Best Safari Places in Africa

Known For : Balloon Safari Game Drives Walking Safaris

Masai Mara is one of the most famous safari destinations in Africa, renowned for its exceptional population of lions, leopards, cheetahs, and elephants. The reserve is best known for the Great Migration, where over 1.5 million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles traverse the Mara River, often pursued by predators. Its open savannahs, dotted with acacia trees, provide iconic African landscapes and unparalleled wildlife viewing opportunities.

What's special: The Great Migration, Big Five sightings, hot air balloon safaris.
Budget: Mid-range to luxury, with budget options available.
Witness wildebeest migration: July to October.
Safari seasons: Best from July to October during the dry season, but wildlife is abundant year-round.

Best Time: June to October

8 Masai Mara Attractions

Serengeti National Park, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the quintessential African safari destination, famous for its vast plains and large predator population. It's also a key site for the Great Migration, where millions of wildebeest and other ungulates migrate in search of fresh grazing. The Serengeti offers a variety of landscapes, from savannahs to woodlands, and is home to some of the largest concentrations of wildlife on the planet.

What's special: Great Migration, large predator population, varied landscapes.
Budget: Mid-range to luxury, with some budget options.
Witness wildebeest migration: June to July (Grumeti River crossing), December to March (calving season).
Safari seasons: Best from June to October during the dry season; December to March is also excellent for the migration.

Best Time: January - March, June - October

Kruger National Park is one of Africa's largest game reserves and offers an incredible diversity of wildlife, including the Big Five. It's known for its excellent infrastructure, making it accessible for self-drive safaris and a range of accommodation options from campsites to luxury lodges. Kruger provides a great blend of comfort and adventure, allowing visitors to explore the park at their own pace.

What's special: Big Five sightings, self-drive safaris, diverse ecosystems.
Budget: Options range from budget (self-drive) to luxury.
Safari seasons: Best from May to September during the dry season.

Best Time: May - September

Known For : Galana River Lugard Falls Yatta Plateau

Tsavo East and Tsavo West together form one of the largest national parks in Kenya, known for its vast landscapes and large herds of red-dust-coated elephants. Tsavo East is famous for its open savannah and sightings of lions and elephants, while Tsavo West is known for its scenic landscapes, including the Mzima Springs, where hippos and crocodiles can be observed in crystal-clear waters.

What's special: Large and remote, red-dust elephants, diverse landscapes.
Budget: Mid-range to luxury, with some budget options.
Safari seasons: Best from June to October during the dry season.

Best Time: June - October

3 Tsavo East Attractions

Addo Elephant National Park is South Africa's third-largest national park and is famous for its large elephant population. The park also protects the unique coastal habitat, providing refuge to the endangered African penguin and Cape fur seal. Addo offers a variety of safari experiences, including self-drive, guided game drives, and horseback safaris, catering to a wide range of visitors.

What's special: Large elephant herds, diverse wildlife, self-drive safaris.
Budget: Budget to mid-range, with some luxury options.
Safari seasons: Best from May to September during the dry season.

Amboseli National Park is renowned for its stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, which serves as a dramatic backdrop to the park’s wildlife. The park is famous for its large herds of elephants and offers excellent opportunities for wildlife photography. Amboseli's mix of swamps, savannahs, and woodlands supports a wide variety of animals, making it a great destination for game viewing.

What's special: Views of Mount Kilimanjaro, large elephant herds, photography.
Budget: Mid-range to luxury, with some budget options.
Safari seasons: Best from June to October during the dry season.

Best Time: June - October

The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest inactive volcanic caldera, and it acts as a natural enclosure for a vast array of wildlife, including a high density of predators and herbivores. The crater's floor is a stunning landscape of grasslands, lakes, and forests, making it one of the best places to see the Big Five in a concentrated area. The crater also has a significant population of black rhinoceros, which are increasingly rare in the wild.

What's special: High density of wildlife, Big Five sightings, black rhinos.
Budget: Mid-range to luxury, with a few budget options.
Safari seasons: Best from June to October, but wildlife is present year-round.

Best Time: June - October

Moremi Game Reserve is part of the Okavango Delta and offers a rich safari experience with diverse ecosystems ranging from floodplains to forests. The reserve is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including large herds of elephants, lions, leopards, and African wild dogs. Moremi is particularly noted for its excellent bird-watching opportunities, with over 500 species recorded.

What's special: Diverse ecosystems, excellent bird watching, remote and pristine.
Budget: Mid-range to luxury.
Safari seasons: Best from July to October during the dry season.

Best Time: July - October

Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda's most popular tourist destination, known for its stunning scenery and rich biodiversity. The park is home to a variety of habitats, including savannahs, forests, and lakes, supporting a wide range of wildlife, including elephants, lions, and hippos. The park is also famous for its tree-climbing lions and boat safaris on the Kazinga Channel, where large concentrations of hippos and birds can be seen.

What's special: Tree-climbing lions, boat safaris, diverse ecosystems.
Budget: Mid-range to luxury, with some budget options.
Safari seasons: Best from June to September during the dry season.

Best Time: June - September, December - February

Ruaha National Park is Tanzania’s largest national park and one of its best-kept secrets. The park is known for its large elephant population and significant numbers of predators, including lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Ruaha’s remote location means it’s less visited, offering an uncrowded and authentic safari experience amidst stunning baobab-studded landscapes.

