Africa is renowned for its incredible wildlife and stunning landscapes, making it the perfect destination for a safari. Here are some of the top safari tours across the continent, each offering a unique experience:
1. Maasai Mara National Reserve – Kenya
- Best For: The Great Migration, Big Five, cultural experiences
- Why It’s Great: Maasai Mara is one of the most famous safari destinations in the world, especially known for the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebras. You can witness thrilling predator-prey interactions and explore the reserve with expert guides.
- Top Activities: Game drives, hot air balloon safaris, Maasai cultural visits, birdwatching
- Best Time to Visit: July to October (for the Great Migration)
- Recommended Tour: 3-4 Day Maasai Mara Safari with a stay in luxury tented camps or lodges.
- Tour Providers: &Beyond, Kenya Safari Experts
2. Kruger National Park – South Africa
- Best For: Big Five safaris, self-drive safaris, diverse landscapes
- Why It’s Great: Kruger is one of the largest and most well-established safari parks in Africa, offering both guided and self-drive safaris. It’s home to a wide variety of wildlife, including the Big Five.
- Top Activities: Game drives, walking safaris, night safaris, birdwatching, luxury lodge stays
- Best Time to Visit: May to September (dry season, better for animal sightings)
- Recommended Tour: 5-Day Kruger Safari with stays in luxurious lodges or tented camps.
- Tour Providers: Thompsons Africa, African Safari Consultants
3. Serengeti National Park – Tanzania
- Best For: Great Migration, diverse wildlife, breathtaking landscapes
- Why It’s Great: Serengeti is one of the world’s most iconic safari destinations, home to vast plains and the Great Migration. Witness millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles moving through the park, followed by predators.
- Top Activities: Game drives, hot air balloon safaris, visiting the Ngorongoro Crater, cultural visits to local tribes
- Best Time to Visit: June to October (for migration and predator sightings)
- Recommended Tour: 4-6 Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari with luxury tented camps and a hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti.
- Tour Providers: Asilia Africa, Nomad Tanzania
4. Chobe National Park – Botswana
- Best For: Elephant sightings, river safaris, quiet and less crowded safaris
- Why It’s Great: Chobe is famous for its large elephant herds, with over 100,000 elephants. The park offers river cruises and game drives, making it a unique and peaceful destination.
- Top Activities: Game drives, boat safaris, birdwatching, fishing, visit to the Chobe River
- Best Time to Visit: May to October (dry season, great for wildlife sightings)
- Recommended Tour: 3-4 Day Chobe Safari with boat trips along the Chobe River.
- Tour Providers: Chobe Safari Lodge, Wilderness Safaris
5. Okavango Delta – Botswana
- Best For: Water-based safaris, birdwatching, luxurious tented camps
- Why It’s Great: The Okavango Delta offers a completely different safari experience with its vast network of water channels, lagoons, and islands. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to diverse wildlife.
- Top Activities: Mokoro (traditional canoe) safaris, game drives, walking safaris, birdwatching, fishing
- Best Time to Visit: June to October (for the dry season and best wildlife sightings)
- Recommended Tour: 4-5 Day Okavango Delta Safari with a stay in luxurious tented camps along the river.
- Tour Providers: Ker & Downey, Sanctuary Retreats
6. Etosha National Park – Namibia
- Best For: Desert landscapes, salt pans, wildlife sightings around waterholes
- Why It’s Great: Etosha is famous for its salt pans and waterholes that attract large numbers of animals, including lions, rhinos, and elephants. It’s a great destination for both wildlife and scenic beauty.
- Top Activities: Game drives, visiting salt pans, waterhole viewing, self-drive safaris
- Best Time to Visit: June to October (dry season for better wildlife sightings)
- Recommended Tour: 5-Day Etosha Safari with guided game drives and visits to waterholes.
- Tour Providers: Wildlife Safari, Namibia Tours
7. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – Uganda
- Best For: Gorilla trekking, nature walks, birdwatching
- Why It’s Great: Bwindi is one of the best places in the world for gorilla trekking. This UNESCO World Heritage site is home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. The experience is both immersive and deeply rewarding.
- Top Activities: Gorilla trekking, forest walks, visiting local villages, birdwatching
- Best Time to Visit: June to September (dry season)
- Recommended Tour: 3-4 Day Gorilla Trekking Safari with overnight stays in eco-lodges near the forest.
- Tour Providers: Go Gorilla Safaris, Uganda Wildlife Authority
8. Makgadikgadi Pans – Botswana
- Best For: Unique desert landscapes, salt flats, wildlife in a remote setting
- Why It’s Great: The Makgadikgadi Pans offer an extraordinary safari experience in one of the most remote and stunning landscapes in Africa. While the area is dry, it comes alive during the wet season with huge migratory herds of animals.
- Top Activities: Game drives, walking safaris, quad biking across the salt pans, cultural visits to the San people
- Best Time to Visit: December to April (wet season for wildlife migration and birdwatching)
- Recommended Tour: 3-4 Day Makgadikgadi Safari with game drives and cultural immersion.
- Tour Providers: Wilderness Safaris, AndBeyond
9. Hwange National Park – Zimbabwe
- Best For: Elephant herds, off-the-beaten-path safaris, walking safaris
- Why It’s Great: Hwange is one of Africa’s premier wildlife parks, known for its large elephant population and diverse wildlife. It’s less crowded than other parks, offering a more intimate safari experience.
- Top Activities: Game drives, walking safaris, birdwatching, night safaris
- Best Time to Visit: June to October (dry season for better wildlife sightings)
- Recommended Tour: 4-5 Day Hwange Safari with luxury tented camps and walking safaris.
- Tour Providers: African Safari Company, Africa Adventure Company
10. Zambezi River Safari – Zambia
- Best For: River cruises, fishing safaris, remote safaris
- Why It’s Great: The Zambezi River, which flows through Zambia, offers unique opportunities for river-based safaris. You can enjoy game viewing from a boat or enjoy fishing safaris in one of the world’s most famous rivers.
- Top Activities: Boat safaris, fishing, game drives, visits to Victoria Falls
- Best Time to Visit: May to October (dry season)
- Recommended Tour: 4-5 Day Zambezi River Safari with boat rides and wildlife viewing along the river.
- Tour Providers: Zambezi Safari & Travel Company, Wilderness Safaris