The Essential Safari Anti-Bucket List - 8 Things to Avoid When in Africa & Helpful Alternatives

This is a short, yet indispensable list of things to consider NOT doing whilst travelling Africa. We've published this post as an attempt at some friendly pre-departure traveller education, to keep you safe and on the do-good side of the tourism line. 

Things that may seem harmless or even like must-do activities...

There are several behaviours and activities that, to the average visitor, may seem natural or fun to do, but which upset the natural order of things, either in the bush or urban landscape. In addition, there are more than a few commercially successful, but increasingly controversial tourist activities which you may be offered, but which are getting a lot of flack lately from the responsible tourism lobby, often for good reason.

Read it here first, and travel with peace of mind

We've tried to highlight a few common mistakes or ethical pitfalls you may encounter on your trip to our unique continent. The idea is to read it here first before you travel, which we know will make for a more enjoyable, socially and environmentally aware, as well as stress-free trip.

South Africa safari, Kruger lions

1. Cuddling lion cubs, walking with lions & related 'interactions'

Many lion sanctuaries, lion parks and research centres offer lion cub petting and walking with lions, as part of various rehabilitation programmes. This is a huge money-making industry with questionable results, and in supporting such activities, you are usually doing more harm than good.

Not interacting with humans keeps lions safe and equipped for survival. Cuddling them can mean a death warrant.

Captive-bred and human-friendly lions will never live free

Lions are wild animals. While a lion cub is ridiculously cute and it is extremely tempting to want to cuddle, pet and feed them, human interaction will only place them in danger. If the lions become ‘imprinted’ by humans, they will never survive in the wild and are destined to be kept captive for life, or more likely, sold to canned hunting operations, to be shot at close range by warped individuals with fragile egos and big guns.

See cannedlion.org for a quick explanation of exactly why these places are usually to be avoided. While there are many, brilliant and hard-working organisations doing incredible work in conserving Africa’s lions and other threatened wildlife, there are also, unfortunately, a lot of people treating wild animals terribly, purely for money.

The only thing that should be cuddling a lion cub, is a lion!

Read up: The Predator Trap: The Plight of ‘Canned Lions’ and What You Can Do to Help Them

Cape Point Baboon

2. Feeding Baboons

Baboons are endemic to many areas of Africa and are integral to the fine balance of nature. Unfortunately, they are also extremely vulnerable to human interaction and are often found on roadsides and at picnic sites. This is mainly due to humans trying to interact with them/feed them, encouraging them to congregate in these spaces and putting them at risk. Feeding baboons can often be a death sentence as the expectation of food can lead them to become problem animals that must be killed to protect humans.

Baboons are wild animals with a tendency toward aggression when things don't go their way. If left alone, and not interfered with in any way, they are fascinating to watch, uncanny in their human-like actions.  

Baboons african safari

Safely watch baboons by following these simple rules:

• Never feed a baboon. In doing so, you are giving them food which is unnatural (and potentially harmful) and encouraging them to interact with humans. This may, in the long run, be a death sentence for them.
• When staying in an area where baboons live, be sure to lock away food and close windows and doors.
• If in your car, keep windows closed and doors locked. NEVER get out of your car or attempt to pet a baboon - they are wild animals, despite their 'cuddly' look.
• In the event of your being confronted by a baboon, never try to take back anything it has stolen. Establish its best route of escape and back off slowly, but with confidence. It is important that the animal knows you're in charge and are serious about it leaving.

Just following these simple rules could save you, and our very precious baboon population!

Fire on Lions Head, Cape Town by Maurits Vermeulen

3. Where There's Smoke, There's Fire

13 million km² of the African continent is savannah or grassland - almost half of the continent. The rest is made up of deserts, wetlands, coastal regions and mountains. These areas are highly susceptible to bushfires. A bush fire in Africa is disastrous, with thousands of square kilometres of destruction, both fauna and the animals that live there.

Campfire on safari

When in the bush – no smoking, please! Most lodges/campsites have specific smoking areas. Please stick to those. One small spark or throwaway match can cause untold damage to the bush. Smoking not only is a potential hazard to the bush, but it can also adversely affect your game-watching experience. Wild animals have an extremely sensitive sense of smell.

As for making fires in the bush – again, please only do so in clearly designated areas. Be sure to check that they are completely doused before going to sleep and before leaving the area.

Guided Walking Safari

4. Getting Out of Your Car In Game Reserves: Don't. Ever.

When you're in a game park, filled with wild animals, remember that. They're wild. Their basic instincts are to protect themselves and their young and to find food. Do not underestimate their agility, speed and stamina when you're exploring their territory. Getting an extra special shot of a lion kill is not worth losing your life for.

The internet is filled with horrific examples, including many deaths, due to people irresponsibly getting out of their cars in the wild. In most Big 5 safari destinations it is illegal to get out of your car, for both your safety and that of the animals. Always use designated picnic areas if you need to stretch your legs or go to the toilet.

