Think safari and you probably picture 4WDs, lions on the prowl, and sundowners in the savannah. But Africa’s wild soul has a quirkier, lesser-known side – one where you can gallop past giraffes, stake out hippos from secret hides, or forage honey with ancient hunter-gatherers.Think safari and you probably picture 4WDs, lions on the prowl, and sundowners in the savannah. But Africa’s wild soul has a quirkier, lesser-known side – one where you can gallop past giraffes, stake out hippos from secret hides, or forage honey with ancient hunter-gatherers.
This isn’t your standard game drive; it’s a collection of offbeat, extraordinary encounters that take you deeper, wilder, and sometimes stranger into the continent’s most magical corners. From bat-filled skies in Zambia to chimpanzee dramas in Tanzanian jungles, here are six of our favourite less conventional safari experiences in Africa.
Reins and range: riding safaris in Kenya
© Sosian
For those who love life in the saddle, there are few experiences as exhilarating as riding through Africa’s wild landscapes. Though not famed for riding holidays, Kenya’s dramatic landscapes – savannahs, forests, valleys – come alive from the back of a horse. In Laikipia – the Maasai Mara’s little-known brother – riders can mount Ethiopian breeds or rugged South African boerperds at Sosian. The stables here boast over 30 horses and bush rides range from gentle trots to full-tilt gallops for seasoned equestrians.
Snout to lens: hippo hides in Zambia
© Kaingo
If hippos are your muse, Kaingo’s photographic hides deliver front-row seats to the action. The standout is the two-tier hippo hide, ingeniously built into the riverbank beside a deep, bellowing, wallow-filled pool. Here, you’re eye-level with grunting giants – ideal for capturing their yawns, splashes, and territorial spats in glorious detail. It’s so good, a BBC cameraman called it the best filming hide he’d ever used. For serious photographers, it’s a rare chance to shoot hippo behaviour up close without disturbing the scene – just patience, proximity, and the occasional spray of river water.
Skies gone batty: migration mayhem in Zambia
Each year from October to December, northern Zambia’s Kasanka National Park becomes the stage for one of nature’s most mind-blowing spectacles: the migration of up to 15 million straw-coloured fruit bats. Backlit by moody, storm-hinting skies, the bats pour into the forest in astonishing numbers – creating one of the highest concentrations of mammals on Earth. Predatory birds arrive for the feast, from martial and crowned eagles to kites, vultures, and goshawks chasing hatching termites. Watching the bats take flight at sunset is unforgettable – wild, chaotic, and utterly unique to Kasanka.
Smoke, stings and stories: foraging with the Hadzabe, Tanzania
At Mwiba Lodge – where luxury reaches its peak in the greater southern Serengeti – cultural connection isn’t just lip service – it’s a living, breathing adventure. Guests rise early for a bush walk where the Hadzabe – one of the last true hunter-gatherer tribes on Earth – might just appear, unannounced. You’ll learn the bush’s secrets – medicinal plants, animal tracks, and, if lucky, how to smoke out bees and harvest wild honey with these master foragers.
Primates and plot twists: chimp-tracking in Tanzania
Chimpanzees: our noisy, brainy cousins swinging through forest politics and family drama. Greystoke Mahale is a one-of-a-kind, high-end camp perched on a white-sand beach beside Lake Tanganyika’s crystal-clear waters. Deep in Mahale Mountains National Park, it channels Tarzan vibes, with barefoot luxury and daily chimp-tracking adventures through lush, untamed forest. Treks range from a breezy 20 minutes to a solid three-hour hike, led by expert guides who know every chimp by name. You’ll get an hour with them (unless they’re on the move – then the clock pauses while you try to keep up).
River drift and otter glimpses: canoeing Rwanda’s Mukungwa
If you’re up for something different, try canoeing down the Mukungwa River – just under half an hour from Volcanoes National Park. You start near the twin lakes Ruhondo and Burera, and suddenly, Rwanda feels like a whole new world beyond the gorillas. With a friendly guide leading the way, you’ll paddle past local villages, splash through some gentle rapids, and maybe even get a little wet (all part of the fun!). You can hop out to stretch your legs, spot some birds, and if you’re lucky, catch an otter or two. It’s about four hours, super easy, and no experience needed.
To talk to us about your tailor-made African safari, including these and other offbeat experiences, call us on 0203 405 6666.
