Arrival and check-in time at most safari lodges is usually between 12h00 and 14h00. You will be met by the lodge manager or a senior staff member, offered a refreshing welcome drink and assisted with checking in. The lodge procedures and itinerary will be explained to you.

You will then be shown to your room, where you can settle in and explore your surroundings before making your way to the dining area for lunch (if time allows – if you arrive late in the afternoon there may only be a light snack before departing on the afternoon game drive).

Afternoon tea/coffee will be served on the deck at around 15h00 (or later in summer) and then the afternoon game drive departs, on an open land rover. Before departure, you will be asked what you wish to drink for sundowners. Your safari guide will drive the vehicle, interpret the sightings and share his vast knowledge of the bush with you. The tracker usually sits on the front of the vehicle and helps to spot the animals and identify tracks. The guide is usually in radio contact with other vehicles on game drives, so they can notify each other of sightings.

As the sun sets, the guide will stop at a scenic spot in the bush where you can enjoy sundowners and stretch your legs. After sunset, the game drive may continue as a night drive with a powerful spotlight, looking for the nocturnal animals that become active after dark.

Upon return to the lodge, you can freshen up in your room before enjoying a pre-dinner drink at the bar. Normally dinner is served around the fire in the traditional boma (open air dining area), weather permitting of course. Alternatively, dinner may be served on the deck or in the dining room. After dinner, the fireside stories often carry on deep into the night, and you can retire to your room whenever you feel like it.