The Best Safari in Africa

The Best Safari in Africa

We are often asked – where is the best safari in Africa? and where are the best places to visit in Africa for safari?

Well thankfully there are many, many options to choose from as Africa is a continent brimming full of extraordinary wildlife reserves and game parks, housing all of nature’s animal wonders and much more besides.

So in order to provide an answer to the question of just which are the best safari locations in Africa, we have narrowed things down to our list of the Top 8 National Parks which offer the best African safaris.

Africa's Top 8 National Parks

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
The name alone conjures images of sweeping African plains and herds of wildebeest, and Tanzania's iconic Serengeti National Park never fails to deliver, offering arguably the best safari experience in East Africa. Sitting across the border from Kenya’s Masai Mara, it is a vast wilderness area which covers over 6,000 square miles and is home to some of Africa’s, if not the world’s, best safaris. Although home to the annual Great Migration, superb game viewing can be enjoyed year-round, with hot air balloon rides high above the wildlife an undoubted highlight.



Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
Elephants, elephants and more elephants. Zimbabwe’s largest National Park is home to one of the world’s largest populations of these incredible pachyderms as well as to healthy populations of buffalo, lion, cheetah and the magical painted, or wild dog. A series of waterholes help to sustain the wildlife and a railway line cuts through the middle of the Park, providing some unique game-viewing opportunities. Zimbabwe’s guides are amongst Africa’s finest, with Hwange the perfect setting in which to enjoy an extraordinary up-close walking safari.

South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
The original home of walking safaris in Africa, and still one of the top spots for getting out on foot with a guide and experiencing the African bush in all its glory. The Luangwa River, from which the South Luangwa National Park takes its name, is an important source of water for the wildlife, and it provides a scenic setting for many of the safari lodges, and also the opportunity to enjoy a spot of game-viewing by boat. The Park is famed for its lion and leopard populations.



Kruger National Park, South Africa
The answer to which is the best safari in South Africa can be found right here.

South Africa is home to over 20 National Parks, but none is more famous and well-known than the Kruger. Originating out of the Sabi Game Reserve and proclaimed a National Park in 1926, the modern-day Kruger is nowadays home to a phenomenal range of wildlife, including the Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino & buffalo), and all of the usual suspects. It also plays host to a wide choice of accommodation – from simple chalets and rondavels to tented camps and some of Africa’s most luxurious and opulent safari lodges. The Kruger is also the perfect location for those who ask when is the best time to go on safari in Africa, as it can be visited year-round.

Etosha National Park, Namibia
Busting the myth that National Parks are all about open grass plains and lush, thick vegetation is Etosha - Namibia’s iconic and flagship reserve. Dominated by a large and extinct salt pan, the landscape is almost other-worldly, with the game contrasting strikingly against the barren background. A sanctuary for the endangered black rhino, accommodation within the Park is largely limited to state-run rest camps, with the majority of the luxury tented camps and lodges set outside the Park gates.



Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Although technically a National Reserve rather than a National Park, the Masai Mara is where safari really began, with the first pioneers leading expeditions into the region as long ago as 1919. Now one of the most popular game-viewing areas on the entire African continent, it is home to the famed Great Migration – which every year between July and October sees vast herds of migrating wildebeest, along with hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelles arrive in search of pastures new.

A stay in the Masai Mara surely offers one of the best safari tours in Africa.

Okavango Delta, Botswana
A slight cheat because although not technically a National Park, it really should be! The largest inland delta in the world, the Okavango Delta formed when the waters of the Okavango River flow south and flood the dry desert plains, this extraordinary ecosystem is home to some of Africa’s finest game viewing and, following Botswana’s stated mission to follow a high income / low volume policy, to some of the most expensive safari lodges and best African safaris on the planet. A particularly unique activity is silently exploring the channels in a dug-out mokoro canoe.



Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Le Parc National des Volcans, to give it it’s native name, was Africa’s first, created to protect their most precious of cargoes – the critically endangered mountain gorilla. Found only in neighbouring Uganda and the DRC, these magnificent creatures remain the jewel in Rwanda’s tourism crown, and viewing them is without doubt one of the best safari experiences in Africa. With just 80 permits issued each day, those wanting to view them are strongly urged to book well in advance. The Park is also home to golden monkeys and to a scenic string of volcanoes.

Why Book your Safari to Africa with Africa Travel?

Now that you know where to go on safari in Africa, and where the best African safaris are, it is time to contact Africa Travel. With over 30 years’ experience in creating tailor-made and bespoke holidays to Africa, there is no one more qualified to advise of the best safari destinations in Africa, or to organise an unforgettable safari holiday to Africa than Africa Travel. We have a wealth of specialist resources to help you book your perfect safari and are trusted by more and more customers to create a memorable experience which is not just another holiday, but rather the best safari in Africa.

All of our staff have travelled extensively and you can trust that our personal recommendations will deliver the African safari tour that you have always dreamed of. We know the best time to safari in Africa, we can recommend the best luxury safari lodges in Africa, and we can book the best places in Africa to safari. We organise exclusive and private tours, and arrange for the finest guides to escort you.