From the desolate deserts and pristine wilderness areas of Southern Africa…..
…..to the primate rich forests, open grassland plains, rugged mountains and tropical islands of East Africa, the continent of Africa is bursting full of incredible and wonderful natural experiences.
The big game is the show-stopper, but beyond the wildlife there are spectacular and varied landscapes, vibrant peoples and a huge variety of exciting activities to embrace. This page is designed to showcase just a few of the amazing adventures on offer. Please contact us for more detailed information on any of the ideas featured.
First Time in Africa
Witness The
Great Migration
Witness The Great Migration
If you only ever go on one safari, The Serengeti/Mara ecosystem in Tanzania and Kenya is arguably the only place to consider. The open plains offer the best game viewing in Africa, and are especially famous for being the home to the annual wildebeest, zebra and gazelle migration, commonly referred to as ‘The Migration’. This natural phenomenon is an epic sight to behold, especially if you are lucky enough to see the herds on the move or running the gauntlet across the Grumeti or Mara rivers (known as a ‘river crossing’). You may also choose to view the great herds from the air on a hot-air balloon safari, another magical experience!
For more information on the migration please see our dedicated page on the Great Migration, whilst you can also visit our individual regional pages on Kenya’s Masai Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti.
See The
Big Five
See The Big Five
Elephant, Lion, Buffalo, Rhino, Leopard – the Big Five. The name arises from the old hunting days when these five creatures were deemed the most dangerous to hunt. Nowadays they represent the benchmark for big-game viewing, and there are only limited places where you can comfortably see all of the big five within a short period of time. If you have limited time and are keen to focus on the big game, then a Big Five safari might be just what you are looking for. For information on where in Africa to see the Big Five, please see our dedicated Big Five page in our Species Search section.
Explore The
Ngorongoro Crater
Explore The Ngorongoro Crater
In terms of scenic splendour combined with first class game viewing, the Ngorongoro Crater is an incredible place. Located in the Ngorongoro Highlands of northern Tanzania, close to the Serengeti National Park, the crater is in fact a large volcanic caldera which teems with wildlife. It takes about 20 minutes to descend the 2000 feet from the crater rim to the crater floor, an area which is predominantly open grassland interspersed with marshy areas, the Lerai Forest and Lake Magadi, home to flocks of flamingo. For more information on the Ngorongoro Crater and the surrounding highlands, please visit our Ngorongoro Crater page within our Tanzania section.
Swim At The Top Of
Victoria Falls
Swim At The Top Of Victoria Falls
The Victoria Falls, found on the Zambezi River which forms the boundary between Zambia and Zimbabwe, is one of World’s 7 natural wonders. In full flow, the falls are both awesome in their power and scenically stunning. As well as being an amazing sight to behold either from ground level or from the air, it is also possible to swim in a natural rock pool known as ‘Devil’s Pool’ at the very top of the main falls. For practicality and safety reasons, this activity is only possible during low water, usually from July to December, but it is one of those ‘wow’ experiences which many don’t realise is possible! A visit to Victoria Falls can easily be combined with safari and sight-seeing holidays in South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. For more information on Victoria Falls and the surrounding region, and all the different activities possible, please see our dedicated pages on Victoria Falls in our Zimbabwe and Zambia pages.
Experienced Safari Hands
Sleep Under
The Stars
Sleep Under The Stars
To really appreciate the African wilderness in its raw and natural form, you need to look beyond the animals and birds and really smell, hear and ‘feel’ Africa. One of the best ways to get ‘close to nature’ is to spend a night out in the bush, away from the comforts and surroundings of a permanent camp or lodge. Across the safari regions of East and Southern Africa there are a variety of options to sleep out ‘under the stars’, whether it is under a mosquito net, around the camp fire, or on a tree-house style platform overlooking the plains. To find out more, please see our Sleeping Under The Stars section on our Wild Adventure page, or read our blog article on Africa under the Stars.
