For many, a safari is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, which means that many travelers don’t know exactly what to expect. Even an old safari buff like me still asks the Travel Office to help make arrangements when I head to Africa.

Our safari experts can tell you just about anything you might want to know, but of course, I like to share advice of my own. A few thoughts occurred to me during my recent trip to South Africa that could be especially interesting to those who’ve never gone on safari.

Beyond the ‘Big Five’

The reason they are collectively known as the “big five” — African buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino — is that these large animals turn on those who attempt to shoot them, making them particularly dangerous to hunters. Safari-goers still aim to see the big five, and I enjoy observing all of them myself. But I often find the smaller species just as exciting to encounter. It was a treat to get solid, lengthy sightings of an African civet, which resembles a spotted raccoon, and a similarly beautiful (and similarly hard to find) genet. On another drive, a dwarf mongoose darted in front of our vehicle. It took refuge behind a log, poking its head up in adorable fashion to observe us in safety.