safari

American  

[suh-fahr-ee] / səˈfɑr i /

noun

• safaris
  plural

1. a journey or expedition, for hunting, exploration, or investigation, especially in eastern Africa.

2. the hunters, guides, vehicles, equipment, etc., forming such an expedition.

3. any long or adventurous journey or expedition.

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verb (used without object)

safaried, safariing

1. to go on a safari.

safari British  

/ səˈfɑːrɪ /

noun

1. an overland journey or hunting expedition, esp in Africa

2. any recreational journey or expedition

3. the people, animals, etc, that go on the expedition

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• safaris
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

safari safaris safaried safariing

Guests on board were said to be part of a luxury safari tour by travel agency andBeyond.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

It’s part of the lodge’s electrified safari program, which began in 2014 with the introduction of a solar-powered safari boat—a continentwide first.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

Amy Waller, team manager of the safari at Longleat, said keepers were giving Yana extra food to ensure she has enough energy to provide for the "chunky little cubs".

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

The safari park lost its previous bull Thorn, who fathered 29 calves over the course of his life, in 2024.

From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026

“On safari you live on beef jerky and canteen water. Not very appetizing.”

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

This generation, who as young adults hitchhiked across the country and backpacked through Europe, now is going on safaris and hiking in the Serengeti on guided tours that offer “easy” as well as “challenging” options.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

Rarely if ever do these minimum wage safaris net lasting structural change at the companies featured on the show.

From Salon ● Feb. 23, 2026

The Bosnian officer apparently revealed that his Bosnian colleagues found out about the so-called safaris in late 1993 and then passed on the information to Italy's Sismi military intelligence in early 1994.

From BBC ● Nov. 12, 2025

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

I got the roasting heat and the crocodiles and the snakes and the long safaris up-country, selling Shell oil to the men who ran the diamond mines and the sisal plantations.

From "Boy: Tales of a Childhood" by Roald Dahl

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

Related Words

• trek