If you want to experience the bush first-hand and get up close and personal, do so on a guided walking safari, accompanied by an experienced game ranger, who can ensure your safety.

Volunteer Africa

5. Helping the needy - begging, poverty and what to do about it

Africa is a continent of extremes, from its weather to its landscapes, the living conditions, and the financial situations of its people. Going on safari in Africa contributes to easing the extreme poverty, but you will be exposed to a certain amount of begging at some point, and you may well wish to do something to help.

Please do. The best way to do this, though, is to contribute to organisations making a difference in Africa. This does not necessarily mean you have to give money. Many places welcome volunteers, albeit for a morning, or a week. Spend a day helping out an orphanage or feeding scheme, donate pencils and paper to a school, plant trees, donate clothes... the options are endless.

One fantastic initiative is Pack for a  Purpose. This organisation has a global network of NGOs and other organisations. They provide travellers with a packing list of in-need items and organise drop-off points at your destination making giving easy and hassle-free. Pack for a Purpose is one of the most ethically sound choices that you can make to contribute to local communities at your destination of choice.

Botswana safari elephants

6. Riding Elephants

Elephants are known as family-orientated, gentle giants, and that they are. They are, however, also wild animals. As such, they were not made to be led by humans on specific paths carrying the weight of an adult (or two) on their back. This, in fact, is one of many reasons that you should not partake in this particular activity. An elephant's spine is not designed to have the 'chair' used for humans to sit in strapped to them nor for the weight of the people. In short, it hurts the elephant in the long term.

Another reason to avoid elephant rides is the manner in which they are trained to submit to human command. In most cases, to 'break' the elephant's spirit, they are taken from their mothers at a young age, and then confined and often abused with bullhooks and sticks (often with nails) to beat them into submission. While they are 'tamed', there are countless stories of these elephants turning on humans. Again, they are wild animals.

David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Nairobi by Regina Hart

So, while we're not saying interactions with elephants should not be actively sought, they need to entail elephant activities, not human ones. Elephant riding, circuses, and elephants kicking soccer balls are not that. Many fantastic sanctuaries offer places for previously abused and orphaned elephants and offer interactions such as feeding, bathing and spending time with them, doing what elephants do.

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya does amazing work, and visiting orphaned elephants in a safe environment is rewarding and often one of the highlights of a Kenyan safari. Seeking out ethical organisations that contribute to the real conservation of these wonderful creatures, will leave you feeling good having made a positive contribution.

Shell on Cape Beach by Filip Maljković

7. Keepsakes and Momentos

Taking something home to remember your time in Africa is a common practice and one that should be encouraged. However, taking plants, animals, shells, or even rocks should be discouraged. Many of the areas visited in Africa are protected for a good reason. Removing a live plant, or animal from a reserve is illegal. The volume of visitors is just too high to sustain these kinds of actions. You are just one person, but millions of people will follow in your footsteps. Resist the urge to pick flowers, press leaves, or slip a pretty pebble into your pocket. 

Never remove shells or coral from the beach, or buy these items from vendors. Remember that shells are animals homes and often these items, especially large and pretty shells, are taken from the sea, meaning certain death for whatever was living inside.

A healthy alternative is to support local arts or craft markets, find a local project or initiative that works in conjunction with conservation, or seek out local artists who are inspired by the nature that surrounds them. Janet Ormond an artist in Kommetjie, Cape Town, scours the beach for plastic waste and turns what she finds into fynbos-related art pieces, making perfect keepsakes for anyone visiting the peninsula. Snares to Wares in Uganda turns poaching snares into curios for tourists, an excellent initiative that raises awareness, contributes to the local community and provides beautiful items for gifts or mementoes.

Fynbos in South Africa by Brian Ralphs

8. Tread Lightly

Exploring new and exciting locations, the temptation is often to head off the beaten track. However, going off the path often results in more harm than good. Many protected species are small and easily damaged, and going off track can not only harm them but also cause habitat degradation like erosion. Sticking to the path allows you to tread lightly and noiselessly, maximising game viewing and enhancing the overall experience.

When going into the sea, touching sea creatures or standing on coral reefs is a no-no as these ecosystems are fragile and easily damaged. 

A favourite of many tourists is to balance rocks. These cairns, while fun to make, have two unforeseen negative impacts. Firstly, removing rocks destroys habitat. A stone taken from a stream bed could be the hiding place, nest, or home of any number of creatures from fish to crabs, and water nymphs to name just a few. Interfering with these habitats can upset the healthy balance of nature. Secondly, stacking rocks sends a message to other visitors that they can do the same. In addition to 'making a mark' and ruining a pristine environment for nature, you are ruining the wilderness for those who come after you. Resist the urge to change nature, and leave it be for both the animals and those who come after.

Ostriches on the Garden Route

Travel Ethically

Going on safari is an amazing adventure. Travelling ethically can have a positive impact too. Give yourself the chance to travel and feel good about your choices by staying informed and making responsible choices. For more guidelines on what you can do to travel well, see Responsible Safari: how to travel ethically