What is African Safari Group?

African Safari Group (ASG) is a luxury inbound safari travel specialist based in South Africa, founded in 2016. We plan bespoke safari experiences across Southern and East Africa for high-net-worth travellers from the UK, Europe, USA, and Australia, covering destinations including Sabi Sand, Kruger, Okavango Delta, Masai Mara, and the Serengeti.

Which safari destinations does African Safari Group cover?

African Safari Group covers all major safari destinations in Southern and East Africa, including Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Kruger National Park, Okavango Delta (Botswana), Masai Mara (Kenya), Serengeti National Park (Tanzania), Chobe National Park, Amakhala Game Reserve, and many more across South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Tanzania.

How does African Safari Group work?

African Safari Group provides a done-for-you safari experience. Our specialist consultants work with you from initial enquiry through to departure — advising on destinations, lodges, and timing, booking accommodation and flights, and supporting you throughout your trip. There is no obligation to book and no upfront costs for planning.

Is African Safari Group a licensed travel company?

Yes. African Safari Group is a registered inbound tour operator based in South Africa. Client holidays are protected under supplier-default insurance, ensuring bookings and payments are safeguarded in the unlikely event of a supplier becoming insolvent.

Who founded African Safari Group?

African Safari Group was founded in 2016 by Riaan Aggenbag, a South African entrepreneur and safari travel specialist. The company is co-founded and co-led with Dom Meulemans.

African Safari Types: Game Drives, Walking Safaris & More

September 1, 2026

SafariThings To DoArticle

What Types of Safari Activities Are Available in Africa?

African safari types extend far beyond the traditional open-vehicle game drive. Depending on your destination and lodge, activities can include guided bush walks on foot, night drives with spotlights, boat safaris on rivers and lakes, horseback safaris, mokoro (dugout canoe) safaris in the Okavango Delta, fly-camping in the wilderness, hot air balloon flights over the savannah, and even mountain biking through protected areas. Understanding the activity options at each destination helps you choose the right lodge and design the most rewarding itinerary.

Game Drive: The Safari Foundation

The twice-daily open vehicle game drive — morning (departure 5:30–6:30am) and afternoon/evening (departure 3:30–4:30pm) — is the foundation of the African safari experience. Open 4×4 Land Cruisers or Land Rovers with elevated seating rows give clear sightlines over the vegetation. Morning drives coincide with peak predator activity and the golden hour of light; afternoon drives end after dark for nocturnal species. Game drives at private reserves offer off-road capability and dedicated trackers; national park drives are road-bound but cover larger areas.

African Safari Types: Game Drives, Walking Safaris & More – African Safari Group

Night Drive: Africa After Dark

Night drives reveal an entirely different cast of characters — the nocturnal Africa that day visitors never see. Guided by spotlight, night drives commonly produce sightings of leopard on the hunt, civets, genets, African wild cats, porcupines, aardvarks, bush babies, and a range of owl species. Hyena and lion activity peaks in the hours after sunset. Night drives are offered at most private game reserves and some national park areas (Kruger’s designated night drive routes are excellent). They typically last 2–3 hours and include a bush stop for drinks under the stars.

Walking Safari: The Most Intimate Experience

A guided walking safari is the most immersive way to experience the African bush — moving at nature’s pace through the ecosystem, reading tracks, learning plant identification, and encountering wildlife at ground level. Walking safaris are led by qualified, armed field guides and are available at most private reserves as morning activities (2–3 hours). Multi-day wilderness trails (3–4 nights in fly-camps) are available in Kruger National Park and Zambia’s South Luangwa.

Boat Safari and River Cruise

Boat safaris are offered wherever there is navigable water — the Chobe River (Botswana) is one of the finest, with hippo pods, Nile crocodiles, and the extraordinary spectacle of hundreds of elephants swimming across the river en masse during dry season. Boat cruises on the Zambezi River (near Victoria Falls), Lake Kariba (Zimbabwe), and St Lucia Estuary (South Africa) each deliver unique wildlife encounters impossible from land. Sunset boat cruises combine wildlife watching with spectacular river light.

Mokoro Safari: Okavango Delta

A mokoro is a traditional dugout canoe, poled by a skilled local guide through the lily-covered channels of the Okavango Delta. Sitting inches above the waterline among papyrus and water lilies — with elephant, hippo, and sitatunga antelope at eye level — is one of Africa’s most unique experiences. Mokoro safaris are available from most Okavango Delta camps as a half-day or full-day activity alongside game drives and walking.

Hot Air Balloon Safari

Hot air balloon safaris are available over the Masai Mara (Kenya), Serengeti (Tanzania), and Kruger (South Africa) areas. Flights typically depart before sunrise, last 1–1.5 hours, and conclude with a champagne bush breakfast. The aerial view of the African landscape at dawn — particularly over the Serengeti during migration — is extraordinary. Advance booking is essential in peak season.

Horseback Safari

Horseback safaris offer a unique way to approach wildlife — Wildlife can sometimes respond differently to horses than to vehicles or people on foot, creating a distinctive way to experience the landscape. Excellent horseback safari operations run in Zimbabwe’s Hwange area, Kenya’s Laikipia Plateau, and South Africa’s Waterberg and Eastern Cape. Riders of all abilities are catered for; experienced riders can canter alongside zebra and wildebeest herds. Multi-day riding safaris with fly-camping are available for advanced riders.