Best Safari in Africa – 5 Great African Safari Holidays

When considering the best safari in Africa to suit your needs, there really are some fantastic options. Spectacular national parks and reserves can be found in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. Each destination gives you plenty of opportunities to get up close to magnificent wildlife, including the famous Big Five.

Whether you’re eager to catch a glimpse of a lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros or buffalo, a safari holiday is one you’ll remember for many years to come. And being part of an escorted tour allows you to sit back and soak up the surrounding landscape while letting the experts lead the way.

Best Safari In Africa – Kruger National Park, South Africa

When looking at South African holidays, make sure you spend time in Kruger National Park and go on what some consider the best safari in Africa. Being driven around the sweeping savannahs in a 4×4 vehicle is a wildlife experience like no other. You’ll also have an experienced game ranger by your side. These experts know the watering holes favoured by hippos and rhinos, where lions like to relax and can quickly spot recent cheetah or warthog tracks. Relax, as you’ll be in safe hands.

Accommodation varies from comfortable hotels to spending the night at a tented camp and heading out for a bushwalk. If you find yourself with a free day, consider a microlight flight, river rafting or join a night safari to see a different perspective of the park. And lovers of rail travel can combine a Kruger safari holiday with a luxurious journey across South Africa with Rovos Rail.  

As for African safari holidays for singles, solo travellers are well cared for too. A safari in Kruger National Park really is for everyone.

Best Safari In Africa – Chobe National Park, Botswana

Holidays to South Africa can also include a trip to neighbouring Botswana where you can embark on a safari around Chobe National Park. Boasting some of the highest game density in all of Africa, Chobe is home to the Big Five, though the rhino population is dwindling. Look out for giraffe, impala and some incredible birdlife, such as the darting pied kingfisher, African skimmer and brilliantly coloured bee-eaters.

Named after the river Chobe, the park is renowned for its elephant herds. On a boat safari during the dry season between August and November, you can see hundreds of these magnificent creatures congregating along the shores for their daily drink. Fish eagles and crocodiles are often spotted. Optional excursions can include a day fishing for the fearsome tigerfish.

When choosing the best time to travel to Botswana, note that while there are exceptional sightings in August, September and October, these months can be extremely hot. Fewer visitors arrive between December and April, so while you may need to pack waterproof clothing, the experience will be more intimate.

Best Safari In Africa – Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

Masai Mara National Reserve is located in south-west Kenya, sharing a border with Tanzania and the Serengeti. When deciding on the best safari in Africa for you, it’s good to know that the Masai Mara has the largest population of lions in the country. There are also regular sightings of elephants, giraffes, rhinos, hippos, leopards and cheetahs. The reserve is also home to over 300 species of birds.

The best time to visit the Masai Mara is during the dry season from July to October, when you can witness one of the world’s most dramatic wildlife displays, the wildebeest migration. During these months, over two million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles migrate from the Serengeti to Kenya’s richer green pastures. Consider a safari holiday in August or September – this is when the herds usually reach the Mara river and awaiting basks of crocodiles.

While at the reserve also learn more about the unique cultural heritage of the Masai indigenous people, a tribe who have lived beside the park since the late 17th century.

Best Safari In Africa – Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

If you’ve already shown an interest in safari holidays, 2020 may be the year to make a dream a reality. And where better to travel to than Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, where you can embark on one of the best safaris in Africa. Like the Masai Mara, there’s an abundance of lions in the reserve – you’ll see incredibly large prides. It’s also an ideal destination to watch the world-renowned wildebeest migration. In the Serengeti, herds start moving north towards Kenya during June and July. They usually return to Tanzania in November.

Cape buffalo, one of the famous Big Five, can be seen all year round, and you may also stumble upon rhinoceros, giraffes and African elephants. The latter roam freely, often making an appearance early morning or late afternoon when they’re starting to feel peckish. Look up in the trees and you may spy a leopard or even a kori bustard.

Game drives are the main way to travel across the Serengeti’s endless plains, however, some travel companies also offer hot-air balloon safaris.

Best Safari In Africa – Etosha National Park, Namibia

Etosha National Park offers a safari option if thinking about a holiday to Namibia. Covering an area slightly larger than Wales, Etosha is Namibia’s prime wildlife location. It’s home to over 100 mammal species, including rhino, lions, hyena, springbok and giraffe, and even the elusive leopard. The park has floodlit waterholes at all the main camps, giving travellers the best opportunity to see amazing animals in their natural environment. Whether it’s elephants bathing or a dazzle of zebra drinking – this holiday is a keen photographer’s dream.

The best time of year for a Namibia safari is during the drier winter months between May and October. This is when larger numbers of thirsty animals seek out the waterholes, making them easier to spot. Visit between November and April when it rains more frequently and you’ll still have a wonderful holiday, especially if you enjoy watching birdlife. As the Etosha salt pan turns into a lake, it attracts storks and pink flamingos that breed here in their thousands.

It’s not only the encounters with African wildlife that travellers rave about when they’re back home. Safari accommodation also gets the thumbs up, with tented camps being a fun ‘glamping’ experience and every bit as comfortable as reserve lodges and hotels. Again, you often have a choice, so make your stay memorable too.

Looking For The Best Safari In Africa For You?

Start planning your safari adventure with escorted tours to Africa that take the hassle out of travel and allow you to create memories of a lifetime. From visiting the Kruger National Park in South Africa to a driving safari through Etosha National Park in Namibia, the jewel of Namibia’s national parks.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.