The world is full of beautiful places, but there are some destinations that are especially awe-inspiring. Africa is one of those places. The continent has a long history and a rich culture, and it’s not just home to wild animals and lakes but also to humans who live in harmony with their surroundings. While there are many safaris in Africa for travelers to explore, there are 13 that travelers should experience.
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13 Best Safaris in Africa
Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
Located in Tanzania, Ruaha National Park is the largest game reserve in East Africa and an excellent place to spot big game. The park covers an area of 26,000 square kilometers (10,000 square miles).
The park is home to over 100 mammal species and 350 bird species. You can see elephants and lions roaming freely across its plains, as well as wildebeest herds migrating from southern Kenya during the dry season. Hippos, black rhinos, and leopards are also popular species.
To get here from Dar es Salaam, you can take a flight or drive for about six hours. If you prefer public transport (which we do! ), there are buses that go all the way from Dar es Salaam to Iringa; from there, you can hire a taxi or minibus. A Tanzania safari can be an awesome experience you will never forget.
Samburu National Reserve, Kenya
If you are looking for Kenya safaris, visit the Samburu National Reserve. The Samburu National Reserve is home to the Samburu people, who are famous for their cattle. It is also a great place to see the wildlife that makes Kenya famous. The reserve has over 200 species of birds, lions, zebras, and elephants roaming its plains. If you want to see animals up close, this is a great place!
The park has many different campsites depending on what type of experience you are looking for: luxury or budget-friendly. All sites have electricity and running water, which makes it easy for travelers from all over the world!
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Chobe National Park, Botswana
Next on our list of safaris in Africa is the Chobe National Park, located in north-western Botswana. It is the largest national park in Botswana, covering an area of over 20,000 square kilometres (7,720 sq mi). It was established in 1925 as the Chobe Game Reserve and upgraded to the status of a national park in 1962.
Chobe National Park is famous for its large elephant and cape buffalo populations. The Chobe Riverfront is a popular destination for the numerous lions that endlessly feed on the vast buffalo herds.
The river also has hippopotamus pods, crocodiles, and several fish species that attract anglers from all over the world every year during December when they migrate upstream and again in March when they return downstream to spawn at their breeding grounds near Mababe Dam outside Kasane Town within sight of Victoria Falls across Lake Kariba from Zimbabwe, where these same fish come from before heading back upriver after the spawning season ends later this year.
A Botswana safari in March or December this year won’t be bad, I guess.
Read also: 12 Largest Lakes in Africa Black Travelers Should Visit
Victoria Falls, Zambia and Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls, in Zambia and Zimbabwe, is one of our favorite safaris in Africa, and it is the largest waterfall in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. The falls are 1.7 km wide and 100 m high, making it one of Africa’s most spectacular natural wonders.
The falls are in two distinct sections: Zambian Falls to the west and Zimbabwean Falls to the east. Both have different characteristics that make them unique places to visit.
Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania
The Selous Game Reserve is the largest game reserve in Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s home to more than 60,000 animals—including elephants, hippos, lions, leopards, and rhinos—and covers three million acres of land. The combination of its pristine wilderness and diverse wildlife make it one of the best safaris in Africa for travelers to experience.
Etosha National Park, Namibia
Most African travelers do not consider Namibia to be a must-see destination, but the beauty of Etosha National Park will make you reconsider. This park is also famous for its big five animals and rhino conservation, which includes both white rhinos and black rhinoceros. Some of the other animals to see at the national park include cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, caracals, jackals, and hyenas.
The national park was designated as a national park in 1907. Etosha was named after the Ovambo word, which literally means “the place where no plants grow.” It’s so massive that you can see it from space!
Staking out of a spring-fed waterhole and waiting for animals is one of the best activities for safari-goers in this famous national park. The Etosha National Park offers a stunning view of the dolomite hills and arid savannas.
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It’s home to over 20,000 animals and 1,000 bird species, including the Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes.
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The park is also home to a number of game drives, which are available at certain times throughout the day. There is also an option for night drives, during which visitors can see nocturnal animals such as lions and leopards in their natural habitat.
The park is in two different areas, each with its own unique environment. The Tsavo East and West sections are home to the Big Five as well as elephants and giraffes. The Ngulia Safari area is a mountainous region that offers visitors breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, which you can see from some parts of the park.
Namib Desert, Namibia
The Namib Desert, the oldest desert in the world, is one of the aridest places on earth. The name Namib is from the Nama language, which means “immense.”
It’s home to a number of desert animals, including fennec foxes, springboks, and oryxes. The Namib also features some of Africa’s most beautiful nature reserves: Sossusvlei and Fish River Canyon National Parks. The Namib Desert has the largest dunes in the world, at 300m tall.
Masai Mara, Kenya
For good reason, the Masai Mara is a popular safari destination. The park covers over 6,000 square kilometers of grassland and savannah, and its abundant wildlife includes lions, elephants, zebras, and giraffes. It’s also home to many species of birds, including flamingos.
The Masai Mara is known for its annual wildebeest migration, which takes place between July and October each year when thousands of wildebeest cross over from Tanzania into Kenya in search of fresh grazing land. While the migration only lasts two months out of the year, you can still see plenty of other wildlife during your visit.
Okavango Delta, Botswana
The Okavango Delta is the world’s largest inland delta. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014, and it’s an excellent place to see wildlife. The Okavango Delta is home to Africa’s largest concentration of animals, including elephants and lions.
The Okavango Delta has several different places you can stay while you are visiting Botswana, but I recommend staying at one of their lodges or campsites during your safari trip through this magical land!
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
You can find Queen Elizabeth National Park in the south of Uganda, near the border with Rwanda. It’s named after Queen Elizabeth II and was established as a national park in 1952 by her consort, Prince Philip.
The park has since become famous for its abundance of wildlife, including some of Africa’s most iconic species; it’s home to over half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, among other animals like elephants and hippos.
Possibly even more impressive than its animal population is how many bird species live here: more than 400 have been spotted so far—a number that makes it one of Africa’s best locations for bird watchers!
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Serengeti National Park is a national park in north-western Tanzania and one of Africa’s oldest and most famous wildlife reserves. It was established in 1951 and covers an area of 19,341 km² (7,500 sq mi). The park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.
Located in the east of the country around Lake Victoria and west of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, it encompasses part or all of four administrative regions: Mara Region (to its south), Ngorongoro District (to its south-east), Simiyu Region (to its north), and Kagera Region (to its north-east).
The Serengeti comprises two sections: a 14 km wide corridor between Lake Victoria and Lake Natron known as the South Serengeti; and the North Serengeti, which lies mostly within Tanzania’s Maasai Mara Game Reserve but also covers parts of Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, which makes it one of the best safaris in Africa to visit.
Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
Hwange National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Zimbabwe and a popular safari destination. It’s home to over 150 species of mammals, including two large carnivores (the lion and the leopard), as well as a wide variety of bird life.
The Hwange National Park initially started off as an area for hunting purposes; however, after it was designated as a protected reserve in 1928 by the British South Africa Company (BSAC), its wildlife resources became protected under law. In addition to its diverse range of species, Hwange also provides some amazing scenery that you won’t find anywhere else on your African adventure!
If you’re an adventurous traveler looking for the next big adventure, look no further. There are plenty of safaris in Africa that will make your trip to the continent worthwhile. The diversity of landscapes and cultures in Africa is what makes it such a special place, and these 13 safaris are sure to give you an experience that will stay with you forever!
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