Safest Safari Destinations in Africa: A Comprehensive Guide

Planning your first safari to Africa can be overwhelming. Which countries offer the easiest introduction to the continent for first-time travelers? Which countries are best for wildlife? Cut through the overwhelming options and plan your first safari to Africa for blockbuster wildlife watching - without feeling overwhelmed.

Wildlife safaris have become a global phenomenon, but Africa remains among the best continents for nature and wildlife lovers to explore. Named after the Swahili word for journey, safaris have evolved over time.

Here are some of the safest and most rewarding safari destinations in Africa:

Botswana: A True Wilderness Experience

Consistently ranked as the safest African safari country, both in terms of political stability and low crime rates, Botswana is also one of the most rewarding safari destinations. Botswana is currently #1 on our African safari bucket list. The country’s anti-poaching methods are among the strictest in all of Africa. Anti-poaching units are overseen by the government-funded Botswana Defense Force, which means they have more training, weapons, and other resources than APUs in other countries.

From the glistening waters of the largest inland delta in the world; the Okavango Delta, to the vast, arid vistas of the salt pans and Kalahari desert, Botswana's game viewing is as contrasting as it's lands, and it is one of the few "true wilderness" experiences you can have in Africa. Its prolific wildlife inhabits extraordinary landscapes, including the Chobe River, the Okavango Delta and the salt pans of Makgadikgadi.

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Looking to get away from the crowds and get lost in nature? Botswana is your destination. One of the best ways to spot wildlife in Botswana is from the water.

Why Botswana?

• Water-based safaris
• Exclusivity
• Privacy
• High-quality camps in captivating areas

The easiest choice, Chobe National Park is home to the world’s largest concentration of elephants, as well as a host of easy-to-spot big cats, buffaloes, giraffes and zebras, making it perfect for first-timers. The vast elephant herds of Chobe National Park and canoe-based wildlife safaris in the Okavango Delta are among the nation’s world-renowned tourist attractions.

The best way to see Africa’s elephant capital is to board a boat and cruise the Chobe River’s wildlife-rich shores. From here, travel into the Okavango Delta, where you can splurge on a luxury safari and take a mokoro (dugout canoe) through the wetlands before forging on into the Makgadikgadi salt pans to mingle with meerkats.

Mobile safaris are group trips that take you from site to site, often involving camping along the way. They are a more cost-effective alternative and allow you to combine time in Moremi Game Reserve with Chobe National Park.

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Best Time to Visit

The high and dry season (June-October) is the best wildlife-watching time, and also when water levels are generally at their highest in the Okavango Delta, allowing you to glide along the channels in a mokoro.

Where to Stay

In and around Chobe National Park, look to stay at Chobe Game Lodge, Chobe Safari Lodge or Chobe Bakwena, with Chobe Game Lodge being the only one inside the park. For photographers, Pangolin Chobe Hotel has specialist boats with swivel seats and gimbal mounts to snap that Attenborough moment on the Chobe River.

Combine the Chobe with the Okavango Delta through scheduled group mobile safaris with Bush Ways or Letaka. For a luxury experience in an exceptionally wild, isolated area, Mombo Camp is probably the Okavango’s most exclusive and legendary lodge, with predators galore (and a pretty price tag).

Mma Dinare Camp (which offers affordable road transfers), 4 Rivers Camp, Shinde Camp and Camp Moremi are well-situated for spotting excellent big game. Xugana Island Lodge, Setari Camp and Mopiri Camp are wonderful for experiencing the waterways and offer fishing and birding opportunities by boat.

Want a more adventurous, budget-friendly option? Try a fully catered, accommodated mokoro campout excursion that departs from Sitatunga Camp, south of Maun.

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Trips to meet the cute meerkats of the Makgadikgadi salt pans can be arranged through San Camp, Jack’s Camp or Camp Kalahari, with Planet Baobab as the best budget-friendly option with self-drive access.

Budgeting and Costs

Stays at isolated camps in the Okavango Delta start at roughly US$650 per person per night and can go up to an eye-watering US$4000 a night. At approximately US$300, Chobe National Park lodges are more affordable - so stretch out your days here to keep costs down. For better pricing on accommodations, travel during the shoulder season (April-May; October-November).

South Africa: Bush, Beach, and Fine Wine

We couldn’t agree more with the nearly 30,000 experienced travellers who voted for South Africa in 2023. South Africa is a land of contrasts, featuring sprawling savannahs, towering mountains, pristine beaches, and lush forests. This natural diversity allows travellers to experience a wide range of ecosystems within a single journey, as so eloquently put by former South African President Nelson Mandela: “South Africa is the most beautiful place on earth. Admittedly, I am biased but when you combine the natural beauty, and the fact that the region is a haven for Africa’s most splendid wildlife, then I think we have been blessed with a truly wonderful land.”

Expect bush, beach and fine wine. From iconic Kruger National Park to the picturesque landscapes of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa offers a safari experience that caters to all levels of adventurers. Apartheid ended in 1994, and in the ensuing years, South Africa has emerged as one of the most popular destinations for African safaris.

