How to Use Google Maps on Safari

Download offline maps:
- Open Google Maps app
- Search for your safari destination (e.g., “Maasai Mara”)
- Tap the location name at bottom of screen
- Select “Download” option
- Adjust map area and tap “Download”
Create custom safari maps:
- In Google Maps, tap your profile picture
- Select “Your places” → “Maps” → “Create map”
- Add pins for lodges, viewpoints, and gates
- Color-code different categories of locations
- Share with travel companions

Navigation basics:
- Use offline maps even without cellular service
- Enable location services to track your position
- Drop pins at special sighting locations to revisit
- Use the compass feature to orient yourself
Wildlife tracking:
- Mark wildlife sightings with custom icons
- Add notes to pins with species information
- Create time-stamped records of migrations or movements
- Share real-time locations with other vehicles (if service available)
Practical safari uses:
- Find nearby facilities (within parks or conservancies)
- Calculate accurate driving times between viewpoints
- Identify terrain features that attract wildlife
- Record your complete safari route as a souvenir

Battery preservation:
- Keep device in battery-saving mode
- Bring portable power banks (solar options work well)
- Close other apps when using maps
- Reduce screen brightness
Enhancing accuracy:
- Periodically recalibrate your compass
- Update maps when you have WiFi access
- Consider a signal booster for remote areas
- Use satellite view to identify landmarks

Remember that guides often know routes better than any digital map, so use Google Maps as a supplement to their expertise rather than a replacement!