The best safari destinations in Africa. What is worth seeing, how to prepare?
Safari is a dream come true for many travelers. A dose of adrenaline, a hint of risk, wild animals in the wild – in their natural environment, and breathtaking African views.
The Great Migration, the aroma of exotic spices, the monumental Kilimanjaro or the multicultural Stone Town. This is Tanzania!
When is the best time to go to Tanzania?
Due to the fact that there are two dry seasons in Tanzania – from January to March and from June to October – the weather is good for a trip to this place almost all year round. The best time to see the migration of animals is at the beginning of the year in January and February, and in the middle of the year – in June and July. If you want to relax in Zanzibar at the same time, avoid the period from March to May and November.
Tanzania – safari with Zanzibar
TANZANIA AND ZANZIBAR – Arusha, Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Zanzibar Private safari with predatory lionesses, migrating wildebeest, dignified giraffes and lovable hippos. All this in the vastness of the Serengeti plain and the largest caldera in the world, Ngorongoro. After the hardships of safari, you will move to Zanzibar.
The Great African Migration – when to see?
Few people know that the Great Migration lasts virtually all year round, as we wrote about in this post: The Great Migration of Africa – when to see? only its individual stages change. In Tanzania, it is best to admire this phenomenon in the period from June to July or from January to February. Half of the year is the time when the Great Migration slowly reaches Kenya, the animals form a huge herd earlier. However, at the beginning of the year, migration just begins anew. At this time, new wildebeest are born, and it is also an ideal time to admire the birds. When planning a trip to Tanzania, it is worth bearing this in mind.
The most beautiful parks – Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire The most famous park in Tanzania is undoubtedly the Serengeti. Located in the northwest of the country, it attracts lovers of wild game living in its natural habitat. These are undoubtedly the perfect places for a safari on your Tanzania vacation. The park is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, it is situated on a flat plain with a savannah. Migrants to the park include zebras, antelopes and gazelles, you can also admire giraffes, rhinoceros, elephants and lions.
Ngorongoro is another UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Tanzania, named after the volcanic caldera located in this area. While exploring this park, you can come across animals such as rhinoceros, buffalos, hippos, crocodiles and Tanzanian cheetahs. Thousands of flamingos live in the vicinity of Lake Magadi. Several dozen Maasai lions also live within the crater.
Tarangire is located in northern Tanzania. And here, during a trip around Tanzania, there is an abundance of wild animals such as panther, lion, gazelle, African buffalo, zebra and impala. Tarangire is also famous for the large elephant population that lives in the park.
The cost of safari in Tanzania If you want to combine a safari in Tanzania with relaxation on the paradise beaches of Zanzibar, you have to spend around 13,000 per person for the trip. You will then visit both Serengeti and Ngorongoro, see the Great African Migration and rest in a boutique hotel in Zanzibar. During the safari, you will sleep in luxury tents with all amenities.
Accommodation
You can choose between tents at a standard campsite or luxury tents, the so-called lodge. Our favorites include Kati Kati Tented Camp and Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge. For very demanding customers, we recommend accommodation at the Four Seasons Safari Lodge and Lamai Serengeti.
Safari in Tanzania. Serengeti National Park.
Lamai Serengeti – amazing views of the savannah from your tent.
Maasai culture, unspoiled beaches, of course the Great Migration and the Big Five of Africa, which you can admire here, and on top of that – the amazing natural beauty of the famous Masai Mara Park.
When is the best time to go to Kenya?
Holidays in Kenya are best planned for the second half of the year, although in the north, for example, the weather is pleasant all year round. April and May are the rainy months, which is worth remembering, and in the vicinity of Nairobi it also rains in November. You will have the best weather here from June to November (in November, excluding Nairobi).
Kenya – on the trail of the Maasai
KENYA – Nairobi, Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru National Park, Diani Beach
Come face to face with the animals of the African Big Five! See the dance of the Maasai – the last authentic African tribe still cultivating their traditions!
The Great Migration – when to see?
The Great Migration in Kenya in the Masai Mara National Park can be admired from June to September. August is the time of the greatest concentration of animals in this area. The Great Migration animals should already be here in July, but it all depends on the rainfall as the abundance of green Serengeti grasses can keep the animals for longer. That is why August is a safe time to travel to Kenya to admire the Great Migration.
The most beautiful parks – Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, Nakuru
Masai Mara is by far the most famous local park, which takes its name from the Maasai people living in this area and the local Mara River. The park borders on the Tanzanian Serengeti and is inhabited by giraffes, elands, elephants, hyenas, lions, cheetahs, warthogs, crocodiles, and antelopes. In July and August, the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebras that come here from the Serengeti takes place here.
