ENGLISH
REFERENCE

safari

n. C / U
B1 Intermediate US //səˈfɑɹi// UK //sɐfˈɑːɹi// sa·fari

n. a trip to see or hunt wild animals, especially in Africa. You usually go on this kind of journey to take photos of animals in their natural home.

n. an expedition to observe or hunt animals in their natural habitat, particularly in East Africa. Often used with the verb 'go on'.


SIMPLE

We saw several lions during our safari last summer.

CONTEXTUAL

The family booked a guided safari in Kenya to see the annual migration of wildebeest across the plains.

COMPLEX

While early twentieth-century safaris were primarily hunting expeditions, modern versions focus on conservation and high-end ecotourism, allowing visitors to photograph the 'Big Five' in protected national parks.

Synonyms
Origin

From Swahili safari (“journey”), from Arabic سَفَر (safar).

Usage

Countable when referring to a specific trip; uncountable when referring to the activity in general.

© 2026 English Reference