August 26, 2025by mvhuyssteen

Safety on safari

Safari safety and respecting wildlife

In the wild, we are visitors. Safety is our guide and respect is our passport

An African safari is unlike any other holiday. It’s an immersive journey into a living ecosystem, where animals roam freely and landscapes stretch far beyond the horizon. You may find yourself holding your breath as you watch the Big 5 and other wildlife – large and small – living as they have for centuries, in a harsh and often unforgiving environment.

The beauty of these encounters is undeniable. Seeing a pride of lion for the first time, a journey of giraffes loping gracefully through a dense forest as their long tongues reach for the highest, most succulent leaves or a herd of elephants silently making their way across the escarpment, can leave you speechless.

Here, the stillness is tangible, powerful and untamed, as are the animals. But Africa’s wilderness is unpredictable and, with that, comes a shared responsibility for safety – one that both guides and guests need to embrace.

Every animal tells a story – our role on safari is to listen, not to interfere

Landscape of risk

Wildlife encounters are thrilling because they take place in uncontrolled environments. However, this unpredictability comes with an inherent element of risk. While most safaris are safe, tragedies, although rare, do occur, often when humans overstep boundaries or animals feel stressed or vulnerable.

An increasing and often encroaching human population, habitat loss, agricultural expansion and climate change are placing pressure on ecosystems. These factors affect wildlife behaviour, movement patterns and tolerance towards humans.

And, while ecological changes may be beyond a traveller’s control, human behaviour is not. The lure of the perfect selfie, chasing social-media moments or ignoring a guide’s instruction can lead to unnecessary danger. The wilderness is not a stage for entertainment, we are the interlopers in an animal’s natural home. It’s a privilege to witness nature in its raw, unfiltered beauty. But it comes with rules that must be respected.

The magic of Africa is felt most deeply when you walk softly, watch closely and respect the lives that roam free

Wildlife encounter awareness

Your safety is our priority and your guide is your first and best line of defence. Guides are able to interpret animal behaviour, assess risks and make decisions that protect both you and the wildlife. Every route they choose and distance they keep is informed by years of experience, professional training and an understanding of the bush.

Our guides are trained and qualified through the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FAGASA) and operate under strict safety protocols, guided by statutory requirements and international standards. These include daily risk assessments, pre-walk or drive briefings and constant communication with other guides and trackers in the field.

Listening to your guide is the single most important safety measure you can take. As the bush proverb goes: You can be stupid in the bush, or you can be old. You cannot be both.

Here are seven simple but golden rules of the bush. Especially important for walking safaris:

Listen to your guide: Their instructions are for your safety
Never run: Sudden movement can trigger the predator/prey response in many species
Stay in formation: Walk in single file to reduce your profile and allow your guide to control positioning. Never wander off alone
Move slowly: Sudden movements can startle wildlife
Stay quiet: Even a soft voice can travel far and disturb animals
Keep your distance: Close encounters come from trust, not intrusion. Remember that sightings are not guaranteed
Leave no trace: Respect the environment and communities

A respectful safari leaves only footprints and takes away only memories

Human-wildlife coexistence

Safari safety is about more than protecting guests, it’s about protecting wildlife and the communities living alongside them. Many rural communities, bordering protected areas, daily face far greater risks from wildlife than tourists do. If they don’t feel safe or benefit from conservation, they cannot be expected to support it.

Tourism has the potential to be a powerful tool for conservation. If done responsibly, it funds anti-poaching efforts, supports schools, creates jobs and fosters partnerships between conservationists and local communities. But for this to be sustainable, everyone must commit to practices and safety measures that protect both people and wildlife.

The Mantis ethos: ‘Man and Nature Together is Sustainable’ is more than a slogan, it’s a philosophy. It reminds us that no conservation initiative will succeed without balance … balance between risk and reward, safety and adventure, human needs and ecological realities.

We integrate conservation into everything we do, from safety and training to ethical animal encounters and community collaboration. Four of our properties (with more to come) are Humane Tourism™ Certified, ensuring the highest standards in animal welfare and human-wildlife interaction. This certification reinforces the link between ethical wildlife tourism and safety for animals, people and the environment.

Safety is not about fear, it’s about giving wildlife the space to be wild

Worth protecting

Travelling into Africa’s wild places is a privilege. These adventures challenge your perspectives and offer moments that will live with you forever. But with that privilege comes responsibility: To tread lightly, respect what you see and to leave both the environment and the communities you visit better than you found them.

Conservation is an ever changing, living system. It works best when community, tourism and wildlife are treated as a holistic system. If we want to preserve these wild spaces for future generations, we must invest in education, safety and shared responsibility.

Join us on a safe African adventure, one where the wilderness will both humble and inspire you.

In Africa’s wild heart, the greatest adventure is found in quiet observation and mindful respect