Did you know that in Swahili, safari means “long journey”? It’s the perfect meaning to convey the true essence of going on safari in Africa: a genuine quest, a real journey within the journey, discovering nature and all its unpredictability.
There are countless national parks and reserves where you can go on safari, and in some countries this experience is the highlight of their tourism offering, such as Tanzania. In others, it is part of a broader travel itinerary, such as Namibia and South Africa.
But if it’s true that nature is unpredictable, and sightings are never guaranteed, then choosing the right park to suit your needs could be a great place to start!
So, you may be wondering: if you had to choose, what is the best safari park in Africa?
Is it better to head to Kenya or Namibia? Botswana or Zambia? Are you set on seeing lions, or are elephants what you’re after? Exactly—because choosing the right park also depends on what you hope to spot. Below you’ll find a great roundup of Africa’s best safari parks, including the main wildlife differences and the best times to visit.
1. Wonderful national parks for a safari in Africa
2. Safari in Tanzania – Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater
3. Safari in Kenya – Maasai Mara
4. Safari in South Africa’s Kruger National Park
5. Safari in Namibia’s Etosha National Park
6. Safari in Uganda’s Murchison Falls Park
7. Botswana’s Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park
8. Zambia – South Luangwa National Park
9. Safari in Zimbabwe – Mana Pools
1) Safari in Tanzania: Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater
Well, this is an easy one. Let’s start with Serengeti National Park, home each year to the most famous and spectacular wildlife event on the planet: the Great Migration.
The Serengeti is almost ten times larger than Kenya’s Maasai Mara, and its vast plains help spread visitors out even during the busiest seasons, allowing you to enjoy a safari the way it should be. The Serengeti is famous for its large lion population, which are often harder to spot in other parks. Also in Tanzania is the Ngorongoro Crater, within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, right on the way to the Serengeti. This volcanic caldera contains 250 square kilometres of plains, forests, and lakes, and hosts an incredible concentration of wildlife including lions, elephants, and the very rare black rhino.
When to go: All year round except April and May, during the rainy season. The migration moves with the seasons; the best months to see it are July to October (northern Serengeti) and February/March (in Ndutu).
Check out our Tanzania trip to follow the Great Migration.
2) Safari in Kenya – Maasai Mara
We don’t have to go far—we’re heading to Kenya. Along with Tanzania’s parks, Kenya’s Maasai Mara is probably one of Africa’s most famous reserves, partly because the migration coming from Tanzania also enters the Kenyan park every year.
We can’t say we know the Maasai Mara as thoroughly as some of the other parks, but if you want to witness the spectacle of the Great Migration, the Maasai Mara is its official extension: every year the huge herds of wildebeest and other migratory animals arrive in the reserve (usually between July and October) before returning to Tanzania. But the Maasai Mara’s fame is also one of its drawbacks, as the park is often crowded with travellers, with the risk that the safari experience feels less authentic and decidedly busy.
When to go: The best months are from May to October
3) Safari in South Africa’s Kruger National Park
Let’s head further south—to South Africa’s Kruger National Park. It’s a stunning park, if not for the decision to pave many of the internal roads, which slightly takes away from the atmosphere you might expect from a safari experience. In our opinion, a safari in Kruger is more exclusive and less adventurous than in some other parks. That said, this park is home to ALL of the Big Five, including both rhino species, as well as cheetahs, wild dogs, large herbivores, and more than 500 species of birds. In short, it’s a rare triumph of wildlife that’s hard to find elsewhere.
When to go: All year round, though not recommended during the rainy season from November to March.
We do offer a tour of South Africa—and you’re welcome to join us.
4) Safari in Namibia’s Etosha National Park
Now for our absolute favourite: Etosha National Park is Namibia’s largest and most important safari park, with a character all its own. Its rugged, semi-arid landscape and beautiful central salt pan, the Etosha Pan, give you a truly all-round safari experience: the animals are something you earn, and the reward is twice as satisfying.
One of Etosha’s defining features is that safaris are usually done by following a route between waterholes, which are excellent spots for sightings, especially during the dry season (from May to November).
A safari in this park is genuinely different from what you can experience elsewhere. One small note: there are no rivers, so you won’t find hippos or crocodiles. But honestly, that’s not much of a loss, right?
When to go: The best months are from June to November
If you’re ready to leave right away, take a look at our Namibia trip, one of a kind—just like Etosha.
5) Safari in Uganda’s Bwindi National Park
Here we’re talking about something truly unique in the world—something exceptional that will leave you speechless. We’re talking about a safari in search of the Mountain Gorilla in Bwindi National Park, the Impenetrable Forest. Going on safari here is like taking a journey within the journey: in close contact with nature, deep in the forest, you walk alongside local rangers in search of these magnificent creatures. Sightings are not always guaranteed, but this is still the area with the highest concentration of gorillas in the world.
When to go: Although mountain gorilla tracking can be done year-round, because of the rather humid climate that characterises the national parks where these gorillas live, most tourists prefer to visit from June to September or from December to February.
6) Safari in Botswana’s Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park
Botswana—there are hardly enough words to describe it. A special land, just like the parks that define it. Thanks to its geography, this is where you can enjoy some of the best water-based safaris. When the dry season arrives, wildlife gathers along the long river in the far north of Chobe National Park, where beautiful boat safaris take you alongside elephants and buffalo.
Further south lies the Moremi Reserve, which protects the eastern edges of the Okavango Delta, where seasonal waterways attract huge numbers of animals. In this area, mokoro trips are very popular—traditional local canoes that glide through long, narrow channels teeming with wildlife.
Moremi is renowned for its rarer species, including the African wild dog, and it is one of the few places in Botswana where it is possible to see both white and black rhinos.
When to go: The best months are from June to October.
Take a look at our Botswana trip—it’s something spectacular.
7) Zambia – South Luangwa National Park
There’s good news about Zambia: the country has recently regained its status as a Big Five safari destination, following the reintroduction of the black rhino in North Luangwa National Park.
This most important park in Zambia is generally considered a safari destination for true connoisseurs. Toward the end of the dry season, animals gather in great numbers around the shrinking river and its lagoons. Aside from cheetahs—which are absent—you can expect to see almost all the classic savannah animals here.
Night game drives allow you to follow big cats on the hunt—this park is one of the best places to see leopards—while walking safaris let you experience African wildlife from a different and deeply exciting perspective. Experts say this is where you’ll find the best walking safaris on the continent.
When to go: The best months are from June to October
8) Safari in Zimbabwe – Mana Pools
Mana Pools National Park is considered both the best park in Zimbabwe and one of the most beautiful wilderness areas in Africa for safari.
Located in the far north of Zimbabwe, on the border with Zambia, Mana Pools is defined by wild nature along the Zambezi River, pools, floodplains, baobabs, and forests that never feel overcrowded. The park is famous for its huge herds of elephants and is known for excellent lion and leopard sightings, as well as being one of the best places in Africa to spot African wild dogs. Among the absentees, however, are rhinos, wildebeest, and... giraffes!
When to go: The best months are from May to October.
Not sure which park to choose for your safari? Take a look at all the safaris in Africa that we offer...
