The word ‘photo’ and ‘safari’ have different and separate meanings but when combined give us as travellers a hint as to what one can expect when embarking on a photo safari.
As most photographers know the word photo or photography in its most basic of terms means painting or drawing with light. Safari on the other hand found its origins in the Middle East with the word ‘Safara’, meaning ‘a journey. So, safari can best be explained as a journey, expedition or investigation as normally stated, but in East Africa where it found its most popular term is safari.
So, it would be fair to say that a ‘Photo Safari’ is an adventurous journey or expedition during which people particularly explore or investigate opportunities to write with light, bringing the photographer closer to wildlife. (ie..Exploring Wildlife Photographic Opportunities)