The Swahili word "safari" means "journey," and was originally used to mean any type of journey or travel from one place to another. These days, this word specifically refers to a trip taken into the African wilderness to observe, photograph, or in some cases to hunt wild animals.
The first recorded instance of modern safari was in 1836, when William Cornwallis Harris (English artist, military engineer, and hunter) led an expedition to observe and record wildlife sightings and local landscapes. His "safari-style" journey began with rising at dawn, walking throughout the day observing nature, then resting through the afternoon and concluding with formal dinner and exchange of stories from the day.
It's no wonder that this nature-themed, easy-going style of sightseeing caught on. Tourists today flock to popular safari spots to see leopard, lions, elephants, and more - though these days we tend to observe African predators from the safety of SUVs and not via footpath.
(View our African Safari-inspired Decor Collection here: https://wildlifewonders.com/african-safari-decor/)