The Best Safari Destinations In Africa: A Complete Guide 2025

Over the last 25 years, we have traveled extensively in Africa and have taken countless safaris. We’ve seen some incredible sights in some of the best safari destinations in Africa.

An African safari is like nothing else you will ever experience. Once you go, you will be hooked for life. Nothing beats the thrill of seeing a wild animal in its natural habitat or hearing a lion roar in the distance as you drift off to sleep.

Africa is an incredible continent and Ernest Hemingway’s quote sums up exactly how we feel about it.

“I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up that I was not happy”.

It is no coincidence that we named our first child Ernest. We’re happy to say that he loves to go on safari as much as we do!

His thirst for knowledge of African wildlife is incredible. Honestly, if you didn’t think you could take an African safari with kids, we can tell you that you absolutely can and should.

Not only is educating the next generation on the importance of wildlife and habitat conservation crucial, they will absolutely LOVE it.

Africa will take your breath away and the great thing about it is that it is vast and there is so much to see. With so much choice, though, comes the question. Where is the best place in Africa for a safari? 

We have compiled a list of some of the best places in Africa to go on safari.

Most of these African safari destinations are places that we have personally visited and offer Africa’s top wildlife experiences. The rest are on our list to visit as soon as possible!

Whether you want to see the “Big Five” (Elephant, Rhino, Lion, Leopard and Buffalo) or encounter incredible bird life, there is the perfect African safari destination waiting for you.

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Need help planning the ultimate African safari?

Before we cover the best safari destinations in Africa, we want to mention that Go2Africa has helped us plan and book many safaris.

They are the leading luxury safari tour operator in Africa and have won lots of awards. They are also an ethical company, ensuring that your safari gives back to the local community and wildlife projects. You can read more about their Positive Impact initiative here.

They ensure that 100% of your money stays in Africa. This is something that is really important to us and we hope that it is for you too.

They have a great section on their website where you can say when you want to travel and their recommendations for each month come up.

Or you can just speak to a consultant after completing a quick enquiry form here.

Read our Go2Africa review to find more out about booking with them.

One important thing to consider is whether you want to go for a safari in a large National Park like the Serengeti or Maasai Mara or whether it is better to go to a private game reserve.

The large National Parks can sometimes get incredibly busy with lots of independent safari guides jostling for the best view of an animal sighting.

This is what you can experience (photo below). You don’t get this in a private game reserve, but you will pay more for the experience.

In a private game reserve, you also have the opportunity to ‘off-road’ to get closer to the animals.

Best safari destinations in Africa for the ultimate safari experience

With the sheer number of fantastic places in Africa to visit for a safari, deciding where to go can be overwhelming.

To help you make the best choice, we’ve created a list of our favorite African safari destinations.

For each safari destination, we have mentioned the best time of year to visit and also recommended where to stay.

1. Serengeti National Park in Tanzania

We’ll start our list of the best safari destinations in Africa with The Serengeti National Park as it is probably the most famous safari destination in Africa.

It is a huge national park in Tanzania spanning over 3 million hectares.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is most known for its annual migration of over 1.5 million wildebeest who migrate to the Serengeti each year to give birth.

This great migration is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World.

It can also provide a setting for dramatic animal encounters as the predators descend. There are over 3000 lions in the serengeti and they tend to follow the herd.

There are also river crossings for the wildebeest to contend with which are frought with danger.

To get an idea, you can watch this underwater crocodile ambush clip from David Attenborough.

Best time to visit the Serengeti National Park

Most people visit the Serengeti from July to September as this is when the great migration occurs. This is also the busiest season in the park.

There are two short rainy seasons in the Serengeti: March to April and November to December. These are generally the quietest times to visit.

See here for more detailed information on when to visit the Serengeti.

Where to stay in the Serengeti National Park

Did you know that you can also stay in mobile safari camps that follow the wildebeest migration? Spaces on these camps is limited and you need to book around a year in advance. See Kimondo Migration Camp or Olakira Migration Camp to find out more.

