So, do you want to see a
graceful leopard, a mighty lion, or a ruthless Nile crocodile in the wild?
Awesome. Now comes the tricky part: choosing where to go on your first safari in Africa.
Which countries offer the most accessible introduction to the continent for first-time
travelers, and which places are best for wildlife? Let us help you navigate the
overwhelming options and plan your first African safari in this video for blockbuster
wildlife watching and having tons of fun. Kenya Kenya’
s wildlife offering is outstanding, with the Great
Migration at the top of many bucket lists – so it’s no surprise that safaris in Kenya have
been since the very concept was invented of this entertainment. (Safari translates to “journey”
in the Swahili language). Many travelers are sure that Kenya is one of the busiest and most popular
wildlife destinations on the African continent. The Great Migration is a renowned annual
phenomenon that sees millions of wildebeest and zebras cross the Mar
a River from the
Serengeti in southern Tanzania into Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve. The country’s
semi-nomadic Maasai communities and their time-honored warrior traditions are another
source of fascination. Visitors can support community-powered tourism by visiting the private
reserves surrounding the Mara, which are leased to different safari companies. A guided bush walk
with a Maasai warrior will let you experience this culture’s deep connection with the land.
The main safari circu
it couples Lake Nakuru with the Masai Mara and Amboseli (where Mt Kilimanjaro
provides a staggering backdrop). Tsavo East, Tsavo West, and Samburu are popular add-ons if
you have extra time. Any combination of these parks should ensure ample sightings of big cats,
plenty of elephants, a few rhinos, and all of the plains animals, such as giraffes, buffalo, zebras,
and all manner of antelope and gazelle species. Want even more? Extend your stay by another week
and scale Mt Kenya, Africa’s sec
ond-highest peak. Most travelers pass through Nairobi, staying
long enough to visit Nairobi National Park. An extraordinarily well-stocked park on the
cusp of one of Africa’s largest cities and easily accessible, Kenya’s original game reserve
has abundant wildlife, from the pride of lions, leopards, and elephants to the endangered
black rhino and around 300 species of birdlife. The best time to visit Kenya to see the Great
Migration is from July to October and January to February, when a mi
llion-plus wildebeest, along
with hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, cross the crocodile-infested Mara River to
graze on the lush grasses of the Masai Mara. South Africa Expect bush, fantastic beach, and fine wine. From iconic Kruger National Park
to the picturesque landscapes of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa offers a safari experience
that caters to all levels of adventurers. Kruger is the easiest and most rewarding safari
destination for first timers and budget travelers. You can
see the legendary Big Five (leopards,
lions, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo), as well as cheetahs, giraffes, spotted hyenas,
and African wild dogs. If you're on a budget, drive along the park's paved roads or
visit private reserves like Sabi Sands or Thornybush for exclusive guided experiences
and a better chance to see the Big Five quickly. Lesser-known reserves in KwaZulu-Natal,
a coastal South African province, are equally impressive. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
is just as accessible as Kru
ger from the city of Durban and has excellent facilities for travelers
on all budgets. Expect to spot elephants, rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, and wildebeest. (The
big cats are a little more challenging to see here.) Nearby Phinda Private Game Reserve offers
stunning high-end stays—plus the possibility of a beach day or scuba diving at Sodwana Bay.
Madikwe Game Reserve in Northwest Province is close to the Botswana border and
a four-hour drive from Johannesburg, making it popular for So
uth Africans looking
for a safari. It's also a malaria-free option for families with young children.
Combine any of these safari parks with a flight south to Cape Town, and your itinerary
will include fine wine, world-class restaurants, and a seaside safari—visiting the
African penguins of Boulders Beach. The best time to visit for a safari
in South Africa is almost year-round, but most visitors love the cooler, dry
season between May and August since it is winter in the southern hemisphere
at this time. During these months, wildlife is more accessible to spot as vegetation
is sparse and animals gather around water holes. Tanzania
Immerse yourself in the vast plains, witness the epic migration, and unwind with
refreshing dips in the Indian Ocean. Tanzania’s northern safari circuit, home to the awe-inspiring
Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, offers a unique blend of adventure and
relaxation. Exploring these remarkable places for ten days to two weeks is guaranteed
to ignite your passion for Africa. And why not extend your journey with a few days on the
enchanting island of Zanzibar, adding an extra layer of magic to your dream trip?