Why South Africa?

• Kruger is the easiest and most rewarding safari destination for first-timers and budget travelers.
• You can see the Big Five (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffaloes), as well as cheetahs, giraffes, African wild dogs and hundreds of bird species.
• Lesser-known reserves in KwaZulu-Natal are equally impressive.
• Madikwe Game Reserve in North West Province is close to the Botswana border and a four-hour drive from Johannesburg, making it popular for South Africans looking for a safari.

Kruger is the easiest and most rewarding safari destination for first-timers and budget travelers. With nearly one million annual visitors, Kruger National Park is the country’s biggest attraction for nature/wildlife lovers. On the positive side, Kruger boasts impressive biodiversity and is the rare national park where visitors can self-drive themselves and still have a superb safari. Spend a few days there and you’re virtually guaranteed to see the Big 5, as well as rare species such as African wild dogs and cheetahs.

Lesser-known reserves in KwaZulu-Natal are equally impressive. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi is just as accessible as Kruger from the city of Durban and has excellent facilities for travelers on all budgets; expect to spot rhinos, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes and wildebeest. (The big cats are a little more challenging to see here.) Nearby Phinda Private Game Reserve offers stunning high-end stays - plus the possibility of a beach day or scuba diving at Sodwana Bay.

Madikwe Game Reserve in North West Province is close to the Botswana border and a four-hour drive from Johannesburg, making it popular for South Africans looking for a safari. It’s also a malaria-free option for families with young children.

Combine any of these safari parks with a flight south to Cape Town, and you’ll add fine wine, world-class restaurants and a seaside safari - visiting the African penguins of Boulders Beach - to your itinerary.

Best Time to Visit

While South Africa is a year-round destination, most visitors love the cooler, dry season between May and August. During these months, wildlife is easier to spot as vegetation is more sparse and animals gather around watering holes.

Where to Stay

There are plenty of affordable self-catering rest camps in Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi run by SANParks, the government parks agency. Kruger’s southern zone is prime game-viewing territory, with Skukuza, Lower Sabie and Letaba rest camps all favorites.

Plush camps and lodges in the private reserves come with highly trained guides who can take you out on foot or by vehicle. You can’t go wrong at Saseka in Thornybush, Dulini in Sabi Sands, Tanda Tula in Timbavati, Jaci’s Safari Lodge in Madikwe or any of the &Beyond accommodations in Phinda.

Budgeting and Costs

Rates range from US$100 to US$200 per person per night in government-run camps. Mid-range prices start at US$300 to US$700 per person per night, with a corresponding bump in accommodation and guiding quality.

Kenya: The Classic Safari Experience

As African safaris go, it’s difficult to beat a tour of Kenya’s national parks and conservancies. Kenya offers 25 national parks, 16 national reserves, six marine parks and reserves, and countless private conservancies for visitors to explore. Kenya’s wildlife offering is outstanding, with the Great Migration in particular at the top of many bucket lists - so it’s no surprise that safaris have been a thing in Kenya since the very concept was invented (indeed, safari translates to “journey” in Swahili). Do keep in mind, though, that this track record does make Kenya one of the busiest, most popular wildlife destinations on the continent.

Why Kenya?

• The Great Migration sees millions of wildebeest and zebras cross the Mara River from the Serengeti in southern Tanzania into Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve.
• The country’s semi-nomadic Maasai communities and their time-honored warrior traditions are another source of fascination.
• The main safari circuit couples Lake Nakuru with the Masai Mara and Amboseli (where Mt Kilimanjaro provides a staggering backdrop).

The Great Migration sees millions of wildebeest and zebras cross the Mara River from the Serengeti in southern Tanzania into Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve. A renowned annual phenomenon. The country’s semi-nomadic Maasai communities and their time-honored warrior traditions are another source of fascination.

The main safari circuit couples Lake Nakuru with the Masai Mara and Amboseli (where Mt Kilimanjaro provides a staggering backdrop). Tsavo West, Tsavo East and Samburu are popular add-ons if you have extra time. Any combination of these parks should ensure ample sightings of big cats, plenty of elephants, a few rhinos and all of the plains animals, such as buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, and all manner of gazelle and antelope species.

Best Time to Visit

July to October and January to February are the best times to see the Great Migration, when a million-plus wildebeest, along with hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, cross the crocodile-infested Mara River to graze on the lush grasses of the Masai Mara. With unrestricted visitor numbers, some areas can get crowded.

Where to Stay

Kenya has hundreds of excellent lodges and tented camps, standards of service from local staff are generally high, and tour operators are experts at the logistics of moving between national parks for each leg of your safari itinerary.

Cottar’s 1920s Camp has entertained guests in high style for more than 100 years, while “gentle on the earth” takes on a whole new meaning at Emboo River Camp. The team there will have you floating through the grasslands of the Masai Mara in the region’s first electric game-drive vehicles.

