Safari
Lodges, camps and guides in Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa and beyond, from a first safari with a beach to finish to gorillas in the forests of Rwanda and Uganda.
Photo by David Clode on Unsplash
- Typical length
- 7 to 12 nights, often with a beach stay after
- Best time
- June to October for most of East and Southern Africa
- Usually included
- Meals, game drives and park fees at most lodges and camps
- Best booked
- 12 months or more ahead for the best camps from July to October
There is nothing quite like the first morning on safari. Coffee by the fire before dawn, the vehicle rolling out as the light comes up, and a guide who cuts the engine because they've heard something you haven't.
Where and when you go changes everything. The Great Migration moves through the Serengeti and the Masai Mara on its own timetable, Botswana's Okavango Delta floods in the dry season, and gorilla permits in Rwanda and Uganda are limited each day. The camp matters too: where it sits, how good its guides are and how many vehicles share a sighting.
We start with what you hope to see and how you like to travel: a first safari, a family trip, a honeymoon or somewhere more remote. Then we match the country, the season and the camps, book the flights and the light aircraft between them, and add a beach in Zanzibar, Mauritius or the Seychelles if you'd like one.
Ways to go on safari
A safari can be a lodge with a pool or a canvas tent a long way from anywhere. These are the main kinds.
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Photo by Sheila C on Unsplash Lodges
Permanent buildings with proper rooms, often a pool and a spa, in or near the big parks. A comfortable first safari, and good for families.
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Photo by David Clode on Unsplash Tented camps
Large canvas tents with real beds and en-suite bathrooms, closer to the wild. Some are mobile and move with the seasons to follow the migration.
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Photo by Zac Dooley on Unsplash Private reserves and conservancies
Land next to the big parks, such as the Mara conservancies or the Sabi Sand beside the Kruger, with fewer vehicles, off-road driving and night drives that many national parks restrict.
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Photo by Ed Wingate on Unsplash Walking and canoe safaris
On foot with an armed guide in Zambia's South Luangwa, or by mokoro dugout canoe through the Okavango Delta. Slower, quieter and closer to the ground.
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Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Unsplash Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking
A guided trek through the forest in Rwanda or Uganda to spend an hour with a habituated gorilla family. Permits are limited and need booking well ahead.
Life on safari
A day in camp
Early starts are part of it: a wake-up call before dawn and a game drive while the animals are most active, then brunch back at camp and a rest in the heat of the day. The afternoon drive ends with a drink as the sun goes down, and dinner is often outside under the stars.
Getting between camps
Most safaris link camps by small light aircraft landing on dirt airstrips, which saves long drives and is a sight in itself. Luggage limits are strict, often around 15 to 20 kg in soft bags, so we'll tell you exactly what to pack.
The beach to finish
After days of early starts, a week on the sand is the natural ending. Zanzibar pairs well with Tanzania and Kenya, Mauritius and the Seychelles with East and Southern Africa, and the coast of Mozambique with South Africa.
Where to go
Each safari country has its own landscape and its own best months. These are the main ones.
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July to October
Photo by Pop & Zebra on Unsplash Kenya
The Masai Mara and its conservancies, with the migration's river crossings from about July to September, plus Amboseli under Kilimanjaro and Samburu in the north.
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June to October; January to February
Photo by Jorge Tung on Unsplash Tanzania
The Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and the elephants of Tarangire, with the migration's calving season in the southern Serengeti early in the year.
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May to October
Photo by Greg Mei on Unsplash Botswana
The Okavango Delta by mokoro and boat, the elephants of Chobe, and small camps with very few other vehicles.
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May to September for safari
Photo by Zoë Reeve on Unsplash South Africa
Private reserves beside the Kruger known for leopards, malaria-free reserves such as Madikwe and those in the Eastern Cape, and Cape Town to finish.
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June to October
Photo by Nicole Olwagen on Unsplash Zambia
Walking safaris in South Luangwa, canoeing on the Lower Zambezi, and Victoria Falls on the border with Zimbabwe.
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June to September and December to February
Photo by Magdalena Kula Manchee on Unsplash Rwanda and Uganda
Mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park and Bwindi, and chimpanzees in Nyungwe and Kibale, with Kigali an easy place to start.
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May to October
Photo by Joe McDaniel on Unsplash Namibia
Red dunes at Sossusvlei, desert-adapted elephants and the waterholes of Etosha, often explored by car on a self-drive.
Questions about safari
Is a safari safe?
With good camps and guides, safaris are very well run. Guides know the animals, camps have clear rules, such as being walked to your tent after dark, and you follow their lead.
When is the Great Migration?
It moves all year. Calving is in the southern Serengeti around January and February, the herds head north through the Serengeti from about May to July, and the river crossings in the northern Serengeti and the Masai Mara happen from roughly July to October. It follows the rains, so no date is guaranteed.
Do I need malaria tablets?
Most of the classic safari areas are malaria regions, so ask your GP or a travel clinic six to eight weeks before you go. Some countries also ask for a yellow fever certificate, depending on your route. For young children, South Africa's malaria-free reserves are an easy alternative.
Do I need a visa?
For some countries, yes, such as Kenya's eTA and Tanzania's e-visa; others, like South Africa and Botswana, don't need one for UK passport holders on holiday. Rules change, so we check them for your dates.
How many nights should I spend in each camp?
Three nights is a good rule: enough for several game drives and a feel for the place. Two camps in contrasting areas, three or four nights in each, makes a classic first safari.
Are children welcome on safari?
Many camps welcome families, and some have family tents and children's programmes, but others set a minimum age, often between 6 and 12, and older still for walking safaris. Malaria-free reserves in South Africa are popular for young children.
What should I pack?
Soft bags within the light aircraft limit, neutral colours such as khaki, green and brown, layers for cold early mornings, a warm fleece, a hat, sun cream and binoculars. Many camps do laundry, so you need less than you think.
How much should I tip?
Tipping guides, trackers and camp staff is customary on safari, usually in US dollars or local currency at the end of your stay. Camps often suggest amounts, and we'll pass on their guidance.
Where should we take you?
Tell the team what you have in mind and we'll come back with ideas, usually the same day. The team reads every request.
- 01WhereA place, a few ideas, or a hotel you love
- 02WhenA month or exact dates, and how flexible you are
- 03FlightsWhich airport suits you, or none at all
- 04WhoEveryone going, with children's ages
- 05SpendA rough idea for the whole trip
- 06The detailsBoard, hotel rating, facilities, the kind of place
Photos by David Clode, Sheila C, Zac Dooley, Ed Wingate, Francesco Ungaro, Michael Starkie, Aron Marinelli, Crispin Jones, Pop & Zebra, Jorge Tung, Greg Mei, Zoë Reeve, Nicole Olwagen, Magdalena Kula Manchee and Joe McDaniel on Unsplash.