Walk With
Giants
Walk With Giants
Walking safaris are widely available throughout safari Africa, but there are not many places where world class guides will walk you up to huge bull elephants so that you can really experience their immense size and incredible aura. Mana Pools in Zimbabwe is perhaps the best place in Africa to do this. Mana Pools is also home to good populations of lion and wild dogs, and walking safaris from these camps can also include approaching lion prides and wild dog packs. True safari adventure, with some of Africa’s best guides! To learn more about the region please see our page on Mana Pools National Park in our Zimbabwe section, or for more in depth information about a variety of different walking safaris across safari Africa, please see our dedicated Walking Safaris page.
Meet Your Primate
Cousins
Meet Your Primate Cousins
Even if you have already seen many of Africa’s iconic species of wildlife, have you considered trekking through the jungles and forests of East Africa to come face to face with humankind’s closest relatives? Seeing either gorillas or chimpanzees in the wild is an incredible and exhilarating experience, and although some tough walking is usually required, most people are able to undertake this more specialist safari experience. For a complete overview of gorilla and chimpanzee trekking options, please see our dedicated page on Gorillas & Other Primates.
In Search Of
Wild Dogs
In Search Of Wild Dogs
One of Africa’s most sought after species, especially amongst travellers who have been on several safaris, is the African Wild Dog (more recently referred to as Painted Wolves). Wild dogs are highly mobile, almost nomadic, constantly moving within a vast home range, except for a few months each year when the alpha female gives birth and they are tied to a den site. As a species they became critically endangered in the 1990’s which made them something of a target species for the safari connoisseur, but finding them was usually down to pure ‘luck’. However, wild dogs have made a great recovery over the past 15 years or so and can now be seen in good numbers across Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. For more information on exactly where to see wild dogs, please see our dedicated Wild Dogs section of our Species Search page.
Off The Beaten Track
Fly Along Namibia’s
Skeleton Coast
Fly Along Namibia’s Skeleton Coast
Whilst the whole of the Namibia’s Atlantic coastline could be considered as ‘Skeleton Coast’, it is the north-west region of the country that is technically designated as the Skeleton Coast National Park and it is these distant lands that form the principal focus of one of Africa’s most incredible safari adventures – Skeleton Coast Safaris. Led by experienced pilot guides, all brothers in the Schoeman family, this safari takes you on an aerial journey from the high sand dunes of the Namib Desert northwards along the coast past Cape Cross seal colony and into the remote realms of Damaraland, Kaokoland and the Skeleton Coast National Park. In the far north, you land in the breath-taking Hartmann Valley and spend a night on the banks of the Kunene River, a suitable final night on a genuine ‘once in a lifetime’ adventure! In addition to the wonderful flying, the safari also includes game drives and scenic exploration in stunningly remote areas where you can see desert elephant and meet the local nomads of Kaokoland, the Himba. Please contact us for detailed information on this safari, though please be warned that this safari is rather expensive! Or visit our Namibia Regions page to read more about these iconic destinations.
Escape To Zambia’s
Remote Liuwa Plains
Escape To Zambia’s Remote Liuwa Plains
The remote Liuwa Plains lie in western Zambia bordering Angola and are the kind of safari destination that only a few lucky travellers have reached. Going back 20 years the region offered limited game viewing, but with a concerted effort over the past 10 years or so, when the region has been managed by the excellent non-profit organisation African Parks, this huge protected wilderness now supports enough wildlife diversity to rival most other safari regions in southern Africa. Spotted hyaena remain the apex predator, existing in large numbers, but cheetah, lion and leopard can all be found on these vast open plains which are interspersed by pockets of woodland and lagoons. Wild dogs are occasionally resident too, whilst birding is superb. But the best thing about Liuwa Plains National Park is simply how remote and exclusive it is! For more information please see our blog article on the Great Plains of Zambia, The Liuwa or visit our Liuwa Plains page in our Zambia section.
