Africa is a continent home to diverse landscapes, rich cultures and colourful capitals. It’s the home of the endless horizon, the safari, rural areas and coastal splendour. Whether it’s the dilapidated third world town centres, business capitals of cities, game-rich bushveld regions, arid savannah, coastal luxury or remote craters on the edge of the wild; Africa has heart. Africa has an unrefined natural beauty and is a continent deserving of a visit.
The majority of tourists come to Africa for a safari experience, but nailing down the countries to visit can be tricky. Your time frame and budget also need to be taken into consideration. If you have an extensive budget and aren’t restricted to time, we suggest you follow our ultimate Africa safari route. These are the most popular destinations worth a visit but certainly, aren’t the only countries in Africa to visit.
The below is our ultimate Africa safari route!
The Greater Kruger in South Africa
The Greater Kruger is home to a number of private reserves and the national park. It’s a destination popular because of its close location to the scenic coastal hub of Cape Town, and its overall accessibility. Guests often combine the Kruger with Cape Town for the perfect beach and bush combination. There are a number of flights serving major airports in the area, and the international airport of OR Tambo is also easily accessible.
Choose from reserves teeming with the big five, stay at lodges on the banks of rivers and indulge in luxury bushveld walking trails, sundowner sessions and game drives in big five reserves. If you’re pressed for time, combine a safari to Kruger with a trip to bold and brimming Cape Town.
High End: Ulusaba Cliff Lodge in the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve
Affordable: Kapama River Lodge in the Kapama Private Game Reserve
Okavango Delta in Botswana
The Delta is one of the most spectacular water wonderlands in Africa. The sparkling emerald waterlogged region is surrounded by a unique and arid savannah, rich with birdlife and predators. This alluvial fan comprises open waterways, reed-lined tributaries and tranquil channels. Floodplains, grasslands, reeds and grasslands make-up a unique ecosystem that is the Okavango Delta. The most popular region in the Delta is the Moremi Game Reserve, a state-run reserve and privately managed concessions home to a high concentration of big game.
This is the home of the water safari and offers its visitors unique opportunities to enjoy traditional mokoro rides and cruise across pristine waters. The bold and shimmery sunsets of the Okavango Delta are hypnotic!
High End: andBeyond Sandibe Lodge in Okavango Delta
Affordable: Pom Pom Camp in a private concession in the heart of the Okavango Delta.
Kenya/Tanzania
Both Kenya and Tanzania offer an iconic safari experience. Kenya is fondly referred to as “The Jewel of Africa” because of its vast landscape teeming with predators and herbivores migrating through the Mara plains. The Masai Mara is the most popular destination, and it’s understandable why. Tanzania is home to the Serengeti National Park, one of the most famous game reserves in the whole of Africa. Most of the land in of both of these countries is made-up of forests, national parks and game reserves. You’ll be stuck for choice when it comes to selecting a destination. Kenya and Tanzania both have remote tropical islands ideal for beach getaways.
High End: Cottar’s 1920’s Camp in Kenya
Affordable: Karen Blixen Camp in Kenya
Uganda
Uganda is raw and wild and offers an unsurpassed pristine natural beauty. Hills laden with tea and coffee plantations, ancient forest reserves cascading down mountains and lush jungles define the landscape. Everything in Uganda flourishes due to its nutrient-rich soil – imagine banana plantations and carpets of green around every corner.
The city centre is a far cry from a first world city, and it’s a casual reminder that Uganda is exceptionally beautiful because it’s still so rough around the edges. The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a biodiverse area and the epicentre of gorilla trekking safaris. It’s the go-to destination for tracking mountain gorillas. Coupled with gorilla trekking, visitors tend to travel to Kibale National Park for tracking chimpanzee.
High End: Engage Lodge on the border of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Affordable: Gorilla Safari Lodge on the outskirts of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Namibia
Namibia has a sparse population that ranks as one of the lowest in the world, which means there’s plenty of barren and pristine landscapes waiting to be explored. Home to the famous red sand dunes, vast horizons, the Skeleton Coast, Etosha Pan National Park and the waterways of the Caprivi strip, Namibia truly is a desert country of contrasts.
High End: Divava Okavango Lodge on the banks of the Okavango River in the Caprivi Strip
Affordable: Etosha Mountain Lodge in Etosha National Park
Cape Town
Laid-back Cape Town is a coastal region in South Africa and is a pulsating, trendy city spilling out over sandy beaches. It has a Mediterranean feel, with a typical beach culture. Just outside the city, there is an abundance of wine farms offering gourmet cuisine, cellar tours and wine tasting. Cape Town has a number of beaches ideal for swimming, surfing and diving. Small bohemian villages meander their way around the coastline that is home to both the Atlantic and Indian Ocean. Enjoy whale watching, spotting sharks, swimming with penguins, Table Mountain and a myriad of other activities in the cultural melting pot that is the “Mother City”.
High End: The Silo Hotel overlooking the VA Waterfront yacht basin
Affordable: The Cape Milner Hotel in the heart of the city centre
You can also add in Mozambique for a bit of tropical beach fun, and a trip to the famous Lake Malawi. Discover your Africa – the one that appeals to your personality. And prior to booking, ask yourself what YOU want from a safari experience! From Lions to Gorillas and Whales; Africa has it all.