A good value but still luxurious, Ol Tukai Lodge sits within Amboseli Park, with views of Kilimanjaro from the bar; nearby Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge is a comfortable family-friendly option. In Nairobi, Giraffe Manor provides a memorable breakfast spread before a visit to the city’s park; all accommodations in the upmarket Karen and Langata areas are close to the main entrance.

Budgeting and Costs

Masai Mara National Reserve is the most wallet-friendly location for seeing the wildebeest migration. Expect to pay anything from US$150 to US$1000 per person per night.

For a cheaper safari, book between the short and long rains (January-March), when prices are usually lower than the peak season. Nairobi National Park charges US$40 to non-residents for entry, while admission to Masai Mara is US$80 for 24 hours if you stay outside the reserve and US$70 if you stay inside.

Tanzania: Limitless Plains and Epic Migration

Limitless plains, the epic migration and relaxing dips in the Indian Ocean. Tanzania’s northern safari circuit includes the amazing Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. Exploring these places for 10 days to two weeks is a sure way to fall in love with Africa. Consider adding a few days on the island of Zanzibar (officially called Unguja) to make your dream trip even more memorable.

As the starting point for the world-renowned wildebeest migration, Tanzania ranks second only to Kenya among the continent’s most popular safari destinations. Travelers often return from Tanzania saying they felt incredibly welcomed to the country. Travelers often feel very welcome in Tanzania because politeness is one of the pillars of Tanzanian culture and the people are some of the most friendly you could meet.

Why Tanzania?

• Tanzania and Kenya share similarities, both having plentiful wildlife parks and excellent safari operators.
• Tanzania’s vibe, though, is generally less stressful - perhaps due to the fact that the Serengeti is nearly 10 times bigger than Kenya’s Masai Mara, offering endless horizons and greater habitat variety.
• The Seronera River provides big cat and herbivore sightings year round, making it popular with visitors.

Tanzania and Kenya share similarities, both having plentiful wildlife parks and excellent safari operators. Tanzania’s vibe, though, is generally less stressful - perhaps due to the fact that the Serengeti is nearly 10 times bigger than Kenya’s Masai Mara, offering endless horizons and greater habitat variety.

In the heart of the Serengeti, the Seronera River provides big cat and herbivore sightings year round, making it popular with visitors.

Namibia: Dramatic Desert Scenery

The scenery in Namibia is other-worldly. Namibia is one of the easiest Southern African countries to explore from the driver's seat. It also has dramatic desert scenery that's hard to replicate elsewhere.

Why Namibia?

• Good roads, well-appointed campsites and reasonably priced rental vehicles.
• Etosha National Park, where elephants, rhinos and giraffes strut their stuff.

While a 4WD African safari is always an ambitious undertaking, Namibia has good roads, well-appointed campsites and reasonably priced rental vehicles. The classic circuit starts in Windhoek, where you can rent a fully equipped 4WD camper van or a decent gravel-road car.

Etosha is Namibia’s version of South Africa’s Kruger National Park, with roads and facilities suitable for a self-driving budget safari. Each public camp overlooks a busy watering hole, where game moves in and out to drink during the dry season. The camp is floodlit by night, so you won’t need to leave once you settle in.

Best Time to Visit

Etosha is well-known for its productive water holes, and peak game-viewing is from June to October, when wildlife flocks to these oases dotted throughout the park. This is also a cooler time of year to climb the dramatic dunes, such as Dune 45 at Sossusvlei.

Where to Stay

Arranging everything through the Gondwana Collection is hands-down the easiest and best way to organize a self-driving safari. This group has a portfolio of accommodations in all the key tourist spots, ranging from well-serviced campsites to glamping tents and swank lodges filled with character.

Other Notable Safari Destinations

• Rwanda: Known for its mountain gorillas and Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda offers a unique and safe safari experience.
• Uganda: Home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda is a must-visit for primate lovers.
• Zambia: Offers a more intimate safari experience with fewer tourists and unpaved roads preserving the untamed allure of its landscapes.
• Zimbabwe: Boasts Victoria Falls, one of the world’s largest waterfalls, and offers a range of activities including whitewater rafting and wildlife safaris.

Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Safari

An African Safari is a bucket-list experience for a reason, and the thrill of the unknown is a huge draw when it comes to traveling. However, traveling to a new continent can be a daunting task, especially when considering safety. Africa is a continent with over 50 individual countries, each having a unique history and identity. Many different factors contribute to the safety of a safari destination.

• Respect the animals and keep a safe distance at all times.
• Stay inside your vehicle unless your guide gives you permission to step out at designated safe spots.
• Listen to your guide and follow their instructions at all times.
• Avoid sudden movements and loud noises.
• Stay hydrated and protect yourself from the sun.
• Beware of insects and bugs, and take necessary medical precautions.
• Respect the environment and local customs.

By keeping these precautions in mind and exercising common sense, you can have a safe and memorable safari experience in Africa.

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