The guides working in the safari are the backbone of any safari tours, as they will turn a mere tour of the beautiful scenery of Africa into a memorable one. It can mean the world to you whether you are in the expansive zones of the Serengeti, the thick jungles of Uganda or the symbolic savannah of Kenya, the correct safari guide can transform everything. However, what exactly does make great safari guides to shine out of the crowd? What are the traits and competencies that a traveler should consider before embarking on the wild to have a memorable and a safe experience?
This article will discuss what constitutes great safari guides in an attempt to shed light on the qualities traits and personal qualities that make a great safari great. Great guides are people who have an exclusive set of characteristics unique to them because of their extraordinary talents of tracking wild animals as well as his / her great appreciation of the environment and cultural knowledge that enable them to relate to their guests and the land.
1. Deep Knowledge of Local Wildlife and Ecosystems
The first thing that a safari guide is supposed to have is the ability to be a walking dictionary on the wildlife, vegetation and ecosystems of that particular region. They do not simply know animals, as they are well aware of the animal behavior, relationship of animals within a species, movement, and the existing fragility of ecosystem. This is because with such knowledge they will be able to know not only what is going on in front of you but also know which animal will do what, how and when to behave in a particular manner that is likely to happen during your game drive.
A trained tour guide will be able to answer questions concerning the lifeways of the various species e.g. why some animals act in a particular way, what they feed, how they hunt, how they suit different seasons etc. They also make the visitors enjoy the complexities of ecosystems as to how even the smallest insects contribute in the biodiversity. As an illustration, a safari guide who has some experience in his or her field will be able to clarify why a vulture cleanses a dead animal or how the actions of elephants will change the terrain of the place where he calls home.
2. Excellent Animal Tracking and Spotting Skills
Safari guides sometimes possess intimate knowledge on tracking the animals such as tracks, droppings and broken branches. They have exceptional eyesights in tracing animals at a large distance even when they are color-coded or concealed in the bushes. Their knack to find animals, tell where to go and where to view them is also an art that they acquire after many years of experiences and effort.
Superb safari guides know how to read the most delicate hints that include how birds move or how small mammals behave so as to track large animals such as lions, leopards and elephants. They are also able to recognize the animal tracks which makes following a particular animal easy hence the guests are guaranteed the chance of viewing elusive animals which they would not have noticed otherwise. This tracking and damage capability to trace and view wildlife allows the safari experience more exciting since you never specify what will happen next and when that next exciting event will occur.
3. Expertise in Bird Watching
Though most of the safari-goers would want to observe the Big Five ( lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhinoceros), great safari guides know so much about the birdlife too. Within Africa, the continent houses thousands of species of birds with most of them being unique to this continent. An experienced guide will be in a position to know the different types of birds and their behavior and provide interesting facts about their lives.
As an instance, the safari guide may direct your attention to the conspicuously colored lilac-breasted roller sitting on a tree, how hornbills nest, or the convoluted migration of some bird species. Birds are an immense component of the safari, and having a skilled guide can make the process a lot more fulfilling as he or she has a lot of knowledge about the life of birds in Africa.
4. Love Conservation and Sustainable Tourism.
Passion toward conservation is one of the most vital aspects of terrific safari guides. A large number of iconic Africa animals face threats of poaching, loss of habitat, and human-wildlife conflict. Good guides are keen followers and leaders in the field of environmental and wildlife conservation and they ensure they create awareness to the tourists on issues related to conservation. They have strong knowledge of the sustainable tourism practices, and are always aware of ethical conduct whenever handling the animals and the environment.
Safari guides are commonly related with conservation organizations, local communities, and the park rangers with the aim of preserving the endangered species and the restoration of the ecosystems. They are also very passionate about conservation and this tends to make the safari-goers responsible enough that they watch their footprint on the land and the wildlife.
5. Exceptional Communication and Storytelling Skills
They are also good storytellers and communicators as well as a great safari guide is not only a reservoir of knowledge. It is because of their skills in integrating facts, anecdotes and cultural information into an exciting story, that the safari adventure is made feasible. It can be a history of the Maasai people, a peculiarity of the behavior of a predator, an indelible sight, but a good guide can make his guests fascinated and encouraged.
