5 Unforgettable African Safari Experiences

Great for: Safari seekers and Wildlife enthusiasts. While this safari covers Tanzania’s “must-see” game-viewing areas -- Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, two of Africa’s premier wildlife parks -- it adds the extra elements of a full day’s hiking through Maasai country into remote areas of the Rift Valley, as well as a wilderness stay in a private nature refuge in the eastern Serengeti. 

Great for: Travelers seeking a Safari off the beaten path. Most of the country is dry, arid, sparsely populated desert -- the Kalahari and Namib -- but it also contains some of the most hauntingly beautiful landscapes in Africa, including huge red dunes that are a photographer’s delight. This guided safari combines exploration of the dunes with game drives in Etosha National Park, one of Africa’s top wildlife parks, as well as visits to native Himba settlements. Accommodations are in lodges, safari camps, B&Bs and resorts.

Great for: Equestrians. South Africa is known for its horse riding safaris. This one takes place in the Makalali game reserve in Limpopo Province, where you’ll follow meandering game trails and have chances to encounter lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and Cape buffalo as well as to canter alongside giraffes, zebras and wildebeest. Most days are devoted to horseback rides, but game drives are also on the docket. Campsites provided lodging.

Great for: Wildlife enthusiasts and Nature lovers. Uganda’s signature safaris are all about tracking rare mountain gorillas, something few travelers will ever experience, and this one delivers with two days in mountainous Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Tracking may take up to six hours per day (but often less), with an hour allowed for often close-up observation. This trip also includes chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park, home to the world’s highest density of primates, as well as more traditional game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park.  Lodging is in luxurious jungle camps, including the only camp in Bwindi.

Great for: Wildlife enthusiasts and Nature lovers. Botswana is beautiful and mostly uncrowded. A highlight of this safari is exploring the channels, islands and waterways of Botswana’s Okavango Delta by dugout canoe. You’ll spend two days at a private campsite (in a safari tent complete with bathrooms) there and another two days camping in the adjacent Moremi Game Reserve, a wildlife gem. An additional four nights in Chobe National Park should yield excellent lion and elephant viewing. As a bonus, the trip ends at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, a natural wonder and site of a one-night stay at an elephant camp.