There aren’t many travel experiences more rewarding than having a close encounter with wild animals on a safari. Africa is the undisputed birthplace of the wildlife safari. It comes as no surprise that this is the continent with the most diverse opportunities for wildlife watching. The options for African safari destinations are almost endless. So, how do you find the one that is right for you?
To help you choose your ultimate wildlife adventure, I teamed up with the global community of travellers and bloggers and asked them to reveal their top African safari destinations.
The 20 options below represent tried and tested personal recommendations and range from budget to luxury, from iconic to off-the-beaten-track, and from organized safari to self-drive exploration.
This is Part 2 of the two-part guide to the Top Safari Destinations Around The World.
Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenia
Kenya is one of our favourite countries in the world, and for many good reasons—the fantastic Kenyan people (who truly live by the motto of “Hakuna Matata”), the paradise beaches, the diverse local culture, and most importantly, the incredible wildlife!
While Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks offer great experiences, one standout location in Kenya and arguably the world’s best safari holiday destination is the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
As soon as you drive through the Maasai Mara gates, you will be transported into an animal kingdom like you wouldn’t believe, with animal sightings immediately. This moment marks the beginning of your understanding of why Maasai Mara is considered one of the best safari holiday destinations in the world. And we haven’t even touched on the fact that it’s also one of the most budget-friendly safari options when compared to other African safari destinations.
Every year, one of the greatest wildlife spectacles in the world, “The Great Migration,” takes place in the Maasai Mara. Millions of wildebeests, zebras, and other grazers cross the border from Tanzania into Kenya, with many hungry predators waiting in anticipation.
Another unique feature that makes Maasai Mara a great place to visit is the opportunity to learn and immerse yourself in the local and colourful Maasai culture with its distinctive clothing and traditional jumping dance.
Finally, you might ask, isn’t the Serengeti in Tanzania considered the ultimate best holiday destination? Well, let me highlight the main difference between these two fantastic safari spots. It’s merely an invisible boundary line that animals don’t recognize, known as a land border! Both areas are part of the same land, sharing the same animals, with one side lying in Tanzania and the other in Kenya. And let’s not forget that Maasai Mara is a lot cheaper!
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
When you mention this landlocked East African country, the first thing most people think of is Hotel Rwanda and the mass genocide of nearly a million people back in 1994. But President Paul Kagame (former leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front) has since brought a lot of infrastructure investment to Rwanda. The result is one of Africa’s most impressive safari destinations, and Volcanoes National Park is the jewel in the country’s ecotourism crown.
Volcanoes National Park is located in the northern part of the country in the volcanic Virunga Mountains, which straddle the border between Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The area is best known for the endangered Mountain Gorillas that inhabit its dense forests, which were made famous (and habituated to human presence) in the 1970s and 80s by late primatologist Dian Fossey.
Etosha National Park, Namibia
In 2018, we traversed Africa in a Land Rover with our boys (our youngest was 2) for 101 days. During this time, we went on A LOT of safaris. But the best one for us was Etosha National Park, Namibia, and is the safari park I recommend to first-timers to Africa and those looking to safari with kids.
Firstly, it’s very affordable, particularly compared to park entry fees and accommodations in safari parks in East Africa.
Secondly, wildlife spotting is very easy due to the low-growing vegetation over flat, open plains and the sheer abundance of wildlife. You can literally see for miles! There is only grass for animals to hide in, so spotting elephants, giraffes, zebras, and even rhinos and lions is pretty much guaranteed. There are also many watering holes dotted across the park, the perfect spots to park up and watch the local wildlife come to drink and socialise.
Etosha is best experienced independently on a self-drive safari. Most of the roads throughout the park are suitable for 2WD (it’s only to the Western side of the park that a 4WD is required), and it’s well signposted.
