Where to go on an African safari
Ahhhh, Africa! Just the word conjures images of driving through acacia-dotted landscapes as the sun slowly sets behind a silhouetted elephant. But the truth is, Africa’s safari experiences are incredibly diverse, from being punted slowly through reed-lined waterways on a canoe to trekking through lush forest accompanied by the sound of a gorilla’s deep grunts. Whether you want to tick the “Big Five” off your list in some of the continent’s most iconic wildlife reserves or get off-the-beaten-track while spotting lesser-known species, there are opportunities awaiting.
In this guide, we’ll talk you through some of the safari experiences offered in each destination so you can find the one that’s right for you. Remember, you can always combine a variety of destinations to make your dream safari - just chat with one of our seasoned experts to make it happen!
Encompassing legendary wildlife reserves such as the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania is one of the most popular destinations for an African safari. It hosts the Great Wildebeest Migration as huge herds make their annual journey north to the Maasai Mara, as well as encompassing the exotic island of Zanzibar that’s ideal for a post-safari beach break.
Aside from ticking off the “Big Five” on the Northern Circuit, you can trek to see chimpanzees in the wilds of Gombe and Mahale Mountains or attempt the summit of Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro. Tanzania’s Southern Circuit also awaits for seasoned safari travellers wanting to get off-the-beaten-track in the Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park. Add to that little-known gems such as Lake Manyara National Park and some of the continent’s most exclusive safari lodges and camps, Tanzania is a destination not to be overlooked.
Providing the majestic setting for “Out of Africa”, Kenya has long been synonymous with safari tourism. It’s home to some of the continent’s most recognisable safari destinations, such as the Maasai Mara National Reserve and Kilimanjaro-backed Amboseli National Park. Aside from witnessing the Great Wildebeest Migration in action, you can game drive along the flamingo-filled shores of Lake Nakuru or spot the unique subspecies of lion that inhabits Tsavo National Park.
In the heart of the country lies Samburu National Reserve, which offers peaceful wildlife viewing and encounters with the Samburu tribal people, while in the north are the spellbinding landscapes of Lake Turkana. With an outstanding choice of safari lodges and camps, not to mention an idyllic stretch of Indian Ocean coastline for a bush and beach safari, Kenya is a deservedly popular destination for first-time safari visitors.
Famed for the big game encounters of Kruger National Park, South Africa sprawls at the southernmost tip of the continent. It’s an incredibly popular destination if you want to tick the “Big Five” off your list, as well as offering accessible safari experiences for families.
But aside from Kruger and its associated game reserves (such as Sabi Sands), exceptional wildlife encounters are on offer at the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (which translates as “place of thirst”) on the border with Botswana. If you want to see elephants, you can enjoy a self-drive safari through Addo Elephant National Park or head to the scenic woodlands, forests and sandstone outcrops of Mapungubwe National Park. Aside from its wildlife, South Africa also lures visitors for its breathtaking wine regions and lively cities, including the ever-beautiful Cape Town.
Encompassing dramatic deserts and towering dunes along the Atlantic coast, Namibia is fast becoming one of Africa’s most popular safari destinations. It’s garnered a reputation for the self-drive safaris on offer in Etosha National Park where illuminated watering holes attract big game species at all hours of the day and night.
But venture a little further and you’ll discover unique, desert-adapted species in Namib-Naukluft National Park and dramatic gorges in the otherworldly landscapes of Damaraland, which is shrouded in San Bushman legend. You can meet the semi-nomadic Himba People in the remote wilderness of Kaokoland or go birdwatching in the wetlands of the Caprivi Strip before getting your adrenalin fix in the adventure sports hub of Swakopmund. Head north from here to explore the shipwreck-littered Skeleton Coast or travel south to trek through the majestic Fish River Canyon - Namibia never fails to impress!
Landlocked in the heart of southern Africa, Botswana has emerged as a high-end safari destination for those wanting an exclusive experience. It’s home to the seasonal floodplains of the Okavango Delta whose islands are traversed by big-game species (and attract myriad birdlife), as well as the river-carved landscapes of Chobe National Park.
You can spot black-maned Kalahari lions in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park or see the magnificent baobab trees of Makgadigadi Pan National Park before trackingelusive leopards in the vast Kalahari Desert. In addition to exceptional wildlife sightings, Botswana offers fascinating cultural encounters with the San people of the Kalahari who have retained their ancient hunter-gatherer lifestyle.
Sharing access to Victoria Falls with neighbouring Zimbabwe, Zambia is one of the continent’s little-known gems. It’s renowned for its rustic lodges and camps that immerse you in the heart of the wilderness, with big-game species regularly sauntering through the grounds.
The jewel in Zambia’s crown is South Luangwa National Park, which boasts one of the richest concentrations of wildlife on the continent and is where the walking safari all began. Get up close to leopards in Kafue National Park (Zambia’s oldest national park) or see the island-hopping buffalo of Lower Zambezi National Park, then venture to the remote wilderness of North Luangwa National Park. No visit is complete without bungee-jumping, abseiling or gorge-swinging above one of the world’s largest waterfalls - the “Smoke that thunders”.
While Zimbabwe’s recent troubles have garnered a lot of media attention, this landlocked country boasts some of southern Africa’s most exclusive wildlife-viewing destinations. It’s home to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mana Pools National Park whose oxbow lakes provide habitat for hippos and crocodiles, as well as the elephant-filled woodlands and plains of Hwange National Park.
White rhinos can be tracked on foot amidst the red granite kopjes of Matobo Hills National Park while one of Africa’s largest populations of black rhinos inhabits Matusadona National Park. Head into the Eastern Highlands to admire its cascading waterfalls, accompanied by encounters with wild zebras, kudu and wildebeest. Add to that a slice of the majestic Victoria Falls and Zimbabwe is re-emerging as a must-visit African safari destination.
Home to one of the world’s last remaining populations of mountain gorillas, Uganda sprawls along the shores of Lake Victoria in Africa’s Central-East. Most visitors come to see these majestic primates in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which encompasses both montane and lowland forest on the edge of the Albertine Rift.
But Uganda is also home to some impressive safari reserves where you can get up close to a variety of big-game species, with biodiverse Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park all worthy of your time. You can hike to see the spectacular cascades of Murchison Falls National Park or relax at the end of your safari on the sparkling shores of Lake Bunyonyi, which is dotted with picturesque villages.
Nicknamed the “Land of a Thousand Hills”, Rwanda has shaken off its troubled past to become one of Africa’s most sought-after destinations for travellers in the know. The mountain gorillas that inhabit Volcanoes National Park are its biggest wildlife draw. But those who linger a little longer can come face-to-face with chimps in Nyungwe Forest National Park or cycle along the legendary Congo Nile Trail that hugs the shores of Lake Kivu. At Rwanda’s heart is the tidy capital Kigali, with its colourful markets and poignant Genocide Memorial not to be missed.
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