The Ultimate Guide to African Safari Experiences

The savannah grasslands and wide open skies of Africa are the quintessential safari experience. But a safari can also be so much more than just watching the Big Five in their natural habitats.

That’s where the expertise of a safari specialist really shines. They know granular details about animal migrations and the right seasons to make your trip unforgettable.

Tanzania

Across this vast continent, Tanzania is famous for its vast wilderness areas where you’ll see the Big Five (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and rhino). You can also summit Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, as well as relax on a pristine beach or at a luxury African safari camp.

Each year, herds of wildebeest and zebra trample over the Serengeti Plains and ford crocodile-infested rivers on the great wildebeest migration. Major travel planners like Journeys by Design and Aardvark Safaris can help you explore this iconic region with access to private concessions or tented camps, and take advantage of the best times for viewing the herds. Then there are the smaller, less travelled reserves and parks where you can view game on foot, by horseback or in a hot air balloon.

Kenya

The quintessential safari experience is found in Kenya, with its wide open savannahs and seemingly endless skies. From Nairobi to Maasai Mara, Amboseli and beyond, Kenya’s natural beauty is unmatched.

In particular, it’s home to the vast Serengeti-Mara ecosystem where you can see the annual Great Migration. It’s a spectacular sight, but you can also visit at other times of year to enjoy the wildlife in these incredible parks.

Similarly, gorilla trekking in Rwanda can be done at any time of the year, but it’s best over the short dry season from mid-December to early February or during the long dry season between June and September. Visiting during these times will offer the easiest hiking conditions and lowest malaria risk.

Botswana

Home to breathtaking national parks and fascinating tribal culture Botswana is a favourite for safari aficionados. From 5-star luxury lodges to authentic mobile camps and camping within national parks, there are a variety of safari experiences to choose from.

The Botswana region abounds with wildlife and is the ultimate safari destination for ticking off the Big Five. From Chobe woodland to the Maasai Mara and Serengeti ecosystem that straddles Tanzania and Kenya, you’ll find more large mammals here than anywhere else in Africa.

Uganda

The Big Five might be what draws many to safari but it’s the smaller encounters that stick with most. Watching giraffes walk elegantly over the grasslands, seeing warthogs take a mud bath or hearing the nocturnal calls of hyena and jackals at night are some of the most unforgettable moments on a safari.

Zambia is a safari mecca with world-class national parks and reserves that are home to dense wildlife populations. See Africa’s Big Five and also spot rare animals such as Thornicroft’s giraffe, Cape wild dogs (painted wolves) and puku.

Uganda might not be a top-of-mind safari destination but this enchanting country is teeming with wild adventure. Trek in ancient forests to see mountain gorillas and raft the white-waters of the Nile River in Jinja, the adrenaline capital of East Africa.

Rwanda

Choosing the right safari experience is a daunting task. Africa is a huge continent and there are 54 countries to choose from with different wildlife, landscapes, climates and even the size of the herds and their habitats.

Specialist operators specialise in taking a traveller’s nebulous desires and turning them into an incredible African adventure. They know the granular details of animal migrations across countries, the right season to view wildlife in the Serengeti and Masai Mara or to explore Botswana’s Okavango Delta and can take travellers off the beaten track for a more remote, adventurous or exclusive safari experience.

While ticking off the Big Five is often what draws people to a safari, it’s often the little things that stick with them. Whether it be watching giraffes gracefully loping through grasslands or hearing the nocturnal calls of jackals and hyenas.