A safari is a journey to observe wild animals in their natural habitat, especially in Africa. The word comes from Swahili, where it simply means “journey,” but today it usually means an expedition to see lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and other wildlife roaming free across grasslands and savannas.

On a traditional safari, visitors ride in open vehicles through national parks and nature reserves, watching animals hunt, graze, play, and live as they have for thousands of years. A guide helps spot animals and explains their behavior. You might see a pride of lions resting under an acacia tree, a herd of elephants marching to a watering hole, or cheetahs sprinting across the plains.

The experience is the opposite of visiting a zoo. Instead of animals in enclosures, you're the one contained (safely inside a vehicle) while the animals live freely all around you. Modern safaris focus on observation and photography rather than hunting, though in the past, a safari often meant a hunting expedition.

People also use safari more broadly to mean any adventurous expedition or search. A science teacher might take students on a “safari” through the woods to observe insects and plants, or someone might joke about going on a safari through their messy garage to find lost tools.