Every year, around 18 million international travelers make their way to Africa. They go in search of amazing African safari experiences and the chance to see some of the world’s most exciting wildlife species.
There are 54 countries in Africa, each offering their own scenic and wildlife charms. Which one ticks all the boxes for you?
Find out here.
1. A South African Safari
South Africa is the ultimate Safari 101 experience, providing a tame introduction to game viewing in relative luxury.
Everything the first-time safari-goer could wish for is in place here. You’ll find good roads, well-organized tours, and excellent shopping, as well as incredible game parks.
Of these, the Kruger National Park stands out as an internationally acknowledged wildlife success. It’s also one of the busiest safari destinations on the continent.
No trip to South Africa is complete unless you plan a trip here as part of your itinerary. You’ll get the chance to see 147 mammals including the Big Five, cheetahs, Cape hunting dogs and hippos.
Birdlife is prolific with over 500 species flitting around 21 eco-zones.
2. The Land of Sand – Namibia
Namibia has only started it’s rise to fame as a safari destination par excellence. In this arid country, you’ll find no shortage of incredible geological sites to explore, each inhabited by its own unique lifeforms.
Likewise, with over 43% of Namibian soil dedicated to conservation, you’re bound to find a luxurious place to lay your hat while on safari here.
Namibia offers many excellent opportunities for laid-back or exhilarating adventures.
Etosha National Park is your go-to safari destination in Namibia, with its great white salt pan that is visible from space.
It is home to all Africa’s best-known wild creatures, except hippos. It’s also an important nesting site for birds of every feather. In summer, millions of flamingoes flock to the salty shores of the pan.
Each of the state-run camps in Etosha is well organized with restaurants, swimming pools, and shops on site.
The camps also boast viewing decks overlooking floodlit waterholes for 24-hour game viewing and the chance to spot Africa’s elusive nocturnal species.
3. Go for Gorillas in Uganda
Located on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, Bwindi impenetrable forest is the home of habituated mountain gorillas.
Few people get the privilege of viewing these endangered animals in their natural environment.
You’ll need the help of a travel agent to get a permit. However, the privilege of seeing these creatures up close is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and makes it all worthwhile.
4. Walk it Off in Zambia
Zambia is the birthplace of the walking safari and home to some of the best trackers and wildlife guides in the world.
South Luangwa National Park is one of the best African safari locations if you like to walk among the wild things. Other Zambian options include Kafue, lower Zambezi and Liuwa Plain National Parks.
Kasanka National Park is the place to see millions of fruit bats and unusual shoebill storks. A trip to Livingstone puts you within easy reach of all Victoria Falls’ thunderous waters.
5. Don’t Underestimate Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe may be the darling of the bad news brigade but it’s a destination you shouldn’t overlook when planning your safari.
This astonishingly beautiful country delights the traveler with undisturbed wild spaces and good national parks.
It’s also the top destination to take advantage of Victoria Falls’ host of adrenaline-fuelled activities.
You can bungee jump, abseil, hike, white-water raft, ride a powerboat, and embark on microlight and helicopter-flips over the falls in Zimbabwe.
6. Botswana’s Delta
The Okavango Delta is an enigma. It is the only inland delta in the world and supports a huge variety of fauna, flora, and birds.
Here, you’ll get a chance to explore these ever-changing waterways on traditional mokoro boats.
An experienced guide is on hand to show you all the secret hiding spots of sought-after water birds and water-loving mammals like sitatunga antelope.
You’ll need your big person pants though, close encounters with elephant and hippo are common on these excursions.
Botswana is hugely underestimated for top safaris in Africa. There are numerous supremely luxurious game lodges and excellent national parks within its borders too.
7. Tanzanian Temptations
For the experienced wildlife enthusiast, Tanzania stands out as an exceptional safari destination.
The big attraction here is the ongoing flow of ten million wildebeest that roam these plains along endless centuries-old routes. These animals arrive in Tanzania’s Serengeti National and come to the Serengeti for their breeding season.
All along the way, predators lie in wait to pick off the old, the slow, and the unwary.
Likewise, mobile safari camps follow the progress of the herds, filled with enthusiasts wanting a taste of the high drama unfolding on these plains.
Tanzania remains remarkably unspoiled, despite the thousands of tourists who flock here every year to witness this spectacle.
For the best Tanzanian experience, visit during the quiet season (July to October). There is still plenty to see and you’ll have a far more exclusive experience.
8. Classic Kenya
Right next door, Kenya receives its wildebeest visitors between July and October and is the place to see most of the action during the wildebeest migration.
Kenya is the best place for an African safari if big cats fascinate you, and is one of the top places in the world to see lions in action.
It’s also the setting for the dramatic wildebeest river crossings so often documented on film and in print.
These scenes of nature at its most brutal are not for the faint-hearted.
Fortunately, Kenya has many game parks outside of the Mara for the traveler who prefers a more sophisticated experience.
Alternatives include Amboseli, Tsavo and Lake Nakuru National Parks.
It’s the ultimate Out of Africa experience for the truly adventurous. In Kenya, you can take a hot air balloon safari, walk in the wild, or head out on a game drive to satisfy your wanderlust.
Africa Awaits
Each of these destinations offers a wealth of options, whatever your vacation style.
In Africa, you can scale the heights of Kilimanjaro, or lose yourself in the fascinating underwater world of Mozambique.
Everywhere you go, you’ll see incredible landscapes more ancient than any on Earth.
What’s more, you’ll find that Africans are extremely friendly and hospitable and can’t wait to show off their surroundings. What are you waiting for?
Are you ready for the challenges of an African safari? Start preparing with these top safari tips to make the most of your trip.
