How to choose an African safari
Whether you grew up watching Born Free, Out of Africa or singing along to the Lion King, it’s hard not to be captivated by Africa and the big game that roams some of the earth’s last wildernesses.
Safari has come a long way since colonial times; the days of the 'white hunters' accompanied by dozens of porters, when killing was prized over conservation. Today, there are more ways to go on safari than ever before, and as the continent opens up to tourism, with better infrastructure, qualified tour guides and a wide range of accommodation, there are more destinations to choose from as well, with Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia being added to the list of more traditional safari hotspots.
Tracking down the right safari may seem as tough as spotting a leopard in the bush, but our guide to how to choose a safari pushes back the branches and focuses your lens on the right African holiday for you.
Safari has come a long way since colonial times; the days of the 'white hunters' accompanied by dozens of porters, when killing was prized over conservation. Today, there are more ways to go on safari than ever before, and as the continent opens up to tourism, with better infrastructure, qualified tour guides and a wide range of accommodation, there are more destinations to choose from as well, with Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia being added to the list of more traditional safari hotspots.
Tracking down the right safari may seem as tough as spotting a leopard in the bush, but our guide to how to choose a safari pushes back the branches and focuses your lens on the right African holiday for you.
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Our Safari Holidays
Namibia small group guided holiday and safari
A fabulous small group guided trip in Nambia
From
£3145 to £3715
12 days
ex flights
Namibia self drive holiday, big cat conservation
Self drive trip taking in Namibia's highlights
From
£2000 to £4000
14 days
ex flights
South Africa safari holiday, 14 days
Award winning safari in South Africa
From
£3865
14 days
ex flights
Gorilla Safari & the Masai Mara
Superb safari and trip to see gorillas
From
£4099 to £4149
18 days
inc UK flights
Ten day wildlife safari, South Africa
Award winning wildlife safaris in South Africa
From
£2500 to £2675
10 days
ex flights
Gorilla and game safari in Uganda
The great Silverback Gorilla & wildlife all in one package!
From
US $3750
10 days
ex flights
Tanzania Selous safari holiday & Zanzibar
Off-the-beaten track safari experiences & paradise beaches
From
£2150
10 days
ex flights
Namibia and Botswana safari holiday
Namibia & Botswana lodge safari Caprivi Etosha Okavango
From
£2895
21 days
ex flights
Swaziland wildife and culture tour
Explore Eswatini, one of the smallest countries in Africa
From
£2445 to £2695
12 days
ex flights
Serengeti Trail, Kenya & Tanzania safari
Overland truck safari
From
£1000 to £1510
8 days
ex flights
Namibia and Botswana camping safari
Camping safari to Namib desert, Caprivi, Etosha & Okavango
From
£2125
21 days
ex flights
Botswana camping safaris
Botswana's premier game parks, Okavango Moremi Savuti Chobe
From
£1535
14 days
ex flights
Uganda wildlife holiday
This you cannot miss while in Uganda -The wild and beautiful!
From
US $3000
8 days
ex flights
Classic South Africa self drive holiday
Ideally suited for the first-time visitor to South Africa
From
£4315
16 days
inc UK flights
Botswana safari and Victoria Falls
An unforgettable wildlife and scenery experience
From
US $3853
11 days
ex flights
Zimbabwe & Botswana self drive holiday
Victoria Falls and incredible wildlife on self drive tour
From
US $4380
16 days
ex flights
Botswana and Zimbabwe Ivory Route lodge tour
Classic Journey adventure safari Botswana, Zimbabwe Namibia
From
£3580
15 days
ex flights
Family luxury safari & beach holiday, South Africa & Mozambique
Combine a wildlife safari in South Africa with beach time.
From
£3880
12 days
ex flights
East Africa safari & Zanzibar holiday
Kenya &Tanzania safari with Zanzibar ultimate experience!
From
£3697
15 days
ex flights
Zambia safari in Luangwa with Victoria Falls
A Safari in South Luangwa and the Victoria Falls combined
From
£4820
11 days
ex flights
Botswana highlights and Victoria falls
Great value safari adventure covering Botswana & Zimbabwe
From
US $4180
11 days
ex flights
Botswana safari, lodges and mobile camps
Wildlife lodges, mobile tented safaris & Victoria Falls!