Huge guides understand how to make their listeners attentive be it jokes, wild animal adventures or compelling facts of the scenery. They have the right time to talk and the right moment to leave natural sounds of the bush to perform. Their narration enables the guests to have a better attachment of the animals and surroundings they are visiting, which makes the safari a learning and discovery experience.
6. Effective Safety Awareness and Leadership.
The main factor when going on a safari is safety and a good guide should be able to make sure that the guests do not feel unsafe during the whole safari. Whether it is by game drives in open cars or walking through safaris, the guides are trained to examine the likelihood of danger and act swiftly in case they are confronted with any form of danger. Be it a close predator come across or a tough terrain to traverse, a really good guide will always stay calm, cool and never doubt his/her judgment.
Great guides also have a point to make on respecting wildlife and the environment and not just physical safety. They provide clear limits to the visitor whereby the animals are not bothered and the visiting experience is rich to both the visitor and the wildlife.
7. Local Knowledge and Cultural Sensitivity.
Besides possessing the skills and knowledge on the natural world, the great safari guides are very knowledgeable about local people and cultures. Most of the safari sites lie within or close to the traditional tribal territories and the people guiding tourists may offer a different and informative experience to tourists because they understand the practices, traditions and ways of life of the people.
As an illustration, an excellent guide could take you to visit the local Maasai or Samburus, whereby, he/she tells you how they live, how they relate with wildlife and how they have lived and worked in this land of abundant nature. They know the significance of the culture and the contribution that the locals make to the conservation initiatives whereby visitors are offered a genuine and respectful need of the culture.
8. A Genuine Love for the Wilderness
Great safari guides are motivated by a strong passion to the wild and the animals that they deal with. This love is also transmittable and it motivates the travelers to form their self passion towards the natural world. It is this passion and the attachment to the surrounding which makes great guides stand out, they truly care about what they do and they are proud of the fact that they are offering their guests a unique experience.
Be it the thrill they feel whenever they see a leopard in the forest or they enjoy the view of the African sunrise, great safari guides share their passion of the wilderness with you and therefore every moment of the safari could be special. They are passionate and this is reflected in how they get to share their knowledge, stories, and experiences with those they have as their guests so as to make them appreciate the wildlife and ecosystems of Africa more.
9. Patience and Attentiveness
It is important that the guides in the safari should also be patient and keen particularly in wildlife hunting. The safari experience cannot be completely predictive and the animals cannot be easily located. Good guides know that time is of essence and they can take hours before they can give the landscape a chance to show any movement or even minor alterations in the conduct of the animals.
They also understand the needs of its guests such that all feel comfortable, secure and entertained in the safari. Be it receiving the vehicle to make sightseeing easier or giving everyone an opportunity to take a picture, an exceptional guide goes out of the way to provide a unique and fun experience in a personalized fashion.
10. A Commitment to Lifelong Learning
Lastly, excellent safari guides are life long learners. They are also informed about the current research, conservation activities, and other local activities conducted by the wildlife and therefore they are able to give their guests the most relevant and exact information possible. Most leading safari guides constantly attend training programs, workshops and conference to keep on training their skills.
Such a lifelong learning enables them to bring new knowledge and views to the visitors making each safari to be a new experience and interesting.
Conclusion
To conclude it must be stated that it is possible to make great safari guides because the knowledge combined with passion, patience and a real interest in wildlife and conservation make them as the great guides. These guides are more than just people who would be travelling through the wilderness and giving tours to the tourists, but these are people who are a teacher, a story teller, a conservationist, a leader, all in one. Their experience and effort form the basis of the safari adventure that is very entertaining and as well as informative, educational and life changing moments.
Be it it is seeing leopards in the trees, catching the footprints of the rhinos in the dirt or getting educated about the culture of the people living in the area, the most competent Safari guides are the ones that can relate to you at a personal level and makes your adventurous experience memorable. It is therefore advisable to pause the next time you go on a safari and have a glance at the amazing locals who do it all, then you should stop and realize that it is all possible thanks to their passion and expertise, and that it is the passion and expertise that makes it possible to make the African wilderness seem so magical.
