Safari and beach holidays in Africa strike the perfect balance between the excitement of searching for – and watching – wildlife and the gentler pleasures of unwinding on the coast. A common thread of natural beauty links the two experiences, as do easy flight connections to make bush and beach a very easy combination.
Why do safari and beach holidays offer the best combination?
African safari experiences are thrilling – so thrilling in fact that you might need a little time to recover from the constant adrenaline rush of wildlife encounters (and the early-morning starts!). The answer, we’d suggest, is to add some surf to your turf.
Africa has many outstanding beach destinations where you can relax, play, or – if you’re keen for one last wildlife fix – dive or snorkel on pristine reefs. You can either catch rays or swim with them, it’s entirely up to you.
Beach time is the ideal bookend to your African safari and, as you slow down to the rhythm of the waves, you’ll get plenty of quality time with your partner, or, if you’re on a family safari holiday, with your kids.
Where can you go for safari and beach holidays?
There are countless fantastic options for bush-and-beach breaks, but we’ve learned that certain combinations work particularly well. Several of our favourite African countries offer safari and beach holidays without you even needing to cross a border.
For example, after seeing the Great Wildebeest Migration in northern Tanzania (or exploring southern Tanzania), you can make your own trek to the spice island of Zanzibar. Kenya also has it all: here, combine the Masai Mara with maritime moments on the south coast.
South Africa offers easy transfers from its stellar game reserves to the beaches of Maputaland, and to the Western Cape and Garden Route – in fact, as much of the country is malaria-free, South Africa is perfect for family bush and beach holidays.
Or, if you want to see more than one country, we can create a wonderfully varied bush and beach itinerary for you. Mozambique’s glorious beaches are within easy reach of the safari hotspots of Botswana and South Africa’s greater Kruger.
Finally, if you’re planning your honeymoon, why not flip the script and begin with the beach part of your holiday – chilling on a lounger might be just what you need after cutting the cake.