maria2

While I realize that there may be some variation, I'm trying to anticipate what a "typical" safari day's schedule looks like, e.g., what times to the morning and afternoon game drives typically commence and how long do the game drives generally last? Also, what can we generally expect in terms of meals (e.g., is breakfast typically served before or after the morning drive? Do you return in time for lunch or do you take "box" lunches? What time is dinner? Are pre- or post- dinner drinks customary? Do most people shower and change clothes for dinner or just freshen up after their afternoon drive and wear whatever they have on?)

maria2

As a follow-up, we are staying at mostly Serena Lodges (Samburu, Amboseli, Mara).

hguy47

All good questions – and as it seems you have somewhat anticipated, I think the answer to most of them is the same – “It depends.”

If you have your own driver on a private safari, you can usually schedule the day almost any way you want to, and decide it the night before with your driver. You can eat breakfast before you leave for your morning game drive, or leave for your game drive early and come back for breakfast. You can stay out all day with a “box” lunch (and even a “box” breakfast), or return to camp for lunch. You can even stay at the lodge all day, napping in your room or hanging out around the pool or the lounge. Obviously if you are transferring from one lodge to another, there will be some limitations to your flexibility.

I have never been on a group trip, but in that case you probably have to negotiate the daily schedule between you and your co-travelers, and some pre-packaged tours even have fairly pre-determined daily schedules.

Most people probably prefer to clean up and change clothes before dinner, but it isn’t mandatory (and usually almost everyone dresses pretty much the same anyway). I think at the Serena lodges you have a range of time you can eat meals, since they usually aren’t “family style” with other guests, but rather buffet style. As for pre-and post-dinner drinks, they are a usual part of my regimen, and they can be a great time to discuss the adventures of the day with other guests, but that’s up to you.

knlaw

When we stayed at both Sambura and Mara they also had a "lecture" around dinner time. They were interesting and I would encourage you to check them out. Also at both Sambura and Mara they had meal times between certain times. At both locations we also had the opportunity to visit the local village after our morning game drive and after breakfast.

Toshi

We just returned from the Mara Serena and the daily routine seemed to be 6am coffee/tea, 6:30am game drive, back around 9am, breakfast, day around the lodge (lunch 1ish), 3:30pm game drive, back by 6, drinks around 7, dinner begins at 7:30. The schedule was pretty much the same when we visited the Serengeti and Amboseli Serena Lodges. Ngorongoro was a little different (this was definitely an "all day with a boxed lunch" setup, if I recall).

We had our own guide in a Serena vehicle so we had flexibility. For example, we did an early breakfast one day, left at 7:30am and returned around 11:30. All day game drives are just too much time in the vehicle for my taste (and I don't really care for boxed lunches) and the wildlife seem to be more active at dawn and dusk.

You can also pay for additional game drives or night game drives, birding tours, nature walks, Masai village visits, massages etc.

Bill_H

<b>Ngorongoro was a little different (this was definitely an &quot;all day with a boxed lunch&quot; setup, if I recall).</b>

Not to beat this topic to death, but at Nggorongoro you can request a box breakfast instead and leave early so you are at the descent gate by 6 AM, then you basically have the crater almost to yourself (with 80 lions, 400 hyenas and 30,000 antelope) for about 2 hours before the people who have breakfast at the lodges wend their way down.

So by going early you avoid the crowds and see a lot more interesting animal activity ... since you're limited to 6 hours in the crater you can make it back to the lodge for a nice lunch.

Bill

maria2

Thank you very much for the responses. They are in line with what I was looking for.