Vehicles on Botswana/South Africa/Zambia Tour
I am considering taking this tour next year. Wondering what the safari vehicles will look like, especially if they have covered tops. If they do not, how safe are they? I've seen photos of vehicles in previous forums, but they are all around 6 or 7 years old.
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They are not safe, Tauck loses customers on every trip…Sorry, could not resist that.
The vehicles are different than the ones used in East Africa. High off the ground, open sided, sometimes have a roof covering, sometimes not. You generally climb up narrow stepping points to get into the vehicle which can be tricky. If you search the forum you will find plenty of pictures that people have posted, or you can do some Google searches.
British - "If you search the forum you will find plenty of pictures that people have posted, or you can do some Google searches."
Or easier yet, we could get you to post some pictures that show the differences between the vehicles Tauck uses in East Africa vs the vehicles Tauck uses in South Africa. 😁
I took this exact trip in 2024 and yes, our vehicles definitely had covered tops. I am 73 years young now, and there was not a problem at all getting into or out of the vehicles. The sides were open obviously to view the wildllfe and the sides also had flaps just in case of bad weather. We were on a game drive twice a day. You will enjoy this trip like no other. I have pics of the vehicles if you feel inclined to see, let me know.
Per Bing -
How do safari vehicles in East Africa compare to safari vehicles in South Africa
Safari vehicles in East Africa and South Africa differ in their design and usage. In East Africa, closed vehicles are preferred for safety and comfort, especially in national parks where open vehicles are not allowed. These vehicles are equipped with features like pop-top roofs and window seats for all passengers, providing unobstructed views and a secure environment. They are also suitable for long-distance drives and are often used in private wilderness areas.
In contrast, South Africa's safari vehicles are typically open-sided 4x4s, which offer an unobstructed view of the surroundings and are ideal for photography. These vehicles are equipped with sunshades and are used for road transfers and off-road game viewing. They provide a sense of being "closer" to the wildlife due to the ease of detecting sounds and smells.
Both types of vehicles are state-of-the-art, opulent, and equipped with all the conveniences found in East Africa. However, the choice between East Africa and South Africa's safari vehicles depends on the specific safari experience desired, the type of wildlife viewing, and the level of comfort and security required.
If people have pictures of the various vehicles it might help with the comparison.
Having only been in East Africa, here is an example of those vehicles.
Tardam, these are the types of jeeps we had on that tour. All were covered and we had no trouble getting in and out. Wonderful tour.
So here are the ones without a roof
You can often get up close and personal to the wildlife while riding in a safari vehicle on the Botswana, South African, Zambia tour vehicles but even on K&T you may be close to the game. Note. In this photo taken in the Masai Mara, my wife actually dove for the floor when she thought the lion was doing the house cat, "pre-pounce dance"!!
The lion didn't attack and the driver had a good laugh! 
These guys in Livingstone were better behaved. I'm sure the sticks we carried wouldn't have helped much if they decided otherwise!
And this gal was a sweetheart- she actually purred quite loudly! Not only did she like being petted, but the harder the better!
And then there were these voracious face-eating critters
The attached were our vehicles in Botswana, Zambia and South Africa in 2024. Best trip ever.
Great photo, it actually shows really well how you have to climb the steps on the outside of the vehicles to get in.
Note, regardless of what was used in the past, the vehicles on your tour will depend on which husbanding agent has the current contract, what vehicles they currently have in stock, or whether the camp/hotel is providing the vehicles. You may have a mix of vehicles at a given location. K&T vehicles changed somewhat when Kearsleys took over from Asilia some years ago. Also, note, some vehicles may actually be branded "Tauck" but that is no different than the vinyl murals found on many of the buses used for Tauck's European tours or riverboat decorations- Tauck does not own safari vehicles, buses, nor riverboats.
How about this double-decker safari vehicle? It was used during our Botswana tour!
We were on this trip in October. You’ll love it. The vehicles for Chobe and Ngala are different. The Chobe vehicles have roofs, the Ngala vehicles do not. Unlike the uncovered vehicles we had on Elegant Adventure, there are no ramps to help you in and out of the vehicles. You have to climb in and climb out. They have steps and will help you, but if you are in the back row, expect to have to pull your weight up in one pull or walk along the edge of the vehicle to get back to your row.
Here’s what the vehicles look like in Chobe:
Here’s what the vehicles look like in Ngala:
We were watching the pride of lions in Ngala when the matriarch stood up and walked toward one of the other vehicles. Our guide said she was going for the shade as soon as she headed that way. She just laid down as if it was the shade of a tree. Eventually, the guide turned the vehicle on and slowly pulled away. She stayed right there for a little while and then moved towards a nearby tree. It was incredible.
It’s a long time since we took the Elegant South Africa and then the Botswana tour. I thought it wasn’t my imagine about having vehicles with no roofs on one of the tours and having to climb up the side of the vehicle to get in which can be tricky if you are short. Others have mentioned about platforms and so on and help getting into the vehicles but that certainly was the case when we took the tour/tours.
Having said all this, the Africa tours are by far the easiest in terms of stamina because there is hardly any walking..except the Elegant SA which is partly culture and so you do walk in the cities and museums.
And yes, the vehicles have changed since we first started the Africa tours in about 2007, mostly new vendors.
British, what were the vehicles like when you were touring with Arthur Tauck? 😁
It was Peter we toured with, Singapore Bali. Arthur Tauck is in his nineties but still reads a selection of comment cards every day.
So beck then, even he would have been in his seventies and hopefully as he is tall, he would have no problem getting into the trucks. Tauck has only been going ot Africa since the 2000’s. When we first went with Tauck there were just two choices, K and T or Elegant South Africa.
We have met people who have been on safari and can’t even figure out to which country. When we enquired and asked which country, they say Africa and we say, no Africa is a continent, there are 54 countries. But one person said Africa, we went to Africa on safari!
Word of caution: if you have old tissue paper thin skin like I do, please don’t climb over a seat in the vehicle ( as I was asked to do ) while wearing a stupid skort.
We did the Odyssey trip this past September. Yes, we had vehicles with / without roofs. Likely you will have open air vehicles in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. So, you would have a scarf and warm coat. Yes, some guests had difficulty climbing in on their own. So the safari leader / tracker would have a stool or step to help you reach the step-in point. We had one woman who had a bad back , So she was able to sit in the front (shot-gun seat) for a smoother ride. She was in her 80's. We had a marvelous trip and everyone looked out for each other. Just be mindful and ask for help if you need it. Have a great trip.