If you’re planning your first wildlife adventure, and wondering where to go for the best safari in Africa, this article is the perfect guide.
Choosing where to go on your first Africa safari is exciting but can also be overwhelming and confusing. With so many amazing destinations, it can be hard to know where to start!
But don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.
From Kenya’s classic savannahs to Namibia’s surreal deserts, here are our five top spots for the best first-time safari in Africa and expert advice about what to expect and which game parks to visit.
First on our list of places for the best safari in Africa is South Africa - the ideal place for a first African safari.
Expect world-class wildlife experiences, a wide choice of accommodation options, plenty of reserves to choose from, and excellent travel infrastructure.
With some malaria-free destinations and family-friendly setups, it’s the perfect mix for a first-time safari in Africa.
Whether you’re after big games, big views, or big adventures, South Africa is often referred to as a world in one country, and it certainly does have something for everyone!
South Africa is famous for Big Five safaris, where you can tick lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalo off your list.
But it’s not just about the wildlife; the landscapes are diverse and awe-inspiring too – think wide-open savannahs, arid desert-like landscapes, lush forests, dense bushveld, and dramatic coastlines.
A bonus is the good roads - perfect for road trips - and airports linking all the major destinations like Cape Town, Kruger, and Durban. This makes it easy to combine your South Africa safari with exploring some of the country's most iconic destinations.
Imagine seeing the Big 5 in Kruger National Park before zipping off to sip wine in vineyards around Cape Town, driving along the scenic Garden Route, or seeing the jaw-dropping views of the Panorama Route.
South Africa is also the cheapest Africa safari destination on this list, so if being budget-conscious is a priority, it offers the best safari in Africa for first-time visitors.
Kruger National Park: A classic for a reason, Kruger has a reputation for the best safaris in Africa. It’s huge, packed with wildlife, and has everything you could want, including activities and restaurants. It has accommodation options ranging from budget campsites to swanky lodges, with options to suit every budget. For a more intimate experience, head to the Greater Kruger reserves like Sabi Sands, Balule, or Thornybush.
Addo Elephant National Park: Perfect for families, Addo is malaria-free and known for its big elephant herds. Just outside Port Elizabeth, Addo is the perfect destination for a self-drive exploration along the Garden Route.
Aquila Private Game Reserve: Just two hours from Cape Town, Aquila is perfect for a day trip or a short stay. It’s malaria-free, family-friendly, and offers Big Five sightings in a stunning setting.
Timing South Africa safari depends on where you’re headed.
For Cape Town and nearby reserves like Aquila, the summer months (November to March) are your best bet for warm, dry weather.
Addo Elephant National Park is great year-round, but the dry season (June to September) is prime for wildlife watching.
Over in Kruger, the dry season, from May to September, is ideal for spotting animals around waterholes and enjoying clear, bush-free views.
Browse our South Africa Safaris where you can use our handy search tool to filter by price, trip length, must-see destinations, and even the wildlife you’re dreaming of spotting.
If you’re dreaming of the classical Out of Africa safari with wide-open savannahs dotted with acacia trees and teeming with wildlife, Kenya is the place to be.
Known as the home of the classic African safari, it’s one of the top contenders for the best safari in Africa, and can easily be combined with a visit to the county's stunning coastal regions too.
Kenya’s breathtaking landscapes and world-renowned wildlife reserves make it a top choice for your first Africa safari.
It’s home to the Great Migration, where millions of wildebeest and zebras thunder across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.
Plus the country boasts some fascinating indigenous cultural experiences – meeting the Maasai people and learning about their traditions is unforgettable.
All of this makes Kenya a firm favourite for the best safari in Africa.
Maasai Mara National Reserve: The most famous reserve in Kenya, the Masai Mara is world-renowned for the Great Migration and its incredible predator sightings. A must-visit for a first-time Africa safari in Kenya. To learn more about visiting the Masai Mara, read our blog Unforgettable Masai Mara Safaris from Nairobi.
Amboseli National Park: Known for its large elephant herds and stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Amboseli offers iconic photo opportunities of African wildlife set against the backdrop of The Roof of Africa.
Hell’s Gate: With towering cliffs, dramatic gorges and rising plumes of geothermal activity, this place has to be seen to be believed. Worth visiting for the spectacular scenery alone, Hell’s Gate isn’t home to any dangerous predators. This means you can enjoy walking and cycling safaris here - a rarity on African safaris and the perfect way to see the Kenyan landscapes from a different angle.
To see the Great Migration, visit between July and October.
To see lush landscapes and newborn animals on your first Africa safari, the birthing season (January-February) is fantastic too, as parks are filled with young lion cubs, as well as newly born zebras, wildebeest and antelope. These young also attract the attention of predators.
Known sometimes as the ‘Lion season’, this can be a good time to see Kenya’s most iconic predators in action.
Browse our Kenya Safaris which can be filtered by price, trip length, must-see destinations, and wildlife.
