The Ultimate Guide to the Best African Safari Destinations

When it comes to safaris, each country is different and jam-packed with once-in-a-lifetime experiences. But there are some stalwart safari countries that have become known for their spectacular wildlife and scenery.

The vast wilderness of Botswana is home to big game, the Okavango Delta and a host of flamingo-studded lakes. You can also find luxury safari lodges with a low environmental footprint and great personal service.

One of the main attractions of luxury African safaris can be the possibility to witness Africa's iconic wildlife in their natural habitats. This tour lets you experience a close encounter with some of the most magnificent creatures of the natural world, such as lionesses in the wild or elephants, giraffes, and even lions. Tour participants are assisted by experienced guides who will share their wealth of expertise to provide a safe fun, safe and responsible encounter with wildlife.

Botswana

Botswana is a renowned safari destination with something for everyone. From the vast wetlands of the Okavango Delta to the eerie moonscape of the Makgadikgadi Pans, this is a wildlife-watcher’s paradise with an unrivalled commitment to conservation.

Vast swathes of its parks and reserves are reserved for wildlife, protecting the continent’s largest concentration of elephants as well as endangered predator species like lion, leopard and African wild dog. Yet, it’s also a low-volume safari destination, which ensures your adventure will feel intimate and untamed.

Whether you want to explore the Okavango Delta by mokoro canoe or scout the Kalahari on foot, your guides will tailor your safari experience to suit your interests. Staying at luxury camps such as the legendary Mombo, where lion and leopard sightings are commonplace, or Jack’s Camp in the Makgadikgadi pans, where visitors can watch sunset over the salt flats or enjoy stargazing after dark, will help you make the most of this incredible wilderness.

Kenya

Kenya offers an array of experiences. From its stunning coastal plains to dry wastelands, its craggy mountains and equatorial deserts are home to unique wildlife. Its 40 different ethnic groups are rich in culture and traditions that have shaped Kenya into the safari paradise it is today.

A safari in Kenya will also highlight why the country is considered Africa’s best wildlife destination. The first African country to ban hunting, Kenya’s animals are not as accustomed to humans and thus less afraid of visitors. Maasai Mara National Park is the premier wildlife park in the country. Home to more than two million wildebeest, zebras, and antelopes, it is also one of the best places in the world to spot cheetah.

Another safari highlight is Ol Pejeta Conservancy, whose rhino population has been reborn after years of poaching. Enjoy a stay at one of its luxury lodges like the Sweetwaters Serena Camp with views over a watering hole where predator and prey come to drink.

Tanzania

From awe-inspiring natural spectacles to idyllic beach getaways, Tanzania’s rich attractions are a draw for safari-goers around the world. This vast, wild country is famed for its wildlife and UNESCO-listed sites, including the Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and Ngorongoro Crater, as well as for the epic annual Great Migration.

It is also renowned for the Olduvai Gorge, where Louis and Mary Leakey discovered remains of hominins (the ancestors of Homo sapiens) in the early 20th century. For the most adventurous, a trip to the mountainous southern region offers a more rugged, remote safari experience.

In addition, the untamed wilderness of Mahale Mountains National Park is home to the mist-covered peak of Mount Nkungwe and the 60-strong M group of habituated chimpanzees. It is easily the most secluded and unspoiled safari destination in the country.

South Africa

South Africa is home to the world-famous Kruger National Park and offers beaches, mountains, wine routes, and a range of other incredible attractions. Cape Town’s famous Table Mountain overlooks the city below, and craggy cliffs drop into the Atlantic Ocean where whales breach. The city’s well-done Apartheid Museum is a harrowing but important reminder of the country’s painful past, and the Addo Elephant National Park is a malaria-free safari destination where you can walk with herds of elephants or horseback ride around the wilderness while rhinos plod through the woods like prehistoric beasts.

Further north, Madikwe Game Reserve is a great spot for families and offers up-close encounters with the Big Five while its top-end safari lodges offer an unforgettable luxury safari experience. And on the southern coast, Jeffreys Bay is a surfers’ paradise with long, sandy beaches where you can lounge beneath palm trees and sample local seafood cuisine.