Wondering about where to go on your next holiday? There are many safari destinations to be found within Africa. The most well known are located in East equatorial and Southern Africa. From snow capped mountains reaching to 17,000ft. to low lying coastal plains, tropical rain forest right through to desert, the variety of wilderness is unrivaled. This great variety of choice often poses the question of where to go on safari to Africa. One thing is for sure it is impossible to cover all the destinations effectively in one visit.
Countries
There are several countries where one can enjoy an African safari. South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritius, Egypt, Seychelles, Tunisia and Morocco are among the most popular destinations for Africa safari trips.
A trip to Egypt allows you to enjoy the scenic sites of the ancient Egypt, including the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids. It also gives you a chance to explore the cities of Cairo, Sharm el Sheikh and Alexandria among others.
Traveling to South Africa takes you to scenic destinations such as the Kruger National Park, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Table Mountains and Robben Islands. A Kenya safari can, on the other hand, take you to some of Africa’s best national parks (including Masai Mara Game Reserve) or the sandy beaches of Mombasa.
Kenya safaris can be connected with a Tanzania safari to the Serengeti National Park or a hike to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. From Tanzania, you can take a flight to the nearby Zanzibar Archipelago, for a beach holiday.
Uganda has much improved, having recovered from the depredations of Idi Amin and you can risk Zimbabwe if you want but the best safariing is to be found in Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and South Africa.
Within these countries, there are many different game parks or reserves, each with a special character or attraction and often a different group of resident animals. For example, the Serengeti National Park/Ngorongoro Conservation Area is famous for the enormous herds of wildebeest, zebra and antelope where the calves are born before the grazing runs out and the herds move on. In Kenya, Tsavo East National Park is renowned for the largest herds of elephant in the country, whereas the Masai Mara is home to all of the Big Five as well as most other species as well as being the best place to see the migration south of the wildebeest, zebra and antelope back to the plains of the Serengeti.
Here is a listing of the best destinations for safaris in Africa;
- South Africa
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Botswana
- Namibia
- Uganda
- Rwanda
- Zimbabwe
- Zambia
- Malawi
- Mozambique
We recommend you segment Africa’s safari destinations into groups such as:
East Africa
Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania (with Zanzibar or Seychelles), Rwanda
The countries of East Africa offer great opportunities for those looking for to game viewing. Top safari destinations in East Africa are Tanzania and or Zanzibar/Pemba, Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda. Kenya has much to offer those looking for wildlife safari while Uganda and Rwanda offer unique opportunities for gorilla trekking, an adventure that you you not easily find elsewhere in the world. Apart from wildlife travel, East Africa also offers the best bird watching destinations in Africa, in addition to white water rafting, kayaking and bungee jumping, not forgetting mountain climbing adventures (Kilimanjaro and Mount Rwenzori)
Kenya
The Masai Mara National Reserve harbors the most abundant wildlife in Kenya. A vast herd of animals migrate annually across the plains. However, there are tons of other quality parks harboring abundant of wildlife beyond Serengenti and Masai Mara. This includes the Soda Lakes of the Great Rift Valley, as well as the Lake Bogoria which is the home of colorful flamingos. Although one of the hottest safari destinations, Kenya has also been associated with kidnappings and violence in recent time. Ensure you keep safety in mind before you go.
Tanzania
Tanzania is another hot safari destination in East Africa. And, just like Kenya, Tanzania is the home of part of the Serengeti National Park – this is a great place to see Africa’s vast herds of wildlife. Other interesting sites in Tanzania include the Marine Parks, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, among other fascinating features.
Uganda
The numerous private reserves are the most popular safari spots in Uganda. Tourists have the opportunity to closely view chimpanzees, gorillas and other primates at the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the Ngamba Island. Other fascinating sights include hippos, crocodiles as well as exotic birds. Another breathtaking sight is the roaring water of Murchison Falls situated right inside the Murchison Falls National Park.
Southern Africa
There are several destinations in Southern Africa. These include Zambia and Botswana/Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana or Namibia. For first time travelers to Africa we recommend the following countries for a safari holiday in Southern Africa.
South Africa – Discover South Africa on it’s own
Using the destination grouping approach means less international travel and local transfer time and more time for a safari and to relax. All of the above mentioned countries have great wilderness regions and providing a safari is conducted in a reputable and professional manner none will fail to impress.
Botswana
The Chobe National Park and the Moremi Wildlife Reserve are renowned for abundant wildlife – elephants, lions, rhinos and other animals. Another interesting site is the Okavango Delta where the tangled waterways harbor buffaloes, crocodiles, hippos, zebras and tons of other wild lives.
Other hot Southern African safari destinations include Namibia and Zambia.
African safari reviews are your guide to making the right decision about African safari tour.