safari
Americannoun
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a journey or expedition, for hunting, exploration, or investigation, especially in eastern Africa.
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the hunters, guides, vehicles, equipment, etc., forming such an expedition.
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any long or adventurous journey or expedition.
verb (used without object)
noun
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an overland journey or hunting expedition, esp in Africa
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any recreational journey or expedition
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the people, animals, etc, that go on the expedition
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of safari
1885–90; < Swahili < Arabic safar journey
Explanation
A trip to watch wild animals — especially in Africa — is called a safari. If you travel to South Africa to photograph elephants in their natural habitat, you're on safari. In Swahili, safari means "journey" or "expedition." The word has been used in English since the late 19th century to talk about hunting trips to Africa, the clothing these hunters would wear, and more recently, a journey taken to observe or photograph African animals. These days when someone talks about going on safari, they are probably planning to visit an African wildlife refuge or park.
Vocabulary lists containing safari
Travel
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The arrival of a new bull giraffe at a safari park could help save one of the world's rarest species of the mammal.
From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026
The few times he appeared outside those safe spaces came off as safari expeditions in a mysterious city the 42-year-old lifelong Angeleno obviously didn’t know.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026
He scaled up aggressively at what was then called Barn Hill Preserve, adding a safari park and animal encounters like swimming with otters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 2, 2026
Cruisers and industry executives compare an expedition sailing more to a safari rather than what you might get aboard the gigantic ships regularly sailing out of Miami.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 17, 2026
I’ve chosen a safari outfit look for today—a white T-shirt and my favorite green jean jacket and a tan skirt that just skims my knees.
From "The Queen of Water" by Laura Resau
Rarely if ever do these minimum wage safaris net lasting structural change at the companies featured on the show.
From Salon ● Feb. 23, 2026
Heavy rains in 2025 mean 2026 could be a banner year for wildlife spotting, as water flows out over the delta, reopening waterways to traditional mokoro boat safaris.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 20, 2025
Gabonese officials need not despair, given the array of attractions in their home country - including stunning white sand beaches and some of the world's best gorilla safaris in Loango National Park.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2024
Her office argues that LaPierre dodged financial disclosure requirements while treating the NRA as his personal piggyback, liberally dipping into its coffers for African safaris and other questionable, big ticket expenses.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 14, 2024
Robin’s wife, Carrie MacDonald, is his business partner, and she often accompanies him on safaris with clients.
From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston
Particularly proud of his medical knowledge is Courier Wagner, who has safaried with many a big game expedition through Africa without a single case of malaria or sleeping sickness.
From Time Magazine Archive
In Kampala, Uganda, where the dollar used to bring 10 shillings on the black market, safariing Americans were lucky to get five.
From Time Magazine Archive
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
