Best Places for Safaris in Africa

An African safari tops most travelers’ wish list fulfilling a lifelong dream to see world-famous animals in the wild, enjoy the experience of staying in a private luxury tent, and being guided personally through an exotic landscape. 

At Accent on Travel, we take on all the detailed planning to bring you the ultimate African safari experience, customizing your vacation right down to the right accommodation and activities that fit your desires and pace, as well as providing first-class guides so that you get the most out of your time on this wonderfully diverse continent. 

But what if you’re not exactly sure where in Africa you should visit? That’s where our expert travel advisors come in. This month, we’ve put together a guide to some of the best safari destinations in Africa, along with the different animals you can see there to help you narrow down your options. And if you’re still unsure, don’t worry, you can reach out to our team of experts for further advice to help plan your dream journey in Africa.

Safaris in Kenya

One of the most popular African safari destinations, Kenya boasts the Maasai Mara National Reserve, known as the most northern part of the Great Migration, where you’ll find big cats, elephants, water buffalo, zebras, and rhinos. As well as the wildlife, you’ll also be exposed to the wonderful Maasai people, with a chance to immerse yourself in the local culture. Kenya’s popularity also means it has the infrastructure to provide boutique accommodations, such as lodges and camps, along with excellent service so that your every need is catered for. Add in the stunning views of Mt Kenya and even Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro over the border, and you have the opportunity to end your safari with a few days in a luxury resort and spa. 

Safaris in Tanzania

Bordering Kenya, Tanzania allows you to experience similarly wonderful vistas and the possibility to view the spectacular migration of thousands of wildebeest and zebra as they travel back and forth from southern Kenya to the Serengeti. The Serengeti National Park, which is listed as a UNESCO national park and home to one of the world’s oldest ecosystems, featuring plains, grasslands, woodlands, and swamps. This means even more opportunities to see an abundance of wildlife, from the ‘Big 5’ (African elephant, leopard, lion, rhino, and buffalo) to hippos and flamingos. The Ngorongoro Crater is located in Tanzania where one of our top five travel experiences exists: ballooning over the crater and peacefully floating over zebra, giraffe, and more. Thanks to its location in East Africa, you can also take a trip to Tanzania’s own island escape of Zanzibar for a beach retreat and a chance to wash of the safari dust.

Join Annette and Rick on their Accent on Travel hosted group tour of Tanzania in October 2023.

Safaris in Botswana

Two distinct seasons in Botswana allow for two different types of game drives: the traditional safari vehicle drive and the dugout canoes manned by your guide. Fans of meerkats can watch them as they pop up and move from burrow to burrow on the Makgadikgadi pans. Reminiscent of the African Safaris of the 1900s, Botswana holds tourism down to a minimum, with many properties limited to just 6 or 8 luxury accommodations. Thousands of birds fill the waterways using bathing elephants as their own private islands, hippos raft together for their afternoon nap, and every meal is served with your preferences in mind. Boutique safari lodges in one of the oldest safari destinations are perfect for couples’ vacations, with some of the luxury tents boasting private dipping pools, claw-footed baths, and spacious accommodations of over 3,000 sq ft. 

Safaris in Rwanda

If you want to immerse yourself in the world of simians, Rwanda is the place to go. With the gorilla trek and a chance to see golden monkeys foraging for food, you can get closer than ever to these fascinating mammals. Rwanda is a smaller country when compared with some of the larger safari players, but with beautiful mountain ranges, some of the oldest rainforests on the continent, and the Volcanoes National Park, it is still an enchanting and wonderful part of Africa to visit.

Safaris in Zambia

With a safari in Zambia, you can tick off multiple items on your wishlist, from sightings of the ‘Big 5’ and other majestic animals to the impressive, view-dominating Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. You can experience a truly luxurious African adventure with heli-safaris, train dinners, walks with lions, and even some extreme sports — it’s all within your reach with the help of our expert advisors. 

Safaris in South Africa

A short way across the border from Zimbabwe into South Africa, you’ll find the Kruger National Park. This is not only one of the best places in the world to see leopards, but it’s known for game viewing opportunities of all the famous African species – including elephants, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, and many more. It’s also one of the largest game reserves and is great to visit at any time of the year — however, the wet summer season will give you a greater chance of spotting beautiful newborn wildlife in the park.

Whether you want to visit Africa on a completely private journey, on a hosted group tour, or for a solo adventure, our team of advisors can arrange all the details leaving you to just bask in the pleasure of a well-planned safari. We will guide you through the design stage based solely on your preferences and the right time to travel to the various destinations. We will give you the best insider tips for packing and preparing for your departure. And then, we’re with you every step of the way to provide advocacy before, during, and even after your vacation. No matter where you want to go and which sights you dream of seeing, let us bring you the best that African safaris have to offer.

Call us at 888-806-2337 today to speak to one of our African travel experts and start planning your next adventure.