Every safari experience at Aquila is different, and some moments are definitely more memorable than others.
While our guests come to the reserve hoping to spot wildlife, take in the Karoo landscapes, and experience the magic of a Big 5 safari near Cape Town, they often bring something just as entertaining along for the ride: their questions.
Our rangers have heard it all. From curious wildlife questions to wonderfully unexpected thoughts from the game drive vehicle, these moments remind us that safari is not only about what you see, but also about what you learn, notice, and wonder about along the way.
We have gathered some of the funniest, strangest, and most memorable questions our guests have asked on safari, along with answers from the people who know the bush best: our rangers.
It is always a privilege to learn from our guests through the questions they ask. Each one gives us a glimpse into how different people experience safari, what surprises them, what fascinates them, and sometimes, what makes everyone in the vehicle laugh.
Have a wild safari question of your own? Add it to our quirky list, and who knows, one of our rangers may have the perfect answer for you.
Do you think elephants prefer to walk?
Well, since they can’t talk and tell us their preference we have to rely on the data. Elephants have been walking the face of the earth for millions of years (60 million to be precise).
Over time, they have become incredibly well adapted to walking long distances in search of food, water, and suitable habitats. Their large, cushioned feet, powerful bodies, and strong social instincts allow them to move steadily across vast landscapes, often covering impressive distances in a single day.
So, while we cannot ask an elephant whether it enjoys a long walk, its behaviour tells us quite a lot: walking is simply part of how elephants survive, explore, and thrive in the wild.
When do the animals go to bed?
We do not exactly dictate each animal’s bedtime routine, but we do know a thing or two about their natural behaviour.
Take the African lion, for example. These big cats are famous for their impressive sleep schedule, often resting for up to 16 hours a day. While some guests may hope to see lions pacing dramatically across the landscape, the reality is that lions are masters of energy conservation.
Most of the time, they are far more interested in lounging, stretching, yawning, and enjoying a peaceful nap than putting on a performance for passing safari vehicles. It may not always be the action-packed sighting guests imagine, but it is completely natural lion behaviour.
So, if you spot a lion lying around looking completely unbothered, you are not witnessing laziness, you are witnessing survival strategy in its most relaxed form.
To answer your question, wild animals have autonomy when it comes to their bed time.
What time do you let the animals out for us to see them?
There is no grand opening of the gates at Aquila where the animals clock in for their safari shift.
Aquila is a private game reserve, not a stage show, so the wildlife is not “let out” for guests to see. The animals live and move across the reserve according to their natural behaviour, the weather, the time of day, and their very personal animal agendas.
Some may be grazing, some may be resting, some may be hiding in the shade, and others may decide to appear right on cue, not because we asked them to, but because nature has excellent timing when it wants to.
Our rangers do their best to track movement, read the landscape, and guide guests to the best possible sightings, but the animals are never placed on display.
So, what time do we let the animals out? We do not. They are already home, we are simply lucky enough to visit their world.
Do you assist the zebra when giving birth?
As tempting as it may sound to arrive with towels, warm water, and encouraging words, zebra births at Aquila are strictly handled by the real experts: the zebras themselves.
Aquila is home to many zebras, and like all wildlife on the reserve, they are left to follow their natural instincts. We do not interfere with animal births or allow human-animal interaction, unless there is a serious welfare concern that requires professional veterinary attention.
Zebras are incredibly capable animals, and mares are naturally equipped to give birth and care for their foals in the wild. Our role is to observe respectfully from a distance, protect their space, and let nature do what nature does best.
When is feeding time?
At Aquila, there is no dinner bell ringing across the reserve and no neatly scheduled buffet for the wildlife.Most of the animals on the reserve feed naturally throughout the day, depending on their species, habits, and what the Karoo landscape provides. Zebras graze, rhinos browse, elephants move through the reserve in search of vegetation, and antelope certainly do not wait for a waiter to arrive with a menu.
Aquila is a private game reserve, not a zoo, which means our wildlife is not fed for guest viewing or placed on a feeding schedule for safari sightings. The animals follow their natural instincts, and our guests get to witness behaviour as it happens in real time.
Who does the landscaping at Aquila?
At Aquila, our landscaping team is wonderfully large, slightly messy, and almost impossible to put on a payroll.
The zebras trim the grass, the antelope keep things neat in their own selective way, the elephants handle the heavy-duty pruning, and the wind adds its own dramatic Karoo finishing touches. Of course, our human team also works hard to care for the reserve, pathways, guest areas, gardens, and lodge surroundings, but when it comes to the wild landscape, nature is very much the head designer.
Aquila is a private game reserve, which means the beauty of the land is shaped by the seasons, the wildlife, and the natural rhythm of the Karoo. It is not meant to look like a perfectly manicured garden. It is meant to feel alive, wild, and wonderfully authentic.
So, who does the landscaping at Aquila? Nature leads the project, and the animals are very committed assistants.
Do elephants have teeth?
Yes, elephants do have teeth, and quite impressive ones too.
Their most famous “teeth” are, of course, their tusks. Tusks are actually enlarged incisor teeth, which elephants may use for digging, stripping bark, lifting objects, and sometimes showing off a little without meaning to.
Inside their mouths, elephants also have large molars used for grinding tough grasses, leaves, bark, and branches. Since elephants spend much of their day eating, those teeth have a very important job to do.
So yes, elephants have teeth, just not the kind they will be flashing for a safari selfie.
Do hippos eat fish?
Despite spending most of their day in the water, hippos are not exactly ordering the fish special.
Hippos are mainly herbivores, which means their diet is mostly made up of grass and other plant material. After a long day of wallowing, soaking, and looking rather grumpy in the water, they usually leave at night to graze on land.
So no, hippos do not typically eat fish. They may share the water with fish, but they are not there food source.
In a Nutshell: There Are No Silly Safari Questions
Safari has a wonderful way of making people curious. Whether it is your first game drive or your tenth, there is always something new to notice, wonder about, or quietly whisper to your ranger before realising everyone in the vehicle heard you.
At Aquila, we love these questions because they remind us that every guest experiences the wild differently. Some questions make us think, some make us smile, and others become the kind of stories our rangers remember long after the safari vehicle returns to the lodge.
The truth is, safari is not only about spotting animals. It is about learning how they live, understanding the landscape they call home, and appreciating the natural behaviours that make each sighting so special.
So, whether you are wondering why lions sleep so much, how giraffes keep clean, or whether zebras have a secret birth plan, keep asking. Curiosity is part of the experience.
And who knows? Your question might just make it onto our next list.
