7 Safari
7 Safari Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contents
- 56 Animal cards (7 of each: Elephants, Giraffes, Hyenas, Lions, Monkeys, Rhinos, Toucans, and Zebras)
- 8 Safari Charlie cards
Object
The object of the game is to collect as many different kinds of highest numbered animal cards. The player with the highest score wins.
Setup
First, separate all eight Safari Charlie cards from the deck and place them face up in a stack to the side. Shuffle the remaining 56 animal cards, then deal seven cards to each player, face-down. Look at your cards and arrange them by animal and then by number (Don't show others!). The remaining cards are then laid out face-down on the table to make the "jungle". Arrange them in the following grid pattern, depending on the number of players:
- Two Players: make a 6 x 7 card rectangular jungle (6 rows across and 7 columns down).
- Three Players: make a 5 x 7 card rectangular jungle (5 rows across and 7 columns down).
- Four Players: make a 4 x 7 card rectangular jungle (4 rows across and 7 columns down).
- Five Players: make a 5 x 5 card square jungle (5 rows across and 5 columns down).
Note: For a game with five players, deal out only six cards to each player at the beginning of the game instead of seven. Also, remove the "4" Hyena card from the deck and place it out of play.
Diagram caption (rules page): The Rhino MAY NOT be placed down, because there is another Rhino showing in that row.
Diagram caption (rules page): The Lion MAY BE placed down, because no other Lion is showing in that row and column.
How to Play
The player to the left of the dealer begins. Pick up one of the cards from the jungle and add it to your hand, replace it with a card from your hand, face-up. The card you put down must be a different animal from ALL other face-up animal cards in the same row (horizontal line) or column (vertical line).
Collecting Animal Cards
Try to collect one of every animal species (except for the Hyena) in your hand. At the same time, try to collect the highest number in each animal suit (7 is the highest). The highest card in each animal suit (except the Hyena) adds to your score, and any other (lower) card of that same animal type is subtracted from your score at the end of the game. For example, if you have the 7 Monkey card, but then you pick up the 5 Monkey card, you'll want to get rid of the 5 card if possible, otherwise your Monkey is only worth 2 points (7 points minus 5 points).
Note: Every Hyena card in your hand subtracts its number from your score, so be sure to put Hyena cards (especially with higher numbers) back into the jungle whenever you can!
When to Use Safari Charlie Cards
As the game progresses, you might find that you don't have any cards in your hand that you can put back into the jungle without creating duplicate animals in a particular column or row. In this case, take a Safari Charlie card from the stack and place it into the jungle instead of your card.
Note: If you do this, you'll hold at least one extra card in your hand.
Conversely, you may trade an animal from your hand for a Safari Charlie card that's already in the jungle. The animal you put into the jungle must still follow the rules of the jungle: it must be a different animal from ALL other face-up animals in the same row or column. Place the Safari Charlie card back in the stack with the others.
It is okay to have more than one Safari Charlie card in a row or column.
Ending the Game
The game is over when all the animals in the jungle can be seen (are face-up) or when the last Safari Charlie card is played. Now it's time to count the scores.
First, count up the highest scoring cards for each animal, except the Hyenas. Out of this total score, subtract the total of the numbers showing on any duplicate animal cards. Now subtract the total of the numbers on any Hyena cards. The player with the most points wins!
Note: If there is a tie for number of points, the player with the most number "7" cards wins. If more than one player has the same amount of number "7" cards, the player with the most number "6" cards wins and so on.
Sample of Counting Points at the End of the Game
At the end of this game, a player is holding two Lions (5 and 3), one Rhino (7), an Elephant (2), two Giraffes (6 and 1), and a Hyena (4).
The Lion (5), the Rhino (7), the Elephant (2), and the Giraffe (6) are the highest scoring cards the player has for each animal, so they are added up to equal 20 points.
Then the player subtracts the extra Lion (3), the extra Giraffe (1), and the Hyena (4), which equal a total of 8 points.
Diagram caption (rules page): add the top row = 20; add the bottom row = 8; 20 points - 8 points = 12 points.
Other Ways to Play
Players should decide before each game which version to play.
Version #1: Diagonal Safari
The card you put down must be a different animal from all other face-up animal cards in the same row, column, and diagonal (diagonal lines in all directions).
Diagram captions (rules page): The Lion IS allowed into the jungle, because no other Lion showing in its row, column, or any diagonal. The Elephant IS NOT allowed into the jungle, because there is already another Elephant in one of its diagonals.
Version #2: Swappin' Safari
Play is similar to regular rules only you can pick up animal cards that are already face-up in the jungle, not just cards that are face-down. The game ends when all cards in the jungle are face up.