Tanzania is another top rival for the best safari in Africa for first-timers, blending iconic wildlife with breathtaking scenery and iconic natural attractions.
African safaris here can easily be combined with trips to the amazing island of Zanzibar, which offers epic snorkelling opportunities and stunning white-sand beaches.
Home to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania's Northern Safari Circuit is a safari mecca.
It’s famous for the Great Migration and its abundant African wildlife, including the Big Five animals.
If you’re looking for the best safari in Africa, you shouldn’t overlook this incredible East African country!
Serengeti National Park: A year-round haven for predators and herbivores alike, the Great Migration that takes place here is known as the greatest show on Earth. Seeing the Serengeti has to be on the list of the best Africa safari experiences!
Ngorongoro Crater: This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a remarkable natural wonder and one of the best places in Africa to spot the Big Five thanks to the large concentration of animals.
Tarangire National Park: Tarangire National Park has one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Tanzania. Part of Tanzania's famed Northern Safari Circuit, Tarangire is a must for first-time African safaris to Tanzania.
The dry season (June to October) is best for wildlife viewing in Tanzania, with strong concentrations of wildlife making animal spotting easier.
To see the incredible spectacle that is the Great Migration, visit either from December to March, when the wildebeest give birth and nurture their calves, or from June to October when the herds prepare to cross the Mara River into Kenya.
Browse our Tanzania Safaris, making use of our handy search tool, to filter by duration, price, parks and wildlife.
Namibia offers an Africa safari experience like no other.
Here, vast otherworldly deserts and wild coastlines meet unique wildlife, making it an ideal country for travellers seeking something a bit different.
If you want to get off the beaten track and enjoy a unique type of wildlife trip, Namibia could be the best safari in Africa for you.
Namibia’s dramatic landscapes are its main draw.
From the towering dunes of Sossusvlei to the wildlife-rich Etosha National Park, it’s a photographer’s paradise.
Plus, its arid climate creates an exciting setting for spotting animals, like desert-adapted elephants and rhinos.
Etosha National Park: The salt pan at this park’s heart attracts diverse wildlife, making it a top spot for an Africa safari. Here you can see 4 of the Big 5, with only buffalo missing.
Namib Desert: Not a safari park as such, but still a not-to-be-missed natural spectacle in Namibia all the same! Home to the iconic Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, the Namib Desert showcases breathtaking landscapes of towering red dunes and white clay pans. These surreal attractions are a photographer's dream and a must-visit for anyone wanting to experience Namibia's unique beauty.
Skeleton Coast: Famous for its eerie shipwrecks and seal colonies, this is a fascinating destination to add to your Africa safari.
Namibia’s dry season, which runs from May to October, is ideal for spotting wildlife at Etosha's waterholes.
However, the cooler months of April and May, also offer pleasant weather for exploring the deserts and coastlines.
Browse our Namibia Safaris, filtering them by price, trip length, must-see destinations, and wildlife using our easy search tool.
Botswana’s pristine wilderness and commitment to conservation make it a top destination for the best safari in Africa for first-timers.
It’s also one of the most economically developed and stable African countries, offering good safety levels and excellent accommodation choices.
Botswana’s low-impact tourism model means fewer crowds and more intimate wildlife encounters.
The Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasts abundant wildlife populations and is a truly unique place, unlike anywhere else in the world.
Nearby Chobe National Park is also home to the greatest concentration of elephants in the world!
Okavango Delta: A one-of-a-kind destination, known for some of the best safaris in Africa, this stunning location boasts incredible wildlife sightings, as well as breathtaking natural beauty. Explore this lush oasis by mokoro (traditional dugout canoe), or on guided walks. A once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Chobe National Park: Famous for its elephants, Chobe also offers some of the best boat safaris in Africa. Watch the riverside and bathing wildlife as you glide by at sunset.
Moremi Game Reserve: A mix of wetlands and dry areas, Moremi is a wildlife hotspot - perfect for seeing predators in action and diverse birdlife.
The dry season, from May to October, is ideal for game viewing as animals gather around scarce water sources.
Time your visit to the Okavango Delta to coincide with higher water levels here, which peak from June to August when the floods arrive from Angola.
Browse our Botswana Safaris, using our handy search tool to filter by price, trip length, area, or even the wildlife you’re dreaming of seeing.
Whether you’re drawn to an accessible South Africa safari, the iconic savannahs of Kenya, Tanzania’s dramatic wildlife scenes, the surreal deserts in Namibia, or Botswana’s exclusive wilderness, we can help you find the best safari in Africa for your first visit.
Use our simple tour search tool to narrow down your choices, or speak to one of our Africa safari experts to start planning your first safari now.
Otherwise, if you need some extra tips on how to prepare for your Africa safari, check out our handy guides, which are filled with the usual information about planning a perfect safari and what to expect on your first safari in Africa.
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