Around the Campfire
Campfire Questions
When the vehicles are parked and the embers glow, the same questions come up again and again. Here are our answers, logged and cross-checked.
What is a field journal?
A notebook kept during fieldwork or travel that records observations as they happen — date, place, conditions, what was seen — rather than a polished account written afterwards. See Expedition One.
Pencil or pen?
Graphite pencil is the field favourite because it doesn't run when wet and remains legible for centuries. Archival pigment ink works well at camp. Avoid felt-tips and gel pens.
What is the Grinnell system?
A method developed by Joseph Grinnell at Berkeley's Museum of Vertebrate Zoology: quick field notes are transferred into a journal, species accounts and a specimen catalogue. Details in Expedition Two.
Where does the word "safari" come from?
From Swahili safari, "journey", which derives from the Arabic safar, "travel".
Can I just use my phone?
Phones are excellent for photos and coordinates, but paper needs no battery and doesn't depend on file formats. Use both, and back up digital notes.
Should I share wildlife locations online?
Never share precise locations of rhinos or other poaching-targeted species. Several parks, including Kruger, have asked visitors not to geotag rhino sightings.
Where can I read historic field journals?
Darwin Online, Livingstone Online, the Biodiversity Heritage Library and the Smithsonian Field Book Project all publish digitised notes. See Expedition Three.
How do I preserve an old family safari diary?
Keep it cool, dry and dark, remove metal clips and rubber bands, scan every page, and contact a local record office or museum before discarding anything.
What should a daily safari log include?
A standard header — date, park, camp, route, times, weather, companions — then timed sightings with species, numbers, behaviour and habitat. Template in Expedition Four.
Is Stashsafariindexchoi affiliated with any museum or park?
No. We are an independent editorial site with no affiliation to any institution, park authority or brand mentioned.