Are you thinking about a trip to Africa but not sure which country should be at the top of your bucket list? It’s one of the most common questions we get asked, and that’s why we are here to help.
When you work with us, we start with asking a variety of questions to help you decide, such as:
- What do you really to see? Is there a specific animal or destination that you have always wanted to see?
- What do you really want to do? Do you want to spend the majority of your time on game drives searching for animals, experience adrenaline pumping adventures, go hiking and participate in walking safaris, relaxing and spa treatments, experience local life and community projects, or a combination of these experiences?
- Are your dates flexible? Is there a particular time you are wanting to go?
- What is your budget?
Once you have this information to share with us, we can start building your custom itinerary specifically tailored to YOU and your wants. Still not sure and need some inspiration? We can help with that too!
Africa has diverse landscapes, wildlife viewing in natural habitats, geographical wonders, active adventures, and relaxation. There are beautiful beaches, bustling cities, safari excursions, and various river activities. Each country is rich in culture and history.
One of our favorite itineraries for first timers to Africa takes clients to Cape Town, Victoria Falls, and ends with a safari in either Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, or Zimbabwe. This type of itinerary allows you to combine the most dreamed about wildlife game viewing on safari with an adventure that also includes culture, food, history, and activities – the best of both worlds.
If your primary motive is a classic wildlife safari — then several places automatically come to mind. Between them, Kenya, northern Tanzania and the eastern side of South Africa boast some of the planet’s best game parks.
If you’ve already done the big three safari regions — and wildlife is still your most important consideration — more choices come to mind. Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia offer exceptional game viewing, in some respects just as good (if not better) than the more famous areas.
For instance, Chobe National Park in northern Botswana is probably the continent’s best place for elephants, sometimes more than a hundred in a single herd. And if you’re into hippos — or viewing animals from a canoe or kayak rather than a 4×4 vehicle — then Lower Zambezi in Zambia or Mana Pools in Zimbabwe might be the place for your.
Botswana’s legendary Okavango Delta is another place where boat is the primary means of getting around — and viewing the unique animals (both large and small) and dwell in one of the world’s great wetlands.
Namibia is the best bet for organizing a self-drive safari. The road system is awesome, traffic is light, rental rates are reasonable, this is maybe the safest nation in all of Africa, and national parks like Etosha and Namib-Naukluft are basically designed so visitors can drive themselves around.
Uganda and Rwanda are the best places for gorilla trekking. Both of these landlocked nations — astride the gorgeous East Africa Lake District — afford the opportunity of combining gorillas with typical African savannah wildlife and other primates like chimpanzees and monkeys.
And speaking of primates, Madagascar is the only destination where you can see lemurs in the wild. Depending on who’s counting, the huge island is home to more than 100 lemur species as well as copious chameleons, fabulous bird life and marine mammals offshore in the Indian Ocean. See our sample itinerary of a Madagascar adventure here.
Of course, African has a lot more than just wildlife. The best blends of beasts and beach are found in Kenya, Tanzania (specifically Zanzibar island), Mozambique and South Africa where tropical beach resorts glimmer along white-sand strands.
Do you want even more information? You can start by checking out our Explore Africa page! You will find our Client Brochure guide as well as Traveler Planning Guide for each country. You will find details about when the best time to visit each country, top things to do in each country, and our favorite properties to stay at.
Are you ready to start planning your African Adventure? Click the button below.
