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

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Etymology

Origin of safari

1885–90; < Swahili < Arabic safar journey

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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

One of them, Steve Edwards, a local safari camp manager, found new, productive sites on the shore of Lake Kariba, the artificial lake which forms most of the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026

For Dani, it's to go on an African safari.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

Kershaw admitted five counts of fraud after colleagues spotted Facebook posts of her on safari in Africa, and on trips to Paris, Tuscany and Dubai.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

Local guides worry that Uber will disrupt the safari industry, drive down prices and take business away from traditional operators.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

One look at her, and I can tell she saw me jump off that safari taxi without paying.

From "Hurricane Child" by Kheryn Callender

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

As the debate drags out, the publicity is tarnishing Club Med’s eco-credentials and could make it increasingly hard to sell the resort, which will also offer safaris, as a dream destination to potential guests.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 31, 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

"We've put a stop to it and there won't be any more safaris," the officer was told.

From BBC ● Nov. 12, 2025

The manservant had been on too many safaris not to recognize an animal when he saw it.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer

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

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