15 of the best safaris in Africa

Times

2 days ago

The African continent offers endless options when it comes to safari breaks. For first timers, South Africa might be the obvious choice. You're guaranteed to spot at least one of the big five — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino — and there's accommodation to suit all budgets. For more of an off-the-beaten-track experience, try Zambia, where walking safaris completely immerse you in the wild. Or there's Rwanda and Mozambique, both of which have become known for their conservation efforts in recent years. Every destination is different though, and it's worth speaking to your travel operator about what to expect before you book. Meanwhile, here are some of the best safari spots to start your research.
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On the border of Rwanda and Tanzania, Akagera National Park is something of a conservation success story. Since 2010, the area has been restored from its previously degraded state and thousands of animals now inhabit the park, including reintroduced lions and black rhinos. Akagera is a patchwork of wetlands, lakes, savannas and woodlands — a geographically beautiful park that's full of fascinating wildlife, including the very rare shoebill stork.
The 60-room Mantis Akagera Game Lodge is a four-star, mid-range hotel in the national park, overlooking Lake Ihema.
In the centre of Mozambique, Gorongosa National Park — once a safari destination favoured by the rich and famous — fell off the tourism radar during the country's civil war, which ended in 1992. A 20-year-old conservation and community development project has reintroduced tourism alongside a slew of other endeavours, from multiple scientific research studies to other income generators such as coffee farming. Visiting Gorongosa is a very cool opportunity to discover a safari destination in development (rehabituating animals, for example), see how a place can recover, and explore the breadth of possibilities within a national park.
Muzimu Lodge is a new addition to the park, a tented camp (not suitable for under 12s) on the banks of the Mussicadzi River.
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This inactive, ancient caldera is — at 2,000 feet deep and spanning 100 square miles in area — one of the world's most dramatic landscapes for viewing wildlife. There are elephants, critically endangered black rhinos, lions and flocks of flamingos. It's not just safaris that you can do in and around the crater, but also hikes and visits to nearby Masai villages. The crater does get crowded, especially at the peak of the dry season from June to September. Wetter weather during the low season means smaller crowds and better rates, though of course conditions are not as favourable.
Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge is a smart, comfortable hotel with 20 private log cabins, a pool and a spa — and it's just minutes away from the entrance gate of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
• Best safari camps and lodges in TanzaniaIn the southwest of Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park is made up of savannas, forests and lakes, and it holds a diverse range of wildlife from elephants to chimpanzees. It's perhaps best known for its lions that have an unusual penchant for climbing trees, but it's also a great place for boat trips and birding. Given its proximity to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, it's an excellent safari partner to mountain gorilla trekking (though you'll need to sort a permit for that well in advance).
Buffalo Safari Lodge, with beautiful views and a close location to the park entrance, is a great option for Queen Elizabeth visitors.
South Luangwa's wildlife viewing is among the best in Africa, particularly for big cats and elephants. You can spot rare subspecies unique to the area, such as Thornicroft's giraffes, too. The park — and Zambia generally — is renowned for walking safaris. So, if you're keen to explore the bush on foot, whether just for the day or on an epic fly-camping adventure, this is the place for you. The Luangwa River attracts large numbers of animals during the dry season, the most popular time to visit. Be aware that many lodges close for the wettest months, between December and March.
A popular little spot just outside South Luangwa National Park, Flatdogs Camp used to be a backpackers' base and retains a relaxed, friendly vibe.
In southern Tanzania, Nyerere is the country's largest national park — and one of its newest. It was formerly the northern section of the massive Selous Game Reserve, until 2019 when the area was designated a national park. The best wildlife viewing is around the Rufiji River — leisurely boat safaris are a highlight — and the park has populations of lions, elephants, hippos, critically endangered black rhinos and wild dogs. As an added bonus, Nyerere — and the south of Tanzania generally — receives a mere fraction of the tourists who visit the northern parks.
Serena Mivumo River Lodge sits on the banks of the Rufiji, with 12 elevated chalets overlooking the water.In the far northeast of South Africa, the Kruger is the most popular safari destination of them all. In addition to the wildlife viewing being superb — especially for leopards, which tend to be extraordinarily nonchalant around vehicles — it's got great tourism infrastructure, including good roads for self-driving safaris. There are basic self-catering facilities or super-luxury lodges in the Kruger's private reserves, so something for most budgets. It can be very busy, but travelling in shoulder or low seasons will help, as might venturing to the less-visited north of the park, where there are great walking trails, big baobabs, and fever tree forests.
Among the sleekest luxury lodges on the continent, Singita Lebombo is for the stylish safari-goer. There are 15 suites overlooking the bush or river. The food and wine offerings are excellent, too.
• Where should I go in South Africa?• Best safaris in South Africa
While the density of its wildlife is much lower than other parts of Africa, Namibia makes up for it with its breathtaking desert landscapes. In the north of the country, Etosha National Park is its most popular safari destination. The best time to visit is during the dry months when animals gather at the water: there are lots of elephants, plus giraffes and lions — and it's possible to see black rhinos, too. The Etosha Pan, the focal point of the park, is a salt pan where mammals and birds such as flamingos gather. You can drive up from the capital Windhoek, or take a scenic light aircraft flight — either option reveals some of Namibia's huge, open landscapes.
