Look ahead to the best safaris in Africa. With so much to offer, choosing an African travel destination can be difficult. Keep it simple and let us show you the 5 best safari destinations in Africa.
We will also show you some of the best safari tours to get you there with less fuss.
You can’t compare apples and oranges, and a safari in Africa is no different. With so much variety in animals and landscapes, there is an experience for every taste. From classic safari experiences in the wide open plains of the Serengeti to deserted beaches in Mozambique, and Big 5 safaris in South Africa, these are the 5 best safaris in Africa.
Known as the Rainbow Nation, South Africa’s landscapes are as diverse as its colourful people. Budget-friendly with excellent infrastructure, South Africa remains popular with solo travellers and families alike.
Fly to Cape Town and experience the highlights of the Mother City, The Wine Route, and the Whale Route, before road-tripping your way along the Garden Route, and onwards to the Kruger National Park or iSimangaliso, South Africa safaris offer a little bit of everything.
South Africa boasts Big 5 safaris near Cape Town, the only Big 7 reserve in the world – Addo Elephant National Park, an abundance of UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Robben Island, the Cradle of Humankind, iSimangaliso, and the Maloti Drakensberg, as well as some of the best Big 5 game viewing anywhere in Africa.
Yes, I am talking about the Kruger National Park.
An astonishing wildlife reserve, the Kruger National Park remains one of Africa’s safari highlights. A magic combination of abundant wildlife, affordability, and accessibility, makes Kruger National Park - hands down - the best safari in Africa. Catering for budget travellers as well as offering exclusive safari options in the Greater Kruger, Kruger National Park is South Africa’s top safari destination and home to some of the best safaris in Africa.
Read our comprehensive FREE Kruger Guide or find out how to Combine Cape Town with a Kruger Safari.
Rwanda is a tiny African nation with a troubled past. The resilience of the Rwandan people combined with some stunning destinations has turned Rwanda into a destination for the best safaris in Africa.
From its famously clean capitol city Kigali and the Genocide Memorial Centre to the lush UNESCO World Heritage Site of Nyungwe Forest, the surprising savannah Big 5 destination of Akagera National Park, and the gorilla trekking mecca that is Volcanoes National Park.
Rwanda offers some of the best safaris in Africa thanks to Volcanoes National Park, and the opportunity to see and spend time with mountain gorillas.
Volcanoes National Park offers the rare opportunity to visit the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Widely considered the best African safari destination to see gorillas because of its accessibility and well-habituated gorilla families, Volcanoes National Park makes for an unforgettable experience.
Learn more about gorilla trekking in Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC by reading our Gorilla Trekking FAQs.
Curious about Rwanda? Read our FREE Rwanda Safari Guide for all you need to know about one of the best safari destinations in Africa.
Home of the Serengeti and the great wildebeest migration, Tanzania is the quintessential African safari destination. One of Africa’s top destinations for safaris, the northern safari circuit includes Arusha, Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park, Oldupai Gorge, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Mt. Meru, and the Serengeti National Park.
The relative proximity of the attractions on the northern safari circuit has kept Tanzania close to the top of the best safaris in Africa list. Add to these gems Zanzibar and the more remote parks like Nyerere (formerly Selous), Ruaha, and the Mahale Mountains, and Tanzania is a treasure trove of safari excellence for every safari enthusiast from first-timers wanting to witness the great migration to experienced explorers looking for a true wilderness adventure, and then there is Zanzibar.
Zanzibar is a paradise of Indian Ocean culture, soft sand beaches, and warm waters. With direct flights, it's easy to add a stopover in Zanzibar to any itinerary. Whether you’re looking for history and culture in Stone Town, a relaxing beach getaway, or a water-based adventure packed with water sports, Zanzibar has something for everyone. Ideal for families, adventurous solo travellers, or romantic getaways, visiting Zanzibar ticks all the boxes.
For more info, check out our Zanzibar FAQs.