Or see here for all of the accommodation in the Serengeti recommended by Go2Africa.

Serengeti National Park safaris

See here for safaris in the Serengeti National Park.

2. Kruger National Park in South Africa

The Kruger National Park is one of the best safari destinations in Africa for first timers. It is a huge 7500 square miles and is home to the Big 5.

The Kruger National Park is one of the most accessible wildlife viewing areas in the world, with paved roads and lots of rest camps with excellent facilities. It is the perfect place for a self-drive safari.

You also have the Greater Kruger area where you will find the private game reserves.

Many of these private game reserves open out onto the Kruger and the animals are free to come and go.

The Southern end of the Kruger is known for the best wildlife viewing, but this is also where most visitors will go.

If you want game viewing away from the crowds, northern Kruger is the place to be.

Also keep an eye out for news on the new Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. It is a huge conservation initiative to create a 100,000km² park spanning South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe where animals will be free to roam.

As well as the big five, other animals include:

Cheetah
Hippo
Crocodile
The elusive Honeybadger (we’re quite proud of that sighting!)

Best time to visit the Kruger National Park

The best time to visit the Kruger Park is from April to October. See also our guide on the best time of year to safari in the Kruger.

Where to stay in the Kruger National Park

We have stayed outside of the park and done a self-drive safari and we have stayed in private game reserves on the fringes of the Kruger.

If you are visiting the Kruger with kids, see here for our recommendations for accommodation for families in the Kruger.

We also have posts on the best accommodation for families in Timbavati as well as reviews of Jackalberry Lodge and Thornybush Game Lodge.

We have also stayed in AfriCamps if we want to stay somewhere affordable just outside the park.

There are municipal camps within the Kruger National Park, but we find the accommodation there to be fairly expensive for what you get.

We have stayed at a couple of them in our tent when doing a cheap safari holiday. It was probably the most uncomfortable night’s sleep we’ve had.

It was in December and the daytime temperature was 45 °C. The ground heated up so much during the day and gave it all back during the night. It was like sleeping in a sauna.

Kruger National Park safaris

See here for safaris in the Kruger National Park.

3. Etosha National Park in Namibia

Etosha means ‘great white place’. It gets its name from the salt-laced mud found in the large salt pan in the centre of Etosha National Park.

This Namibian National Park is home to one of the most unique sights you will see on safari in Africa: The Ghost Elephants of Etosha National Park.

These enormous elephants wallow in the mud of the salt pan and when the mud dries, they are almost entirely white and are a sight to behold.

Honestly, take a look at the photo we took below. Even their eyelashes are coated. You can see why they are called Ghost Elephants of Etosha.

Etosha was proclaimed a national park in 1907. Like the Kruger, it is one of the most accessible game reserves in Southern Africa and is perfect for self-drive safaris.

It is accessed by four gates which are open from sunrise to sunset. See here for more info on Etosha entrance fees.

Wildlife is abundant and sightings of wildlife are made easy in the dry season when animals gather around the waterholes to drink.

The landscape is arid and flat and you can see for miles around.

One of our favorite spots was Okaukuejo Camp where we watched black rhino come to the floodlit waterhole in the evening.

Etosha has one of the largest black rhino populations in the world and thankfully has been realtively unaffected by poaching for the last 20 years.

The other great thing about Etosha that will appeal to families on safari is that it has a low risk of malaria. The Eastern Cape in South Africa is also good for family-safaris that are malaria free.

If you are interested in visiting Namibia, read all about how to plan an epic 2-week Nambian itinerary.

Best time to visit Etosha National Park

The best game viewing in Etosha is during the dry season (winter) which is from May to October.

During the summer months, the park transforms into a lush green landscape and wildlife viewing is a bit more difficult. Read more here on the best months to visit Etosha.

