Get the most from your African safari
Embarking upon a wild African safari is the opportunity of a lifetime, and it’s on many people’s bucket lists. It is here you can explore vast exotic plains full of packs of lions in the Kenyan Maasai Mara, or the quarter of a million zebras and great amounts of Nile crocodile in the breathtaking Tanzanian Serengeti Park. The word ‘safari’ is Swahili for ‘to journey’, so make your special African journey as memorable as possible.
Where to go?
Popular African safari destinations are in Eastern and Southern Africa, and include Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Kenya.
In South Africa, you can explore the ‘Big Five’ (elephants, lions, leopards, rhino and buffalo) along the Eastern Cape. These are ideal for safe, family adventures as many areas of this southern part of the country, including national parks and reserves, are free of malaria. Kruger National Park is also perfect for families for this reason. It is one of the world’s largest national parks (with nine gates!) and home to a multitude of wild African animals (including the ‘Big Five’).
In Botswana, you can visit the Okavango Delta, a river that runs through the heart of the Kalahari Desert. The river is exceptional because it’s inland, and therefore accessible to a myriad of African wildlife. It is here you can set sail on a safari across water on a mokoro (a canoe) as well as on land.
Africa’s most favoured safari stop, however, is the Maasai Mara Reserve in Kenya, with 1,510 square kms of grassland. The reserve is full of buffalo, zebras, gazelle, wildebeest, cheetahs, hippopotami, as well as the ‘Big Five’.
When to go?
The best time to go on a safari depends on where in Africa it is you plan on going. With varying seasons in Eastern and Southern Africa, you can go on an African safari throughout the year.
- Kenya: January - March, July - October
- Namibia: May - September
- Zambia: September - November, April - September
- Tanzania: June - November
- Uganda: December - March, June - September
- Zimbabwe: July - October
- Botswana: June - September
- South Africa: June - September
What to do?
Aside from seeing some of the world’s most spectacular wonders, you can set out on some additional activities and experiences when on your safari.
- Watching the whales
Observe the beautiful whales as them swim alongside your in your boat. In South Africa, you can spot Southern Right Whales in June - November, as this is when they have their babies. - Breakfast in the African bush
The most important meal of the day, wake up at the crack of dawn and eat a delicious morning feast in a tranquil and secluded area with the excitable wildlife all around you! Bush breakfasts are available at a majority of camps and lodges. - Hot air balloon
Take to the air in a hot air balloon to view vibrant pink sunrises across the dusty plains as the hundreds of wildebeest and zebras gallop below. A tour that comes highly praised, you can do this in Tanzania and Kenya. - Gorilla and chimpanzee treks
In Rwanda, you can go on a wild trek through forestry to see nature’s greatest primates - the wondrous chimpanzees and gorillas, and watch them in awe for an hour. The treks are guided, and it is an astounding and unforgettable experience.
The experiences are endless, you can also: go horse-riding, canoeing, mountain biking and walking!
As well as getting the most from your safari, get the most out of your journey before you’ve even left the UK for sunnier pastures with our handy and affordable airport parking.
