Asafari (/səˈfɑːri/; from Swahili safari 'journey' originally from Arabic safar 'to journey') is an overland journey to observe or huntwild animals, especially inEast Africa.[1][2][3] The so-called"Big Five" game animals of Africa –lion,leopard,rhinoceros,elephant, andCape buffalo – particularly form an important part of the safari market, both forwildlife viewing andbig-game hunting.[4]
TheSwahili wordsafari means "journey", originally from theArabic nounسفر,safar, meaning "journey",[5] "travel", "trip", or "tour"; the verb for "to travel" in Swahili iskusafiri. These words are used for any type of journey, e.g., by bus fromNairobi toMombasa or by ferry fromDar es Salaam toUnguja.Safari entered the English language at the end of the 1850s thanks to explorerRichard Francis Burton.[6]
The Regimental March of theKing's African Rifles was "Funga Safari", literally 'set out on a journey', or, in other words, pack up equipment ready for travel.
Funga safari, funga safari.Funga safari, funga safari.Amri ya nani? Amri ya nani?Amri ya Bwana Kapteni,Amri ya KAR.
Which is, in English:
Set out on a journey,Set out on a journey.On whose orders? On whose orders?On the order of the boss captain,On the order of the KAR.
On Kenya's independence from the United Kingdom, "Funga Safari" was retained as the Regimental March of the Kenya Rifles, the successor to the KAR.
The origins of safari can be traced back to the first arrivals of Europeans and Arabs in Africa, long before the colonization era, but the big history of it began in the 19th century, when academic and economic interest to Africa increased in Western society, and technological advances and medicine (most notably the discovery ofquinine as a remedy against malaria) allowed foreigners to step up deep into the continent safely enough. These expeditions established the concept of safari-style travel. While the goal of most was geographical discovery, the search for minerals and new routes of communication, others were primarily aimed at hunting animals, and elephant tusks at the first.[7]
In 1836, William Cornwallis Harris led an expedition to observe and record wildlife and landscapes. Harris established the safari style of journey, starting with a not-too-strenuous rising at first light, an energetic day walking, an afternoon rest, and concluding with a formal dinner and telling stories in the evening over drinks and tobacco.[8] The hunting aspect traditionally associated with the safari is said to have its origins in the early 17th century in the region ofÉvora,Alentejo, where villagers got together to hunt wildboar and reclaim land for farming.[citation needed]
The firm of Newland & Tarlton Ltd (founded 1904) pioneered luxury tented safaris.[9]
Jules Verne's first novelFive Weeks in a Balloon published in 1863 andH. Rider Haggard's first novelKing Solomon's Mines published in 1885, both describe journeys of English travellers on safari and were best sellers in their day. These two books gave rise to a genre of Safari adventure novels and films.[citation needed]
Ernest Hemingway wrote several fiction and nonfiction pieces about African safaris. His short stories "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" and "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" are set on African safaris and were written after Hemingway's own experience on safari. His booksGreen Hills of Africa andTrue at First Light are both set on African safaris.
The safari provided countless hours of cinema entertainment in sound films fromTrader Horn (1931) onwards. The safari was used in many adventure films such as theTarzan,Jungle Jim, andBomba the Jungle Boyfilm series up toThe Naked Prey (1965) whereCornel Wilde, awhite hunter, becomes game himself. The safari genre films were parodied in theBob Hope comediesRoad to Zanzibar andCall Me Bwana. A short 15-minutehelicopter safari was shown inAfrica Addio, where clients are armed, flown from their hotel, and landed in front of an unlucky and baffled elephant.Out of Africa hasKaren Blixen and famous hunterDenys Finch Hatton travelling, with Denys refusing to abandon home comforts using fine china and crystal, and listening to Mozart recordings over the gramophone while on safari trip.
The safari style originated from British officers and the jackets worn during their campaigns in Africa.[10] There is a particular theme or style associated with the word, which includeskhaki clothing, beltedbush jackets,pith helmets orslouch hats, and animal skin patterns. Pith helmet was initially worn by the British military in the tropics and was adopted as streetwear between 1870 and 1950.[11]Condé Nast Traveler describes safari jackets as, "crisp drill cotton with pockets, buttons, epaulets, belt", and a part of Kenyan colonial style.[11]
Theodore Roosevelt was "outfitted" in safari-style by his friendLord Cranworth during his post-presidential safari trip from 1909 to 1910.[12] Lord Cranworth ran Newland & Tarlton, a luxury safari outfitter credited with creating safari-style clothing.[13] Other sources state Roosevelt was outfitted byWillis & Geiger in 1908.[14] Roosevelt carried British style rifles produced byHolland & Holland orWestley Richards, as did other safari attendees such asErnest Hemingway.[11] Safari-style jackets have been worn by Hemingway as well as Hollywood celebrities likeGrace Kelly andJohnny Weissmuller, and they remain a part of contemporary fashion.[11]
In the 2005 spring/summer edition ofBritish Vogue, an article titled "World Vision: the grown-up approach to global style" featuredhaute safari style clothing.[15] Contemporary American public figures such asMelania Trump have worn safari fashion. Mrs. Trump wore a safari-style dress and jackets during her 2018 trip to Africa.[16] On this trip Mrs. Trump went on a safari in Kenya, she wore a pith helmet. Some have criticized the choice as evoking colonial ideals.[16] In 2014, Harper's Bazaar announced trend alerts featuring animal prints and a “safari sleek" style.[17] Couture designers in their 2015 fashion shows featured variations of safari-style in their collections. Designer Yang Lei featured a silk safari-style evening gown in his Spring/Summer collection during Paris Fashion Week.[18] Alexander Wang's collection focused on a variety of white shirts, including a safari-style white shirt dress.[19]The New York Times described designer Alberta Ferretti's 2015 daywear collection as "safari-sleek".[20]
In John Molloy's history of the leisure suit, he details that safari-style originated from British Officers wearing their uniforms outside military uses as "a status symbol, but only in casual settings."[21] Molloy stated in 1975 that it continues to be a form of casual menswear.[10] Alternatively, in Malindi Kenya, professional wear in the 1990s included safari-style clothing.[22] Yves Saint Laurent's 1967 Africa collection featured the "Saharienne" safari jacket.[23] In later collections, Yves Saint Laurent produced an iconic safari top.[23] According to Harper's Bazaar, the collection was "a fantasy of primitive genius."[24] On the other hand, differing fashion historians believe He had the gift of borrowing from one culture without being condescending to the other.[24]
The termsafari chic arose after the release of the filmOut of Africa.[25] It included not only clothing but also interior design and architecture.[26] Safari-style interiors feature African decor,[27] various hues of brown, natural materials,[28] animal print furniture, rugs and wallpaper.[29] In 2005 Architectural Digest released a list of luxurious safari camps.[30] Newland, Tarlton & Co. Furniture Collection, creates luxury safari-style furniture in featured safari camps, hotels and private homes.[31] Safari fashion also extends to fragrance collections by American designer Ralph Lauren; The Safari fragrance created in 1990 was advertised as "a floral aroma with a light breeze scented by grasses, freedom, and the romance of vast open spaces."[32]
Media related toSafari at Wikimedia Commons
The dictionary definition ofsafari at Wiktionary
African flora and fauna travel guide from Wikivoyage
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
