Africa has so much to offer: pristine beaches, spectacular locations, amazing wildlife and more. Below are some of the continent’s best 10 destinations, in no particular order.
Masai Mara (Kenya)
The Masai Mara Game Reserve is easily the most popular destination for African safari tours.
Located in the south-western Kenya, Masai Mara is the home of the Great Wildebeest Migration – an annual event that sees more than 1.5 million wildebeest crossing over from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Mara in search of pasture as seasons change.
Read more on Masai Mara Game Reserve.
Kruger National Park (South Africa)
Kruger National Park is home to a wide range of safari animals including the big five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino), crocodiles, cheetah, hippos and many others. Kruger is ranked among the best game reserves in Africa which means it offers very rewarding African safari tours. Read more on Kruger park safari.
Serengeti National Park (Tanzania)
The Serengeti National Park offers some of the best game safaris in Africa. The extensive grasslands allow you to spot lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants and other animals because you can see the whole spectacle clearly. The great wildebeest migration begins here and since the park is larger than the Masai Mara Game Reserve, it is also less crowded. Read more on Serengeti National Park.
South Luangwa National Park (Zambia)
South Luangwa National Park offers a real African safari tours experience. The park is home to a huge population of wildlife (60 species) and more than 400 species of bird. South Luangwa is best visited during the dry season (April to October) when animals tend to congregate around the waterholes – making it easier for you to spot them.
Etosha National Park (Namibia)
Home to Africa’s tallest elephants, the endangered black rhino and 91 other species of mammal, Etosha National Park is a top African safari tours destination in Namibia.
The national park is particularly popular with photographers who flock to the waterholes where animals congregate during the dry season. Etosha does not offer scheduled game drives, since most visitor prefer to go on self-drive safaris.
Chobe National Park (Botswana)
Located in the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park covers four distinct eco-systems. The Savuti marsh specifically offers some of the highest concentrations of game in Africa all year round.
Chobe is home to about 120,000 elephants, meaning you’re guaranteed to see them while on your safari in the park. The best time to visit Chobe is during the dry cooler winter months (between May and September) when animals tend to congregate around the Savuti marsh.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda)
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to about half of the world’s remaining population of the endangered mountain gorillas. Numbering about 480 individuals, Bwindi National Park is home to almost half of the world’s remaining population of the mountain gorillas. The park is ideal for nature walks and gorilla trekking adventures. It offers a wonderful backdrop to view chimpanzees and other animal species.
Loango National Park (Gabon)
Loango National Park is the only place in Africa where you can spot whales, elephants, chimps and gorillas in one park! Here you get the rare opportunity to watch wildlife on the beach, swamp, savannah and forest in one day. The national park is not so crowded – although its just a matter of time before tourists discover it.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Tanzania)
The Ngorongoro Conservation area includes the world’s largest undamaged caldera, which acts as a natural enclosure for a wide range of animal species. Ngorongoro is home to the nomadic Maasai who live within the conservation area. It is also home to Olduvai where some of man’s earliest remains have been found.
Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe)
Hwange National Park is home to an incredibly wide range of animals, among them lions, elephants, giraffes as well as over 100 other animal species. The park is also home to the largest populations of wild dogs in Africa. Hwange is located close to the magnificent Victoria Falls – one of the world’s greatest natural wonders.