Where to stay in Etosha National Park

There are six camps within Etosha National Park. We have personally stayed at Okakuejo in our tent when we were doing budget safaris.

We have also stayed at Onguma Fort, Onguma Tented Camp and are about to stay at Onguma Forest Camp.

Etosha National Park safaris

See here for safaris in Etosha National Park. You might also like to read about our favourite wildlife tours in Swakopmund.

4. Okavango Delta in Botswana

Our safaris in the Okavango Delta were (and are still to this day) the best safaris in Africa for all round incredible animal sightings.

The Okavango Delta is the world’s largest inland Delta and one of the most remote places on the planet for a safari with fly-in access only to many of the camps.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 2014).

One of the unique things about the Okavango Delta is that you can take to the water for your game viewing.

The Okavango Delta is also an excellent destination for bird sightings with the possiblity of seeing some rare birds.

We didn’t know we were birders until we visited the Okavango Delta!

The safari adventure begins on your flight to camp as you can spot wildlife below. Elephants look like tiny specs in the huge wilderness.

You also get to appreciate how much of the land is under water.

One of the highlights of our safari from Nxabega was taking a mokoro (canoe) trip and a full-day boat safari.

The full-day boat safari involved a picnic stop on a tiny island and a chance to jump into the water for a swim. This could only be done under close supervision by the guide due to the proximity of crocodiles and hippos. A truly once in a lifetime experience.

It felt like we were getting lost in the many channels but our guide knew exactly where we were going.

This is probably a good place to mention that safari jeeps can be quite noisy. If you like the idea of floating along with just the sounds of nature, then a safari in the Okavango Delta is for you.

You also get the chance to spot things like minute reed frogs. Test your guide’s skills as they are incredibly difficult to spot. They are no bigger than a finger nail.

Animals you can expect to see in the Okavango Delta are:

Cheetah
Leopard
Crocodile
Lion
Hippo

(Pretty much everything)!

Best time to visist the Okavango Delta

The best time to visit the Okavango Delta is June to October. Read more here.

Where to stay in the Okavango Delta

We stayed at two luxury camps in the Okavango Delta and would highly recommend either of them.

Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge was great for birdlife. It is an open camp and we had the incredible experience of elephant wandering past our tent at night and giving it a little bump! Sandibe was also great for leopard spotting.

Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp was perfectly placed for exploring the Okavango by boat. They offer the most amazing mokoro safaris.

Okavango Delta safaris

See here for safaris in the Okavango Delta.

5. Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya

The Maasai Mara National Reserve (also known as the Masai Mara or the Mara) is one of the most popular safari destinations in Africa and certainly one of the best safaris in Kenya.

Located in the Great Rift Valley in Kenya, it is made up of 700 sq mi (1800 km²) of grassy plains and rolling hills.

This is the iconic African landscape with savannah dotted with Acacia trees that might spring to mind when you think of an African safari.

If you visit between August and November, you will witness the wildebeest migration – one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.  They cross to the Serengeti in Tanzania from the Maasai Mara in Kenya.

If you are visiting during this time, make sure to book well in advance because it is a very busy time of year. Note that due to changing weather patterns, the exact times change each year.

Animals you would expect to see in the Masai Mara are:

Lion
Leopard
Cheetah
African Bush Elephant
Plains animals (Wildebeest and Zebra)

The Maasai Mara has plenty of family-friendly lodges if you are looking for the best safari holidays with kids.

Best time to visit the Maasai Mara

The best time to safari in the Maasai Mara is between August and November if you want to see the Wildebeest migration.

However, it is actually one of the best African safari destinations for year-round safaris.

January to March is usually the quietest time to visit.

Read here for more information on the best times to visit the Masai Mara.

Where to stay in the Maasai Mara

Angama Mara is widely regarded as one of the best safari lodges in Kenya. We will let you know as we’re aiming to test it out shortly.

