Can I still go on safari at 55+ – and survive?
Up before dawn
Getting up at the crack of dawn isn’t usually my idea of fun. I prefer my adventures to start in broad daylight and after a cup of coffee. But waking up at 4:30 AM in our resort Bush Villas on Kruger, all I felt was excitement – okay, and maybe mild terror. After all, we were about to climb into an open vehicle and trust the guide’s breezy reassurance that “the animals wouldn’t attack as long as we kept our arms and legs inside the vehicle.” Comforting: nothing says holiday relaxation like sitting a few feet away from a leopard and hoping it has been thoroughly briefed and knows to respect the rules.
Don’t turn your back on the wildlife, and other useful advice from our guide
Our guide, Clinton from Bushbaby Adventures, drove us to the Phalaborwa entrance of Kruger Park. A young French couple joined us for the day. Clinton quickly dealt with the paperwork (there’s a LOT of paperwork) and went on to give us our safety briefing. Apart from “stay inside the vehicle” it came down to two things: don’t be complacent and don’t ever turn your back on anything. He then regaled us with the tales of other guides who had become complacent and must have turned their backs on something as well, as one was dragged into a river by a crocodile and the other one was trampled by a hippo. This did not exactly inspire confidence. After that cheerful little “Don’t get yourself killed”-chat, it was time to head into the park.
Sunrise and sightings
The very first thing we saw was a sunrise straight out of the Lion King. A sunrise worthy of its own soundtrack. The only thing stopping me (and I suspect everyone else) from breaking into the Rafiki-song and hoisting a pluche lion in the air was the presence of three total strangers.
And then: an elephant. A real, wild, “I own this place” elephant. With her baby. Sure, I’ve seen elephants before, in zoos. Yes, I’m old enough to remember when they wore silly hats in the circus. But this was something else entirely. Here, they aren’t confined or performing. They just exist – massive and magnificent. It was awe-inspiring – and it was the start of a day that kept getting better.
From there, the day just kept delivering: giraffes gliding by gracefully, hippos lurking in rivers like oversized pool floats, zebras and hyenas, more elephants, impalas and other jumpy beasts, a herd of scary-looking buffalo, more birds than I even knew existed and -gasp – a leopard. Throw in the wonderful breakfast and lunch Clinton prepared for us and all the information he gave us about the park and the animals, and it felt like the day was over before it had even started.
Physical effort? Not really.
Now, for the most pleasant surprise of safari life – how easy it all is, physically. You’re not hiking across the savannah or chasing lions on foot (or vice versa). Instead, you’re sitting comfortably in an open vehicle (arms and legs firmly inside, obviously) while the animals do all the moving. It’s the laziest thrilling adventure you’ll ever have.
Sure, there’s a bit of bouncing over the dirt tracks, but it’s more easy massage chair than Camel Trophy. All you have to do is sit back, take photos and try not to gasp too loudly when something big and toothy stares at you from the foliage. There’s the “will my bladder make it to the next rest camp”-worry. At least there was for me. But let me assure you, there are enough stops so you can use a toilet instead of having to squat in the bushes, surrounded by apex predators. Just tell the guide. It can get hot, it can get cold and it will get dusty. Trust your guide to provide water, warm blankets and hot water bottles. Wear sunglasses and a hat and bring sunscreen and you’ll be fine.
There is some physical activity involved: climbing in and out of the safari truck, totally doable for everyone who has normal use of their legs. Just consider it your morning workout.
The pace is slow, the drives broken up with coffee stops and if your idea of fun is adventure without exhaustion, a safari ticks every box.
Can I still do it?
So to answer the question: yes, I can absolutely still go on safari and so can you. You don’t need to be superfit, fearless or even fully awake. All you need is curiosity and the ability to say “wow” every ten seconds. Just climb aboard that truck, don’t let the guide’s cautionary tales freak you out and let Africa do the rest.
Want to read about our stay in a safari resort in Timbavati private game resort? Click here!
Find general information about travelling to South Africa here
