Our Top-10 African Safari Experiences

Phew, this is a tough one, as there really is a plethora of amazing things to see and do in Africa. We’ve thought long and hard though, and come up with this varied and exciting list of our top-10 African safari experiences (in no particular order).

Witnessing wildebeest calving in the Serengeti | Tanzania

While seeing the Great Wildebeest Migration is a no-brainer when it comes to any safari bucket list, this one makes our top-10 Africa safari experiences because it has the added bonus of seeing it during calving season. What that means is the delight of witnessing wildebeest drop their calves on the plains of the Serengeti, and then seeing said calves take their first wobbly steps. There’s also plenty of drama, as predators try take advantage of the boon. Continue exploring…

Gliding across the Okavango Delta in a mokoro | Botswana

When the Okavango Delta is in flood, as happens annually, the magic of the mokoro comes into its own. Hop into one of these traditional crafts and get expertly poled around this watery wonderland by a seasoned pro. You’ll find this is an exceptional way to view game: gliding past hippo and crocs in the water, and seeing elephant, buffalo and lechwe along the shores. The birding is pretty great too. Continue exploring…

Tracking desert black rhino in Damaraland | Namibia

Tracking any wild animal is exciting, but this experience makes our top-10 African safari experiences for two specific reasons. Firstly, the quarry in question is both highly endangered and unusual, and secondly, the location is remote and otherworldly. Fly into the arid wastes of the stark, elemental Damaraland in a remote corner of northwest Namibia, and get ready for the safari adventure of a lifetime as you go searching for the prehistoric-looking desert black rhino. Continue exploring…

Watching elephant in the shadow of Kilimanjaro | Kenya

Amboseli not only offers views of its famed elephant against the snow-capped backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, but visits here also deliver incredible insight into elephant behaviour, social organisation, demography, ecological dynamics, communication, genetics and human interactions. This is thanks to Cynthia Moss’s Amboseli Elephant Research Project, the longest-running study of wild elephant ever undertaken, which is housed in the park. Continue exploring…

Being dazzled by the Makgadikgadi zebra migration | Botswana

Normally stark and lunar-like, after the heavy December–January rains the Makgadikgadi Pans are transformed into a veritable oasis. It’s no wonder then that animals trek in to eat their fill, in this case zebra, which migrate 250km down from the Okavango Delta, making theirs the longest point-to-point big-mammal migration in Africa. It’s a sight worth seeing, and can be especially fun on horseback. Continue exploring…

Drifting over the Masai Mara in a balloon | Kenya

Our top-10 things African safari experiences would be incomplete without hot-air ballooning. There are several places you can enjoy this experience – all of which are wonderful – but we love the Masai Mara because it’s wildlife rich and because of the tapestry of nature it presents. Imagine waking up before dawn, and slowly gliding over the plains as the sun rises. What will you see first? Perhaps a lone topi, standing on a hill, or a herd of elephant heading to the river. Continue exploring…

Taking a walk in the wild in South Luangwa | Zambia

Zambia has long been lauded as one of the best places in Africa to do an extended walking safari … so not just a morning outing, but an immersive, several-day-long undertaking. Pack comfortable hiking boots and get ready to spend some serious time in the wild, strolling from mobile camp to mobile camp in South Luangwa. You’ll be sustained by hearty campfire meals, and will get to see wildlife like never before. Continue exploring…

Going on a big cat safari in the Greater Kruger | South Africa

As any safari guide will attest, cats wear the crown when it comes to safari royalty; simply everyone who comes to Africa wants to see these kings and queens of the savannah. Happily, if you visit the right places in South Africa – such as the Greater Kruger – this is practically guaranteed. Climb aboard an open 4×4 and venture into this big-cat safari wonderland, where predator and prey still roam the African wilderness. Continue exploring…

Getting starstruck in a star bed in Laikipia | Kenya

Sleeping under the African sky has to be one of the most romantic things you can do on safari, and Kenya’s Loisaba Star Beds offers you this dreamy experience in total comfort and style. When you return from dinner at the lodge, you’ll find your four-poster star bed has been wheeled out onto your private deck. Climb in, nestle deep into your duvet and prepare to fall asleep to the sounds of the wilderness, before waking to sunrise and birdsong. Continue exploring…

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi | Uganda

Meeting our primate cousins is a unique and humbling experience. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in southwest Uganda is home to more than half of the world’s surviving population of endangered mountain gorilla, making it an obvious choice for a gorilla safari. Trek deep into this remote, beautiful wilderness and prepare for a life-changing adventure: the act of looking into a magical, mesmerising mirror and forever after seeing the world through new eyes. Continue exploring…