Explore Tanzania’s
Wild West
Explore Tanzania’s Wild West
Katavi National Park and Mahale Mountains National Park in western Tanzania are two very remote but spectacular safari regions. Offering two completely different experiences from one another, they combine perfectly to offer a wonderful safari adventure. Katavi National Park is a big game destination, offering the chance to see huge herds of elephant and buffalo, big cats (lion and leopard), and crocodiles lazing in mud caves along the banks of the Katuma River. Mahale Mountains National Park (along with Gombe Stream to the north) is arguably the best place in the world to see chimpanzees in the wild. The location is spectacular, as the densely forested mountains crash into Lake Tanganyika creating one of Africa’s truly incredible wild places. The chimp viewing can be wonderful and is very exclusive.
Robinson Crusoe
Dhow Adventure
Robinson Crusoe Dhow Adventure
Mozambique is a wonderful ocean destination, offering beautiful empty beaches, superb snorkelling, wonderful scuba diving, colourful culture and above all – exclusivity. Mozambique is not a destination of busy beach hotels, it is somewhere to escape to, especially when you step onto one of the many idyllic islands that pepper the coastline. In the north of the country, not far from the regional port of Pemba, the bustling island of Ibo is popular with tourists looking for an authentic, relaxed island experience. However for something really special, why not consider the unique Ibo Island Dhow Safaris which operate out of the island into the southern Quirimbas Archipelago. Travelling by traditional ‘dhow’, these safaris island hop from one deserted beach to the next. Nights are spent camping on different islands, whilst daylight hours are for fishing, diving, swimming, snorkelling, relaxing and moving to your next experience. A totally remote and incredibly private island adventure!
Please note – due to current instability and security concerns in North-East Mozambique, we are not currently recommending this trip. We hope the situation will normalise soon.
Something Different
Meerkat
Magic
Meerkat Magic
To sit at dawn in the desert and watch a family of meerkats emerge cautiously from their burrows to sun themselves and then begin to play and forage, ever watchful for predators, is a truly wonderful experience. In some places, meerkats have become habituated to the extent they are completely at ease with the presence of humans, which affords some amazing up close encounters. Watching and photographing them from close range is magical, but to have wild meerkats actually climb up your arm and perch on your shoulder (or even your head) to survey the surrounding desert, is slightly comical but completely engaging. Please see our section on meerkats in our Species Search page, or call us on +44 (0) 1787 888590 to talk to one of our specialists about a trip that includes seeing these wonderful creatures. You can also email us via our Contact Us page.
A Helicopter Safari
Over Northern Kenya
A Helicopter Safari Over Northern Kenya
Helicopters may not be for everyone, but in northern Kenya they open up an entire section of the country that you are otherwise unlikely to ever see. It is not just the incredible views from the air that such safaris offer, but also the experience of landing in some extremely remote and incredible places – on the top of a crater rim, on a sand dune or on a spectacular mountain top. With enough time, your helicopter safari can include a flight up the Great Rift Valley to the stunning Lake Turkana (The Jade Sea), though shorter scenic flights are also possible from various lodges located within the Laikipia Region of Kenya. Various helicopters are available for hire in northern Kenya, including from Ol Malo Lodge and Ol Malo House. Helicopter flights are never cheap so they do remain a luxury item on any safari, but please call us on +44 (0) 1787 888590 or email us via our Contact Us page, if you would like to consider such an activity on your next safari. They really are a ‘wow’ experience offering total exclusivity, incredible scenic wonders and decent dollop of adventure!
Climb To The
Roof Of Africa
Climb To The Roof Of Africa
Could you make it to the very top of Africa? At 5895 metres above sea level (19,340 feet), Uhuru Peak on Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest point and with a little determination you could stand there! The climb is not technical, but it is very cold at night and the altitude in particular is a challenge, but the sense of achievement on reaching the top is huge. For more information please see our dedicated Trekking & Kilimanjaro page.
Snorkel With
Whale Sharks
Snorkel With Whale Sharks
Whilst whale sharks can be seen, if you are very lucky, at various spots along the East African coastline there is nowhere better than Mafia Island off Tanzania for seeing these magnificent creatures. The season to see them is November through to February (perhaps March at a push) and if you are lucky you can get to snorkel alongside these gentle giants. Please call us on +44 (0) 1787 888590 to discuss a whale shark safari, or email us via our Contact Us page.