Safari sundowners
A time-honoured safari tradition
There are few safari traditions more beloved than the ritual of the sundowner. It’s not just about the drink – though that crisp G&T or cold local beer certainly doesn’t hurt. It’s about the pause.
After a thrilling afternoon tracking wildlife across vast, untamed landscapes, the vehicle slows and rolls to a stop. You step down onto the warm earth, stretch your legs, and take in the stillness. The sun hangs low on the horizon, casting golden light across the savannah, desert, or delta – each destination offering its own breathtaking finale to the day.
Your guide expertly sets up a makeshift bar – sometimes on the bonnet of the vehicle, other times on a table set up under an acacia tree. Out come the ice cubes, the mixers, the signature Amarula or gin and tonics, and maybe even some biltong and other nibbles. There’s a clink of glasses, a quiet hum of conversation, and a sense of shared reverence for what the day has brought.
But the sundowner is more than just a drink at sunset. It’s a moment of gratitude. Gratitude for the day’s sightings, for the wild beauty all around, and for the people you’re sharing it with—be they friends, family, or fellow travellers who’ve become companions on this journey.
It’s also a gentle reset. A transition between the energy of the afternoon and the mystery of the night. As the light fades and the bush begins to stir with nocturnal life, you climb back into the vehicle—relaxed, recharged, and ready for the night drive back to camp, where stories continue around the fire.
Whether you’re in the Serengeti, the Okavango Delta, or the rugged outback of Namibia, the tradition of the sundowner remains the same: celebrating life, wildlife, the land, and the people you’re with.
So next time you’re on safari, pause at last light, raise your glass to the wilderness, and savour the simple magic of the moment.
Cheers to the sundowner—Africa’s most beautiful happy hour.