Amboseli is a park located in southern Kenya, on the border with Tanzania, it covers the southwestern slopes of Kilimanjaro. It is an ideal place, especially for bird lovers, because there are as many as several hundred species here. Among other animals inhabiting these areas, it is worth mentioning giraffes, baboons, leopards, hyenas, jackals and elephants.
Tsavo is a national park famous for its prominent baobab landscape and lakes with crocodiles and hippos close by. It is also a place of an extraordinary abundance of birds, because even here there are as many as several hundred species, including ostriches, herons and multi-colored parrots.
Lake Nakuru National Park is located in the central part of Kenya in the Great Rift Valley. This place is incredibly diverse in terms of plant species that grow on it, as well as several hundred species of birds and several dozen species of mammals. On a safari in this park, you can come across lions, hyenas, Grant antelopes, gazelles, a brown horse and even a white rhino. Among the birds, it is worth mentioning pelicans, African white-tailed eagles and flamingos.
Accommodation
When you vacation in Kenya, you will have the choice of amazing places to stay. One of our favorites is Giraffe Manor in Nairobi – an amazing boutique safari hotel where you can have breakfast with a real giraffe and the views from there will be breathtaking. Among the lodges and camps that are worth recommending, we recommend Lake Nakuru Lodge, Mara Sopa Lodge or Sentrim Mara Camp.
Masai Mara National Reserve.
Breakfast with the giraffes? This is possible at Giraffe Manor in Nairobi.
Namibia is one of our favorite destinations in Africa with absolutely unforgettable landscapes and attractions that will give you an adrenaline rush in your blood!
When is the best time to go to Namibia?
You will enjoy the best weather in Namibia in the period from May to September, but the climate is favorable for travel here all year round. During the rainy season, which lasts from January to April, it can be harder to admire the local animals as they seek at various watering places. The dry season begins in May and lasts until the end of October, and it is during this period that you have the best chance to admire wild animals. What is characteristic is very high temperatures during the day (about 40 degrees in the Namib desert) and much lower at night – falling even to 15 degrees.
Treasures of Namibia
NAMIBIA – Kalahari Desert, River Fish Canyon, Luderitz, Tiras Mountains, Namib Desert, Swakopmund, Damaraland, Etosha National Park, Waterberg Plateau
If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of civilization, you want to see amazing and unforgettable views, as well as get to know a culture whose principles are completely different from what Europe has accustomed us to, and you are looking for a place where you can actively rest, there is only one answer – a trip to Namibia .
The most beautiful parks – Etosha, Erindi, Namib Desert, Bwabwata
Etosha is by far the most popular park in Namibia, but along with many tourists, you can also meet many animals here. It is actually the largest national park in Africa, in the center of which there is a vast salt flat, which in the rainy season turns into a lake that attracts flocks of flamingos. In the park, you can of course admire the Big Five of Africa, which includes lions, elephants, rhinoceros, buffalos and leopards.
Erindi’s private park is a nature reserve where you will meet a lot less tourists and still be able to admire the wildlife. The vast area is inhabited by elephants, giraffes, leopards, cheetahs, rhinoceros and African wild dogs. Various excursions are organized around the reserve – day and night safaris, hiking, exploring caves full of Bushmen paintings and animal tracking tours.
The Namib Desert is an absolutely magical place and one of the largest nature reserves in the world. The park stretches along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, which makes the landscapes stretching here simply unforgettable. In this beautiful desert you can admire the largest dunes in the world or Dead Vlei – a place full of dried acacia trees that create a landscape like a surreal picture.
Bwabwata, in turn, is a national park where you can observe, for example, the migration of African elephants from Botswana to Angola. In addition, you can admire the enormity of wild animals: hippos, antelopes, crocodiles, zebras, lions, hyenas, cheetahs and leopards.
Accommodation
Namibia has developed amazingly when it comes to accommodation facilities. One of our favorites is definitely Mowani Mountain Camp, a luxurious boutique hotel nestled among the rocks and ideal as a safari base. It provides beautiful views, a great standard and our favorite – semi-open bathrooms guarantee relaxation with beautiful views. Rooftop campsites are also highly recommended, with camping in the Namib Desert and Damaraland region among our favorites.
Etosha National Park – the kingdom of wild animals.
Mowani Mountain Camp – our favorite place in Damaraland.
It is famous for its natural wealth and beautiful waterfalls – it is worth supplementing a trip to Africa with this country!
When is the best time to go to Botswana?
The duration of your vacation in Botswana depends on the purpose of the trip. May to October is the best time to admire the animals on a safari, which is dry, the days are hot and the nights can be cool. From November to March, you can admire various species of birds here.
The most beautiful parks – Delta Okavango, Choba National Park, The Makgadikgadi Pans Game Reserve
The Okavango Delta is the world’s largest inland delta, famous for its natural abundance – many species of birds and animals, and lush fauna. The greatest traction of this place is the delta cruise – an unusual form of safari possible in this place. Thanks to its natural wealth and water resources, you can admire countless elephants, hippos, buffalos, leopards, lions and antelopes.