Tanzania and Kenya share similarities, having plentiful wildlife parks and excellent
safari operators. Tanzania’s vibe, though, is generally less stressful – perhaps because
the Serengeti is nearly ten times bigger than Kenya’s Masai Mara, offering endless
horizons and greater habitat variety. In the heart of the Serenge
ti, the Seronera
River provides big-cat and herbivore sightings year-round, making it popular with visitors.
Kogatende and Lamai, on the Mara River, are ideal for observing river crossings – with
fewer tourists. Private reserves such as Grumeti allow viewings of the migration without crowds.
The Ngorongoro Crater is only a short drive east of the Serengeti. In this giant collapsed
volcano (or caldera), animals like lions, elephants, and black rhinos are enclosed
as they prowl a complete eco
system of pretty plains and dramatic forests. Note that
such assets draw crowds during peak season. The best time to visit Tanzania is between
January and March to witness the migration of wildebeests—and their newborns—passing through
the Ngorongoro and Ndutu regions. But the best time to witness the famous wildebeest river
crossings in the Serengeti is from July to August. Botswana
Water-based safaris, exclusivity, privacy, and high-quality camps in captivating
areas: Botswana is one of A
frica's premier wildlife-watching destinations. Its prolific
wildlife inhabits extraordinary landscapes, including the Chobe River, the Okavango
Delta, and the salt pans of Makgadikgadi. Chobe National Park is the easiest choice
for your trip and home to the world's largest concentration of elephants, as well as a
host of easy-to-spot big cats, giraffes, and zebras, making it perfect for first timers.
The best way to see Africa's elephant capital is to board a boat and cruise the Chobe Rive
r's
wildlife-rich shores. From here, you can travel into the Okavango Delta, where you can splurge on
a luxury safari and take a mokoro (dugout canoe) through the wetlands before forging on into the
Makgadikgadi salt pans to mingle with meerkats. However, Botswana's appeal and ease come with a
big caveat: the high price. Most luxury lodges and camps lie in concession areas rented out
by the government to enforce a high-value, low-volume, responsible tourism strategy. The best
reserves sit
in the swamps of the Okavango Delta, and wealthy visitors fly in on small
bush planes from Maun or Kasane. If you are on a budget, it's better to choose
mobile safaris and group trips that take you from site to site, often involving camping along the
way. These are more cost-effective alternatives, and you can combine your time at Moremi
Game Reserve with Chobe National Park. The best time to visit for a safari
in Botswana is from June to October. This season is the best time for wildlife
watching and when water levels are highest in the Okavango Delta, allowing you to
glide along the channels in a canoe. Namibia
There are two reasons to visit Namibia: self-driving independence and dramatic desert
scenery. While a 4WD African safari is always ambitious, Namibia has good roads, well-equipped
campsites, and reasonably priced rental vehicles. This is one of the easiest Southern African
countries to explore from the driver’s seat. The classic circuit starts in Windhoek,
where yo
u’ll rent a fully equipped 4WD camper van or a decent gravel-road car. From
there, you’ll head to Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert for incredible vistas, circle up
to Swakopmund for coastal adventures, and end at Etosha National Park, where
you can see white elephants and rhinos. Etosha is Namibia’s version of South Africa’s
Kruger National Park, with roads and facilities suitable for a self-driving budget safari.
Each public camp overlooks a busy water hole, where the game moves in and out t
o drink during
the dry season. The camp is floodlit by night, so you won’t need to leave once you settle in.
Etosha National Park is well-known for its productive water holes and white elephants,
which are called "white ghosts." Dry white clay dusts their skin and coats the entire
elephant in white color. Peak game viewing is from June to October when wildlife flocks
to these oases dotted throughout the park.
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