Africa’s top safari destinations

Safari, which in Swahili means ‘long journey’, is more than just something to do on your holiday, it is also an excellent activity for animal lovers and those romantics who loved books about Africa’s wildlife as a kid and for whom the urge to explore the unknown hasn’t lost its allure.

Imagine diving deep into the African bush and driving past Africa's «Big Five» – lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino. Depending on the place and safari type you can also spot hyenas, giraffes, hippos and even flamingos.

So how do you prepare for a successful safari

Embarking on your first safari is an exhilarating yet exhausting experience. Remember that game drives can be lengthy and bumpy, so bring lots of water, dress comfortably with plenty of layers and in neutral colours, wear a hat and don’t forget the sunscreen. And finally, get your camera ready, with an extra battery pack. And if you want to go the extra mile, pack binoculars. Not only do they make you look cool, they also help you spot the animals.

What’s the best time for a safari

The best time to go on a Africa safari depends on the country. If you are going to Tanzania or Kenya, plan your trip before April-July, which is when the rainy season starts. Tourist season in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana lasts from June through October, when the temperatures range from 20 to 30°С.

Where to go

Tanzania

The national parks of this country are real tourist gems. In the continental part of Tanzania you can easily find safaris for any budget – from affordable day trips from Zanzibar to full-fledged multi-day expeditions, wh ere you would get to spend the night in lodges, fully-equipped bungalows in the middle of the savannah. Our top 3 wildlife destinations in Tanzania are the Selous Game Reserve, Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater.

The Selous Game Reserve is the largest protected game reserve on the African continent that boasts rich diversity of wildlife and uninterrupted nature. On a safari there you will be accompanied by giraffes, elephants and peculiar songs of 400 species of birds. Tourists head to the Serengeti to watch the great migration of antelopes – its peak falls in September, when the sheer number of these cloven-hoofed animals running along the savannah is astonishing.

Ngorongoro is a unique park that was formed in the caldera – the crater of a volcano that erupted about 2 billion years ago. Many big cats live here: fr om lions to cute, seemingly domesticated, but dangerous servals. Also look for flamingos and black rhinos – Ngorongoro has only the best to offer.

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Kenya

Kenya’s top safari destination is the Masai Mara park. It’s an extension of Tanzania’s Serengeti with the huge herds of wildebeest and other grazers heading here from July to October. Hereyou can find everyone on the «Big Five». Some say it’s the best place to see leopards, who are actually quick to escape the human gaze. Lions, however, gather around vehicles with great ease. So we don’t recommend leaving the security of your car, for obvious reasons.

Botswana

Chobe National Park offers a great variety of wildlife and lush vegetation thanks to its many waterways. With its river banks, swamps and plains, Chobe offers many safari activities. Embark on a water safari for a chance to spot hippos and crocodiles, and on the plains you will encounter the largest population of elephants in Africa. What’s also great about the park in Botswana there aren’t as many tourists here as in Tanzania or Kenya, so you will feel closer to nature.

Namibia

The most visited park in Namibia is Etosha National Park, wh ere four of the «Big Five» gather around the salt marsh. You won't see buffaloes in these parts, but wildebeests, gazelles and kudu are easy to spot. Here you can also see one more of Africa’s finest – the black rhino, which is on the verge of extinction, and there is less and less chance of coming across it.

South Africa

South Africa is not a very popular safari destination, tourists head here mainly to explore modern Cape Town and visit a unique point in Africa – the Cape of Good Hope, which was believed to be the southern tip of Africa. But the actual geographic southern tip of the continent is in fact Cape Agulhas. Still, the Cape of Good Hope offers a great opportunity to see the confluence of two oceans – the Atlantic and the Indian.

Nevertheless, you should not give up on a safari in South Africa, since everything is quite affordable here. Go to the Kroger National Park with its unrivaled diversity of life forms, and may good luck be with you – all the animals endemic to Africa inhabit it, you just need to be in the right place at the right time to see them all.

But enough with the theory, let's go on a safari!