Hunters,
predators,
killers.
The animal kingdom can be brutal.
You might be feeling brave
traveling into their domain,
but don't get too comfortable.
One wrong move
and you become their next meal.
Safaris have come a long way
since the mid-19th century,
when wealthy British would venture
into sub-Saharan Africa to hunt.
Now, safari expeditions play a big role
in natural habitat conservation
and are a great source
of employment for locals.
But don't get fooled.
A safari is not a typical vacation.
Many tourists arrive every year
not knowing the basics
of the risks involved
and how to avoid them.
So, if you are planning on
taking off on a safari,
you better pay attention.
We have a list of mistakes
that could get you
or your whole group killed.
Musth is an aggressive period
that adult male elephants experience
for 2 to 3 months every year.
The release of a hormone called temporin
makes them become sexually hyperactive
and they will try to demonstrate
their dominance by fighting other males.
During musth, elephants can become
incredibly combative toward humans.
They often rampage local villages
as their testosterone levels jump.
The scent of cigarette smoke
could aggravate animals,
with disastrous results.
Animals that ingest the butts
could experience a lack of coordination,
convulsions or even death.
They could also develop
an addiction to nicotine
and go on the hunt for more cigarettes.
Black and dark blue clothes
could attract the tsetse fly.
Their bite is painful
and could transmit sleeping sickness,
which can be fatal.
Wear light, earthy colors
like green, brown and beige.
Use sleeved shirts,
pants and long socks to avoid mosquitoes,
ticks and ants.
Just because you don’t see
any animals nearby
doesn't mean it’s safe to get out.
Predators are good at camouflaging
and attacking by surprise.
Being inside a vehicle shields you
and contains any scents
that can attract animals.
Exit your vehicle
only at designated viewpoints.
Don't leave yourself vulnerable
to wild animals,
even if they seem friendly.
In 2015,
29-year-old Katherine Chappell
was driving through a lion park
in Johannesburg, South Africa.
She was taking photos
with her window down
when a lioness attacked her,
mauling her to death.
Never whistle,
call
or bang on your safari vehicle
to catch the attention of animals.
If you're lucky,
they'll just run away.
But some,
like elephants,
will charge when they hear
noises like these.
Just because they are calmly
drinking water or eating near you,
doesn’t mean that they won't
hesitate to charge or lunge at you.
Large territorial animals
like elephants and rhinos
are especially dangerous.
Do not bring your vehicle,
or yourself close to them.
Animals can be highly protective
when it comes to their young.
In a situation in which they may generally
be calmer or back away from a human,
they will be far more likely
to charge at you.
This seems more obvious
with unpredictable,
carnivorous animals like lions or leopards.
However,
you should also never feed animals
like monkeys and birds.
If you feed them,
they will start associating
humans with food
and be less hesitant to approach them.
This increases the odds
of unprovoked attacks.
No matter how well-versed
you think you may be
about the animals you're observing,
your guide will know better.
You should trust them to do their job.
If they tell you to move
or act a certain way,
listen to them.
Guides know how to keep safari viewings
harmonious and safe,
while also making sure
that everyone gets a good look.
Sometimes they have to risk their lives
to save reckless tourists
from being attacked.
But what if there were no guides
to help you?
Would you be able to make it alone
in the wilderness?
We've got a list of
the worst survival mistakes
that could get you killed.
Find out what they are, here.