We Let Teens Take Over the Blog. Here is What They Told Us About their Safari.
Parents plan the trip and we hear a lot about how they find the experience, but we don’t often hear from the teens. So this month, we handed the mic to them.
We spoke with teens who've recently traveled with us and some who went over the past few years. We asked the questions parents actually want answered: Was it boring? What surprised them? Their favorite moments?
Their honest, genuinely moving answers are exactly why we think this is one to send straight to your family group chat, especially if you've got a trip-averse teenager who needs convincing that Safari beats another vacation.
We Started With Expectations: What Teens Picture When They Think "Safari" Before They’ve Been On One:
Here's where it got fun. We asked a few teens who haven't been on Safari yet to describe exactly what comes to mind when they think of a Safari.
“African animals like rhinos, giraffes, hippos, and lions come to mind. I also imagine the tall lengthy grasses and the stubby trees”
“I would love to see a cheetah, and I picture lots of open land with tall grass”
“I think of big grasslands with trees, zebras, giraffes, and a really pretty sunset in the background.”
The imagery in their heads - tall grass, golden light, animals close enough to really watch, turns out to be remarkably close to the real thing. Now we turn to the teens who have been on Safari - Nisha, Sapna, Anjali, and Farhana, and let’s see what the realities are.
Reality: The Feeling & Presence of being on Safari, and the science behind it!
There is something so rare about being on Safari - on a game drive, you are so present. You are aware of your surroundings, looking for movements, colors and noticing little things. Being out on a game drive or on a bush walk - all of it asks for your full attention, and it’s a time teenagers give in and enjoy. Phones end up tucked away and eyes are up, noticing everything around them. If you want to get into the science of this - it’s called ''soft fascination’. When these little things capture your attention effortlessly and give you this sense of being grounded - this is so good for our brains and their attention spans - particularly in a world of screens and go go go. Beyond that, game drives and being out in the wild. Things don’t just happen, there is a lot of watching, concentrating and waiting on Safari but it certainly isn’t boring! Teenagers come away with a sense of curiosity and patience.
In South Africa.
“Growing up in Kenya, my absolute favorite feeling in the world was the beginning of a game drive. Not just the anticipation of what was to come and what we might see, but truly the feeling - sunrise on the dewy grass, the silhouette the trees, the early morning bird song, the colors changing as the sunrises” ”
Safari and Being in Awe!
Aside from the little things, the big awe inspiring moments also have an incredible impact. Whether it’s watching pride of lions and learning their unique social structures, or a pregnant cheetah on a hunt. These moments of awe connect us to the world around us.
Teenagers return home with a connection to the world around them, and it shifts perspectives. To a teenage brain in today’s digital world, this is so valuable.
Leopard by Nick Bhavsar
Lion couple by Robin Bhavsar
The Bhavsar Teens and a cheeky Hyena!
“One unforgettable moment on my Safari was seeing a pregnant cheetah hunting down her prey. Another moment that stood out was seeing three sibling cheetahs relaxing near a tree.”
“My favorite unforgettable Safari moment was the time we saw a pride of lions sleeping in tall grass, causing us to almost miss them. It stood out because we almost didn’t even see them because they were hiding in plain sight.”
What Surprised Them Most?
For as much as people research before the trip, or how much we prepare you, Safari has a way of surprising you in ways that have little to do with the wildlife. We asked the teens what really stood out for them and they all agreed. The people.
“My favorite part about the Safari trip was the guides. Every guide we had helped us learn new information, shared their knowledge and made learning about these amazing animals so much fun. I also enjoyed how we did a variety of activities such as visiting the Masai Mara village, going to the crater, and doing bush lunches and sunset picnics. The food was amazing!”
“What surprised me the most once I got there was how friendly all the people were and how welcoming they were to us.”
“Exploring the local tribes. I was able to understand what they do on a daily basis, and it was very fascinating to see their different ways of life.”
Safari smiles! The Hoffman and Freud Family Safaried in Southern Africa.
The connection with the guides and people you meet along the way is so unique on Safari. You’re spending so much time with your guide - you’ll get to know them, their perspectives, personality and all. Then theres the teams at the lodges who will make you feel so welcomed.
We recently had the Bhavsars head on a big multi family safari with multiple teenagers, some of the moments that really struck them all was the kindness and hospitality of the teams. At Roca River Camp in the Masai Mara, they said it was like being part of the family. At Intimate in the Serengeti, the team put up an extra tent with a projector so the family could watch the World Cup Game and watched it with the camp team. These moments of connection and the memories. Anjali put it so beautifully:
“I’m so appreciative of our patient guides who taught us about Mara, the Serengeti and Tanzania. They made every game drive so fun. Going on this trip with my cousins and their families allowed us to bond and create lifetime memories.”
We Asked Them to Relive One Moment, and Two Teens Gave the Exact Same Answer …
We didn't plan this, but when we asked Nisha and Anjali what single moment they'd relive if they could, they landed on the exact same experience without ever comparing notes. If there's one activity to build into a teen's first Safari, it looks like it must be this!
“If I could relive one moment from my trip it would be the hot air balloon ride my family and I went on. It was amazing to see the animals from a bird’s eye view and observe them from afar without scaring them.”
“I enjoyed getting to see the animals by land and by air. It was my first time in a hot air balloon and seeing the animals from the air was such a memorable experience.”
Sunrise Balloon Safari taking off over Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Guides make your Safari. Matetsi River in Zimbabwe
Sundowners on Safari
Taking time to chill on Safari
Bush TV on Safari
Another vote for Balloon Safari
Main takeaway from our expectations vs reality for Teens on Safari?
The expectations are all about what they will see, the reality is how it makes you feel and the people you meet along the way. The quiet of a balloon at sunrise, the surprise of a village conversation, the shared laugh in the truck with cousins and your guide. It is shifted perspectives, calm minds, patience and awe combined, and a kind of presence is rare for anyone these days. For a teenager, it might be even rarer, and even more worth protecting.