How to Choose the Right Safari Destination

5 min

Writer: Jemima Forbes

Dreaming of escaping to Africa? With so many enchanting locations for great wildlife encounters, breathtaking surroundings and vibrant tradition, it may be difficult to know precisely the place to go.

Gaining recommendation from an professional in African journey is by far the easiest way to resolve the fitting time and place to guide your bucket-list journey. That will help you out, we’ve put collectively some tips about how one can plan the perfect safari into the sport reserves of Africa.

Listed below are just a few pointers to contemplate earlier than you guide your journey.

1Select the fitting time of the 12 months to go

You could have already got a selected time in thoughts to your safari getaway. However, sure seasons are higher than others for encountering Africa’s various wildlife:

March to Might 

In the event you’re planning to go to Kenya or Tanzania, it’s value noting that this era of the 12 months is East Africa’s wet season. That doesn’t imply it’s best to shrink back from reserving a visit throughout these months, although. There’ll nonetheless be a lot of nice recreation drives to take pleasure in, in addition to alternatives to see animals birthing their younger. What’s extra, shiny mild situations make it a dream for photographers.

June to October 

This season is essentially thought of the perfect time for an African safari trip. Sit up for fairer climate and viewing majestic migrations in locations just like the Northern Serengeti. That is normally peak season for safaris, so that you may discover sure reserves are a little bit busier and costs are pushed increased.

December to March 

December via March is Southern Africa’s wet season. Once more, this shouldn’t put you off visiting. Main recreation reserves similar to Southern Kruger will supply loads of alternatives for recognizing the Huge 5. The wet season additionally provides a lot better worth for cash and fewer crowds to deal with.

Observe that for those who’re visiting a safari vacation spot throughout the wet season, you’ll have to be extra acutely aware about what you pack in your suitcase. A water-resistant but light-weight rain jacket is a should and also you’ll additionally need just a few layers in case you go on nighttime recreation drives. Sporting mild or impartial tones is really useful as brighter colours have a tendency to draw flies and different undesirable bugs.

2Determine what you need to see

Africa is the pure habitat of so many great creatures. In the event you’re decided to tick off the Huge 5 out of your listing, you’ll have the perfect likelihood in bigger safari places like Kruger Nationwide Park or Kenya’s Masai Mara. 

Varied migrations happen all year long and they’re spectacular sights to behold. The good zebra and wildebeest migration within the Serengeti sometimes takes place between Might and July, whereas Botswana’s unimaginable zebra migration occurs from Might to November.

Some nations additionally supply probabilities to identify uncommon creatures. For instance, Botswana is without doubt one of the high locations to see African wild canine of their pure habitat, along with large herds of magnificent elephants. All the time needed to see leopards within the wild? Enterprise to Zambia’s pristine South Luangwa area that’s brimming with predators.

Uganda can be world-famous for its gorillas, whereas Namibia’s Etosha Nationwide Park is a major vacation spot for monitoring elephants and uncommon black rhinos via the bush.

3Determine which a part of Africa to discover

Nations throughout Africa are rife with unimaginable landscapes, providing you with loads of selection on the subject of gorgeous surroundings and interesting wildlife.

Botswana is without doubt one of the most geographically various nations within the area. Spend a few weeks exploring large marshes, swamps teeming with crocodiles, tumbling rivers and expansive deserts in locations similar to Okavango Delta, Savuti & Linyanti and Chobe Nationwide Park. 

South Africa’s Kruger Nationwide Park is without doubt one of the greatest African safari parks, with extremely various topography. In addition to safari drives via the savannah to identify lions and zebras, you may head up into the Limpopo mountains within the hopes of glimpsing uncommon birds and elusive leopards. Additionally, you will have the chance to identify faculties of hippos lounging round within the glistening waters of the Letaba River.

4Record your must-do experiences

There’s a lot room for variation on African safari holidays. One of many key issues to resolve earlier than you guide is precisely what sort of expertise you’re after. Do you need to go on an thrilling water safari? Or possibly it has at all times been your dream to stroll amongst zebras on foot.

Botswana is a major vacation spot for mokoro (canoe) excursions within the Okavango Delta or alongside the Chobe River. In the event you’d reasonably get nearer to the motion on a strolling safari, it’s onerous to beat these supplied in Zambia. Nations similar to Tanzania and Kenya additionally characteristic lovely sandy seashores, good for some R&R after every week of thrilling wildlife recognizing.

In the event you’re on the lookout for a cultural expertise along with wildlife viewing, the unimaginable African Serengeti or the Masai Mara are nice choices. Each places additionally offer you an opportunity to embark on once-in-a-lifetime experiences with native cultures.

5Take note who you’re touring with

Whether or not you’re visiting Africa solo, as a pair or with all the household, your chosen journey companions will undoubtedly have an effect on the place you resolve to go on safari.

South Africa is a good choice for those who’re planning a safari trip with youthful children. The nation’s recreation reserves – together with Kruger – have incredible family-friendly lodging, lots of which embody children’ golf equipment and enjoyable exercise packages. You could possibly additionally divide your journey between staying in a safari park and having fun with some sightseeing and tradition in a big, close by metropolis like Johannesburg or Cape City.

For a romantic safari journey, be it an anniversary or to have a good time latest nuptials, you may’t go unsuitable with a trip in Tanzania or Kenya. Uncover lodges with beautiful environment and splendid honeymoon suites. There’s additionally the additional advantage of being near some idyllic seashores, similar to these in Zanzibar, for those who’d like to mix safari drives with stress-free on the sand.

Our Africa consultants will fortunately discuss all these factors via with you as a way to present a superbly tailor-made safari itinerary. Merely inform us what issues to you most, and we are going to present our suggestions for the perfect camps, reserves, instances to go to and actions based mostly in your journey desires!

Do you love journey tales from round the world? Signal up for our e-newsletter or register for one of our free webinars!