The Best Countries in Africa for a Safari Experience

Africa is blessed to be a diverse haven for unforgettable safari experiences. From witnessing the famed Big 5 in South Africa, cruising in mokoros down the complex waterways of the Okavango Delta in Botswana to watching the legendary wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara, memories will be ingrained in your soul forever. Here three top countries in Africa for an unrivalled safari journey.

SOUTH AFRICA

The iconic Kruger National Park, spanning two provinces – Limpopo and Mpumalanga – offers 19 485 km2 which is home to a plethora of mammals (including the Big 5: lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo) as well as 517 species of birds and an assortment of vertebrates and invertebrates.

The park has 15 exclusive private safari lodges – and if you’re looking for the quintessential lavish lodge, Pondoro is your destination. This luxury South African game lodge is located on a private concession in the Balule Nature Reserve in the Greater Kruger. Here, you’ll experience the epitome of a luxury safari. With private game drives giving you an unsurpassed game-viewing experience, sensational accommodation and delectable cuisine, it will be a trip that will give you a new perspective and appreciation for the wonder of Africa.

BOTSWANA

The Okavango Delta is an exclusive adventure that needs to be on your bucket list. This idyllic paradise is an inland delta with an intricate arrangement of water channels and boasts a wilderness of grassy floodplains, reed beds and islands. Every year the delta is rejuvenated by 11 km3 (11 billion litres) of water flow, which is then consumed through transpiration; a lot of the water also evaporates – the ebb and flow of water creates a unique ecosystem.

During flood season, Moremi Game Reserve, located on the northern side of the delta becomes filled with a diverse array of wildlife including the Big 5. A must-do activity is to cruise down the waterways in a mokoro (a wooden dugout canoe); an experienced guide will manoeuvre through the channels. You’ll have a rare opportunity to see elephants, hippos and crocodiles. It’s an absolutely phenomenal experience.

KENYA

The Maasai Mara National Reserve, located in southwestern Kenya, along the border of Tanzania, provides a spectacle like no other: the wildebeest migration.

It’s known as one of the greatest, fascinating natural spectacles in the world. Annually, over a million wildebeest migrate in a clockwise direction around the Serengeti / Maasai Mara regions in search of fresh grazing areas, traversing across two countries.

It is a dynamic, fluid, but turbulent trip due to the fact that many wildebeest fall victim to the big cats and crocodiles. It’s important to note that you need to time your visit accurately in order to see this event in all its glory. It’s best to enquire with reputable tour companies that will be able to give you comprehensive breakdown of where the wildebeest are each month.

Wherever you choose to visit, you’re guaranteed to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Africa is a safari wonderland that needs to be seen to be believed.