We stayed at the absolutely gorgeous Naboisho Camp in the Mara and can highly recommend it as well as the lovely Ololo Safari Camp located in Nairobi National Park which is very close to the airport. This is ideal if you want a day or two to relax when you first get to Kenya.

Maasai Mara safaris

See here for Maasai Mara safaris.

6. Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe

Mana Pools National Park is located in the north of Zimbabwe and runs along the Zambezi River and is one of the least developed national parks in Africa.

Mana means ‘four’ in Shona and refers to the four large permanent pools formed by the twisting and turning of the middle Zambezi.

It is one of Africa’s best safaris for elephant spotting with a huge population of elephants. Also prevalent are hippos and Nile Crocodile.

Mana Pools National Park offers one of the most beautiful safari destinations in Africa.

It’s known for its huge elephant population, many of which you can see in and around the water.

One of the unique offerings at Mana Pools National Park is a canoe safari.

You can explore Mana Pools without a guide but you would need a 4×4. This is not recommended for beginners.

For similar wildlife viewing, see also Lower Zambezi National Park which is just over the border in Zambia.

This one is on our list. We have not yet visited but will update this section when we have.

Best time to visit Mana Pools National Park

August to early November is the best time to visit Mana Pools as the water in the surrounding area has mostly dried up and animals flock to Mana Pools to drink.

Read here for a guide to visiting Zimbabwe at different times of the year.

Where to stay in Mana Pools National Park

Kanga Camp is situated in a private concession in Mana Pools. It is a rustic camp with the most incredible game viewing from the camp.

Mana Pools National Park safaris

Read here for safaris in Mana Pools National Park

7. Sabi Sands Game Reserve in South Africa

Sabi Sands Game Reserve is a private reserve located near the southern end of the Kruger and is home to the Big 5.

Sabi Sands is one of the best African Safaris for leopard sightings. We were lucky enough to spot one with its kill. He was trying to drag it up a tree but it was just too big so he settled for a hill in front of our jeep instead.

The game reserve is also known for its excellent birdlife. Make sure to bring your binoculars along for the ride.

Best time to visit Sabi Sands Game Reserve

The best time to visit Sabi Sands Game Reserve is during the winter months (April to October) when the bush is sparse. It makes it much easier to spot the animals.

Where to stay in Sabi Sands Game Reserve

We actually stayed in Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge which is within Sabi Sabi Game Reserve. This is one of the best safari lodges for kids because they have a fabulous children’s centre.

Sabi Sands Game Reserve safaris

See here for Sabi Sands safaris.

8. Amboseli National Park in Kenya

Amboseli National Park is one of Kenya’s most popular national parks.

For me personally, this is one of the best safari destinations in Africa because it was the first safari I ever took in 2002.

I will never forget seeing the plain animals grazing as far as the eye could see with the silhouette of Mount Kilimanjaro in the background.

It has to be one of the most iconic safari destinations in the world.

The great thing about a safari in Amboseli National Park is that you can easily combine this with a relaxing beach break afterwards.

We opted to visit Zanzibar by driving across the border into Tanzania and flying from Arusha. But you could equally drive on through Tsavo National Park towards Mombasa and the Kenyan beaches.

If you are feeling adventurous, why not join an expedition to climb Mount Kilimanjaro? This has been on my bucketlist since seeing this view all those years ago.

Best time to visit Amboseli National Park

The best time for a safari in Amboseli National Park is between June to October.

This is the dry season and the grass is shorter. Read more about Amboseli here.

Where to stay in Amboseli National Park

I visited Amboseli National Park in 2002 and stayed at Porini Amboseli Camp. Obviously I can’t vouch for what it is like these days but we loved it. It was a true African tented camp. We even had someone come and pour hot water into a bucket outside our tent to feed our shower!

If this is a bit too basic for you, Go2Africa can recommend some excellent safari lodges in Amboseli.

Amboseli National Park safaris

See here for Amboseli National Park safaris.

9. Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania

The Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979 and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.

