The Best Places for an African Safari
A safari is a bucket list holiday experience for many, and there’s no better part of the world for one than some of the countries in Africa. Home to spectacular wildlife, unique culture, luxurious safari camps and a whole host of activities that can bring travellers closer to nature, there’s a huge variety of experiences to choose from.
One of the first things you’ll need to decide when planning an African safari is where you’re going to travel. In this article, I share my recommendations for four of the best places for a safari in Africa and suggest what you can see there and the best time to visit.
Botswana
For a safari destination with plenty to offer, Botswana is an excellent choice. A southern African country with a variety of different landscapes on offer, it’s particularly good if you’re looking for a water-based safari and the unique kinds of wildlife that are attracted to the wetlands.
The Okavango Delta is a highlight of Botswana and the route for almost every boat safari, where you’ll be treated to plenty of spottings of hippos and crocodiles, some fantastic birdlife, and potentially elephants drinking at the river’s edge. In terms of elephants, Chobe National Park is one of the best places to see large herds of these magnificent creatures in all of Africa, particularly towards the end of the summer and the start of autumn.
The best time to visit Botswana on safari is in the summer or early autumn, as this is when you’ll have the best chance of spotting wildlife and the water levels in the Okavango Delta are best for water safaris. There are a range of tours available and a good variety of accommodation to choose from, from luxurious camps to more affordable and comfortable options.
Rwanda
Rwanda is one of the best places in Africa to visit if you’re looking for a diverse wildlife safari. Located on the edge of the continent’s Great Lakes region in the east, it’s home to classic savannah terrain but also dense forests and impressive mountains, providing the habitat for Rwanda’s most unique inhabitants.
Gorilla safaris are incredibly popular with visitors to Rwanda because the country is one of the only places in the world where you can see gorillas in their natural habitat. Treks in the Volcanoes National Park to find the families of gorillas living here are a highlight of any trip to Rwanda and make a great alternative to a traditional safari, although you can enjoy one of these in the Akagera National Park as well.
The best time to enjoy a range of different safaris in Rwanda is in the dry season between June and September, as this provides the best conditions for trekking through the forests in the mountains or driving around one of the country’s national parks. It’s an excellent choice for travellers seeking an alternative safari experience but still has everything you’d expect from a classic African safari holiday.
Kenya
When you think of an African safari, Kenya is often one of the first places that comes to mind. This East African country was one of the first places where travellers were taken on safari when this type of holiday became popular, and it continues to be a premier destination for all kinds of trips.
A highlight of many Kenyan safaris is the Masai Mara National Park, located on the border between Kenya and Tanzania and named after the Masai people who still live in tribes on the land. You can see all of the famous Big Five here as well as countless other wildlife, with the Nairobi National Park another popular place for excellent wildlife safaris.
One of the biggest draws for visitors to Kenya is the Great Migration, where a huge number of zebra and wildebeests cross from Tanzania into Kenya through the Mara River. January and February or between July and October are the best times to witness this impressive natural phenomenon, but it’s also the busiest time for safaris in the country which will be reflected in both the price and the number of other tourists in the parks.
Tanzania
My final suggestion for one of the best places for an African safari is Tanzania. Home to some of the most popular national parks on the whole continent, this East African destination has a huge variety of options when it comes to safari locations and an even more impressive selection of wildlife that you’re likely to encounter.
Tanzania is home to the Serengeti National Park, perhaps one of the most popular places in the country to visit for a safari with all of the Big Five as well as countless other creatures to spot on game drives and bush walks. You’ve also got the island of Zanzibar just off the coast of the country offering the perfect place for a beach break, so after you’ve spent days out on the plains you can relax by the sea before heading home.
Whatever Tanzania safari package you choose, many of them include a chance to see the Great Migration which means that the best time to plan a holiday is either in July and August or at the start of the year between January and March. Tanzania’s popularity means that it’s another destination where the peak season can be busy and on the pricier side, but the safari experiences on offer are definitely worth it.
Summary
I’ve shared four of the most popular places for a safari in Africa, but plenty of other countries on the continent also offer the experiences. After all, the human population may be contained by the boundaries between places, but that doesn’t stop the animals from moving around!
Botswana, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania are all fantastic destinations that are visited by thousands of travellers every year. Whichever one you choose, you’ll discover a whole host of brilliant safari tours and accommodation options of offer, allowing you to choose your perfect safari experience. Once on the continent, do try to visit more amazing places Africa has to offer, besides safari tours.