Special interest safaris in South Africa, the best of two worlds
Special interest safaris in South Africa allow
you to combine your safari adventure with one or more of your special interests or hobby's,
enhancing your experience. These safaris are specially designed and often custom-made for those
who have a specific interest that they want to pursue on their safari.
Nowadays the word safari has taken on a much wider meaning, including tours
and travels not necessarily related to the search and observation of wildlife only. In addition
to the regular safari activities, special interest safaris in South Africa focus on one or more of
a wide variety of other subjects such as Photography, Ballooning, Fishing, Mountain biking, Horse
riding, Culture, water-based activities and adventure activities, depending on your desires and
preferences.
You can either choose a standard package or go for a customized and
tailor-made option. A Golf safari tour for example wil allow you to combine your safari adventure
with your passion for Golf by including in your safari itinerary visits to some of the most
beautiful golf courses in the African bushveld. They are often situated adjacent to or inside game
reserves and national wildlife parks.
For those who pursue photography as a hobby, indulge yourself in creating the
most beautiful pictures of stunning landscapes, awesome wildlife encounters and spectacular bird
life to name but a few. Each picture a unique remembrance of a once in a lifetime experience.
Experience the exotic and mysterious African culture as part of your safari
itinerary. Visit the locals in their traditional villages and discover their customs and way of
life. Attend a church service, visit a school, watch them dancing and singing around the camp fire
and have a Sangoma or traditional healer throw hid bones for you.
Discovering the African bushveld and its wildlife on horseback. Just imagine
yourself cantering along with a pair of Giraffes, riding quietly in the midst of a herd of grazing
Wildebeest or Zebra, or just standing on a ridge admiring the beauty of the African bushveld
sunset. Normally the horses are well trained and adapted to feel at ease between the wildlife,
which in turn usually ignore the horses, regarding them as part of their animal kingdom. That
means that they are also part of the food chain, so be very careful. You have to feel comfortable
riding a horse and have some experience before riding among the big game animals.
Find the special interest safari in South Africa that best suits your
interests, preferences and budget by comparing over 450 safari tours, over 500 specialized safari
tour operators, over 50 national parks and game reserves and more than 200 user reviews.
The list of possibilities is almost endless. The following are some examples of special
interest safaris in South Africa
Bird watching safaris
South Africa ranks as one of the top birding destinations in the world with
over 800 species of birds. You will enjoy excellent birding. Books and equipment are readily
available and there are many guides who will take visitors to the best birding spots
The Cape Eagle Owl (Bubo capensis). As a member of the larger species of
the eagle-owl genus "Bubo", it is found all over the African continent on both sides of the Sahara,
except for the rain forest belt. Although mostly found in hilly and mountainlike rocky areas, the
The Cape-Eagle-Owl is at home in a wide variety of habitats, from sea level up to the snow line
height. Being nocturnal, it is roosting during daytime, preferring spots such as rock crevices and
sheltered rock ledges and sometimes even trees and dense bushes on the ground. Around breeding
time male and female can be found roosting together.
Play list comprising more than 70 short videos about the wild birds of South
Africa. Although the videos only show a limited number of the 858 species that
have been recorded, they are an excellent starting point for the bird lover who wants to know
more about South Africa's bird life.
Steam train safaris
If you love trains and especially steam trains, and you want to see the best
of South Africa in luxury and romantic steam train style, then this type of safari is for you.
There are a number of exciting special interest train safaris available in south Africa.
They include opportunities to take pictures of steam locomotives, spend time on the foot plates,
talk to train drives and stokers, smell the steam and coal and talk trains, trains, and more
trains.
Enjoy the luxury and romance of a steam train safari. In South Africa the
words "steam train safaris" are almost synonymous with the words "Rovos Rail", a private railway
company operating 5 star train safaris to a variety of destinations in Southern Africa, including
highlights such as Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Dar es Salaam and even Cairo. When you board the
train and enter its world of luxurious and romantic elegance, you get the feeling that time has
slipped away. It is the combination of the ambiance and romance of a bygone era and the mystery
and magic of the African wilderness that makes it such an extraordinary experience.
A short video about Rovos Rail, a private railway company in South Africa.
"Regarded by the Society of International Railway Travelers as one of the top 25 luxury trains in
the world, Rovos Rail offers a variety of journeys ranging from two nights to two weeks.
