The Best African Safari for Every Interest

It may seem obvious, but it bears repeating: Africa is big. A behemoth on the map, it could comfortably fit the United States, China, India, and all of western Europe within its borders. With a population of over 1.2 billion, it hosts a dazzling 2,100 languages. Hoping to take the grand tour? The distance from Cape Town to Cairo is almost 4,500 miles as the marabou stork flies...though Google Maps helpfully points out that the most direct driving route is over 6,200 miles (they helpfully point out: “This route has tolls”).

It’s clear why travelers find it so difficult to decide where to travel here. From Namibia’s trackless deserts to Tanzania’s endless plains, there are countless destinations to explore, cultures to discover, and animals to spot. How to choose? We’re here to help.

Rather than presenting a comprehensive, kitchen-sink collection of every elephant wallow, baobab, and game reserve on the continent, we have carefully curated six unique safaris—each showcasing the best of one country. Deciding where to go is as simple as sharing your interests. We can even help you find the perfect extension to add to your trip!

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The Destination: Botswana

Perfect for: Off-the-beaten-path travelers, birders, canoers

The View: Pristine waterways thronged with birds and the world’s largest elephant herds

Wildlife Highlights: Hippos wallowing in stands of papyrus, viewed from your mokoro (canoe)

Go Deeper: Enjoy aerial perspectives on Botswana’s great herds while flying by light aircraft between regions

Pair It with: Urban exploring in Cape Town or witnessing Victoria Falls

See the Botswana Safari >

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The Destination: Namibia

Perfect for: Adventuresome naturalists, photographers, stargazers

The View: Magnificent, vast deserts full of unique and hearty animals, star-strewn night skies (the second darkest in the world!), and castaway coastline

Wildlife Highlights: Cheetahs lazing on the savanna, spotted while walking with local naturalists

Go Deeper:  Explore the rock paintings, outcrops, and petrified forests of Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO World Heritage site

Pair It with: Urban exploring in Cape Town or witnessing Victoria Falls

See the Namibia Safari >

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The Destination: South Africa

Perfect for: Families, foodies, garden fans, first-time travelers to Africa

The View: Sophisticated gardens and museums, genteel wine country, and thrilling game drives

Wildlife Highlights: Lions, leopards, and the rest of the Big Five witnessed in Kruger National Park

Go Deeper:  Encounter the Cape’s distinct floral kingdom—unlike any other in the world—in Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

Pair It with: Witnessing Victoria Falls or Gorilla tracking in Rwanda

See the South Africa Safari >

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The Destination: Tanzania

Perfect for: Fans of the classic safari experience and animal lovers

The View: The world’s most famous savanna, snow-capped Kilimanjaro, and villages of Maasai warriors

Wildlife Highlights: Herds of wildebeest filling the Serengeti plains at dawn during an awe-inspiring game drive

Go Deeper:  Experience the magic of Ngorongoro Crater, where thousands of animals roam the fertile floor of a vast caldera

Pair It with: Gorilla tracking in Rwanda or beachside relaxation in Zanzibar

See the Tanzania Safari >

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The Destination: Zambia

Perfect for: Dedicated wilderness walkers, off-the-beaten-path explorers

The View: Lush floodplains alive with huge herds of game, remote camps, hardwood forests

Wildlife Highlights: The rare Thornicroft’s giraffe, spotted while walking in the South Luangwa Valley

Go Deeper: Connect with local communities just outside the National Park while visiting the village and schools of Mfuwe

Pair It with: Gorilla tracking in Rwanda or witnessing Victoria Falls

See the Zambia Safari >

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The Destination: Zimbabwe

Perfect for: Intrepid wildlife fans,

The Experience: The majestic thunder and spray of Victoria Falls, plus undiscovered parks deep in the wilderness

Wildlife Highlights Elephants in abundance guzzling water by Hwange’s water holes

Go Deeper  Discover the fascinating history of Africa’s Cape-to-Cairo rail line as you ride it through Hwange’s backcountry.

Pair It with: Urban exploring in Cape Town or Gorilla Tracking in Rwanda

See the Zimbabwe Safari >