Where to go on an African safari

The largest national park in South Africa, Kruger stretches for nearly two million hectares and is easily one of the most popular game parks in the world. Home to a string of private reserves within its borders, it’s also one of the easiest to visit, with everything from self-drive safaris and public rest camps up to personal guides and more exclusive private lodges.

Where is it: Kruger National Park is in the north-east of South Africa, in the provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, bordered by Mozambique in the east. It’s around a five-hour drive from Johannesburg, or a short flight from the city or from Cape Town.

What animals you can see: Perhaps a better question is what you won’t see… The animals at Kruger National Park include 147 species of mammal, 507 birds, 114 reptiles, 34 amphibians and 49 fish. Quite apart from the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo), you can see tiny inhabitants such as elephant shrews and rhino beetles too.

Best time to go: The best months for a safari in Kruger National park are between June and October, with the driest weather and the best chance of spotting wildlife. There’s little rainfall during these months, and enjoyably warm daytime temperatures of 25-28C, even if it’s cooler at night.

This family-owned malaria-free game reserve is one of the best places in the Eastern Cape to spot the Big Five, with lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard among the animals found at Kariega Game Reserve. Covering 12,000 hectares, the reserve is also bordered by two rivers – the Kariega and the Bushmans – which you can cruise along as an alternative to game drives.

Where is it: Kariega Game Reserve is in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, around 90 miles from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and around 75 miles from Addo Elephant Park.

What animals you can see: As well as the Big Five, you can spot hippo, hyena, warthog, zebra, numerous types of antelope, honey badgers and porcupines, among other creatures. It’s also a fantastic location for birdwatchers, with African fish eagles also found here.

Best time to go: Unlike other safaris in South Africa, the best time to visit Kariega Game Reserve is between November and March. These are the drier months on the Cape, with the temperatures staying in the mid-20Cs throughout the period.

Lions in Maasai Mara National Reserve

When you think of African safaris, you’re probably picturing the Maasai Mara, and this Kenyan reserve is deservedly famous. Along with the highest density of lions anywhere in the world, you can spot cheetah and leopard, plus critically endangered black rhino. It’s also one of the sites of the annual Great Migration, as hundreds of thousands of wildebeest cross the Mara river between Tanzania and Kenya.

Where is it: The Maasai Mara is located in south-western Kenya in the Great Rift Valley, on the border with Tanzania and the Serengeti National Park.

What animals you can see: Lions are one of the stars, with around 850-900 found in the reserve, but there are also over 500 bird species to spot and as many as 1.3 million wildebeest. Black and white rhino both live in the reserve, although these are the hardest members of the Big Five to see, while you can also spy crocodiles and hippo in the river, plus cheetah, leopard, hyena and aardvark.

Best time to go: The best months to visit the Maasai Mara are from July to September, the driest months of the year. The Great Migration also takes place during this period, principally in August. For a quieter alternative, January and February see newborn animals in the reserve, and drier weather between the wet months known as the short rains and long rains.

Elephants in Amboseli National Park

This compact reserve is one of the best places for a first safari holiday or a first safari in Kenya, as its size means you can see most of the attractions within a day or two. Known for its iconic views of snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro across the border in Tanzania, and its huge elephant herds, it’s also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and unmissable for keen photographers.

Where is it: Amboseli National Park sits on the border of Tanzania in southern Kenya, with views out to Mount Kilimanjaro. It’s around 130 miles from Nairobi, and around 100 miles from Tsavo National Park.

What animals you can see: The park is known for its free roaming elephants, with over 1,500 in total, and herds of 100 individuals. Around 400 species of bird have also been recorded at Amboseli, while you can also spot four of the Big Five (excluding rhino), cheetah, giraffe, hyena and more.

Best time to go: The dry season runs from July to September, when it’s both more pleasant to head out on game drives and easier to spot the wildlife found here. January and February is another good period for a safari at Amboseli, between the short and long rains; often drier than the Masai Mara, you can enjoy lusher landscapes, warmer temperatures and newborn animals.

