A safari trip to Africa promises adventure, sun and some things that you don't see every day: lions, giraffes, elephants and many other wild animals. Get close to them the safe and comfortable way as a safari gives you the protection and advice of a guide with the flexibility to explore in your own way. Below are our top tips for safari tours and destinations.
Going on safari is a must when holidaying in Kenya. It's as essential as a gondola ride in Venice or sampling authentic pizza in Italy. Book a private safari experience, travel together, or be part of a small group tour.
Maasai Mara National Reserve is named after Kenya's indigenous Maasai tribe. The reserve has hordes of wildebeest – close to 1.3 million of them. Lions, leopards and cheetahs can also be seen in large numbers.
There's another national park in the capital city, Nairobi. Here, you have a rare chance to see the black rhino, which is on the verge of extinction. You might also spot almost 400 different varieties of birds. Kenya is labelled as 'the wildlife capital of the world' and Nairobi is certainly the place to prove this.
For a close look at Kenya's big cats, like the East African lion, trek out to Tsavo. At 8,000 square miles, Tsavo National Park is one of the world's largest of its kind. The volcanic craters to the west of the park are surrounded by old lava flows from when they were active.
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Kenya – Lamu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site just off the coast of Kenya, is completely car-free. Locals and tourists rely on donkeys and bicycles for land transport.
The incredible range of things to see and do in South Africa is what you'd expect from 'the rainbow nation'. People come to South Africa for destination weddings (and honeymoons), the rugby, the wildlife and the chance to explore.
Safari holidays are a popular way to see the country, which has around 20 national parks. Kruger National Park is known as the home of the 'big five': rhinos, leopards, elephants, lions and buffaloes. The other tourist draw is Table Mountain National Park, which runs from Cape Town down to the Cape of Good Hope.
Addo Elephant National Park, near Port Elizabeth, has more to discover than the name might suggest. It's also a conservation area for the great white shark and the southern right whale.
You can also book day safari trips and tours which start from Johannesburg, South Africa's capital. Joburg (as the locals call it) is going through rapid regeneration and the centre buzzes with energy all day.
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There are eleven official languages in South Africa with the most common being Zulu, followed by Xhosa, Afrikaans and then English.
A Namibia safari opens up a whole world of possibilities. It's the location of the oldest desert on earth, the Namib, which forms a significant part of the country's landscape. And wildlife is certainly not absent from these sandy realms: Damaraland is known for its desert-adapted lion and elephant, while the red dunes and white salt pans of Sossusvlei are home to gemsbok, springbok, ostrich, aardwolf and the brown hyena among others. Meanwhile, the savannah habitats of Etosha National Park can compete with any of Africa's other large game reserves in terms of the diversity and abundance of its fauna.
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The country gets its name from the Namib Desert which stretches across Namibia, Angola and South Africa.
Many visitors extend their Kenya safari over the border into Tanzania. The Maasai Mara and the Serengeti form a continuous ecosystem, and large herds of game migrate in a circular pattern in search of fresh grass. The progress of the Great Migration varies according to the rainfall but the largest herds usually reach the Seronera Valley in the centre of the Serengeti in the first three months of the year. Elsewhere in Tanzania, the Ngorongoro crater is home to year-round populations of game animals, as well as big cats, hyenas, hippos and black rhino. Bull elephants hang out at the crater's forest-cloaked sides. Further south, Selous Game Reserve offers a rather different safari experience, with more cover to conceal the animals but fewer other tourists. It also offers one of the best chances to see the rare African wild dog.
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Tanzania has around 430 different species of animals and has the largest concentration of animals per square kilometer in the world.
When you think of Africa, you almost certainly think of the ‘Big Five’. These are five species of large mammals, once feared and prized in equal measure by big game hunters but now they top the must-see lists of today's safari-goers. Iconic as they are, the Big Five species of lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros are by no means the only exciting wildlife that African safari holidays offer. Giraffes and large herds of other hoofed mammals, including zebra, wildebeest and Thomson's gazelle, are common sights. Bird life also thrives, from large vultures and marabou storks feasting on big cat kills, down to small flycatchers and kaleidoscopic rollers.
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In terms of conservation, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists the African lion, leopard and elephant as ‘vulnerable’, while the cape buffalo is ‘near threatened’ and the black rhinoceros is ‘critically endangered’.
If any animal epitomises Africa, it's probably the lion. African lions are larger and more numerous than their Asiatic cousins. They're also usually easier to spot, thanks to their preferred habitat of savanna and scrubland. A Kenya or Tanzania safari in the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem not only features high up on the list of anyone looking for cheap safari holidays but is also a superb choice for those who want to see plenty of lions. In South Africa, the southern part of Kruger National Park in South Africa also has a healthy population. If a visit to Namibia appeals, lions are best viewed in the dry winter season, when they congregate close to waterholes in Etosha National Park.
Although the African elephant has suffered greatly at the hands of poachers, it can still be viewed in large numbers in places such as Amboseli National Park in Kenya and South Africa's Kruger National Park. To enjoy the sight of elephants silhouetted against the snowcapped peak of Kilimanjaro appeals, Tarangire National Park in Tanzania is a must-see. Meanwhile, some of the most adventurous safari holidays take place in north-western Namibia, particularly Damaraland, which is home to populations of slightly smaller, desert-dwelling elephants.
Large herds of Cape buffalo are an exciting sight on safari holidays especially if they happen to be defending their calves from opportunistic lions. The plains and acacia trees of the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti are ideal territory for Cape buffalo, as is the Kruger National Park.
Shy and secretive, leopards can be hard to spot, even with the help of experienced guides. Maximise your chances by visiting reserves with high leopard populations. As well as the Maasai Mara, Serengeti and Kruger national parks, Kenya's Lake Nakuru National Park, South Africa's Madikwe Game Reserve and Namibia’s Okonjima Nature Reserve offer higher than average chances of a leopard sighting.
Africa is home to two species of rhinoceros: the black and the white. The critically endangered black rhino is a browser and, accordingly, tends to live in areas with dense vegetation, making it hard to spot. Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater is an exception to this general rule and, along with Nairobi National Park, is one of the best places in the world to see this animal. White rhinos are grazers, preferring savanna plains. Look for them in Namibia's Etosha National Park, the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park in South Africa.
How to plan a Safari: We warn you that going on a safari is going to be one of the most exciting adventures of your life, but you have to be prepared for it. First, choose your destination in advance, pick the right time of year to go, and book your flights and accommodation. Second: Learn about the local wildlife. Third, pack the right gear. Finally, be respectful of the wildlife. We are sure you'll have a perfect safari adventure!
We highly recommend planning your trip in advance, this way you'll catch the best season to watch all your favourite animals. Book your flight and accommodation with lastminute.com, and you’ll have everything you need for the perfect trip. Don't forget to check out specialized tour operators to guide you through the safari experience.
When packing for your safari adventure, it is important to choose the right clothes. Opt for neutral colours in your clothing and quick shoes are a must. It is also a good idea to dress in layers, as the temperature can vary throughout the day.
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