Which are the best African Countries for Going on Safari?

Africa is synonymous with safaris, offering a myriad of wildlife experiences across a variety of countries. Amongst those available, we've hand picked our top seven below, each offering a unique wildlife experience. For a more focused and off-the-beaten-path safari holiday, you may also wish to consider our African safaris in other countries such as Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Malawi, Rwanda or Uganda.

How to Choose Between our Safari Destinations?

Kenya

One of Africa's best locations for wildlife lovers, Kenya is home to around 26 national parks and 29 national reserves including the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve, a breathtaking game reserve consisting of vast, rolling grasslands where you can expect to see elephant herds, black rhinos, Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelles, topi, eland, big cats and more all in plain sight. For photography enthusiasts, our 10-day Masai Mara Photo Safari tour, led by award-winning wildlife photographer Bret Charman, is the ideal way to explore and photograph the area.

The dramatic and diverse landscapes of the Great Rift Valley can also be found in Kenya, presenting further photography opportunities with volcanoes and lakes as the backdrop. Stretching from the north to the south of the country, the area is filled with exceptional wildlife including giraffe, buffalo, lion, cheetah, oryx and wildebeest which can be enjoyed on our Kenya's Rift Valley Wildlife Photography tour.

If you're torn between the two, why not try an Ultimate Kenya Safari? This tailor-made itinerary takes you from the slopes of Mount Kenya, through the Great Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru National Park and Lake Naivasha, and into the Masai Mara and Lake Victoria.

When is the best time of year to visit Kenya?

Kenya is a year-round destination, but the best time to travel is in the dry season which runs from June to October. Between July and September you may even witness the wildebeest migration from Tanzania's Serengeti National Park to Kenya's Masai Mara and see flamingos in the Rift Valley Lakes!

If you're looking to avoid peak season, visit between January to February for a lull between the short and long rains.

Visit our Kenya Trips page to discover more Kenya itineraries, find out Where to Stay or get more detailed information on When to Go.

Tanzania

Two of the most iconic game viewing destinations in the world lie in Tanzania: Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. Serengeti's vast plains are home to an estimated two million ungulates, 3,000 lions, 1,000 leopards, 550 cheetahs and 500 bird species and the area is renowned for the annual Great Migration of wildebeest. You can witness this fascinating spectacle on our Serengeti Migration Special group tour in August each year.

The Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa's seven natural wonders and boasts the densest population of predators in Africa as well as almost 30,000 large mammals! For art lovers, our Ndutu Wildlife Art Safari offers the opportunity to witness and sculpt these remarkable species in the company of leading wildlife sculptor Nick Mackman. 

Africa's tallest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, can also be found in Tanzania adding to the appeal of this marvellous safari destination, in addition to Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika and Tarangire National Park.

Best time to visit for a safari in Tanzania

Tanzania is best visited during the long dry season from June to October when wildebeest and zebra begin to head to the Masai Mara, or the shorter dry season from January to March when Serengeti wildebeest and zebra give birth.

Visit our Tanzania Trips page to discover more Tanzania itineraries, find out Where to Stay or get more detailed information on When to Go.

Botswana

Renowned for the Okavango Delta, another of Africa's Seven Natural Wonders, Botswana is teeming with wildlife and offers some of the planet's best game viewing. The delta is an oasis of waterways and lagoons, hemmed by parched desert which attracts 160 species of mammals including Africa's largest population of elephants as well as hippos, sitatunga antelope, red lechwe, wild dogs and lions. For birdwatchers, over 500 species of birds can be found here including Pel’s fishing owl and saddle-billed storks. You can visit the Okavango Delta on many of our Botswana trips including our ever popular Best of Botswana group trip, Heart of the Delta Photo Safari and Classic Botswana Safari.

The nearby Chobe National Park additionally offers rich ecosystems with more huge herds of elephants, wild dogs, lions, pukus, buffalos and more and is also a big part of many of our Botswana tours including our Botswana Photo Safari which visits both the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park.

Best time to visit for a safari in Botswana

Botswana's dry winter between May and October brings some fabulous wildlife opportunities, with herds of elephants and buffalo gathering on the riverfront in Chobe National Park between July and October and the best game viewing in the Okavango Delta taking place from July to August.

To witness the main herbivore breeding season, visit during Botswana's summer months where tsessebe, impala and lechwe give birth in November and migrant bird species arrive for peak breeding season between December to April. This green season brings more rainfall, so the country will be lush and green, and is perhaps best seen on our Kalahari in Bloom itinerary that visits Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Nxai Pan National Park and Makgadikgadi Pans.

Visit our Botswana Trips page to discover more Botswana itineraries, find out Where to Stay or get more detailed information on When to Go.

Namibia

With stunningly diverse landscapes, from towering sand dunes and rugged mountains to shimmering deserts and desolate coastlines, Namibia offers a truly mesmerising safari experience. Visit Etosha National Park, one of Africa's largest protected areas, to see its vast saltpan and permanent waterholes where many animals gather to drink. Among the wildlife you're likely to see here are black-faced impala, Damara dik-dik, eland, greater kudu and springbok, together with lion, leopard, black rhino and even gentle giants like elephant and giraffe.

Other wonderful wildlife hotspots in the area include the lush Caprivi Strip and Walvis Bay, both a paradise for birdwatchers, as well as Damaraland and the Skeleton Coast which are renowned for their desert-adapted elephants and rhinos.

