A safari in Africa is an activity that I firmly believe should be on everyone’s bucket list! There’s nothing quite like seeing a pride of majestic lions, rolling about in their natural habitat, or a magnificent herd of elephants, several hundred members strong, marching across the savannah.
Made-up of 54 different countries, you may be wondering where the best place is in Africa for your first safari.
In this article I’m going to delve into my favourite places to go on safari which will give you the highest chances of seeing Africa’s wildlife.
Table of Contents
Kenya
Without any doubt Kenya is a dream safari destination for any wildlife enthusiast. Boasting of numerous game parks, each with their own character and beauty, and all bursting with a diverse and abundant wildlife, visitors are spoilt for choice when planning a safari in Kenya.
Among the numerous game reserves, the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli National parks are standout choices and should not be missed. Being in fairly close proximity to each other and to Nairobi, places them among the top safari destinations in Kenya.
The Masai Mara situated in the south-western corner of the country, is a must-see and is renowned for the high numbers of big cats, huge herds of elephants, buffaloes, giraffes and so much more. It is also famed for the Great Migration, best visited between July and October, when millions of wildebeest, zebras and antelope arrive en masse from the Serengeti and cross the crocodile-infested Mara River.
In contrast, Amboseli provides the best chance to view massive herds of elephants, sometimes several hundred members strong. It’s also home to all the big cats as well as huge populations of herbivores and birds. On clear days, views of the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro provide spectacular scenery making Amboseli a firm favourite for photographers.
Lake Nakuru Park lies three hours north-west of Nairobi and is home to a similar range of wildlife but also provides the best opportunity to view white and endangered black rhinos. The lake itself is teeming with water birds including over a million flamingos.
South Africa
South Africa is blessed with some of the most naturally beautiful game parks found anywhere on the continent. The richness of its wildlife in both species and numbers, has made South Africa an obvious destination for safari enthusiasts around the globe.
The world-famous Kruger National Park situated in the northeast region of South Africa, is the country’s flagship game reserve, incorporating hundreds of unfenced privately and state-owned reserves and lodges ranging from the most luxurious to the most basic.
The Big Five and spectacular scenery come standard in most areas of the Kruger, with some having more of certain species than others. The Sabi Sands area, for instance, has the highest leopard population in the world. In most other reserves, the elusive nature of leopards make sightings rare, but here leopards have become accustomed to people gawking at them, and you often find them walking brazenly past your vehicle.
The white lions found at the and Beyond Ngala Reserve slightly to the north, offer another unique experience, with all the usual suspects, like leopards, hippos, rhinos, hyenas, giraffes and massive herds of buffalos also being abundant.
For a complete scenery change, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is another must-see gem of South Africa. Its ruggedly beautiful landscape of red sand dunes, semi-arid savannahs, fossilised river beds and expansive grasslands, is a wildlife photographer’s dream. It’s also home to unique black-mane Kalahari lions, rare brown hyenas, loads of leopards, cheetahs and wildcats, gemsbok, hartebeest, eland and immense herds of springbok.
Tanzania
For many seasoned wildlife and nature lovers, Tanzania is the number one safari destination on the entire continent. The standout parks that you simply dare not miss are the iconic Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park. All three ‘super parks’ are situated in northern Tanzania, close to each other and to the Masai Mara National Park just across the Kenyan border. This makes it ideal for safari-goers to visit them on a combined 14-day Tanzania and Kenya safari.
The Serengeti is by far the crown jewel of all national parks, possibly on the entire continent. Home to the Big Five, as well as cheetahs, hippos, crocs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, and hundreds of bird species, the Serengeti is also synonymous with the greatest land animal migration on the planet. June to October is the best time to view this spectacle of millions of wildebeest, zebra and gazelles as they cross the croc-infested Mara River on their never-ending, perilous 1,000 km journey.
Described as the ‘Eden of Africa’, 25,000 animals, including the Big Five, live in the 260 km² Ngorongoro Crater, a magical landscape surrounded by a 610 metre high rim spanning 19 kms across. With such a high concentration of animals, as well as thousands of flamingos and other birds, crammed into a small area, visitors are given a great opportunity to view many species on a single game drive.
If viewing elephants is your thing, there is no better park to visit than Tarangire, just south of Ngorongoro. This park has some of the biggest herds of elephants, some being over 300 strong.