The lake here sets the national park apart from others in Kenya, with a chance to explore the wetlands around its shores and spot some of the birdlife living here, as well as big cats and rhinos. Once famous for its huge flamingo population, often numbering as many as 1.5 million, recent flooding has reduced this total, but there’s still a fascinating variety of wildlife in the different habitats, including euphorbia forests, acacia woodlands, savannah grasslands and rocky escarpments, along with the lake itself.

Where is it: Lake Nakuru National Park is located in central Kenya, around 90 miles north-west of Nairobi and part of the Great Rift Valley.

What animals you can see: Bird lovers will be in heaven at Lake Nakuru National Park, with around 450 bird species including flamingos. It’s also known for being home to both black and white rhino, plus lions, leopards, hippos and endangered Rothschild’s giraffes.

Best time to go: The dry season at Lake Nakuru National Park is longer than elsewhere in Kenya, so you can find good weather here from June to February, including in December when other Kenyan National Parks can be very rainy.

Cheetahs in Serengeti National Park

One of the world’s most famous national parks, the Serengeti is another of the classic African wildlife-watching destinations and the starting point for the annual Great Migration from Tanzania to Kenya as more than a million wildebeest venture north in the hope of greener pastures. It’s also home to one of the world’s greatest concentrations of wildlife year-round.

Where is it: The Serengeti National Park covers around 12,000 square miles in northern Tanzania, on the border with Kenya’s Masai Mara.

What animals you can see: There are around 35 species of plains animals, including wildebeest, zebra and antelopes, but you can also spot the Big Five with large populations of lions in the Serengeti. The National Park is also home to hippos, giraffes, cheetahs and crocodiles near the Mara River, plus more than 500 species of bird.

Best time to go: The months between July and September are the best time to visit the Serengeti, with the dry season fully underway and the Great Migration taking place. October also has good weather for a safari, and while you’re unlikely to see any of the migrating herds, there’s still plenty to enjoy in the Serengeti.

Hippos in Chobe National Park

Botswana’s first national park is home to Africa’s greatest concentration of wildlife, including the largest elephant population on earth. One of the big attractions of Chobe National Park, beyond the impressive wildlife, is the number of ways you can view the animals. Along with standard game drives to spy lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and antelope, you can cruise down the river to spot hippos, crocodiles and birds, and fly overhead in light aircraft for views of the herds below.

Where is it: Chobe National Park is found in the northern part of Botswana, stretching along the Chobe River which forms the border with Namibia.

What animals you can see: Elephants and more elephants, with more than 120,000 living at Chobe National Park. You’ll also find big cats including lion, leopard and cheetah, as well as giraffe, buffalo and hippos. It’s also home to more than 450 species of birds.

Best time to go: Botswana’s dry season runs from May to October, with warm, sunny weather during the day and little to no rainfall during these months. As the dry season progresses, the lack of water and limited undergrowth means it’s often easier to see the wildlife near the river and by water holes.

Cheetah and springbok in Etosha National Park

If you’re hoping to spot wildlife in Namibia, Etosha National Park is unmissable with a population of critically endangered black rhino that is thriving under the country’s conservation programme. You can also spot lions, leopards, elephants, giraffe, zebra and more, especially around the water holes in this arid corner of southern Africa, where the clay and salt Etosha Pan covers almost a quarter of the national park.

Where is it: The national park is in the north-west of Namibia, in the country’s Kunene region. Around a six-hour drive from the capital Windhoek, there are also shorter flights from the city’s international airport to airstrips close to Etosha National Park.

What animals you can see: The 110 mammal species at Etosha National Park, include four of the Big Five (there have been no buffaloes spotted since the mid-20th century) and rare black-faced impala, plus black and white rhino. The Etosha Pan is also home to multiple bird species, including flamingos, pelicans and storks, as well as raptors.

Best time to go: The months from July to October are the best time to visit Namibia, with barely any rainfall across the country this month, although when you’re packing for your safari holiday, you’ll need to be prepared for the dusty conditions which drive wildlife to the water holes.

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