It is an incredible place for wildlife viewing and in our view, one of the best ssafari destinations in Africa to see the Big 5.

It is one of the best places to see black-maned lions and black rhinos and is famed for being one of the most reliable Big 5 safari destinations in Africa.

There are around 30,000 animal species in the Ngorongoro Crater but no giraffe because the walls of the crater are just too steep for them.

When we went, there was a lake in the center of the Crater where huge flocks of flamingo congregated and the occasional cheeky hyena would try their luck to catch one.

Best time to visit the Ngorongoro Crater

The best time of year to safari in the Ngorongoro Crater is April to May. This is the rainy season and there will be far fewer visitors. Read all about the best months to visit the Ngorongoro here.

Where to stay in the Ngorongoro Crater

We stayed at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge. We couldn’t fault it and the views from the hotel were incredible. It is perched just on the crater rim. You can see in the photo below just how amazing the views are.

For a more upmarket Ngorongoro hotel, we also recommend andBeyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge.

You can also find these Serena Safari Lodge on Booking.com and Expedia. It is worth comparing prices if you are booking independently.

Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge on Booking.com

Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge on Expedia.com

Ngorongoro Crater safaris

See here for Ngorongoro Crater safaris.

10. Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda

A safari doesn’t have to all be about the Big-5. A Gorilla safari is an incredible experience and will leave lasting memories.

There are fewer than 1000 Mountain Gorillas in the world, although conservation efforts seem to have been working. Numbers are slowly increasing but they are still endangered.

The Mountain Gorillas can be found in three locations: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is has more than twice the number of habituated mountain gorillas than Uganda and it is easier to get Gorilla permits to see them.

It is also only 2 hours drive from Kigali Airport, making it the most accessible location for gorilla trekking in world.

Depending on where the group is you are tracking, your walk to reach the gorillas can be 30 minutess or a few hours.

You are advised to stay a few metres from the gorillas. This isn’t just for your own safety but also to try to prevent spreading human disease to these endangered animals.

During our gorilla trek, we encountered some playful babies who seemed to find it amusing to drop down right in front of us. They obviously didn’t understand the 6-metre rule!

Gorilla trekking safaris should be organised well in advance because only a certain number of permits are available per day.

Best time to visit Volcanoes National Park

The best time to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda is between December to early March and June to September. This is the dry season in Rwanda.

Read more about the best time to visit Rwanda here.

Where to stay in Volcanoes National Park

Bisate Lodge is one of the best places to stay in Volcanoes National Park. Not only does it offer exceptional luxury, it also teamed up with the local community to re-forest an area with 2000 trees. It is committed to eco-friendly tourism.

The hotel looks like gorilla nests in the trees. There are only 6 suites, accommodating up to 12 guests. It is a truly an incredible experience staying here.

Volcanoes National Park safaris

See here for Gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda.

11. South Luangwa National Park in Zambia

South Luangwa National Park is Zambia’s top wildlife destination.

In terms of best safaris in Africa, South Luangwa is a relative newcomer and much of its 5600 sq mi (9000 km²) is unexplored.

This makes it a great place for more experienced safari-goers who are looking for something wild with a bit more of an edge.

This park is where walking safaris all started and are one of the best ways to see wildlife still. Among the animals you will see in South Luangwa are the Big 5 as well as endemic species such as Crawshay’s zebra and Thornicroft’s giraffe.

This one is on our list. We have not yet visited but will update this section when we have.

Best time to visit South Luangwa National Park

The best time to visit South Luangwa National Park for wildlife viewing is July to October (dry season). November to April is the wet season and the park will be quieter. This is a better time for bird-watching.

Where to stay in South Luangwa National Park

Billed as South Luangwa’s most luxurious lodge, Time and Tide Chimzombo is a must see.

South Luangwa National Park safaris

See here for safaris in South Luangwa National Park.

12. Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda

The Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in western Uganda. It’s one of the most diverse parks in the country with mountains, swamps, tropical forests, savannahs and wetland areas.

