Wildlife Viewing
We've added new features for this popular east Africa safari, including an additional night in the exclusive, luxurious
Kirawira Tented Camp in the Serengeti (2 indulgent nights total) and
two extra game drives . . . making it a total of 27 included features and Cultural Discoveries, including 17 safari activities in 4 national parks. This means you’ll get a chance to see even more wildlife! The region hosts the largest mammal migration in the world and more than 400 different bird species, and this safari will get you up close and personal with many of them.
Lions
Growing to be up to 6.5 feet long, the African lion is a sight to behold. They live in groups — called prides — which can include 12 or so females, a few males (with their signature manes), and their offspring. The females of the pride handle the hunting, which they will sometimes do in groups given that they are not as fast as some of their prey (teamwork can create a big advantage. The male’s role is to protect the pride’s territory.
Get your camera and GoPro ready: The lion’s fearsome reputation precedes them, but luckily for us they are don’t shy away from the camera. We’ll have ample opportunities to snap photos of these stunning creatures — don’t worry, your driver will put you in the right spot for the perfect shot, and who knows, they may look right into your lens!
Elephants
Though they are well-known as the world’s largest land mammals, elephants are also renowned for their remarkable intelligence: Scientists believe they can recognize themselves in a mirror, and help other elephants that are injured or comfort them when they are unhappy. While they have terrible eyesight, they have an uncanny sense of smell — in fact, they can actually smell water up to 12 miles away.
Get your camera and GoPro ready: Did you know that you may be able to actually feed elephant orphans on a Vantage safari? When we’re
On Safari in Kenya & Tanzania, we’ll travel to the Daphne Sheldrick Animal Orphanage where you can see firsthand the great work that’s done there — and get a chance to feed these regal creatures.
Fun fact: Ever wonder how to tell the difference between African elephants and their Asian counterparts? Well, African elephants are slightly larger in general, but there’s another telltale sign: their ears resemble the shape of the African continent! Keep an eye out for herds (often led by matriarchs) or singular elephants (males spend much of their lives as bachelors).
Leopards
One of the strongest of the big cats, leopards can leap up to 9 feet in the air, are good swimmers, and can carry their prey up in trees, allowing them to keep it away from other predators like hyenas and lions. Of the Big Five, the leopard is one of the most elusive — they are notoriously adept at keeping out of sight and are very difficult to track. Vantage travelers are privileged to have the best drivers, guides, and Adventure Leaders that will give you the best chance to “spot” these shy predators.
Fun fact: Speaking of spots, the leopard’s distinctive markings are not actually spots — they are officially called “rosettes.”
Rhinoceros
The two species of rhino — black and white — do not differ in color, but in their lips. The black rhino has a hooked lip, while the white rhino’s lip is wide (which it is believed was mistaken for “white,” thus explaining the name). While they may look slow, they are in fact fairly quick for their size: they can reach running speeds of 35 miles per hour and can change directions quickly.
Keep in mind: Rhinos, sadly, are critically endangered — though once a common sight on the plains of East Africa, they were decimated by hunting and poaching. The good news is that, thanks to diligent conservation efforts, both white and black rhino populations are once again rising slowly — and no one is more skilled at finding these creatures than your Adventure Leader and your drivers and guides. A photo of one of these rare animals will certainly be frame-worthy!
Cape Buffalo
The Cape buffalo is massive — sometimes weighing over 1,700 pounds — and is noted for its signature horn that meets in a shield on its forehead (it’s called a “boss”). While it may appear to be placid, the Cape buffalo can be quite ornery. They’ve been known to hold grudges: sometimes ambushing animals (or hunters) who once wounded them.
Get your camera and GoPro ready When you see them in the wild, be sure to train your camera lens on its buddy, the oxpecker. These birds live on the backs of the buffalo, feeding on the bugs that land on the creature’s skin and warning him of any impending danger. A great photo idea is to get an image of the oxpecker and the buffalo — it will make the photo a bit unique.
Giraffes
There’s something so graceful about the giraffe; seeing them lope across a savannah is mesmerizing as they seem to be moving in slow motion (in fact, they can run up to 35 miles per hour). When you see a giraffe, they’ll likely be eating leaves off of trees — they need to eat about 75 pounds a day, so they don’t have much time for anything else.
Fun fact: Though giraffes have long necks, they actually have just as many vertebrae in their necks as humans do; they just happen to be super-sized (up to 10 inches). That long neck also means giraffes have an extra-large heart — up to 25 pounds, and strong enough to pump blood all the way up to its brain!
Special feature: You’ll get the singular opportunity to get up close and personal with giraffes at the Giraffe Center in Nairobi. First opened to protect the endangered Rothschild's giraffe, the Giraffe Center offers you the chance to see and even feed the giraffes from an elevated viewing platform. Be sure to have your camera and GoPro ready — the photos will be priceless!
Zebras
Zebras are known for their most obvious trait: the striking black-and-white stripes that make it stand out from any other creatures on the savannah. It is said that this pattern has a cooling effect, dispersing up to 70 percent of the heat of the African sun. The pattern also has a camouflage effect. When out on the plains, zebras huddle together as a defense mechanism. To a color-blind lion, all the stripes tend to jumble together, making it harder to tell where one zebra ends and another begins. Plus, each zebra can face in a different direction, making it harder to sneak up on the herd.
Get your camera and GoPro ready: Zebras present a striking contrast on the plains of Africa, offering some of the most arresting images. Black and white photos can be especially impressive – check your camera’s settings beforehand so you’re ready to snap the perfect photo!
Wildebeest
While technically an antelope (the largest in the world, in fact), wildebeests can seem to be an amalgamation of several different creatures — a mash-up of a horse, ox, and an antelope. These “clowns of the savannah” are a part of one of the world’s most impressive natural phenomena: the Annual Great Migration, which includes over 1.5 million of these animals (as well as zebras and other antelopes). It may seem frenzied and unorganized, but research has shown that wildebeest exhibit “swarm intelligence,” which allows them to have a herd-first mentality: dividing into smaller when necessary, heading in the same direction, and overcome any impediments as a unit.
Get your camera and GoPro ready: The Great Migration is, in fact, virtually a year-round phenomenon. The location of the migration depends on the time of year. That’s why Vantage has crafted an exclusive round-trip loop itinerary that ensure the best chance of seeing wildebeest on this timeless journey across the plains of east Africa. Catching a herd of these quirky-looking creatures on camera will have you feeling like a professional wildlife photographer!
