Africa is the trip most travellers dream about for years — and the one most worth planning with someone who has been. Our safari specialists build itineraries across East and Southern Africa, from the Great Migration in Kenya and Tanzania to gorilla trekking in Rwanda, the elephant herds of Zimbabwe, the walking safaris of Zambia, the deserts of Namibia, the Big Five reserves of South Africa and the private concessions of Botswana's Okavango Delta.
Choose a country below for a full briefing on parks, seasons, ways to travel and budget — or start with our Top 10 safari destinations if you are still deciding.
Where to go
Countries in Africa
Each country page covers the parks, seasons, ways to travel and what shapes the budget.
Africa
Kenya
The birthplace of safari travel, and still one of the easiest to reach.
Africa
Tanzania
The Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and a wilder southern circuit.
Africa
Rwanda
Mountain gorilla trekking, rainforest chimps and a modern capital.
Africa
Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi, at a lower permit price — and a proper dirt-road Africa drive to get there.
Africa
Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls, the elephant herds of Hwange and remote Mana Pools.
Africa
Zambia
The home of the walking safari — South Luangwa, Kafue and the Lower Zambezi.
Africa
Namibia
Africa's hidden gem — dunes, salt pans, desert wildlife and empty roads.
Africa
South Africa
A world in one country — Big Five reserves, Cape Town and the Garden Route.
Africa
Botswana
Best Safari Country in Africa four years running — and the Okavango Delta.
Timing
When to go on safari
The migration, the gorilla permits, the dry seasons and the whales all run on their own calendars. Here is every window in one place \u2014 the shaded months are the ones our specialists aim for.
| What you want to see | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya — Great MigrationWildebeest and zebra move through the Masai Mara. | January: not the best month | February: not the best month | March: not the best month | April: not the best month | May: not the best month | June: not the best month | July: recommended | August: recommended | September: recommended | October: recommended | November: not the best month | December: not the best month |
| Tanzania — Serengeti river crossingsNorthern Serengeti; the Grumeti crossings run May to early July. | January: not the best month | February: not the best month | March: not the best month | April: not the best month | May: not the best month | June: not the best month | July: recommended | August: recommended | September: not the best month | October: recommended | November: not the best month | December: not the best month |
| Tanzania — calving seasonSouthern Serengeti, and the best months for predator action. | January: recommended | February: recommended | March: recommended | April: not the best month | May: not the best month | June: not the best month | July: not the best month | August: not the best month | September: not the best month | October: not the best month | November: not the best month | December: not the best month |
| Tanzania — southern circuitDry season in Nyerere, Ruaha and Katavi. | January: not the best month | February: not the best month | March: not the best month | April: not the best month | May: not the best month | June: recommended | July: recommended | August: recommended | September: recommended | October: recommended | November: not the best month | December: not the best month |
| Rwanda & Uganda — gorilla trekkingThe two dry seasons; permits sell out well ahead. | January: recommended | February: recommended | March: not the best month | April: not the best month | May: not the best month | June: recommended | July: recommended | August: recommended | September: recommended | October: not the best month | November: not the best month | December: recommended |
| Zimbabwe — Victoria Falls in full flowHighest water; 2–3 nights recommended. | January: not the best month | February: recommended | March: recommended | April: recommended | May: recommended | June: not the best month | July: not the best month | August: not the best month | September: not the best month | October: not the best month | November: not the best month | December: not the best month |
| Zimbabwe — Hwange game viewingDry season concentrates elephants on the pumped waterholes. | January: not the best month | February: not the best month | March: not the best month | April: not the best month | May: recommended | June: recommended | July: recommended | August: recommended | September: recommended | October: recommended | November: not the best month | December: not the best month |
| Zambia — walking safarisSouth Luangwa; some camps close November to March. | January: not the best month | February: not the best month | March: not the best month | April: not the best month | May: recommended | June: recommended | July: recommended | August: recommended | September: recommended | October: recommended | November: not the best month | December: not the best month |
| Zambia — Liuwa Plain migrationAfrica's second-largest wildebeest migration. | January: not the best month | February: not the best month | March: not the best month | April: not the best month | May: not the best month | June: not the best month | July: not the best month | August: not the best month | September: not the best month | October: not the best month | November: recommended | December: recommended |
| Botswana — Okavango DeltaDry months, rising floodwaters and the best game viewing. | January: not the best month | February: not the best month | March: not the best month | April: recommended | May: recommended | June: recommended | July: recommended | August: recommended | September: recommended | October: recommended | November: recommended | December: not the best month |
| South Africa — Kruger high seasonWinter game viewing; Kruger rains fall November to April. | January: not the best month | February: not the best month | March: not the best month | April: not the best month | May: not the best month | June: not the best month | July: recommended | August: recommended | September: recommended | October: recommended | November: not the best month | December: not the best month |
| South Africa — whale seasonSouthern right whales off the Western Cape coast. | January: not the best month | February: not the best month | March: not the best month | April: not the best month | May: not the best month | June: not the best month | July: not the best month | August: recommended | September: recommended | October: not the best month | November: not the best month | December: not the best month |
Narrowing it down
How to choose your safari
Most travellers start with a feeling rather than a country. Find yours below and we will take it from there.
Best value
Scheduled road departures are consistently the best-value way to safari, and Kenya and Tanzania run the most of them. Camping and lodge options sit at either end of the same itinerary.
Most exclusive
Botswana's private concessions cap visitor numbers by design, and Tanzania's southern parks are reached by air and see a fraction of the northern circuit's traffic.
Best for walking safaris
Norman Carr pioneered the walking safari in Zambia's South Luangwa in the 1950s and it is still the country's signature experience; remote North Luangwa is almost entirely on foot.
Best for elephants
Hwange's pumped waterholes draw enormous herds in the dry season, and remote Mana Pools adds wild dogs, walking and canoeing on the Zambezi.
Best for gorillas and chimps
Mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park or Uganda's Bwindi — Uganda's permits cost less, Rwanda's park is closer to the capital. Chimpanzees add Nyungwe, Kibale or Mahale.
Malaria-free, family-friendly
Madikwe on the Botswana border and Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape are malaria-free Big Five country — no medication, and easy on young children, pregnant travellers and seniors.
Easiest to reach
Nairobi and Johannesburg are the two best-connected gateways in Africa, so Kenya and South Africa need the fewest connections and combine most easily with a beach or city stay.
Something completely different
Namibia trades savannah for desert — Sossusvlei's dunes, the Skeleton Coast and Etosha's salt pans, best travelled by self-drive, guided tour or fly-in safari.
Your experts
Advisors who have travelled Africa
Traveller stories
What travellers say about Africa
On arrival at Mount Kilimanjaro International Airport… who would not want to start a story off with a title like that? We arranged the clothing, the cameras, the visas, the travel books, and received first-class support throughout.
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