To witness the timelessness of Africa, visit the Serengeti National Park for one of the best safaris in Africa. The Serengeti’s vast plains host the great migration for a large part of the year. Witness life and death struggles during the calving season, vast herds in the central Seronera region or river crossings over the Grumeti or Mara Rivers.
Renowned for excellent predator action, especially large prides of lions, the Serengeti will hold you in awe of its endless tree-studded plains. To add something extra special to an already remarkable experience, consider a hot air balloon ride for a different perspective altogether.
While many intrepid travellers want to see the great Migration, the Serengeti has so much more to offer. To find out more about the best time to visit one of Africa’s best safari destinations, read our blog What is the Best Time to Visit the Serengeti?
You can read more in our Tanzania Guide, or explore what the Serengeti has to offer in our comprehensive Serengeti Safari Guide.
With an endless network of relatively good roads and a small population, nowhere in southern Africa does BIG like Namibia. Renowned for surreal desert landscapes, red sand dunes, abandoned desert towns, wild horses, desert adventure sports, fascinating desert culture, and amazing desert wildlife, Namibia packs a big punch.
Affordable and easy to reach from South Africa, Namibia's highlights include the Namib Desert – the oldest desert in the world, Seisriem Canyon, Sossusvlei and the epic Dune 45, Swakopmund and the Skeleton Coast. For the best Namibian safari, look no further than Etosha National Park where animals crowd the watering holes and rhinos visit in the cool of night.
Take a look at some of Namibia's offerings in 6 of the Best, Namibian Safari Highlights.
Etosha National Park, centred around the Etosha Pan in the far north of Namibia, is a harsh environment, known as the Great Dry Place. Elephants nick-named 'white ghosts' drift across the heat-shimmering earth and an abundance of wildlife like oryx, springbok, eland, giraffes, zebras, rhinos and more gather around watering holes, especially in the winter months. Predators like lions, leopards, and cheetahs lie in wait adding to the suspense and drama of the landscape.
Etosha is a special destination and makes it onto our list for some of the best safaris in Africa. Read more about Etosha in our FREE Etosha Safari Guide.
Botswana has long offered some of the best safaris in Africa. A huge expanse of arid terrain punctuated by the emerald jewel of the Okavango Delta and the Chobe River, Botswana built its safari industry on quality and exclusivity.
However, in recent years Botswana has become more accessible to the budget safari market.
While Botswana’s offerings include the Makgadigadi and Nxai Pans, and the Central Kalahari National Park, visitors are often drawn to Chobe, Moremi, and the Khwai Area.
Read more in our Botswana Safari Guide. Without a doubt, however, Botswana’s top safari destination is the UNESCO World Heritage Site marvel which is the Okavango Delta.
Covering over 2 million hectares of pristine wilderness, the Okavango is dotted with hard-to-reach safari lodges. These lodges offer some of the best safaris in Africa. Surrounded by the Kalahari Desert, animals flock to this rare desert oasis as the desert dries and water flows from Angola’s highlands, through Namibia and into one of the largest inland deltas in the world.
Experience a tranquil mokoro ride through the reed beds, walking safaris, and game viewing replete with the Big 5 and an abundance of other wildlife. Traditional lodges, tented camps, and mobile camps offer an immersive safari experience where you can fall asleep to the sounds of Africa after eating your fill of gourmet dishes around a campfire.
The best news? The best safari in Africa is now accessible on a budget. Read more about the Okavango Delta and all that Botswana's safari gem has to offer in our comprehensive Okavango Delta Guide.
Zambia, home of the Victoria Falls, remains an underrated safari destination.
The traditional home of the walking safari, South Luangwa National Park remains remote and unspoiled. For a secluded safari escape to the ‘real Africa’, Zambia is difficult to beat. Add to this a trip to Victoria Falls, and Zambia shapes up to be a very enticing African safari destination.
You can read all about Zambia and some of Africa's best safari destinations in our FREE Zambia Safari Guide.
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