Combining the best wildlife this spectacular country has to offer, our Wonders of Namibia: A Photographic Safari takes you through the diverse landscapes of Namibia, starting in the Okonjima Reserve to photograph mammals such as Damara dik-dik and Hartmann's mountain zebra, plus leopard, cheetah and a variety of endemic bird species, before heading to Etosha National Park, Ongava Private Reserve, Safarihoek and Swakopmund.

For non-photographers, our Namibia: A Wilderness Adventure group tour combines Etosha with the AfriCat Foundation, black rhino tracking in Palmwag and seeing desert-adapted elephants in Damaraland.

Best time to visit for a safari in Namibia

Wildlife viewing is best during Namibia's dry season between May and October, with wildlife concentrated around waterholes between May and September. You can expect clear and sunny days with cooler nights.

Visit our Namibia Trips page to discover more Namibia itineraries, find out Where to Stay or get more detailed information on When to Go.

South Africa

South Africa is blessed with iconic African wildlife, making it an ideal destination for those looking to go on their first safari or have a traditional African safari experience. The world-famous Kruger National Park is one of Africa's largest parks with a size comparable to Wales. It boasts immense biodiversity with 147 mammal, 507 bird, 114 reptile, 34 amphibian and 49 fish species recorded and among these are the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and both southern white and black rhino). Our South Africa Self-drive Adventure and Eswatini & KwaZulu Natal Safari trip ideas are just a couple of suggestions on how to include this stunning national park on your next safari.

Adjacent to Kruger National Park is Sabi Sands Game Reserve, another Big Five safari destination known for its high leopard population and a general abundance of other wildlife simply waiting to be discovered. Check out our Quintessential Kruger Safari trip idea for a suggested itinerary that visits both Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands Game Reserve.

South Africa is home to rare mammals, and we have several itineraries dedicated to locating these including South Africa's Rare Mammals in Style, South Africa's Rare Mammals & Birds and Rare Mammals of the Eastern Cape.

We have two wildlife conservation holidays to South Africa, both in the Kalahari, with one in the green season and another in the dry season. If you want to combine safari and whale watching, our Wildlife of Land & Sea itinerary is ideal.

Best time to visit for a safari in South Africa

Visit South Africa between May and September when dry weather brings animals to gather near watering holes. The weather is cool and comfortable at around 25°C and if you're near the KwaZulu-Natal coast you could even see humpback whales migrating from June to October.

Visit our South Africa Trips page to discover more South Africa itineraries, find out Where to Stay or get more detailed information on When to Go.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe offers a unique and intimate safari experience with fewer crowds than its neighbouring countries, yet its rich wildlife rivals the very best on the continent! The diverse landscapes of the large Hwange National Park are teeming with wildlife including large elephant herds, buffalo, sable, roan, giraffe, wildebeest, impala and gemsbok making for a very rewarding African safari.

There's much to see throughout the rest of the country, including Mana Pools, Matobo Hills, the Zambezi River, Lake Kariba and the thundering Victoria Falls – situated on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

You can join wildlife photographer Bret Charman to photograph Victoria Falls and the wild dogs of Mana Pools National Park on our Mana Pools: Wild Dogs & Elephants Photography tour, where we may be fortunate enough to approach bull elephants on foot as they feed from ana trees.

Best time to visit for a safari in Zimbabwe

Game viewing in Zimbabwe is best as the land gets drier from June to October before the green season begins again in November.

Visit our Zimbabwe Trips page to discover more Zimbabwe itineraries, find out Where to Stay or get more detailed information on When to Go.

Zambia

The birthplace of the walking safari, Zambia is ideal for those seeking an adventurous, authentic and immersive African safari and South Luangwa National Park offers the perfect place to do this! Our Walking in the Heart of Zambia tour offers a magical experience where you can walk amongst fascinating and intriguing wildlife in both the South and North Luangwa National Parks.

Image by Dana Allen

Undoubtedly the jewel of Zambia's national parks, South Luangwa offers verdant plains, beautiful bush camps, walking trails, numerous large animals and the world's highest naturally occurring density of leopard - we've even named an itinerary after these wonderful creatures, called Leopards of Luangwa. If you’re keen on photography, our South Luangwa Photo Safari offers outstanding opportunities to photograph a variety of iconic mammals and birds.

Other Zambian wildlife hotspots include the protected Kafue National Park where you can see tree-climbing lions, the Lower Zambezi National Park with its excellent canoe safaris and the spectacular Victoria Falls. Visit Lower Zambezi National Parks on our Lower Zambezi Photo Safari group tour, or combine Kafue National Park with Victoria Falls with our Scenic Splendour & Wildlife Wonders trip idea.

When is the best time of year to visit Zambia?

May to October is the best time to visit when walking safaris begin and rain subsides. Game moves to the rivers in September and October and buffalo form big herds, however October is very hot with average temperatures of 33°C so be sure to pack your sunscreen! In November, the rains typically arrive, bringing new life to the flora and fauna, with magnificent light for photography.

Visit our Zambia Trips page to discover more Zambia itineraries, find out Where to Stay or get more detailed information on When to Go.

Browse all our wildlife holidays to Africa or contact our team today to find out more about us or any of our holidays. Alternatively, for more inspiration, take a look at our safaris using our holiday search tool, read our guide to African safari holidays or our blog on the different types of safaris.