THE HAIRY GIRAFFE… IN NAMIBIA
Here are our ten tips that should help you have the best safari experience in Namibia.
 We are François and Benjamin, Canadian and French giraffe hairstylists and travel enthusiasts. On this blog, discover our travels, tips, moods, and everything you need to become a giraffe hairstylist and embark on travelling the world. An honest blog with photos guaranteed 100% unfiltered and untouched. |
1. Plan your trip during the dry season (October-December). The lack of water will cause animals to gather around various waterholes. This enhances the chances of seeing animals and allows you to witness beautiful scenes such as watching a giraffe drink or a hyena retrieve a piece of meat it had hidden underwater.
2. Move from one waterhole to another and don’t hesitate to revisit ones you’ve already seen. Since animals move freely, a waterhole that was empty in the morning might resemble a busy Parisian street at rush hour by the evening.
3. Be patient! Don’t hesitate to remain still for long periods at a waterhole and arm yourself with patience. Who knows if a herd of thirty elephants might come charging in for their daily mud bath? It would be a shame to miss that, wouldn’t it?
4. Check the logs at lodge entrances and visitor centers. These logs are filled out by tourists and indicate where animals have been spotted. Since several animals are territorial and follow routines, this should help guide your searches and maximize your chances of spotting the species you want to see.
5. To pass the time, consider bringing your best playlist, a book, Sudoku, or games for the kids. It’ll make your wait less tedious. Nevertheless, stay alert: an antelope, a hyena, or even a lioness might come to drink at any moment.
6. Bring your own food for a picnic in the car. Since you won’t need to return to the lodge for meals, you’ll produce less waste and maximize your time with nature. Trust us, eating in the middle of a herd of zebras is pretty cool… albeit a tad noisy! Also, don’t forget to bring plenty of water: it gets hot sitting in a stationary car under the Namibian sun.
7. Sleeping in the park is also a great idea. Several campsites with various amenities are available. The big advantage: you’re the first ones on the park roads at sunrise. There are fewer people, it’s cooler, and nature wakes up. Who hasn’t wished to see a giraffe waking up feeling a bit groggy or an elephant still carrying the imprint of a pillow on its immense ear? Unique moments guaranteed. However, we can’t recommend dining at the park lodges; we both got sick…
8. Drive slowly. A large vehicle and empty roads might tempt some to speed. It’s not a great idea. Apart from the risk of hitting an animal appearing out of nowhere, you’re likely to miss out on beautiful opportunities to observe local wildlife. When they see you speeding, the mongoose will hide in its hole, antelopes will scatter, and the cheetah will attempt to chase you (or more likely, hide before you even have a chance to spot it…).
9. Take the time to observe in the tall grass along the road. It’s conducive to camouflage, and if you have keen eyes or observant kids, you’ll discover wonderful things there. A special thought for the female rhinoceros hidden behind a clump by the roadside, keeping an eye on us while watching over her little one grazing nearby. A magnificent encounter.
10. Make sure to have a good camera and a good zoom lens to capture all these magical moments. You’ll enjoy seeing and revisiting the photos taken during your safari. You might even impress your friends by showing them the selfie you’ll take with a giraffe.
While you’re at it, consider taking binoculars as well. They’re very handy, especially for observing the numerous colorful birds or the shy little animals.
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