Travel Glossary · Safari & Africa
Sundowner
Definition
Sundowner: A sundowner is a drink taken at sunset, a safari tradition in which the afternoon game drive pauses at a scenic spot to watch the sun go down.
On most safaris, the afternoon drive pauses as the light fades. Your guide finds a viewpoint, such as a kopje, a riverbank, or a waterhole, sets up a small bar on the vehicle’s hood or a folding table, and serves drinks and snacks while the sky changes color. Gin and tonic is the classic, and Amarula, the South African cream liqueur made from marula fruit, is a favorite; soft drinks are always on hand.
Sundowners are not only on land. Boat cruises on the Chobe River and in the Okavango Delta, and dhow sailings off Zanzibar, are built around the same hour. The drive back to camp then often continues in the dark with a spotlight, turning the ride home into a short night drive.
Bring a warm layer: in the dry season, temperatures drop quickly once the sun sets. Our safari packing list covers what to bring for game drives.
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Go deeper
- Packing ListsSafari Packing ListWhat to pack for an African safari: a soft duffel for bush-plane weight limits, neutral layers for cold dawns, binoculars, and health essentials like repellent.
- Travel GuidesYour First Safari: How to Plan an African SafariPlanning your first African safari: where to go, how long to stay, lodges vs tented camps, what a safari day looks like, packing, health and tipping.
- AfricaZanzibar Travel Guide: Beaches, Stone Town & Safari Add-OnsPlan Zanzibar after safari: which coast to stay on, Stone Town, Mnemba, spice farms, the best months and entry rules, plus easy flights from the Serengeti.
- AfricaChobe Safari GuidePlan Chobe National Park: elephant herds on the Chobe riverfront, boat and photo safaris, Savuti’s predators, when to go and easy links to Victoria Falls.
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