The word ‘Safara’ comes from the Arabic meaning “to make a journey”. From that derives the Swahili synonym Safari.
Though traditionally called so, the term has now become the touristic form to say it. They say that it could be even be thought of as colonialist – brits and other europeans would traditionally come on Safaris to hunt big animals.
Fortunately the hunting ending and safaris evolved into a way if observing nature. Now the local and most commonly accepted name for such journeys is ‘game drives’ or even ‘game viewing’.