Where’s The Best Safari Destination For Me?

You’ve decided you want to go on a safari, but now it’s time to narrow down the specifics. One of the main decisions to make is where to go.

Your destination should be determined by a number of factors, and for this reason it’s best to consult with a ToursByLocals guide to help you ensure you make the very best choice for you. Ask yourself questions like: what time of year do I want to go? How much am I looking to spend? Am I looking to spend time on foot or just in a vehicle? Am I looking for a particular landscape for photography purposes? Are there certain wildlife species I absolutely must check off the bucket list?

These are all important things to consider, and your destination should depend on all of them. The safari guides on ToursByLocals offer top-rated safaris in every major national park, so they can help point you in the right direction, but before contacting them, it’s good to do your own research to gain some background knowledge of what each destination has to offer.

Here are five of Africa’s top safari destinations to help you choose the best spot for your amazing adventure.

Kruger National Park, South Africa

South Africa draws tourists for its spectacular landscapes, vibrant cities, scenic road trip routes, rugged coastlines, and all the goodness in between. But one of its biggest tourist draws is Kruger National Park, which is home to iconic wildlife including the Big 5, plus giraffe, zebra, antelope, hyena, warthogs, rare wild dogs and more. The Greater Kruger Region is home to some of the world's most renowned lodges and various private reserves such as the Sabi Sands, known for its leopard population. While in the Kruger area, a stop along the dramatic Panorama Route is a perfect way to top off the trip.

Masai Mara National Park, Kenya

Masai Mara National Park is the quintessential Africa you’ve seen in Lion King: infinitely vast grasslands, acacia trees dotting the horizon, a flaming sun setting in the background. It’s home to the “Great Migration”, wildlife’s greatest spectacle, as herds move through the region around August to October. The Masai Mara always delivers on game viewing, and it is not uncommon to see the Big 5 all in one drive. But with the abundant wildlife comes abundant tourist crowds, so it is unlikely you will get to savour a sighting to yourself.

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

With ‘Serengit’ translating to ‘endless plains’ in the Masai language, the Serengeti is a vast region covering 30,000 square kilometres. It presents a variety of terrains, from grasslands, hilly outcrops known as kopjes, and woodlands, providing a variety of habitats for the immense abundance of wildlife that call the Serengeti home. A top attraction here is the Ngorongoro Crater, which not only forms a beautiful backdrop but its fertile grounds attract significant amounts of wildlife.

Akagera National Park, Rwanda

A less common safari destination but no less magical, Akagera National Park is a great place to satisfy your wildlife and nature cravings. Bordering Tanzania, Akagera offers an African savannah landscape including woodlands interspersed with grasslands and swamps and lakes providing drinking spots for the animals. The sightings are more sparse than some other parks, but the Big 5 are present and sightings will be more intimate with less crowds. While in Rwanda, known as the Heart of Africa, visitors can also go gorilla trekking in the Virunga Mountains in Volcanoes National Park and explore its capital Kigali, a great way to discover what gives this small country such a big heart.

Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

Known as the Pearl of Africa, Uganda presents an awe-inspiring landscape made up of lush green hills, serene lakes, and dense forests. The top spot here for traditional big game safaris is Queen Elizabeth Park, known for its tree-climbing lions, which are joined by the rest of the members of the animal kingdom. Other wildlife attractions in Uganda include gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or chimp trekking in Kyambura Gorge.