Let animals choose distance
A sighting is not successful because a vehicle is closest. Do not ask a guide to block an animal’s route, surround a predator, chase a hunt or crowd a river crossing. Give elephants, mothers with young and animals at water extra room.
Keep voices and movement low
Sudden standing, pointing, loud conversation and phone sounds can disturb animals and other guests. Follow your guide’s instructions, especially in open vehicles or around predators.
Stay in the vehicle
Leave the vehicle only at designated areas or when a qualified guide explicitly says it is safe. A quiet landscape may still contain dangerous wildlife. Never walk around a lodge at night without following its escort rules.
Share sightings
Do not pressure a guide to cut ahead of other vehicles. Limit time at congested sightings and allow others a view. The best guides sometimes leave a crowd and find a quieter story elsewhere.
Photography and consent
Ask before photographing staff, guides, community members or children. A telephoto lens does not remove the need for consent. Explain intended use if images may appear commercially, editorially or online.
Community visits
Use locally organised visits with clear benefit and leadership. Do not hand sweets or cash directly to children, enter homes without invitation or treat ceremonies as performances on demand.
Waste and natural objects
Carry out litter, refuse single-use items where possible and never remove feathers, plants, bones, rocks or cultural objects from protected areas. Do not feed wildlife.
Guide relationship
A guide is a professional, not only a driver. Share your interests, listen to safety instructions and allow time for interpretation. Respect working hours and discuss any special photographic plan in advance.
A quieter vehicle often sees more. Patience is not empty time; it is how behaviour becomes visible.
Reviewed 4 August 2026
At a sighting
Keep voices low, follow the guide’s instructions and avoid sudden movements. Do not pressure the driver to leave authorised tracks, surround animals or compete aggressively with other vehicles.
People and privacy
Ask before photographing. Learn names and context where appropriate, and do not publish vulnerable people as anonymous symbols of poverty or culture. Children require particular safeguarding and consent.
At camp
Many properties are unfenced. Do not walk alone after dark unless staff confirm it is safe. Follow water, waste, noise and wildlife instructions, and do not feed animals.
Tipping
Tipping practice varies by property and trip. Ask the operator for current guidance and whether staff use a shared tip box. A tip should recognise service, not replace fair wages or create pressure.