What's special: Remote and uncrowded, large elephant herds, predator sightings.
Budget: Mid-range to luxury.
Safari seasons: Best from June to October during the dry season.

Best Time: June - October

Mana Pools National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located along the Zambezi River, known for its beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife. The park is famous for its walking safaris and canoeing safaris, offering unique and intimate encounters with animals such as elephants, hippos, and buffaloes. Mana Pools is one of the few places where visitors can explore on foot, providing a thrilling and immersive safari experience.

What's special: Walking and canoeing safaris, Zambezi River scenery, abundant wildlife.
Budget: Mid-range to luxury, with some budget options.
Safari seasons: Best from May to October during the dry season.

Sabi Sands Game Reserve is a private reserve adjacent to Kruger National Park, renowned for its luxury lodges and exceptional game viewing. The reserve is famous for its leopard sightings, offering some of the best opportunities to see these elusive big cats. Sabi Sands' exclusivity and expert guides ensure a high-quality, intimate safari experience.

What's special: Leopard sightings, luxury lodges, exclusive and private safaris.
Budget: Luxury.
Safari seasons: Best from May to September during the dry season.

Selous Game Reserve is one of Africa's largest protected areas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The reserve is known for its stunning landscapes, including the Rufiji River, which provides a habitat for large populations of crocodiles, hippos, and diverse bird species. Selous offers a variety of safari experiences, from traditional game drives to boat safaris and walking tours, in a remote and wild environment.

What's special: Remote wilderness, boat safaris on the Rufiji River, diverse wildlife.
Budget: Mid-range to luxury.
Safari seasons: Best from June to October during the dry season.

Kidepo Valley National Park is one of Uganda's most remote and wild parks, offering a truly off-the-beaten-path safari experience. The park's rugged landscape, with its rolling savannahs and distant mountains, is home to a variety of wildlife, including lions, elephants, and the rare cheetah. Kidepo's isolation ensures low visitor numbers, making it a perfect destination for those seeking solitude and untouched wilderness.

What's special: Remote and untouched, diverse landscapes, rare cheetah sightings.
Budget: Mid-range with some luxury options.
Safari seasons: Best from September to March, though wildlife is present year-round.

South Luangwa National Park is considered one of the best walking safari destinations in Africa, offering an up-close experience with wildlife. The park is known for its large populations of hippos, elephants, and crocodiles, as well as excellent leopard sightings. The Luangwa River is the park's lifeline, attracting animals in large numbers, particularly during the dry season.

What's special: Walking safaris, leopard sightings, pristine wilderness.
Budget: Mid-range to luxury, with some budget-friendly camps.
Safari seasons: Best from May to October during the dry season.

Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe’s largest game reserve and is known for its huge elephant population and impressive variety of wildlife. The park features diverse landscapes, including savannahs, woodlands, and wetlands, making it a great place to see a wide range of species. Hwange is also known for its predator sightings, including lions, leopards, and wild dogs, and is less crowded than some other major parks.

What's special: Large elephant herds, predator sightings, diverse landscapes.
Budget: Mid-range with some luxury options; budget-friendly options available.
Safari seasons: Best from July to October during the dry season.

Etosha National Park is dominated by a vast salt pan that becomes a stunning sight during the rainy season when it transforms into a shallow lake, attracting thousands of flamingos. The park is home to a variety of animals, including lions, elephants, and rare species like the black-faced impala. Etosha's well-maintained waterholes provide excellent game viewing opportunities, especially during the dry season when animals gather around them.

What's special: Unique landscapes, excellent waterhole game viewing, rare species.
Budget: Mid-range with budget options; some luxury lodges available.
Safari seasons: Best from May to October during the dry season.

Best Time: May - October

Chobe National Park is famed for its massive elephant population, estimated to be the largest concentration in Africa. The Chobe River, which flows through the park, is a major attraction, where visitors can enjoy boat safaris that offer close encounters with elephants, hippos, and crocodiles. Chobe also boasts a wide variety of wildlife and is an excellent bird-watching destination.

What's special: Elephant herds, boat safaris, diverse wildlife.
Budget: Mid-range to luxury, with some budget options.
Safari seasons: Best from May to October during the dry season.

Best Time: April - October

The Okavango Delta is a unique inland delta, creating a lush oasis in the middle of the Kalahari Desert. It's renowned for its incredible biodiversity, including large herds of elephants, hippos, and rare species like the African wild dog. Safari experiences here are varied, including traditional game drives, mokoro (dugout canoe) rides, and walking safaris, all offering intimate wildlife encounters.

What's special: Mokoro safaris, bird watching, remote and pristine environment.
Budget: Typically high-end luxury, with a few mid-range options.
Safari seasons: Best from June to October during the dry season.

Best Time: April - September

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its population of endangered mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking is the main attraction here, offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. The park's dense, mist-covered forests also host other wildlife, including chimpanzees, elephants, and a rich variety of birds.

What's special: Mountain gorilla trekking, dense tropical forests, bird watching.
Budget: Mid-range to luxury; gorilla trekking permits add to the cost.
Safari seasons: Best from June to August and December to February.

Best Time: June - September, December - February