It sits between Lake George and Lake Edward which are connected by the Kazinga Channel. Here you can take boat cruises for some leisurely wildlife spotting along the riverbanks.

It has the highest bird diversity in all of Africa making it one of the best safari destinations in Africa for birders. It also has one of the largest variety of animals in any Ugandan park.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is also famous for its tree-climbing lions which can be found in the Ishasha sector in the south.

If you are looking for chimpanzees, you will find them in the forests of the Kyambura Gorge.

If you are flying into Kampala or Entebbe for your safari, why not incorporate a trip to Jinja, the source of the Nile?

The area is great for white water rafting.

Best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park

The best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park is between January and February and June to July. This is the dry season when animal viewing is at its best.

Where to stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Wake up to the sounds of hippos in the morning at Ishasha Wilderness Camp, a small camp set on the banks of Ntungwe River.

Queen Elizabeth National Park safaris

See here for safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

13. Hwangwe National Park in Zimbabwe

Hwangwe National Park is located in the far north west of Zimbabwe. It is the largest nature reserve in Zimbabwe at 5600 sq mi (14,600 km²).

It is made up of grasslands and mopane woods which are home to elephant herds, lions and African wild dogs.

It is home to 30,000 elephants which is the second largest elephant population in the world after Chobe National Park in Botswana.

Of course, you can’t come to this part of Zimbabwe and not visit one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and World Heritage Site – Victoria Falls.

Hwangwe has suffered hugely in the past from poaching. Whilst it has not been eradicated, a large population of African Wild Dogs is said that have aided in the reduction of poaching.

This one is on our list. We have not yet visited but will update this section when we have.

Best time to visit Hwangwe National Park

The best time to visit Hwangwe National Park is between August and early November. This is the dry season when animal viewing is at its best and the risk of malaria at its lowest.

Where to stay in Hwangwe National Park

See here for all recommended accommodation in Hwangwe National Park.

Hwangwe National Park safaris

See here for safaris in Hwangwe National Park.

14. Damaraland in Namibia

Damaraland is a region located in the north-central part of Namibia.

The apparent near-barren landscape is home to a surprising number of desert-adapted animals. Most notably the rare desert-adapted elephants.

The red rocky, mountainous scenery is breathtaking (reminding us slightly of Wadi Rum). Make sure to climb high to catch a sunset with sundowners.

We can personally vouch for it being a great spot for a proposal! We last visited in 2010 and visited again in 2023.

We went in search of the desert elephants and we found them! Such a unique sighting compared to the many hundreds of elephant sightings we’ve had over the years.

While visiting this region of Namibia, you should visit the rock art at Twyfelfontein, Namibia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you will find 5000 cave paintings and carvings dating back 6000 to 10,000 years.

Best time to visit Damaraland

The best time to visit Damaraland is May to October as this is the dry season. Wet season becomes very humid.

Where to stay in Damaraland

We have previously stayed in Camp Kipwe and Mowani which were both absolutely incredible.

Camp Kipwe – the rooms are built into the landscape so you can barely see them. Take a look at the photo below of our suite.

Mowani Mountain Camp – thatched suites that blend seemlessly with the surrounding landscape.

If you are travelling independently, you can check prices and book on Booking.com which is sometimes cheaper.

Camp Kipwe

Mowani Mountain Camp

Damaraland safaris

See here for safaris in Damaraland.

Preparing for your first African safari

To ensure you have the best African safari experience, there are a few things you need to work out before you book anything:

• Which animals would you really like to see? Some destinations are better than others for elephants, for example or leopards.
• If you are looking to save money on your safari, you might want to consider a destination where you can do self-drive safaris.
• Another tip for booking cheaper safaris is to travel in the off-season or shoulder season. This is usually the wet season. It doesn’t necessarily rain all the time and game viewing may not be as good but there will also be less crowds.
• If it is your first safari, consider getting a guide. See below our reasons for hiring a guide.