Chobe National Park is famous for its river safaris. In this park, it is especially easy to spot African buffalos, white-tailed eagles and coral cranes. It is also here that you can admire the rock paintings of the Bushmen, who were the original inhabitants of this area. What this park is famous for are also … elephants, which live here as many as tens of thousands.
The Makgadikgadi Pans Game Reserve is one of the largest salt pans in the world, where you can admire pelicans, zebras, wildebeest, beautiful flamingos, ostriches and … turtles!
Accommodation
Luxury tents are a hit among the hotels! If you decide to go on a safari that includes Botswana, trust us in this regard.
Okavango Delta – a real miracle of nature!
Mobile tents at Chobe Under Canvas camp site are very comfortable!
Let it not be associated only with apartheid. After all, this is the Cape of Good Hope, safari in Kruger Park, amazing Cape Town and the Garden Route – the most beautiful route in the world.
When is the best time to go to South Africa?
Holidays in South Africa can be spent virtually all year round. The best weather here is from January to May and from October to December. Our summer, and the winter here, is the best time to admire the wildlife, but Cape Town and the coast have rainfall. Summer runs from November to March.
Safari in the Kruger Park and relax on the beaches of Mozambique
South Africa, MOZAMBIK – Pretoria, Kruger National Park, Blyde River Canyon, Mozambique – Vilanculos
The most beautiful parks – Kruger, Addo, Mapungubwe National Park, Hluhluwe
The Kruger National Park takes its name from its founder – South African President Paul Kruger. The park is located on the border with Zimbabwe and Mozambique and impresses with a variety of flora and fauna. You can visit it during a day or night safari and see, among others, lions, leopards, antelopes, cheetahs, hippos, elephants and giraffes, as well as several hundred species of birds.
Addo National Park is known primarily for the elephants for which people come to this area. But apart from elephants, you can also admire lions, leopards, rhinoceros and buffaloes.
Mapungubwe is a national park inhabited by elephants, giraffes, rhinoceros, lions and hyenas. Its name comes from the hill located here, on which the remains of a medieval town have been preserved, and rock paintings were also found nearby.
Hluhluwe, in turn, is a reserve that was once a hunting ground, and is now the oldest reserve in Africa, with the Big Five of Africa. During the safari in this place you can also meet crocodiles, cheetahs, jackals and warthogs. The reserve is also inhabited by a population of white rhinoceros saved from extinction.
Accommodation
And here there is a huge selection of lodges and campsites. Our favorites are Hlangana Lodge, Nkambeni Camp and Shalati Safari Camp.
Kruger Park – the biggest attraction during a trip to South Africa.
Camps Bay is, in our opinion, the coolest place to stay while in Cape Town.
Former Swaziland. One of the last absolute monarchies in the world, but also a country of beautiful national parks. It’s best to combine a trip to Swaziland with a vacation in South Africa.
When is the best time to go to Swaziland?
In fact, you can travel to Swaziland all year round, but we should make our travel time dependent on what we want to do here, because it is determined by the weather. The dry season is from May to September and the rainy season is from October to April. In the dry season, winter occurs here and it is the best time to observe wildlife. The best weather is in Swaziland from April to September.
South Africa & Kingdom of Swaziland
SUAZI, South Africa – Pretoria, Kruger National Park, Kingdom of Swaziland, Hluhluwe Reserve, Drakensberg Mountains, Durban, Garden Route, Cape Town
A journey to the edge of Africa, where cultures, social races, languages, wealth and poverty mingle. You will learn the true history of slavery and apartheid. You will feel the atmosphere of the Victorian era under the British rule. You will come face to face with Africa’s Big Five on an exciting safari in the Kruger Park.
The most beautiful parks – Hlane, Mkhaya
Hlane Royal National Park is a must-see place. It is the largest protected area in eSwatini and home to wildlife such as white rhinoceros, zebras, impalas, lions, and giraffes.
You can visit the Mkhaya reserve in an open-top jeep, but you can also book hiking tours. You will certainly experience the atmosphere of the real Africa here. During a trip around the reserve, you can meet rhinoceros, hippos, various species of antelopes, elephants, and various species of birds.
Accommodation
The eSwatini accommodation base is not very developed yet, but it offers a simple lodge with an amazing breathtaking view. Near Mbabane, the capital of Swaziland, we recommend the Mountain Inn hotel, picturesquely situated on a hill and well-equipped.
Hlane Reserve.
The Mountain Inn Hotel in Mbabane offers breathtaking views of the countryside!
You’ve already explored a whole host of options when it comes to safaris! Do you like any country in particular? Remember that you can organize a trip to Africa in such a way as to visit several countries and thus admire several national parks and the richness of fauna and flora.