On the edge of Etosha National Park, Ongava Tented Camp is in a private reserve, where you can go on bush walks and after-dark game drives.The vast plains of the Serengeti, in northern Tanzania, star in nature documentaries for good reason. Not only is it a striking landscape, but it's home to incredible wildlife, most of which is extremely habituated to tourists. Watch cheetahs scan for prey from atop a termite mound, or park up next to a leopard chowing its kill in a tree. The Great Migration wildebeest herds stop to graze and give birth to their young in the south of the park from around January to March; from June, you can see them crossing the river as they move between the Serengeti and Kenya's Masai Mara on their cyclical journey.
In the south of the park, Elewana Serengeti Pioneer Camp has glorious views across the plains. The 12 tents each have private decks and side panels that can be rolled up to take in the surroundings.In central Kenya, the Laikipia plateau is a less-visited alternative to the Masai Mara, with a different appeal. The landscape is open and rolling, with views of Mount Kenya's jagged peaks. The various reserves in this area are home to the big five — including many black rhinos and the last two northern white rhinos, which live in Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The region also has wild dogs and rare subspecies such as the reticulated giraffe and Grevy's zebra.
A mid-range option in Ol Pejeta, Sweetwaters Serena Camp is a solid choice for travellers looking for comfort without blowing the bank.
• The best Kenyan safaris
Close to the border with Botswana, Madikwe is a scenic reserve, with rolling hills and rust-orange sand. It's home to the big five and other animals, such as wild dogs. Madikwe is a great option for families, as it's malaria-free and many of the properties are geared to hosting children, with fun activities and private villas. You can also drive from Johannesburg, which cuts down on the expense of light aircraft flights.
Madikwe Safari Lodge is a luxury option in the reserve, with 20 suites (including some family suites with bunkbeds) and a three-bedroom villa.Hwange National Park is one of Zimbabwe's best and most popular safari destinations, with a diverse range of wildlife. Animals you might spot here include lions, wild dogs, leopards and cheetahs; Hwange is also home to one of Africa's largest elephant populations. In private concessions, you can take walking safaris in addition to game drives. And the park benefits from Zimbabwe's famously excellent guides (due to a rigorous qualification programme). Hwange is easily combined with Victoria Falls, which is only around two to three hours away by road.
In a private concession, the simple but comfy nine-tent Wilderness Davison's camp is set by a waterhole often visited by elephants.wildernessdestinations.com
On the banks of the Zambezi River, Mana Pools feels wilder and quieter than most safari destinations in Southern Africa. The name means 'four' in Shona, referring to the four main pools that make up the park. As well as lions and wild dogs, Mana Pools is known for elephants that have learned to stand on their hindlegs to reach higher branches. Explore the river by canoe, or take a bush walk during the dry season (in the wettest months, December to March, parts of the park are inaccessible and lots of properties close).
With ten tented suites, set in a private reserve, Wilderness Ruckomechi gives guests a sense of exclusivity and remoteness. Don't miss the opportunity to sleep under the stars.
yellowzebrasafaris.com/zimbabwe/accommodation/lodges/ruckomechi-camp
The Masai Mara in southwest Kenya is famous for the beauty of its rolling savanna grasslands, the density of its wildlife populations, and, between July and October, the great wildebeest herds that thunder across the Mara River. Big cats — lions, cheetahs and leopards — are prolific. Wildlife is habituated and easy to find. The key to enjoying your time in the Mara is avoiding the crowds — that means finding a great guide or paying a little extra to stay in one of the private community-run conservancies around the edges of the national park.
The high-end Cottar's 1920s Camp is in a private conservancy — great for uncrowded wildlife sightings — and is a long-established camp in the Mara.
yellowzebrasafaris.com/kenya/accommodation/lodges/cottars-camp
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The Okavango Delta is one of the most beautiful and wildlife-rich areas in Africa. Located in northern Botswana, it is fed by floodwaters from Angola between May and October. This is the time when visitors can explore the reed-lined waterways by mokoro — a traditional canoe — which is a particularly special experience. There are a number of reserves in the delta and tourism is controlled so it feels wild and remote; it's also the most expensive place to go on safari. But the wildlife viewing is exceptional: think buffalo-hunting lions, wild dogs sprinting through the bush, hippos cooling off in the water, elephants browsing acacias. And it's a great birding destination.
Vumbura Plains is one of the fanciest camps in the delta and in a really good spot for wildlife sightings, particularly big cats.
go2africa.com/accommodation/vumbura-plains
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In most of southern and eastern Africa, the dry season runs from June to October. The advantage of the dry season is that wildlife tends to congregate around waterholes and the foliage is sparser, making animals easier to see. This is typically considered the best time to travel. But the rainy season can be better for landscape photography and birding (as migratory birds are in the south), as well as it being a quieter and generally cheaper time to travel.
Pack comfortable clothes in relatively neutral shades (very bright colours can frighten animals) and layers — mornings and evenings can be chilly enough for a hat and gloves, but by 10am, it'll be T-shirt weather. Bring sturdy, closed-toe footwear if you'll be walking, a hat, sunglasses and suncream. Photographers will want their longest lenses, but plenty of people do fine with their smartphones. Binoculars are very useful, although guides often have pairs to share.
A good guide will definitely enhance your safari experience — and in many places, you need them. Places like Kruger are great for self-driving (even without a 4×4) and the wildlife is prolific enough to find without a professional. But for walking or night driving, you will always need a qualified guide.
Additional reporting by Qin Xie