Safari guides aren’t just somebody that drives you around in a 4×4 and points out animals to you, they are super-knowledgeable people that devote their life to this stuff. Most of them went through some serious training also, you can’t just walk into this job without some fantastic first-hand experience.
So don’t be shy, engage them and ask them every question you can — pick their brains. They most likely would love to share their information and offer you insider tips if they see you are genuinely interested and not just somebody who is along for the ride.
Who knows, they might even (gasp) befriend you, and how cool would it be to have a great friend who is a safari guide to talk to? And not just about animals, they are probably as curious about your culture as you are about theirs.
But before you head out, make sure you inform the lodge about your interests, the safari guide can put you exactly where you want to be to make your journey as enjoyable as possible.