Hot Safari centres on a single architectural innovation: a sixth reel that sits outside the main grid and acts as a pure multiplier or wild-trigger engine. This column operates independently of the standard 5-reel, 3-row base game, and it is the primary driver of both volatility and win potential. Every spin that completes on the main reels also produces an outcome on this multiplier reel, which either multiplies the line win or awards a special feature. That structural choice shapes everything else about how the slot plays.
The 6th Reel Multiplier Architecture
Pragmatic Play's core design here is straightforward: the main game runs 25 fixed paylines across five reels and three rows in a standard African safari setting. Animals like lions, zebras, and antelopes pay more than card symbols. When a winning combination forms on the main grid, the 6th reel independently determines the fate of that win. It either shows a multiplier value (typically 2x to 10x or higher) that scales the payout, or it lands on a wild trigger that awards either a super wild respin or free spins. This dual outcome structure means that even modest line wins can be amplified, and dead spins can occasionally convert into feature play without requiring a bonus symbol on the main reels themselves.
The RTP across all outcomes is 96.17%, a solid midfield return for a Pragmatic Play release. Because the 6th reel operates on every spin, it generates frequent small multiplier boosts that sustain play rhythm without necessarily hitting the casino volatility ceiling. Our live bet feed has tracked an observed hit rate of 100% across recent spins in this slot, and a peak multiplier of 29x observed in that window, suggesting the reel's multiplier pool is neither narrow nor cosmetic.
The Expanding Lion and Super Wild Feature
When the lion symbol lands on the middle row of any of the first five reels, it expands horizontally to fill the entire column. This is a classic expanding wild mechanic, but on Hot Safari it combines with the 6th reel system. If that column expansion aligns with a multiplied win on the 6th reel, or if the 6th reel simultaneously awards a super wild, the lion's expansion can chain into a respin full of additional wilds. The super wild feature floods all reels with wild symbols during a respin, and if the lion has already expanded in a column, it may compound the effect. This layering of mechanics means the interaction between the main grid and the multiplier reel is not purely additive; they can amplify each other when aligned.
Expanding wilds are a staple mechanic across the industry, but here they are not the primary engine. Instead, they serve as an occasional amplifier to the 6th reel's output. When both occur together, the respin can reset the middle row columns to generate fresh combinations with multiplier boosts, which is where the majority of extended wins derive.
Free Spins and Retriggering
Three or more baboon scatter symbols award 10 free spins. During the free spin bonus, the super wild can be triggered by the 6th reel, just as it can in the base game. Because the 6th reel operates on every free spin as well, the bonus rounds inherit the same multiplier and wild-trigger architecture. Free spins can be retriggered by landing additional scatter symbols during the bonus, extending play without resetting the feature count. This structure allows the bonus to build in length and win value incrementally, rather than relying on a single feature round to deliver the session's upside.
Verdict
Hot Safari's appeal lies in its multiplier-reel economy rather than in wild symbol drama alone. The 6th reel transforms every spin into a two-stage outcome, which provides both structure and variety. The expanding lion and super wild are supporting players, not the headline act. Players drawn to Pragmatic Play's catalogue and familiar with all Pragmatic Play slots will recognise the methodical pacing here: a stable RTP, fixed paylines, and a bonus engine that rewards patience over volatility spikes. The combination of lion expansions and 6th reel multipliers creates genuine depth for a 25-payline game, and the free spin retriggering adds flexibility to how a bonus round can develop. This is a measured safari adventure, not a high-octane rush.