From
US $6615
13 days
ex flights
Big game safari in Tanzania
Big game safari including luxury private camping
From
£3970
8 days
ex flights
Tanzania holiday, safari, culture and wildlife 7 days
Genuine cultural experiences and iconic wildlife parks
From
US $2245 to US $2895
7 days
ex flights
Malawi tailor made holidays
Magical Malawi combined with a walking safari in Zambia
From
£3375 to £5600
13 days
ex flights
Botswana lodge safari
Botswana affordable lodge safari Okavango, Moremi, Chobe
From
£2260
13 days
ex flights
Luxury Botswana safari & Victoria Falls
Luxurious lodges & spectacular wildlife viewing
From
£9850
12 days
ex flights
Best of Botswana and Zimbabwe
Visit two of southern Africa’s most amazing countries
From
US $7650
14 days
ex flights
Bush camp safaris
The original safari choice, camping harks back to the days when hunters spent months tracking game across the continent. Bush camps bring you up close to Africa’s wildlife, separated by just a sheet of canvas. Camps may be permanent or mobile, luxurious or bare-bones wilderness camps – all add that extra spark of adventure as night falls and the wilderness comes to life. Mobile camps have minimal impact, vanishing without a trace come morning.Lodge safaris
Lodge safaris embody rustic luxury, with comfy beds and traditional features, they also make the most of modern technology such as solar heated water. You may be in a larger central lodge or individual cabins with en suite facilities and private verandahs. You’re likely to travel between lodges during your safari, but we recommend at least two nights in each, to let you relax and explore your surroundings.Family safaris
Kids love wildlife as much or even more than adults and a family safari is a great way to bring textbooks to life in a thrilling, open-air classroom, as well as enjoy quality time together. Many lodges and tours cater specifically to children, with pools, family-sized tents and cabins, and tour guides adept at engaging youngsters. Kenya and South Africa are two of the best destinations for this. See our Safaris with kids page for more.
Safaris & beach
Safaris are a thrilling yet busy way to holiday, with pre-dawn starts, and long, juddery journeys... Get ready for the 'African massage'! While the thought of the Big Five will no doubt have you bounding out of bed in the dark, a beach at the end of it all will be a welcome contrast. Zanzibar, South Africa, Mozambique and even Mauritius are perfect for post-safari sea and sand.Tribal cultures & wildlife
Where once a safari was synonymous with wildlife, in recent years there has been growing interest in the communities that share their land with the Big Five – from the Maasai of East Africa to the Himba of Namibia. Staying on a conservancy, visiting a local village or taking a bush walk with a native guide is an eye-opening part of any safari, giving you a huge insight into the wildlife – as well as daily life in Africa.
Walking safaris
A walking safari brings you up close to Africa – on its own terms. Your guide can show you how to track wildlife, and you’ll discover savannah and desert ecosystems. Meeting animals on foot commands a serious amount of respect! Your senses are heightened, and small things take on huge importance – a print, a plant, a curious insect. Zambia is the go-to place for walking safaris, but other top experiences include walking with the Maasai in Kenya and tracking rhino in Namibia.Our top Safari Holiday
Namibia and Botswana camping safari
Camping safari to Namib desert, Caprivi, Etosha & Okavango
From
£2125
21 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2020: 15 Mar, 12 Apr, 10 May, 7 Jun, 2 Aug, 23 Aug, 13 Sep, 27 Sep, 11 Oct, 22 Nov, 20 Dec
2020: 15 Mar, 12 Apr, 10 May, 7 Jun, 2 Aug, 23 Aug, 13 Sep, 27 Sep, 11 Oct, 22 Nov, 20 Dec
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Safari or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
Small group safaris
Small group safaris are ideal for solo travellers, placing you with a bunch of like-minded people to share your safari tales with over sundowners. Couples, too, will enjoy the peace of mind and expertise of the group leaders, enjoying experiences that would be hard to organise alone. Children will love making new friends, leaving their parents to relax and enjoy the holiday, knowing their kids are being taken care of.Tailor made safaris
Tailor made safaris offer the flexibility of a self drive holiday with the security and ease of a small group tour. Perfect for people with specific interests, such as birding or photography, or for travellers who would prefer to spend a longer time in a specific place. Let your tour operator know what you want – and all the planning will be taken care of – with your guide meeting you at the airport.Self drive safaris
See wildlife at your own pace, with time out when you want and the opportunity to beat the crowds by touring the parks at less popular times of day. While the lack of infrastructure and hire cars makes self drive safaris difficult in many destinations, Namibia and South Africa are well set up. With your tour company taking care of all the logistics - and maps - all you have to do is remember to pack your driving licence.
More about Safari
The best time to go on safari will obviously depend on the seasons and wildlife watching potential, but to help you decide, we have neatly summarised what you can expect from the weather in Africa's key safari destinations.
Our safari travel guide takes a broad overview of safaris in Africa and has been designed to help you, the responsible traveller, learn more about this exciting holiday option.
The best place to go on safari in Africa is as much personal, as geographical, depending on the wildlife you hope to see, the landscapes you enjoy and whether you're travelling with family.
Some of the best safaris in the world are set against the wide-open vistas of Africa.
Electric safari vehicles are transforming the game drive experience into something quiet, smooth and environmentally responsible.
Safaris with kids are a wonderful way to introduce children of all ages to wildlife in its natural environment, but it's worth doing some research to find the right kind of safari, in the right destination, so that little ones will be engaged and inspired, not bored.
Responsible safari holidays are designed to help you understand what you’re seeing, leave the landscape as you found it and, ideally, benefit both the wildlife and communities you come across while you travel.
Find all of our safari guides in one place, for safari in particular countries such as Tanzania and Botswana or perhaps you would like to know more about the different types of safari holidays such as budget, self drive or gorilla safaris.
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Photo credits: [Page banner: Wild Frog Photography] [Family safaris: Tim Williamson]
[Tribal cultures & wildlife: Joachim Huber]
[Self drive safaris: Mike and Lara Wolfe]
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