Botswana
Botswana is another favourite safari hotspot that draws serious wildlife enthusiasts and documentary film makers all year round. Its multi-ecosystem landscape of dense jungle, harsh desert and rich wetlands, support an immense number of animals including some of Africa’s most endangered species.
The predator-rich Chobe National Park is famed for its large lion prides and huge herds of elephants and buffaloes, as well as giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, gazelles and tons of birdlife. The numerous waterholes and river frontage provide ideal viewing spots across the entire park.
The Okavango Delta is another unique ecosystem and is also the world’s largest inland delta. Solely dependent on annual floodwaters, this fragile 15,000 km² landscape transforms from a semi-arid desert into a green oasis with deep blue lagoons, a maze of reeds and channels and lush islands during the winter months. The rising floodwaters mean life for so many animals, birds, reptiles and fish, all providing visitors with exceptional safari experiences.
Among other numerous parks, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (which stretches into South Africa to the south) offers sightings of rare black-mane Kalahari lions, elusive brown hyenas, cheetahs, gemsbok, huge herds of springbok and inquisitive and lovable meerkats. Its rust-coloured semi-desert landscape also provides excellent photographic opportunities.
Uganda
While neighbouring Kenya and Tanzania may be better for an overall safari experience, when it comes to primates, Uganda stands head and shoulders above them both. Trekking through the forests for mountain gorillas and other primates is the big draw-card in Uganda, with the most popular place being the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, in the south-western corner of the country.
With Uganda’s wildlife being almost decimated during the civil war of the 1980s, strict measures since then have ensured its remarkable recovery and today it offers healthy numbers of most species across its numerous parks.
Uganda does have the Big Five, although rhinos have been hunted to near extinction. Rhinos can only be found in the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Queen Elizabeth Park is the flagship among Uganda’s parks, and is famous for its tree-climbing lions, as well as leopards, hyenas, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles and various buck and bird species.
The Murchison Falls National Park alongside Lake Edward, is another gem of Uganda with spectacular rapids and waterfalls and is packed with a diverse wildlife including a healthy elephant population.
Zambia
With neighbouring Botswana and Tanzania both being safari powerhouses, it may come as a surprise to many people that with no less than 20 game parks, Zambia can also stake its claim as a popular safari destination. Its lush landscape and numerous lodges provide a number of safari options, such as game drives, walking, canoeing, ballooning, birding, fishing and photographic excursions. One can also indulge in sensational river boating cruises or flights over the magnificent Victoria Falls – a truly once- n a lifetime experience.
Kafue National Park, the biggest in Zambia, boasts four of the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo, plus a wide range of game. Despite having 12,000 black rhinos in the 1980s, they were poached to extinction by 1998. Today rhinos can only be found in the North Luangwa National Park.
The South Luangwa National Park situated just below, has one of the densest population of animals including lions, leopards, buffaloes and huge herds of elephants and is known as the ‘Home of Walking Safaris’.
The one real advantage of Zambian parks is that they are usually less crowded than most other parks in the rest of Africa.
Namibia
Despite being labelled as the driest country in Sub-Saharan Africa, with much of the southern half taken up by the Namib and Kalahari deserts, you may be surprised to discover that Namibia is an excellent choice for an unforgettable safari.
Situated in northern Namibia, Etosha National Park is a vast, semi-desert like landscape – not exactly where you’d expect to find any form of life. And yet it’s home to a surprisingly high number of animal and bird species, including four of the Big Five. Only buffalo are missing here.
Lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, rhinos, gemsbok, elands, giraffes, zebras, hyenas, impalas and springbok are all common here, having adapted to this arid and seemingly hostile environment.
The flat terrain makes Etosha ideal for a self-drive safari and the wildlife easier to spot. Winter is the best time to visit as the wildlife congregates around the numerous waterholes, many of which are lit up making night game viewing possible. Summer rains flood the Etosha Salt Pan, the largest in the world, turning it into an oasis and attracting a million flamingos and other water birds.
Whether you’re going solo, as a couple or a family, all game parks in Africa cater for everyone’s needs. Lodging comes from the most extravagant to the most rustic while tour operators offer a wide range of safari options, ensuring there really is something for everyone.
You honestly can’t go wrong with any of the destinations in this article – each home to a wide range of wildlife as well as diverse and breathtaking landscapes.
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Wonderful post. Currently, I’m focused on Europe, but then it will be a pleasure to follow your advice regarding a wonderful safari.