Rangers, Trackers and Spotters, Oh My! 

These people are your connection with the wilderness surrounding you. They are true professionals with vast knowledge. The rangers can supply all sorts of information about ecology, geography, biology, botany, history and lore. The trackers and spotters can read the road and paths as if the immediate world around them was an open, encyclopedic Kindle! They know a lion's paw print well enough to estimate when it walked here and in which direction it was going. This information is given to the ranger and off we go, in quest of the King of the jungle and his pride. They can read all sorts of things, including droppings (fresh or days old), bent bushes and twigs. They also seem to have a keen sense of smell, almost as sharp as that of the animals they seek.

The Safari Vehicles.

These are usually 4-wheel drive Toyotas, Jeeps or Land Rovers, specially fitted with pop-up tops or open-air. In South Africa, the ranger drives (right-hand drive, very British!) and the spotter occupies a special "jump" seat mounted on the left front fender. I think these guys are fantastically nimble; balancing as the car jostles over ruts, bushes, trees and sharp turns as we dash off in pursuit of wild dogs or a leopard. You'll need a bit of agility yourself to scramble into one of the nine passenger vehicles, the variety typically favored for safaris around Kruger National Park.

The Eastern African safari vehicles are much easier to enter and are usually shaded with a canvas pop-up top. Both types are about as comfortable as you might expect an off-road vehicle to be.

Every passenger enjoys an excellent vantage point with no obstructions to the view. Amazingly, the animals are not a bit interested in these mechanized creatures. I'm sure they smell strange (as do we) and make a lot of noise, but then again, you shouldn't be downwind of a hippo on a hot day! Bottled water is available on each game drive.

Of course, we must adhere to specific safety guidelines on these safaris such as: not standing up in the vehicle; not making loud noises; not smoking, and not doing anything that will attract or disturb the wildlife.

If you go on either a South Africa or East Africa safari, you will experience magnificence. You will see and hear the beauty that is still somewhat unspoiled. I highly recommend everyone experience an African safari.