High season, green season, a caravan, a murder, the big five, a game drive – do you know what all these safari words mean? If not, we encourage you to read on – below, you’ll find all the safari words to know when traveling in Africa!
Safari Terms Worth Knowing
Let’s start with the terms related directly to the safari.
- Binos – A shorter way to say “binoculars.”
- Bush – During safaris, it’s often used to describe any type of grassy landscape, including the savannah.
- Bushwalking – A walking safari.
- Game Drive – An excursion to find and admire animals. It is typically led by a game guide, but might also include a tracker or an armed guard, if necessary.
- Game Reserve – A protected area that you explore during the safaris.
- Green Season – Time from November/December to May/June, or simply the springtime.
- High Season – The dry months of African winter that involve lower midday temperatures.
- Mobile camp – It’s a tented accommodation (though it might include lodges) and can be moved to follow the fauna.
- Night Drive – A game drive at night.
- Open Borders – A private reserve that shares its border (without any physical barriers) with a national park.
- Private Concession – An area of a national park that is reserved for and limited to only one particular tour operator, lodge or or camp. It runs independently and is more exclusive.
- The Big Five – Lions, Buffalo, Elephants, Rhinos and Leopards.
- The Great Migration – The largest migration of animals in the world that takes place in the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya; Also known as the Masai Mara Great Migration.
Safari Lingo Related to the Animals
Apart from the words that are specific to the nature of safaris, it’s also good to know the words related to the animals, as it’s possible that your guide will be using it. What are larger groups of animals called?
- An armory of aardvarks.
- A troop of baboons.
- A cloud of bats.
- A herd of buffaloes/An obstinacy of buffaloes.
- A caravan of camels.
- A coalition of cheetahs.
- A cartload of chimpanzees.
- A bask of crocodiles/A float of crocodiles.
- A herd of elephants/A memory of elephants/A parade of elephants.
- A band of gorillas.
- A journey of giraffes – if they are moving.
- A tower of giraffes – if they are standing still.
- A bloat of hippos.
- A leap of leopards.
- A pride of lions.
- A swarm of mosquitoes/A scourge of mosquitoes.
- A crash of rhinos.
- A streak of tigers/An ambush of tigers.
- A dazzle of zebras.
African Words for Your Safari
You might also be interested in learning some basic African words that you might hear during your journey – perhaps you’ll even surprise the locals and say a few words yourself. Nevertheless, here’s the glossary:
- Asante Sana [ahSAHN-tay SAH-nah] – This phrase means “thank you very much.”
- Hakuna Shida [hah-KOON-ah SHE-dah] – Like hakuna matata, it means “no problem,” though you’re more likely to hear this one from the locals.
- Jambo [JAHM-boh] – This word means “hello.”
- Nyumba [knee-YOUM-bah] – This word means “home.” The locals might use it to describe the mobile camps you’ll be spending the night at.
- Rafiki [RAH-fee-kee] – This word means “friend” – it’s mostly used like we use “bro” or “dude” rather than to describe somebody.
- Safari Njema [sah-FAHR-ee en-JEM-ah] – This phrase means “have a nice trip.”
The Takeaway
Understanding safari words to know when traveling in Africa can greatly enhance your experience, allowing you to connect more deeply with guides and appreciate the wildlife. If yes, it’s time to book your trip! For that, we recommend…us, Home to Africa, your trusted tour operator. Explore our East African safaris and let us take care of organizing a truly memorable trip for you!
Also, check out our list of the best African safari tours!
