We just returned from our third (!!) African safari in Masai Mara National Park in Kenya (after spending a couple days in Nairobi). Despite having safari-ed in different parts of Africa, all three safaris have kept a common daily schedule, which is quite different from most vacations. This post details what one can generally expect on an African safari vacation when staying in a safari lodge.

4:30 – 6:00 AM: WAKE UP CALL

Depending on where you safari and the time of year, you will likely wake up between 4:30 and 6:00 AM. Yes, extremely early. This is because morning safari drives depart either before sunrise (popular on private conservatories) so that you can watch the sunrise on safari, or as soon as the national park you are visiting opens, which is often right at sunrise. How much time you give yourself to get ready for the morning safari drive is up to you, but we prefer 30 minutes (although we will cut it to 10 or 15 if its super early). And by place and time of year, I mean that the sun rises at different times throughout the year in places such as South Africa, but remains more consistent in places near the equator like Kenya and Tanzania. On our recent safari in Kenya, we woke up every morning at 5:50 AM and departed for our drive at 6:30 AM. We set our alarms for this but at our previous safari, guides came and knocked on your door about 30 minutes before departure.

5:00 AM – 6:00 AM: COFFEE AND SNACKS

Guests generally meet in the hotel’s common area 10 – 15 minutes before the safari departs for coffee, tea, and pastries or cookies. Again, participation in this is optional, but we usually like a tiny bite to eat and a little coffee. Not to worry that this is light, there will be a full breakfast later in the morning! Pro tip, be cautious about the WC situation before indulging in this first breakfast.

5:30 AM – 6:30 AM: DEPART FOR MORNING SAFARI

A morning safari will likely depart from your lodge between 5:30 AM and 6:30 AM, depending on the time of sunrise and the time the park you are exploring opens. While you can push back this time if everyone in your car agrees (or if you have a private car), I don’t recommend it. Almost all of our great safari sightings happened in the early morning. Animals are very active during this time! There is nothing for guests to do on a morning safari aside from watching animals, so bring your camera and sit back and watch. Some morning game drives include a stop for more tea, coffee, and cookies and pastries.

10:00 AMish: BREAKFAST AT SAFARI LODGE

Breakfast is typically served immediately after guests return from the morning game drive. Lasting really as long as you want, breakfast is usually a grand affair with lots on offer, including hot and cold dishes. We never miss breakfast on safari, as we are usually hunger after being up so early, and its usually done quite well. Pro tip – plan out your eating to ensure you eat enough, but not too much, to ensure you are appropriately hungry for the rest of the day.

POST BREAKFAST UNTIL LUNCH….OR THE EVENING GAME DRIVE

After breakfast, guests are free to use the lodge’s facilities until the evening game drive. On offer at the lodges we stayed at were a lovely swimming pool, a spa, and books and board games for borrow. Many guests return to their room between drives and get ready for the day or catch up on sleep. The day is really up to you! Some lodges also offer off-lodge activities between game drives. In my experience, the only things that require advance bookings are extra activities and spa treatments.

1:00 – 3:00 PM: LUNCH IS SERVED AT SAFARI LODGE

While not everyone needs three meals a day, we always eat lunch on safari, as its often my favorite meal. Lunch is usually offered by safari lodges between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM, and I’ve found it to often be typical lunch fare: sandwiches, chicken, soup, a pasta, pizza, etc. Given the late breakfasts, we tend to eat lunch as late as possible, maximizing our free time between breakfast and lunch and minimizing our time between lunch and the evening game drive.

4:00 PM – 7:00 PM: AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE

Evening game drives generally start around 4:00 PM or 4:30 PM and last until around 7:00 PM. Guests will likely watch the sunset on this drive, sometimes stopping for an evening sundowner of an adult beverage and snacks while the sunset. Like the morning game drive, we have had great sightings on the evening drive. Be sure to bring layers with you in the evening; it can be super hot and sunny when you depart the lodge but rather cold when you return (especially if driving in an open air jeep).

7:30 PM – 8:30 PM: DINNER AND DRINKS SERVED AT SAFARI LODGE

Dinner is usually served shortly after the jeeps return from the evening game drive. There is usually time to change/freshen up in your guest room, but many people go right to the bar and then to dinner.  In our South African lodge, everyone was served dinner at the same time, which happened about 30 minutes after the evening drive returned. On our Kenyan safari, guests could eat when they wanted, but it was suggested to eat around 7:30 or 8:00 PM (i.e. about 30 minutes after the evening game drive returned). We generally don’t go back to our room between the drive and dinner, opting instead to have a pre-dinner cocktail.

On all of our safaris, dinner has been a three course affair with wine or other adult beverages included. For whatever reason, safari dinners often begin with a soup, the main course is a meat or veggie dish with a couple sides, bread, and a tasty dessert. While the kitchen is always open at many safari lodges, they are not open 24/7 and there is generally not 24/7 room service for food. If you skip dinner, you won’t eat again until the morning. That being said, if you drive is running over due to animal sightings, the lodge will hold dinner until you are back (your trusty guide will relay this!).

9:30 – 10:30: AFTER DINNER CHATTING

Depending on your safari lodge and the crowd visiting, guests may hang around dinner or the lodge’s bar for an hour or so after dinner having a night cap, cigar, or just chatting about the day’s sightings. We frequently partook in this “after dinner drink” time in South Africa but on our recent Kenyan safari, everyone was in bed by 9:45 PM! I wouldn’t plan for raging evenings at the safari lodge.

10:30 PM: BED!

Honestly, given the early wake up time, most people are in bed, or at a minimum retired to their room, by 10:30 PM, if not earlier. We frequently went to bed between 10:00 and 11:00 PM, using our extra time in the room to use the hot tub, call family back home, and read (or really watch Tick Toks…).

STEAL MY SAFARIS

Vuyani Safari Lodge: The best way to obtain information is via email. Credit card accepted. Don’t forget to tip the staff in cash (no ATM on site, one nearby in Hoedspruit). Confirm regarding and parking fees when booking. Rates are really competitive for such a nice lodge, and there is usually a discount for staying five days and booking directly with the lodge.

JW Marriott Masai Mara: The lodge is very receipt to email. Credit card accepted for everything, including tip (although cash is preferred). No ATM on site.