Trains depart regularly from Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria for Cape Town, Durban and Victoria
Falls with longer journeys operated on an annual basis. These include two golf itineraries, of
nine days, each with delightful programs for non-golfers. There is another nine-day safari to
Swakopmund in Namibia as well as the two-week adventure from Cape Town to Dar es Salaam".
Honeymoon safaris
A very popular type of special interest safari in South Africa. Just imagine,...
an exclusive bush camp, a private game viewing deck, a bottle of champagne in the ice bucket, the
sounds of the bushveld and the grandeur of Africa spread all around you. And in the middle of it
all just the two of you.
Is there a better way to start your wedded life together than on a safari
in South Africa? A honeymoon is one of the highlights of any couple's life. Just imagine the
two of you together in the heart of the African wilderness, enjoying a candlelit romantic dinner
for two after a day of breathtaking wildlife encounters amid awe-inspiring landscapes. You can
make your honeymoon as modest or as luxurious as you wish. Whichever way you choose it to be, it
will always remain one of the most magical experiences in your life.
Is there a better way to start your wedded life together than on a safari
in South Africa? A honeymoon is one of the highlights of any couple's life. Just imagine the
two of you together in the heart of the African wilderness, enjoying a candlelit romantic dinner
for two after a day of breathtaking wildlife encounters amid awe-inspiring landscapes. You can
make your honeymoon as modest or as luxurious as you wish. Whichever way you choose it to be, it
will always remain one of the most magical experiences in your life.
The following video is about a romantic honeymoon safari through wildlife,
paradise beaches and cultural heritage.
"The itinerary is designed as a private flight taking the honeymooners straight to their
safari camp in Selous and then, few days later, to the paradise Fanjove Private Island, where
they can relax and experience barefoot the most pristine beaches and marine life.
Their private journey will then take them to Zanzibar for a cultural dive into the
surprising beauty of Stone Town. A final hop to the lively Dar es Salaam closes the circle".
Great-white shark safaris
Meet Jaws himself. To go Great-White shark watching sounds terrifying, but
they say it is an extraordinary experience and it is safe. Gansbaai is one of the places where
you are almost guaranteed to see them.
Those who are brave can be lowered in steel cages just below the surface of the sea, to watch
these sea monsters rise up from the depths and go for the bait. Alternatively you can watch them
from the boat. You will gain a new respect for these awesome creatures.
Watch the awesome Great White shark from a cage just below the surface of
the sea. The Great White is probably the most terrifying animal that can be found in the world's
oceans. Certainly the most feared one. That is why getting into a shark diving cage to view them
swimming around you within touching distance is a blood-curling experience that you will never
ever forget. The cage usually hangs against the side of the boat. It is made from strong steel
bars and is absolutely safe. You enter it at the top. Once you are inside, your head will be about
half a meter below the surface. A step-up board will allow you to raise your head above the water
so you can communicate with your guide and dive master.
A short video about getting into the water (inside a cage) with the Great White
sharks.
This is what one of the participants said: "As a part of our tour of South Africa, we
couldn't help but jump in the water with the Great White Sharks. Scary? Not really. If I were the
seals on Dyer Island, then I'd be a little worried".
Whale watching safaris
The period of June to November is the right time to go on a special interest
whale watching safari in South Africa. It is during this period that the Southern Right and
Humpback Whales leave their arctic feeding grounds in search of a warmer climate environment, to
mate and calve. Large numbers of them congregate in the waters along the Cape south coast.
In the middle of it all and overlooking Walker bay, lies the town of Hermanus, boasting to
offer the best land-based whale watching in the world. Other great whale watching hot spots along
the Cape south coast are Plettenberg Bay, Algoa Bay and the Wild Coast.
Eye to Eye encounter with a Southern Right whale. There is nothing that can
prepare you for your first whale encounter. Imagine yourself sitting in a whale-watching boat
and all of sudden this giant of the sea makes its appearance breaching the sea's surface in a
massive display of graceful water aerobics driven by unrestricted power. This can consist of:
Blowing, when the whale expels air through the blowhole often accompanied by a spout of water
vapor. Breaching, when it breaks the surface in an arching back-flip. Lob-tailing, when it slaps
its tail and flukes on the water surface. Spy hopping, when it rises its head and body vertically
as high as possible above the surface.
With some of the best land and boat based whale watching in the world, the coastline around
Cape Town is a photographers dream. For an unforgettable day out, go on a trip with Dyer Island
Cruises for the best chance of seeing whales, dolphins, sharks, seals and penguins all in one
go.
