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Going on a safari is one of the most exciting travel experiences everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. There’s nothing more exhilarating than witnessing wild animals in their natural habitats.
When going for a safari, most people would aim to see “The Big 5”, which consists of elephants, lions, buffalos, leopards, and rhinos. And although there’s no guarantee of spotting wildlife on a safari, many African destinations are renowned for their Big Five populations. So, if you’re ready to tick an African safari off your bucket list, here’s where you should go for the ultimate safari experience.
Botswana
Also called “Land of the Giants,” Botswana is home to more than a hundred thousand elephants, the largest elephant population in Africa. When you visit Botswana for a safari, you are almost guaranteed to see elephants every day, and even several times a day! You can find your perfect Botswana Safari Holiday by contacting Nelson Travel.
Chobe National Park is Botswana’s first national park in the north of Botswana, close to the Okavango Delta. Because of the Chobe River, the park is home to abundant wildlife and birdlife. Aside from the thousands of elephants, you’ll also find crocodiles, hippos, buffalos, leopards, and lions. Unlike the usual safari that requires riding a 4×4 vehicle, the best way to explore Chobe National Park and discover the wildlife is on a boat trip.
Going for a boat safari in Chobe National Park offers a unique perspective and an opportunity to enjoy incredible views and take stunning wildlife photographs. It’s also possible to take a day trip to Chobe National Park from nearby countries like Namibia and Zimbabwe. These countries are close to the borders of Botswana.
Tanzania
When most people think about an African safari, they immediately think of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, and rightfully so. The vast plains of Serengeti are home to impressive wildlife species and inspired many films and books. Between the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve, they protect the world’s most varied terrestrial wildlife and one of the great migratory systems in the wild.
Witnessing the Great Migration in the Serengeti is undoubtedly the best safari experience in Africa. Between October and November, more than a million wildebeest and zebras would head south for the rain before migrating northwest six months later. Aside from the Great Migration, the Serengeti National Park is also a great place to catch lions and cheetahs in action as they prey on herbivores.
Aside from the Serengeti, another place to experience an incredible safari in Tanzania is Ngorongoro National Park, home to a breathtaking volcanic crater. This fascinating natural wonder is the largest unbroken caldera in the world and houses more than 25,000 wildlife species, not including the millions that pass here during the Great Migration. If you want to visit both the Serengeti and Ngorongoro on your safari, you can book the Tanzania holidays with Tanzania Odyssey.
Namibia
Namibia is an incredible place to go on safari. Aside from seeing wild animals in their natural habitat, you’ll also have the chance to explore the Skeleton Coast, a breathtakingly desolate location famous for the whale skeletons and the hundreds of shipwrecks that litter its beaches.
The Etosha National Park is where you should go for a safari in Namibia. It’s home to hundreds of species of reptiles, birds, and mammals, although it’s more famous for the endangered black rhinos. Located in Namibia’s northwest region, the Etosha National Park offers self-guided safaris and other fun outdoor activities. The park has floodlit waterholes, offering the perfect lighting to admire and take photos of the nocturnal wildlife.
Visit the Skeleton Coast to experience a more thrilling safari adventure in Namibia. As one of Africa’s most untouched wildernesses, it offers adventurers the chance to experience nature in its unspoiled grandeur. And despite its arid appearance, the Skeleton Coast is home to hundreds of wildlife species, including Namibia’s famous desert-adapted elephants. There are also black rhinos, cheetahs, lions, giraffes, and more.
Kenya
Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve often tops the list for being one of the top destinations for a safari in Africa. Located in Kenya’s southwestern region, close to Tanzania, this national park offers everything you could ever wish for in a safari, with more than 500 species of birds and about 95 species of mammals.
The Maasai Mara National Reserve is also a great destination to see the Big Five of Africa. And while it’s open all year round, the best time to visit is between July and October, when the Great Migration will take place. You can also visit between December and February for a higher chance of spotting more of the big cats. Aside from its abundance of wildlife, the Maasai Mara National Reserve also offers birding enthusiasts an incredible opportunity to witness over 500 different bird species. These include unique species like the red-winged Schalow’s Turaco and the wary guinea fowl.
When going to Kenya for your African safari, book Coral Tree Travel’s Kenya family safari holidays, where you embark on an unforgettable luxury safari. Aside from visiting Masai Mara, you can also visit the Serengeti Park in the neighbouring country of Tanzania.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a fantastic destination for an African safari, boasting some of the world’s most untamed wilderness and incredible wildlife encounters. While it’s a great place to visit all year round, the best time to go on a safari in Zimbabwe is during the dry season, from June to September, an excellent time to see the animals gathering around the waterholes.
Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe’s largest national park located an hour south of Victoria Falls. The massive park is about 14,650 square kilometres in size, and although the elephants are often the main reason people would come here to safari, it’s also the only place where you’re likely to see brown hyenas and gemsbok. Hwange National Park is also a famous spot to see wild dogs.
Whether you come here to stay in a camp for the night or just a day trip, you should not miss the stunning sunset from the Dom waterhole. If you have more time, consider staying late in the night for moonlight game viewing.
Photo by David Clode on Unsplash.