Photo: Stumorrisonza, CC BY-SA 4.0 Kenya Angama Mara
Two tented camps on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, looking straight down onto the Maasai Mara. The view is hard to beat.
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africa
Most people start with the animals they’d love to see, and that’s a good place to begin. After that, it comes down to the style of trip, the time of year and how much you’d like to fit in.
Kenya and Tanzania are the classic choice for open plains and the Great Migration, and both pair easily with a few days on the coast or in Zanzibar. Botswana is quieter and more exclusive, with small camps in the Okavango Delta where you explore by mokoro as well as by vehicle.
South Africa is the easiest first safari: short connections, very little jet lag, malaria-free reserves, and Cape Town and the Winelands to round things off. Rwanda and Uganda are for gorilla trekking, usually added on for three or four nights.
Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Malawi and Mozambique suit those who have been before, or who like their wilderness a little wilder: walking safaris, desert landscapes, Victoria Falls and islands in the Indian Ocean.
We usually suggest two or three camps rather than five, so you spend more time watching and less time transferring.
where to go
Eleven countries, each with its own kind of safari. Hover over a country to see what it offers and the best months to visit.
Hover over or tap a destination to explore
where to stay
A few of the camps and lodges we know well. There are many more, and we'll choose each one around the way you like to travel.
Photo: Stumorrisonza, CC BY-SA 4.0 Kenya Two tented camps on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, looking straight down onto the Maasai Mara. The view is hard to beat.
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Photo: Push the button, CC BY-SA 3.0 Kenya A 1930s manor house in Nairobi where Rothschild's giraffes wander up to the breakfast table. A lovely first or last night.
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South Africa Three suites in the Sabi Sand, known for its leopards and run by the same family for generations.
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South Africa Glass-walled suites in a rare sand forest in KwaZulu-Natal, with the Indian Ocean coast close by.
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South Africa A grand Cape Town house above Bantry Bay, with an exceptional art collection and wine gallery. Ideal before or after a safari.
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Malawi A handful of tents on an uninhabited island in Lake Malawi. Kayaking, snorkelling and very little else.
Ask us about this hotelLooking for something different? We work with many more hotels and villas in this part of the world, and we'll happily suggest the right one for you.
South Africa or Kenya. South Africa has short transfers, excellent private reserves and very little jet lag, while Kenya gives you the wide-open plains most people picture. We’ll talk through both and suggest the one that suits you.
For most of East and Southern Africa, the dry season from June to October, when animals gather around water and the bush thins out. The green season can be wonderful too, with fewer vehicles, newborn animals and lower rates.
Yes, and many camps welcome them, although some set a minimum age of between six and twelve. South Africa’s malaria-free reserves are the easiest with young children, and we’ll suggest camps with family suites and guides who know how to keep everyone engaged.
Permits are limited each day, so we secure them early, usually six months or more ahead. Treks in Rwanda and Uganda take anything from one to several hours through the forest, and the hour you spend with the gorillas is extraordinary.
Easily. Zanzibar and Mozambique’s islands work well after East or Southern Africa, and the Seychelles and Mauritius are just a few hours’ flight from Nairobi or Johannesburg.
get in touch
Tell us which animals you'd love to see and when you can travel, and we'll suggest a route to start from.
Start a conversationDiscreet. Personal. No obligation.
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Travel advice: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has up-to-date advice on health and safety across the globe, as well as local laws, and passport and visa information. Please check travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and follow @FCDOtravelGovUK and Facebook.com/FCDOtravel regularly for updates ahead of travel, as the advice can change.