Reasons to hire a guide

If game drives aren’t included in your accommodation, it’s a good idea to hire a safari guide as they will find the best wildlife for you.

There have been times when I couldn’t even see an animal when the guide pointed it out. So there would have been no chance of me spotting it without a guide.

Either that or take kids. They seem to spot everything!

The guides are also extremely knowledgeable and you can ask them any questions you like. This is great if you have kids who love asking non-stop questions.

If you’re lucky, they might have some fantastic safari tales to tell. If you want to know what I’m talking about, I recommend reading ‘Whatever You Do, Don’t Run‘ by Peter Allison.

You are also giving back to the local community by hiring a local guide.

Things to take on safari drives

Don’t forget to bring a camera with a decent zoom lense and binoculars.

If you are going on safari with kids, you might find our guide to things to take on safari with kids helpful.

If you are taking game drives through your luxury safari lodge, they will pack a lot of essential items into the safari jeep, including snacks and drinks.

If you are self-driving, make sure to take these with you as there will be nowhere to grab them once in the National Parks (except Etosha and the Kruger).

Clothes

Waterproof coat in rainy season and a lightweight fleece top in the dry, winter season. It can get very cold on evening game drives.

Think about colours. You shouldn’t wear navy blue or black if you are travelling to an area with Tetse flies. White is also a bad colour to wear on safari. Bright colours are generally a no-no.

Try to go for neutral colors like beige and khaki green. Avoid camo though as it is banned in certain countries.

Even if you are staying in a luxury safari lodge, you will not be expected to dress for dinner so no need to pack your most fabulous evening dress.

Other things to take on safari include:

Insect repellent
Anti-malarials (if applicable)
Sturdy shoes in case of a walking safari
Sunglasses
Hat
Sunscreen
Flashlight

African Safaris Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions by travelers who want to experience the best safaris in Africa:

Which is the best month to go on an African safari?

Africa is a very large continent and climates differ greatly by country. We have given detailed information on the best times to visit each of the best safari destinations in Africa to help you decide.

Which country is best for a family safari?

South Africa and Namibia would be ideal safari destinations in Africa for families given the malaria free safari options they offer. After that, we would suggest Kenya.

Which is the best safari in Africa to see the Big 5?

All of the above recommendations will offer the chance to see the Big 5 (with the exception of the Volcanoes National Park). In our experience, however, your best chance of seeing the Big 5 is in the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.

What is the average cost of a safari?

There isn’t really an average cost of a safari. There are luxury safaris costing many thousands of dollars and then there are budget, self-drive safaris. You need to think about how much you would like to spend and work from there.

The best thing to do is to speak to a safari consultant at Go2Africa and they can work something around your budget.

Don’t forget to budget for tips and have some (preferably) USD for this. This is our rough guide for tipping on safari although it is a personal choice at the end of the day:

Ranger: $20 per day per suite.

Tracker: $15 per day per suite.

Butler: $10 per day per suite.

General staff: $10 per day per suite.

How many days on safari is enough?

We are often asked ‘how many days should you spend on an Africa safari?’

The most popular duration for a safari holiday is between 7 and 14 days. Obviously, how much time you spend on safari is a personal choice. What we would say is that the longer you have, the more places you shouuld visit.

Remember that you will be going out on safari in the morning and evening and if you are doing this in the same place every day for 2 weeks, it can get a bit much.

Take the opportunity to try out a few lodges. We recommend spending 3 to 4 nights in a lodge before moving on.

If you are on safari with kids, we also recommend breaking up the safari holiday with a stay somewhere on the coast or somewhere completely different.

This is why South Africa is a great safari destination for families because it has so many beautiful places to visit.

Conclusion: The Best Safari Destinations in Africa

With so many amazing safari destinations in Africa to choose from, it’s very hard to go wrong with any of the above recommendations.

If you do find any other amazing African safari destinations, let us know!