The Luxury Safari Experience

Why the wildlife area, your guide and the time you spend in each camp make such a difference.

By Landi Burns · Updated 20 October 2026

I remember sitting quietly, looking out over a lagoon, with birds to watch and elephants drinking. Our guide understood that we were quite happy to stay there. There was no rush to move on or fill the silence, and we could simply enjoy what was in front of us.

For me, the quality of the game viewing and the guide are at the heart of a luxury safari. The camp matters too, of course. It should be somewhere you enjoy coming back to, in an area that gives you the kind of safari you have been looking forward to.

Choose the wildlife area first

Safari areas are not all equal. Before we look at camps, I want to understand what you are hoping to see and what made you want to go on safari in the first place. A particular animal can be a very good starting point.

Some clients came to me wanting to visit Namibia, but as we talked, it became clear that hippos were what they were most excited about. We changed their trip to the Okavango Delta in Botswana, where they explored the channels by boat and saw hippos galore. For a trip like that, the camp and water conditions need careful consideration, as boating depends on where you stay and the water levels at the time.

Consistent game viewing is important, and years in the industry and feedback from people I trust help me judge which areas to suggest. How an area is managed and how its wildlife is treated matter to me too. There will always be an element of luck in what you see, but choosing an area that suits your interests gives the trip a good foundation.

A guide who understands you

An exceptional guide understands both the wildlife and the guests. They get to know what interests you and how much explanation you enjoy, and recognise when you would be happy to stay a little longer. Sometimes knowing when to be quiet adds as much as knowing what to say.

The people sharing your vehicle matter too. If you are sociable and enjoy meeting others, a shared game drive can be a lovely part of the experience. You get to share the excitement of a sighting, and another guest's interest may draw your attention to something you would have missed.

A private vehicle costs extra, but it can be well worth it if you enjoy having more flexibility. You can linger at a sighting, spend more time watching the animals that interest you and enjoy the drive with just your own party.

Choose a camp that suits you

The size, atmosphere and location of a camp all affect how it feels to stay there. Some travellers enjoy a small camp with only a few other guests; others like having more people around. Two camps can look equally appealing in photographs and offer quite different holidays.

The ages of everyone travelling, any mobility needs and how much time you have all help narrow the choice. I also like to hear about previous trips. The places you have enjoyed and the things that have made you comfortable tell me a lot about what will work for you on safari.

A good safari is expensive. Getting to Africa and travelling between camps adds to the cost, so it’s worth getting the important choices right. That doesn’t mean choosing the most expensive lodge. It means choosing the right area, good guides and allowing enough time to enjoy it. I don’t want you to come all this way and leave wishing you had done it differently.

Take a good pair of binoculars

Do take a good pair of binoculars. My usual advice is 8x32 or 10x42 roof-prism binoculars, ideally a pair for each person. When something catches your attention, you want to be able to look straight away, rather than wait for someone else to finish.

You don't need to get carried away with extra features such as infrared, or assume that more magnification will automatically be better for your safari. Look for clear optics and a pair you find comfortable to hold and use. Try them before you travel so you are familiar with the focus. Trust us old safari people here!

Give yourself time to enjoy it

I love a three-night stay. It gives you two full days in camp and, where the camp schedule and your arrival and departure times allow, up to six game drives. With two nights, you have only one full day between arriving and leaving. That can feel much too quick.

An extra night gives you time to settle in, get to know your guide and enjoy what is happening around you. Patience is part of safari, and it is easier to be patient when you know you have more time. You can stay with an interesting sighting without feeling that you have to hurry on to the next thing.

The early starts are worth it too. Even if getting up early is not your favourite part of a holiday, give those morning drives a chance. Keep the preparations simple. The animals don't mind that you aren't wearing makeup!

If a safari has been on your mind, let's start planning it. Tell me what you would love to see, and we'll build from there.