The 6 Best places to go on safari in Africa (where to go on African safaris)
Published on 08 August 2022, Last updated on 23 April 2024.
By Landia Davies in Best Things to Do.
If you want to experience the best safari in Africa, you need to know where to go. Not just any place on the continent will do. The key is finding the best place to safari in Africa, for you.
2. Choose where to go in Africa for safari, based on your interests and preferences
3. Contact travel experts (like us) for help planning your best safari in Africa. Or, take a look at the affordable safaris to your favourite places to visit in Africa.
When you plan where to go on safari in Africa, be sure to:
Check the time of year you plan to visit and adjust your dates or destinations if needed (or talk to a travel expert who can help you with this).
Decide on your travel budget and travel/safari style (again, a travel expert can help you figure out the best options for you).
Talk to a safari travel expert. One of our friendly travel consultants will be happy to give you free travel advice and help you book the best safari in Africa, for you.
Kenya: Masai Mara & Wildlife Conservancies in Kenya
Tanzania: Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater & Northern Tanzania Parks
South Africa: Kruger National Park & Greater Kruger Park
Botswana: Okavango Delta, Moremi, and Chobe (Northern Parks)
Namibia: Etosha National Park
Zambia: South Luangwa National Park
These are 6 of the best places to visit in Africa for safari tours of a lifetime. They are the most famous places for the overall best safari in Africa.
Why are these the best places to safari?
The six places listed above offer the best all-around safari experiences in Africa. In terms of wildlife, accessibility, safety, accommodation, safari activities, tours on offer, and safari prices.
They are the game reserves and national parks that host large numbers of big animals. Most of them are Big 5 safari destinations. Each destination hosts an impressive variety of African wildlife and birds.
Each of these safari regions is rated as one of the best places to safari in Africa for practical reasons too. They are all safe and they are relatively easy to get to. The roads are fairly good, if not excellent. There is also plenty of accommodation in or near these wildlife parks including a range of options for different budgets.
These game parks are also the best places to go in Africa for safari tours because they are located in countries with well-established tourism industries. They are in relatively safe and stable African countries. Because these top places for safaris are set up for tourism they offer fantastic activities and more amenities and attractions for visitors. These wildlife destinations attract the finest safari guides and the best safari companies. The safari lodges and accommodation options at these top African destinations are also excellent.
3. South Africa: Kruger National Park & Greater Kruger
Reasons to go on safari in Kruger National Park & Greater Kruger Park in South Africa.
Diversity and abundance of wildlife - more than 145 mammal species, and a rich array of reptiles, insects, amphibians, and even fish
Massive size - one of the biggest game reserves in Africa, Kruger covers an area of nearly 2 million hectares, and Greater Kruger's private game reserves a further 344,000 hectares
Exceptional Big 5 animal sightings - one of the best Big 5 game reserves in Africa with frequent sightings of Africa's Big 5 (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant)
Leopard sightings - Kruger (especially Greater Kruger game reserves, like Sabi Sands) is one of the best places to see leopards in Africa.
Exclusive safari experiences - uncrowded safaris in the private game reserves of Greater Kruger
Exciting activities - guided 4x4 safaris and in Greater Kruger walking safaris, night game drives, and off-road game drives
Biodiverse and a birding hotspot - home to an incredible diversity of species including over 500 species of birds across nine biomes
Year-round safari destination - abundant wildlife and good climate throughout the year
Something for everyone - Kruger offers a wide range of accommodation options, activities, and types of safaris for all budgets
Reasons South Luangwa Park in Zambia is shortlisted for the best safari in Africa:
Best place for walking safaris - South Luangwa is famous for its guided game walks and is the place where walking safaris originated
Remote and less-visited wildlife park - experience a crowd-free safari in a secluded and wild African national park
High concentrations of wildlife - it hosts an abundance of animals, especially along the Luangwa River and lagoons where hippos and crocodiles proliferate
Scenic and diverse - a lush, tropical game reserve set in a beautiful wide valley with plains, woodlands, lagoons, and marshes
Big 5 safari destination - exceptional leopard sightings, large herds of elephants and buffaloes, excellent lion sightings, and rhinos
Top birding destination - renowned for its birdlife, South Luangwa hosts over 400 bird species and special avian migrations like the carmine-bee eater migration
Unusual and endangered animals - South Luangwa Park is a stronghold for endangered African wild dogs and unusual species such as Thornicroft’s giraffe, puku, Cookson’s wildebeest, and Crawshay’s zebra.
Leopards and elephants - home to one of the highest densities of leopards in the world and large herds of elephants, as well as buffalos
Authentic African adventure - explore a wild and unspoiled wildlife area off the beaten track for an immersive African bush experience
Now you have a good sense of where to go in Africa for safari experiences you'll love. These are just a few of the best places to visit in Africa for safari trips of a lifetime. They offer some of the best safaris in the world.
But, there are plenty of other destinations where you can experience the best safari in Africa. It all depends on your idea of the ultimate African safari.
To find the best safari in Africa, for you, talk to a travel expert. Our experienced advisors can help you find the best place to safari in Africa, based on your passions, interests, budget, and tastes. They really know Africa, so they'll be able to help you decide where's best for you to go on safari in Africa!
Landia Davies Content Manager & Sculptor
Landia is a nature and animal lover. This South African woman avoids crowds seeking out quiet places. She has worked in the African safari industry for over 16 years!
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