Going on a safari and having the chance to see some of the most beautiful, endangered, and intriguing animals in the world is something people dream of and add to their bucket lists. The vast continent of Africa offers many opportunities for exploration, but the stunning plains of the Serengeti, the Great Rift Valley, and East and South Africa hold a special allure. Below are some of the top locations to take a safari trip.
1. Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
The Maasai Mara National Reserve is one of the best safari destinations in the world, with stunning landscapes and wildlife, including big cats (lions, leopards, and cheetahs), giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, and millions of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle. If you are there during the Great Migration—the time when these creatures seek out new places to graze—you will see and hear them thundering across the great plains of the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti. A stop over at the traditional Maasai village is where you can meet the local community and share in their traditions and knowledge of the incredible landscape that surrounds their homes. To see these unforgettable sights, you can book a 14-day safari tour from Kenya to Kilimanjaro that will take you from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara National Reserve. You will travel across the Great Rift Valley and stay for two nights at the centre of everything. It’s recommended that you book in the private conservancies in the national reserve where it is possible to take walking safaris and night drives and where your accommodation will be among some of the most luxurious safari lodges in Kenya.
2. Laikipia, Kenya
Located to the northeast of the Great Rift Valley, the high plains of Laikipia are one of Kenya’s best kept secrets. Here, among the wild grassy plains and sparse vegetation, you will see some of the most spectacular sunsets in the world with stunning orange skies spanning as far as the eye can see. Laikipia has also been home to some extraordinary conservation efforts. The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy has amazing success looking after black and white rhinos and Grevy’s zebra, which is the largest and most rare of the three varieties of zebra. These beautiful creatures can be observed in the conservancy, which also offers plenty of family-friendly accommodation and safari options. Laikipia does not have heavy tourism, so you will find yourself at one with nature and not struggling for a glimpse of the beautiful wildlife and scenery through crowds.
3. Kruger National Park, South Africa
Kruger National Park is one of the most popular destinations for safari-goers as it is one of the best places in the world to see the Big Five—lions, leopards, elephants, rhinoceros, and African buffalo. Kruger is exceptionally well-appointed, with outstanding guides and a huge variety of options for activities suitable for everyone from those who know their way around a safari to those who are complete beginners. Accommodation in Kruger is known to have exceptional service and fine dining options, and many of the private lodges host celebrities and royalty and rank among the very best in Africa. Simbavati Waterside is located in the Klaserie Game Reserve and is seamlessly designed to be at one with the wilderness in which it is located. The lodges are built alongside and over the water of a stunning dam in which elephants, hippos and rhinoceros bathe and drink. Sleek and sophisticated inside, the lodges offer spectacular views of the scenery and have a cosy, private feel so you can relax after a long day of exploring the outdoors.
4. Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
Ruaha is the largest of Tanzania’s national parks and is home to only a small number of lodges and camps, making it one of the most exclusive safari locations in East Africa—only 1 per cent of visitors in the country go to Ruaha for safari, but certainly not because it lacks in things to see. The colossal park offers an incredible density and variety of wildlife, and you will be sure to see lions, cheetahs, and leopards while on your travels there. It is also home to the most substantial herds of elephants in East Africa, and they can be seen grazing and roaming the sublime plains of this astonishing reservation. Luxury lodges in the park offer 360 views of the scenery. Therefore, you are afforded the luxury of watching the sun go down as you dine on the raised open terraces. Ruaha offers year-round safari options, so you can book around the migration patterns of the animals you would most like to see. And, as this is such a large park you are never at risk of being crowded out by tourists while you travel.
5. Nyungwe Forest National Park, Rwanda
Nyungwe Forest National Park is for those keen to see some of the most extraordinary birds and primates on the planet. This spectacular forest is thought to be one of the oldest in Africa, surviving and thriving even through the Ice Age. The forest is home to over 300 species of bird, chimpanzees, and 12 other primate species, including a troop of Ruwenzori Black and White Colobus. Safaris focus on trekking through the rainforest following chimpanzees and observing the verdant plant life that has been growing there for millennia. Accommodation in Nyungwe blends in with its surroundings, merging with the deep green of the forest around it. Nyungwe Forest Lodge offers guests five-star accommodation in wooden villas with private decks looking out over the forest. The Lodge is located in a working tea plantation and prides itself on offering outstanding service. The accommodation has all the much needed amenities after a day spent hiking through the forest, including an outdoor heated swimming pool and jacuzzi.
