A Guide to Africa’s Best Safari Destinations: Where to Go and What to See

Best Time to Visit: July to October (Great Migration season)

What to See:
The Maasai Mara is one of the world’s most famous safari destinations, particularly known for the annual Great Migration. This phenomenon sees over a million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles migrating from Tanzania’s Serengeti to the Mara in search of fresh grazing. During the migration, you can witness intense predator-prey interactions as lions, cheetahs, and hyenas stalk their prey.
Apart from the migration, the Mara is home to the "Big Five"—lions, elephants, leopards, buffalos, and rhinos—and offers exceptional opportunities for game drives, walking safaris, and even hot air balloon safaris.

Cultural Experience:
Visiting the Maasai Mara offers the chance to learn about the Maasai people, one of Kenya's most famous ethnic groups. You can visit Maasai villages to learn about their traditional lifestyle, dances, and customs.

Best Time to Visit: December to March (calving season) or June to September (migration)

What to See:
Known for its vast plains and incredible wildlife, the Serengeti is where the world-famous Great Migration begins and ends. With its endless savannas, the Serengeti provides an unparalleled safari experience where you can see herds of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles as they traverse the landscape.
In addition to the migration, the Serengeti has an abundance of predators, including lions, leopards, and cheetahs. It’s also one of the best places to spot the elusive African wild dog and large prides of lions.

Cultural Experience:
Beyond wildlife, the Serengeti is near the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This area is culturally significant to the Maasai people, and visiting nearby Maasai villages provides insight into their ancient traditions.

Best Time to Visit: May to September (dry season)

What to See:
Kruger is one of Africa’s largest and most well-established game reserves, with a rich variety of wildlife. It is home to the Big Five, as well as an abundance of other animals like cheetahs, hyenas, crocodiles, and over 500 bird species.
Kruger offers an excellent self-drive safari experience, with well-maintained roads and various accommodation options ranging from campsites to luxury lodges. For a more immersive experience, you can also go on guided game walks or bush dinners.

Cultural Experience:
While Kruger itself is primarily focused on wildlife, it’s also near the Cultural Heritage Route, where you can learn about South Africa's diverse cultural history. Visit nearby villages to experience Zulu traditions and crafts, and explore ancient rock art sites.

Best Time to Visit: May to October (dry season)

What to See:
The Okavango Delta is a unique inland delta that floods annually, creating a paradise for wildlife. It’s one of the few places in Africa where you can take a mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) safari through lush waterways, where you might spot elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and countless bird species.
The delta is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is known for its abundant wildlife, including leopards, lions, buffaloes, and endangered species like the wild dog. It’s also famous for its picturesque landscapes, where water channels intertwine with grassy plains and palm islands.

Cultural Experience:
The Okavango Delta is surrounded by traditional villages, where you can learn about Botswana’s indigenous San and Mbukushu people, including their crafts, music, and way of life.

Best Time to Visit: May to October (dry season)

What to See:
Famous for having one of the largest concentrations of elephants in Africa, Chobe National Park is a must-visit for wildlife enthusiasts. The park is split into four distinct ecosystems: river, floodplains, savanna, and forest. These diverse habitats support an incredible variety of animals, including lions, leopards, buffaloes, and hippos.
Chobe is particularly known for its boat safaris along the Chobe River, where you can observe wildlife from a different perspective, including elephants drinking from the riverbanks and crocodiles basking in the sun.

Cultural Experience:
Chobe is near the border with Zambia and Zimbabwe, allowing for cross-border cultural exploration. Visit the nearby villages to discover traditional crafts and the history of the indigenous people who have lived in the area for centuries.

Best Time to Visit: June to October (dry season)

What to See:
Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe's largest game reserve, famous for its elephant population and the impressive Hwange Salt Pans. The park is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including lions, cheetahs, and rhinos. It’s also a bird-watcher’s paradise, with over 400 species of birds.
The watering holes scattered throughout the park offer excellent game viewing, particularly during the dry season when animals gather to drink.

Cultural Experience:
Hwange is located near the Ndebele people, an ethnic group famous for their colorful art, murals, and crafts. Visitors can explore local villages to learn more about the Ndebele culture, including their history, customs, and traditional dances.

Best Time to Visit: May to October (dry season)

What to See:
Etosha is one of Africa’s premier wildlife destinations, particularly known for its salt pans, which attract vast numbers of animals during the dry season. The park is home to a large population of elephants, lions, rhinos, and giraffes, and you can see these animals congregate around the waterholes.
The park also offers incredible birdwatching opportunities, especially for species like flamingos and ostriches. The Etosha Pan, visible from many areas of the park, creates a stark and haunting backdrop for wildlife viewing.

Cultural Experience:
Etosha is located in Herero and Himba territory, and visitors can learn about the traditional ways of life of these indigenous groups, particularly their clothing, crafts, and ceremonies.

Best Time to Visit: April to October (dry season)

What to See:
As the name suggests, Addo Elephant Park is renowned for its elephant population, but the park also boasts a rich variety of wildlife, including lions, buffaloes, black rhinos, and zebras. It’s one of the few places where you can see the Big Seven—adding southern right whales and great white sharks to the usual big five.
The park also features a marine reserve, making it one of South Africa’s most diverse safari experiences.

Cultural Experience:
The area surrounding Addo is home to the Xhosa people, and visitors can learn about their customs, languages, and local farming traditions. A visit to the nearby Tsitsikamma National Park gives you a chance to explore local forests and beaches.

Best Time to Visit: May to October (dry season)

What to See:
The Makgadikgadi Pans, located in the heart of Botswana, are vast salt pans that offer a surreal landscape unlike anywhere else in Africa. While the pans themselves are dry for most of the year, the surrounding area is teeming with wildlife, including wildebeest, zebras, and cheetahs.
The area is particularly famous for its salt pans, which become a striking backdrop for safari photographers.

Cultural Experience:
The Makgadikgadi is home to the San people, one of the world’s oldest continuous cultures. A visit to the area offers the chance to learn about their hunter-gatherer traditions, ancient rock art, and fascinating survival skills in such a harsh environment.