Getting to Safari—Our Ride

If you look closely, you will see a truck. Sure, it’s outfitted to look like a Safari vehicle, but almost all open Safari vehicles are modified Toyota trucks.

After the company pays off the vehicle, owners cut off the cab and replace it with a folding windshield (note the Bungee cords holding it up). In the bed of the truck, seats are added. Our vehicle could seat six—two in the front, two in the middle, and two in back. Running through the middle of the bed of the truck was a fridge and storage compartment. There was also a generator that allowed us to charge our phones and watches.

On our first day Scotty picked us up at 9:00 am from the hotel. We loaded our luggage then settled in for the ride. It felt pretty weird to be sitting on the left side of the truck and be the passenger. However, Botswanans, like South Africans, drive on the left side of the road.

We started our trek in the city. The roads were paved, and we saw people everywhere. As our trip progressed, we came to a fence. Its purpose was to keep domesticated animals on one side and wild animals on the other. The roads soon became dirt, and the population of people diminished.

Scotty was not a fan of the road. He told us we could have flown into the reserve and avoided all the dusty driving. While that would have been the faster option, I loved seeing kids walk to school and adults tending to their daily duties.

Eventually we stopped for lunch. The front grille had a folding table, so we put it up and pulled out the meal. It was burgers. We spent a little time learning about each other, and then we made our way to our first lion sighting.

Honestly, the vehicle was great. It maneuvered well, took easily to off roading, and it even handled deeper water with ease. That’s because it was outfitted with a snorkel. In my non mechanic vocabulary I can tell you the snorkel allowed the vehicle to drive in deep water without affecting the engine. I don’t have any technical knowledge to add, so just know the water nearly met us where we were, but the snorkel kept us moving without issues :).

We did ask about the cost of a vehicle such as this. Scotty said that the cost of a newly fitted vehicle would be around $100,000.

Each morning the campsite crew would provide us with a hot water bottle and a blanket. July is winter in Botswana, and the warmth it provided was heavenly. Each morning, before sunrise, we would hop in the vehicle and be ready to go. The roads were rough, but the seats were comfy. I had no complaints.

The Safari vehicle also allowed us the chance to get up close to the wildlife. Because the animals were accustomed to the vehicle’s sound, they were never startled. And, the vehicle was big and boxy. As long as we didn’t stand up, Scotty assured us the animals would leave us alone. Thankfully, they did, and the experience was unforgettable.