Where to Go Based on Your Safari Experience: From Novice to Enthusiast

As a first-time safari-goer, your adventure will likely be a highlight within a broader travel plan, giving you an exciting taste of the wilderness without requiring your entire trip to be bush-focused. You may glimpse iconic wildlife that piques your curiosity, leaving you with the joyful sense of having embarked on a must-do experience. With a wonderful selection of accessible lodges and comfortable tented camps, easing into this unique and unforgettable world is comfortable and exciting.

The key focus of this trip is often the seamless combination of diverse experiences, blending bustling cities, breathtaking scenery, or a relaxing beach escape with your wildlife adventure. This journey is about the transition from city lights to brilliant night skies, where the distant sounds of traffic are replaced by the distinct calls of the wild, lulling you to sleep.

• Iconic Park: Kruger National Park, South Africa, offers a classic Big Five experience with easy access from major cities. Its vast size and excellent infrastructure make incorporating a world-class safari into your itinerary a logistical breeze.
• Easy Access: Welgevonden Game Reserve, South Africa, is a malaria-free reserve just a three-hour drive from Johannesburg, ensuring you can enjoy a rewarding safari without needing an additional flight.
• Elephant Haven: Chobe National Park, Botswana, is home to huge herds of elephants, making for a thrilling first encounter. Its proximity to Victoria Falls makes it a popular choice for a short but spectacular Southern Africa safari.
• Famous Plains: The Maasai Mara, Kenya, is one of Africa’s most celebrated safari destinations. Easily reached from Nairobi, it offers outstanding game viewing year-round and an array of accommodations for every style.
• Crater Experience: Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania, is a self-contained ecosystem boasting incredibly dense and reliable wildlife viewing. Descending into this natural wonder offers a perfect, single-day snapshot of East Africa’s remarkable biodiversity.

For information on what you can expect from a safari in South Africa, take a look at our Kruger National Park safaris.

Once you’ve had a taste of the bush, it’s common to develop a deep appreciation for its surprises. As a repeat wildlife adventurer, you’ll look to focus more of your trip on safari-rich destinations or dedicate more time to exploring the wilderness. This journey is about delving deeper into the diverse landscapes and remarkable wildlife that roam Africa’s iconic conservation areas.

With previous experience, you’ll have a greater understanding of the continent’s rich heritage and warm cultures. You might relish the opportunity to spend time with local residents and listen to their stories. While a beach escape or city break might still be part of your itinerary, the safari becomes the main event, promising more time in the wild and a greater variety of animal encounters.

• Leopard Hotspot: Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa, is renowned for its exceptional leopard sightings and luxurious lodges. Excellent air connections make it easy to combine with destinations like Cape Town or Victoria Falls.
• Migration Epicenter: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, is the heart of the Great Migration and demands multiple nights to fully appreciate its vastness. It is the perfect anchor for a week-long Northern Circuit itinerary.
• Kilimanjaro Backdrop: Amboseli National Park, Kenya, provides the iconic and simply marvelous sight of elephants grazing against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, offering a stunning addition to a Maasai Mara safari.
• Water Wilderness: The Okavango Delta, Botswana, elevates the safari experience with its unique ecosystem. You can explore pristine water channels by mokoro, or dugout canoe, in addition to traditional 4x4 game drives.
• Giant Herds: Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, is a classic, sprawling wilderness famous for its massive elephant herds, especially during the dry season. It offers a wilder, less-crowded alternative to other major Southern African parks.

If you are a repeat safari-goer, take a look at our Great Migration safaris for more inspiration.

Having explored Africa’s famous parks, avid safari enthusiasts are eager to discover new territories and more immersive methods of exploration. This journey is about venturing to remote destinations and spending time in locations with the sole purpose of a deep and meaningful wildlife experience. The focus shifts from seeing the Big Five to understanding the intricate details of the ecosystem.

This advanced adventure is defined by variety. You may find yourself soaring over the savanna in a hot-air balloon, tracking animals on foot during a walking safari, or embarking on a challenging trek to see mountain gorillas. Each activity deepens your understanding of animal behaviors and conservation efforts, offering a more intimate and profound connection to the wild.

• Walking Safaris: South Luangwa, Zambia, is the birthplace of the walking safari. Exploring this game-rich park on foot with an expert guide offers a thrilling and humbling perspective on the African bush.
• Red Elephants: Tsavo East and West, Kenya, are home to the famous “red elephants,” colored by the region's iron-rich soil. These vast, rugged parks offer a wild and rewarding experience for those looking to explore beyond the main circuits.
• Gorilla Trekking: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda, offers the ultimate primate encounter. Trekking through the dense forest to spend time with a mountain gorilla family is a life-altering safari experience.
• Desert Adventure: The Skeleton Coast, Namibia, is a destination of stark, otherworldly beauty. Track desert-adapted lions and elephants or soar over rust-colored dunes in a hot-air balloon for a truly exclusive safari.
• Canoe Encounters: Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe, allows for eye-level wildlife viewing from a canoe on the Zambezi River. It's an active and immersive safari known for its close encounters with elephants and wild dogs.

To experience a gorilla trekking safari, embark on any one of our Uganda safari and gorilla-trekking tours.

Our Zicasso safari specialists have a wealth of knowledge and a passion for unique experiences that can bring your safari adventure to life. For more inspiration, find unique ideas before planning your trip with our African safari tours and vacation packages. Information on the best time to go, where to visit, and much more can be found in Zicasso’s African safari travel guide.