The Safari Alphabet A-Z

If you need a snappy overview of a safari, look no further than our very own Safari A-Z. Whether you are deciding whether an African safari is the right vacation for you, you’re deciding where to go on safari, or you have already booked and you’re after some quick information, this blog post is sure to whet your appetite!

A is for Amboseli – Amboseli National Park is one of Kenya’s greatest wildlife reserves. It is home to a population of around 1,600 elephants, as well as to thriving populations of the other “Big Five” members: Masai Lion, Leopard, Black Rhino and Cape Buffalo. Although Mount Kilimanjaro actually lies in Tanzania, beyond the southern border of Amboseli, catching sight of an elephant’s swaying silhouette against the backdrop of this glorious mountain is one of the quintessential Kenyan safari experiences – and can only be experienced in Amboseli.

B is for Buffalo – The buffalo inhabits many reserves in both Kenya and Tanzania. They are large in size and can be said to be unpredictable and dangerous if on their own or cornered. They make up one fifth of the legendary ‘Big Five’. Buffaloes are known for having very bad eyesight and hearing, but have a good sense of smell to make up for their other weaker senses.

C is for Crocodile – Many lakes, marshes and rivers in Eastern Africa are populated with the great Nile crocodile. They can reach sizes between 11 and 16 feet and can weigh up to 500 pounds. An interesting croc fact – the sex of a crocodile is determined by the temperature the egg is kept at.

D is for Dik-dik – The dik-dik is a miniature antelope that can be found in many wildlife reserves in both Kenya and Tanzania. There is a little sexual dimorphism (meaning the two sexes have differing physical characteristics); the female dik-dik is larger than the male, and the male can be identified by its small horns. They weigh around 4-5 Kilograms and grow to just 30 – 40 centimetres tall!

E is for Elephant – The elephant is truly one of the favourite sightings for many people on an African safari. Male elephants cannot be missed, as they stand at around 10-13 feet tall. Seeing a herd of these great tusked creates crossing over as you watch silently and awe-inspired from your safari vehicle really is the ultimate close-up wildlife experience of a lifetime.

F is for Finch Hatton – The original safari legend, Denys Finch Hatton was the big-game hunter and flighty lover of Karen Blixen, author of the world famous book-turned-movie Out Of Africa.

G is for Game Drive – When spotting wildlife on a vehicle safari, it is often referred to as a game drive. This is due to the wildlife often being referred to as ‘game’. Game driving is the focus of the traditional safari, but these days many people like to combine game driving with other activities on their safari holiday – hiking, boat safaris, horse riding, hot air balloon safaris, cultural excursions and even summiting a mountain.

H is for Hot air balloon – Balloon safaris are a fantastic way to see the reserves from great heights and see the scenery in a totally different way. It really is something special to watch from above as the sunlight spills over the horizon during an African dawn, floating silently wherever the wind may take you. Parks that offer hot air balloon safaris include Masai Mara and Serengeti.

I is for Impala – This is one of the most common African animals that you are very likely to see whilst on safari. “Impala apathy”, as we like to call it, is a common affliction for many safari-goers, but take a look at our “Ah great, another Impala” blogpost to rediscover the wonders of East African antelope!

J is for Journey – The Swahili word for ‘journey’ is ‘safari’! It is the only word of the Swahili language which is commonly used in English.

K is for Kilimanjaro – This breath taking mountain, situated in northern Tanzania, is the world’s largest free standing mountain and Africa’s largest mountain overall, measuring at 5,893 metres. The mountain has 3 peaks – Shira Peak at 3,962 metres, Mawenzi at 5,149 metres and Uhuru at 5,896 metres.

L is for Lenana – Lenana is a side peak of Mount Kenya. It is the third highest summit, at 4,985 metres, and is also known as the “hiker’s summit”, as it is the only peak you can reach without doing any technical rock climbing.

M is for Masai Mara – The Masai Mara National Reserve is Kenya’s most popular safari destination. It features a huge range of wildlife, including the ‘Big Five’, but one of its most popular animals is the unlikely candidate of the wildebeest. This is due to the annual ‘Great Migration’, which sees over 1 million wildebeest passing through from the Serengeti and into the Masai Mara each year.

N is for National Park – A National Park is public property which is owned and preserved by the government. A wildlife service will be put in charge of looking after these parks, and the entrance fees you pay on admittance will go towards keeping these wildlife service’s functioning. Humans are not permitted to live permanently within national park boundaries.

O is for Oryx – The Oryx is one of the larger species of antelope. It can be identified by its long face and long, straight horns, which sweep directly upwards giving these beautiful antelope an air of elegance. It is a desert antelope, and can be spotted, for example, in Samburu National Park in Kenya.

P is for Prey – Many animals such as gazelle and zebra often fall victim to being eaten by predators that roam the parks. Such prey is essential in the African wilderness food chain, and they can be found in much higher population counts than the predators.

Q is for Quiet – Shhh! Whilst spotting wildlife you should remain silent as to not scare away the animals!

R is for Rift Valley – The Great Rift Valley is a huge trench that measures 6,000 Kilometres and runs through many country borders, including East Africa.

S is for Serengeti – Possibly the most famous wildlife sanctuary in the world, and the oldest in Tanzania, is the Serengeti National Park, which was first published as being open in 1951. Along with the Masai Mara, it is the home to the ‘Great Migration’ which sees over 1 million wildebeest making their annual journey. Around 8,000 wildebeest calf are born every day in the Serengeti during birthing season. For those lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, witnessing the Great Migration is one of the most awesome and spectacular safari experiences in the world.

T is for Tarangire – Tarangire National Park has the highest wildlife concentration in Tanzania apart from the Serengeti. It is well known for the huge Baobab trees that are dotted around the reserve, which make elephant, rhino and giraffe look like miniature dik-dik!

U is for Ungulate – Ungulates are hoofed animals. Some varieties you may see in East Africa could include zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, topi, greater kudu and springbok antelope.

V is for Victoria, Lake – The vast Lake Victoria has shores in 3 East African countries; Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. It is largest tropical lake in the world and Africa’s largest by its surface area of 68,800 square kilometres. For those who have enough time, Lake Victoria is a truly wonderful place to make a stop during a safari. Here, you can enjoy boat trips around a private island, spotting birds and monitor lizards, cultural encounters with local fishermen with traditional fishing trips available and generally let the slow-paced atmosphere wash over you.

W is for Wildebeest – The wildebeest is famous in both Kenya and Tanzania due it being the leading animal in the ‘Great Migration’ which goes from the Serengeti of Tanzania, to the Masai Mara of Kenya – there are over 1,000,000 wildebeest that participate in this migration in search of fresh grazing pastures. Wildebeest can grow to weigh between 150 and 300 Kilograms and stand between 4 and 5 feet tall.

X is for Xpect something amazing! Well, I have to admit I struggled with this letter, so please bare with me and the abbreviation… But really, you have to expect something unbelievable on an African safari, otherwise you are going to end up overwhelmed!

Y is for Y go on safari? There are countless reasons why people choose to go on safari, some go for the adventure, some for the photography opportunities, some to see nature at its best and some for the amazing wildlife experience. An African safari is what you make it, and we know whatever safari you choose,

Z is for Zebra – There are two types of zebra you can spot whilst in safari in East Africa. Firstly, the more common plains zebra, and secondly the rare Grevy’s zebra. Grevy’s zebra can be distinguished from plains zebra by their larger size, thinner stripes and white underbelly.