Yes, you definitely want to pack a pair of binoculars for your safari.
While you’ll be shocked by how close the animals get to the vehicles, there are just as many that keep their distance. Travel binoculars are at the top of my South Africa packing list.
For example, big cats are rarely close to the road in high trafficked times or areas.
Also, if you’re on a guided drive your guide will have a pair to spot game but you’ll want your own pair to see for yourself.
Mother Nature has also done her job well in regards to camouflage and they can be very hard to spot.
We got lucky with a lot of sightings only because we were scanning the horizon with binoculars right when a lion happened to move.
We also used the binoculars on animals up close. It allowed us to see them in great detail, down to the coarse texture of their leathery skin.