When it comes to African safari experiences, not all are created equal. Yes, there is the thrill of spotting the Big Five – lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard, rhinoceros – but the varying landscapes of each country certainly distinguish your safari experience. In Kenya National Park, the Serengeti is a vast and arid expanse of grassland, a stark contrast to the thick forests and green fields of Kruger in South Africa and the lush wetlands and warmer, humid environment in Botswana. One thing is certain, wherever you choose to go on safari in Africa you are guaranteed to have a unique and unforgettable experience.
In South Africa, you’ll have some of the most amazing, close-up wildlife encounters. The country has a number of world-famous reserves and national parks that are home to hundreds of rare and unique bush animal and plant species, including the Big Five. Kruger National Park, in particular, is South Africa’s most popular game-watching destination, and for good reason. Whether you opt for a game drive through the bush, or decide to go on a guided walk, the chances of spotting a magnificent giraffe, or even an elephant, are very high. Nearby private game reserve, Sabi Sands, is home to the world’s largest concentration of the elusive leopards. Not only is the South African safari experience filled with up-close encounters, but many private game reserves that lie along Kruger National Park’s western border offer open-air safari vehicles and night drive opportunities to spot game rarely seen during the day. Off-road driving is also permitted, allowing safari-goers the chance to follow animals into the bush and witness their natural behaviors and interactions.
Kenya
Known for the classic safari experience, it is the best place in the world to see The Great Migration. Every year, some 1.4 million wildebeest, 250,000 zebra and a smattering of gazelles bound their way through the plains of Kenya, traveling all the way from Tanzania’s Serengeti to Kenya’s Masai Mara in a continuous 1,200-mile circuit for their very survival.
The best time to be on safari in the Masai Mara is from August to September. You’ll see and hear thousands of these animals winding their way through the African plains in a heart-pounding display that you will never forget. It’s also a representation of the tenuousness of life: along the way, roughly 250,000 wildebeest and 30,000 zebra will fall prey to looming lions, cheetahs, crocodiles and hyenas.
One of the best ways to view the herds across the plains is from the sky. Hot-air balloon safaris afford you the luxury of seeing the migration from above, reaffirming the enormity of this massive spectacle of nature. Taking off into the air just before dawn, you’ll see the beautiful landscapes of the Masai Mara, draped in the glow of the rising sun.
Botswana
While you can go on safari by car or by foot almost anywhere along the African plains, you can only go on safari by mokoro (dugout canoe) along the Okavango Delta in Botswana, one of the world’s largest deltas. These canoes, which were traditionally carved from the trunks of large trees, are the main mode of transport for visitors and locals alike who travel through the amazing wetlands which surround the delta. The mokoros that ply these waters lend a completely different perspective for your safari experience unlike any other you’ll have in Africa. The lush wetlands of the Okavango Delta attract species you’d be hard pressed to find on any other safari: the hippopotamus, the Nile crocodile, the African fish eagle, the sacred ibis and tigerfish to name a few.
When it comes to the bush’s most ferocious predators visit the Mombo Concession, in the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana. A safari here will reveal enormous concentrations of big game predators such as leopards, cheetahs, lion prides and the endangered African wild dogs as they hunt for their prey with the stealth and skill you’ve always imagined them to have.
So where will you go on safari? While it may seem impossible to choose, we have the expertise to help you find the right destination for your memorable safari experience. Call us to start planning today.
