visitors and wildlife. 
• Speed needs to be reduced to the advised limits – remember this is a game drive – slow down and enjoy the view! 
• Drivers need to be aware of the impact of the changing weather on the road surface and surrounding environment and drive accordingly by reducing speed and using lights appropriately.
• During winter, fog is a regular occurrence at dawn and at dusk which can obscure driver vision and will require even slower speeds.
• On a self-drive - stay in your vehicle at all times - you will put yourself in danger if you get out of your car anywhere unless at a designated safe place.
• Remember that even though you may have carefully scanned the area, animals are masters at remaining concealed - predators do it daily when stalking prey – do not risk becoming prey.
• If you are close to an animal and observing it, take note of its behaviour - if it looks agitated in any way, or makes mock runs at you, or stares and paces up and down, then move slowly off.
• You should be safe within your vehicle as vehicle/animal incidents are very rare. 
• The only animal that can really take you on in a vehicle is an elephant and they could be dealt with mostly by just holding your ground with the engine of the vehicle turned off.
• Revving the engine or hooting is not a good idea as this might be seen as a challenge - a contest where the odds are not on your side!