With its enormous landscapes and highly diversified ecosystems, Africa offers some of the most inspiring safari experiences in the world. Each of its destinations offers individual ways to pursue contact with the wild, be it from the ardent thrill of spotting the great Big 5 or from the serene beauty of marine life. Here is a compilation of some of the most distinctive safari journeys across the continent.
Kenya—Adventurous Safari Country
- Destinations: Masai Mara, Kenya
- What to See: Arguably, the best spot to witness an abundance of wildlife is where one can experience the Big 5—lions, leopards, rhinoceros, elephants, and buffalo. Of course, the Great Migration, consisting of millions of wildebeest and zebras journeying across Serengeti and Masai Mara in search of green leaves, is a show to watch.
- How to Get There: Flights from Nairobi to the Masai Mara are scheduled daily from various cities, or you can drive from Nairobi through other major cities in a beautiful route.
- Best Time to Go: The best time to view games is during the dry season experienced during the Great Migration from July to October.
- Unique Selling Point: The Masai Mara offers a quintessential safari experience, brimming with wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, and rich Maasai culture.
- Where to Stay: Options range from luxurious lodges to charming tented camps. Click here to learn more.
Uganda: A Walk on the Wild Side
- Destinations: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- What to See: It is well known for gorilla trekking. This is an activity that offers the opportunity to walk with some of the rarest mountain gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest—a humbling yet thrilling experience at the same time.
- How to Go: The most convenient way is to land at Entebbe International Airport and proceed to the Bwindi region by taking a connecting flight or a long drive.
- Best Time to Go: The best time to go is during the dry periods of June to September and December to February.
- Unique Selling Point: The experience is up close and personal with the gorillas; to literally spend an hour or so with these great primates provides one of the most unique and rare wildlife sightings to be experienced anywhere in the world.
- Where to Stay: There are a number of eco-lodges and comfortable campsites located around the park that offer everything from camping to self-contained accommodations.
Single-Area Packages
- Destinations: Ngorongoro Snake Park and Lake Manyara
- What to See: Combine the thrill of Serengeti National Park, with its famed migration and the Big 5, with the idyllic marine life of Zanzibar. Witness the Great Migration from the Serengeti and laze around on Zanzibar’s untouched beaches, taking in the populous marine wildlife. How to Get There: You may fly in either through Kilimanjaro International Airport, into the Serengeti, or by making a connection at Zanzibar through a short flight.
- When to go: With proper planning, the Great Migration can be viewed in impressive numbers from the months of June to October, year in and year out. There is always a great beach available in Zanzibar, irrespective of the month.
- Selling Points: This combination affords a contrast in the diversity of the safari experience, from the savanna of the Serengeti to the richness of marine life and the peaceful beaches of Zanzibar.
- Accommodation: comfortable lodges in Serengeti and beachfront resorts in Zanzibar catering to a variety of tastes and budgets
South Africa: the epitome of classic safari
- Places: Kruger National Park
- To see: Kruger National Park is without a doubt one of the best places for Big 5 viewing. With wide and diverse landscapes, it really turns out to be one of the best places to search for wildlife and have a real safari experience.
- How to Get There: Fly into Johannesburg or Nelspruit and either transfer or self-drive into Kruger.
- Best Time of the Year to Go: May to September, dry season—the best time due to less foliage, which makes it easier to spot the wild.
- What’s Special: Kruger gives one a classic safari feel; the infrastructure is quite good with self-drives, a lot of rest houses, and camping facilities.
- Where to Stay: Kruger offers various accommodations, from luxury lodges to budget-friendly camps, to enhance your safari adventure.
Botswana and Namibia: Remote Wilderness and Stunning Landscapes
- Highlight: Okavango Delta (Botswana) and Namib Desert (Namibia)
- What to See: SEE: In Botswana, this is the Okavango Delta, with its unique wetland ecosystem offering a home to a great variety of wildlife, including elephants and hippos. Namibia provides the dramatic dunes of the Namib Desert and plenty of game viewing in Etosha National Park.
- How to go: Maun for the Okavango Delta, Windhoek for Namibia. Transfers to safari camps and lodges are usually part of the package.
- Best Time to Go: The best time to watch wildlife in both Botswana and Namibia is the dry season, from May to October.
- Experiences: Botswana promises water-based safaris in the Okavango Delta, whereas a Namibia safari is perfect for a journey into dramatic contrasts and loneliness.
- Where to Stay: Sample stays in both countries with extravagant lodges and tented camps.
Conclusion
Whether it’s the thrill of the Great Migration, the close and personal experience of trekking with gorillas, or even the wildlife and varied landscapes of Southern Africa, each African destination offers something far beyond the ordinary. Allow us to plan your journey through the breathtaking beauty and abundance of wildlife on this majestic continent.
For detailed information on accommodation details and how to book a safari, click here to explore more and begin your adventure.
