Early morning game drives wrapped up in blankets with a coffee in hand, trundling along dusty roads in search of wildlife. The air is usually heavy with dew, until the warmth of the sun envelopes you like a warm hug, minutes after it pops above the horizon.
Unexpectedly, you stumble upon a scene that many of us only ever witness in documentaries. Perhaps it's a herd of elephants bathing in a muddy pool, spraying water across their dusty backs from their long trunks, or a family of meerkats perched on mounds of dirt, wide-eyed and peering. Maybe it's a pride of lion cubs hungrily devouring last night’s kill – their mother, exhausted from a night of hunting, stretching across the grass.
Going on safari can be a truly extraordinary experience. And if you're drawn towards wildlife and nature-based travels, the chances are you also care about preserving and protecting the environments that act as a habitat for these animals. In many places across Africa, communities stand at the frontline of such wilderness – living side-by-side with animals such as leopards, cheetahs and elephants. Getting to know the people at the heart of these communities, and hearing their unrivalled storytelling, can only make your experience richer. So, when you book your next safari, seek out the operators and companies who bring you closer to local people. Here are a few ideas on where to start.