Top 3 Safari Destinations in Africa
One of the most amazing travel experiences in the world is seeing the Big 5 and all the other wild life in Africa. Every single moment that you are out on a game drive is unique and different. Due to this, the cost of a safari is often quite high. Most people only go on a safari once in their life (if that). That is why you should maximise your chances of having an amazing experience.
Having the opportunity to see wild life in their natural habitat, with no enclosures and no fences is absolutely incredible. But this also means that you cannot predict which animals you will see and in which quantity. To have the best chances at spotting the Big 5 & other wild life, I have listed the top 3 countries to book a safari. These countries are known to have some of the most dense wild life and spotting the big 5 is the easiest around these areas.
Tanzania
Wildlife: Big 5 (rhino's are rare, but you can spot them) + Big Cats + Wildebeest Migration
Best time to visit: July - August (and into November)
Cost: $$-$$$
The number 1 spot in the world to go on a safari is without a doubt Tanzania. It is known to be the home to a variety of wildlife and has some of the highest chances of seeing all of the Big 5 during a safari trip. Africa has a lot of unique experiences and landscapes but there is nothing quite like seeing the Great Migration in the Serengeti. Another must see spot is the Ngorongoro Crater, the largest crater in Africa, home to the most dense wildlife.
Lion in the Serengeti Tanzania
Recommended Game Drives + National Parks
Ngorongoro Crater
Lake Manyara
Tangire National Park
Other Experiences in Tanzania:
Masai Mara (mainly in Kenya, but also a small population in Tanzania)
Mount Kilimanjaro
Zanzibar
Read all about my own experience of going on a safari in Tanzania here.
Wildebeest Migration around the Serengeti Tanzania
South Africa
Wildlife: all major safari animals including the Big 5
Best time to visit: June-October
Cost: $$
If you are a bit short on time and are looking for a shorter safari, I would recommend going to South Africa instead. There are a few national parks which are known to have a large population of the Big 5 and spotting most is doable in 2-5 days. South Africa also has a lot of different experiences other than Wildlife safaris which are worth checking out.
Kruger Park South Africa
Recommended Game Drives + National Parks
Kruger National Park
Mala Mala Game Reserve
Sabi Sands Game Reserve
Other Experiences in South Africa
Cape Town & Johannesburg
Cape of Good Hope
Table Mountain
Rhinos in Kruger National Park South Africa
Botswana
Wildlife: Big 5 (rhino's are rare, but you can spot them), abundant elephants
Best time to visit: June-August
Cost: $$$
If you are looking for a bit more of a unique experience, I would highly recommend checking out Botswana. It has a quite dense population of wildlife and spotting the Big 5 is definitely possible. It is also home to one of nature's masterpieces the Okavango Delta. Botswana might be a bit less known to the general public as a great safari destination, but that also means a lot less crowds. Some of the more popular parks will be filled with jeeps whenever there is a large group of animals around, whereas in Botswana, you are more likely to spot these animals all by yourself.
Elephants playing in Kasane Botswana
Recommended Game Drives + National Parks
Okavango Delta
Chobe National Park
Moremi Game Reserve
Other Experiences in Botswana
A lot of people include Botswana on a larger trip to Zambia & Zimbabwe to see more national parks, more wild life and also head on over to Victoria Falls.
Okavango River in Botswana
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