Expert Guide to the Best Safari Destinations in Africa for First-Timers

"Chobe National Park in Botswana is close to my heart - I lived here for 15 years and it’s the only place where I have been able to sit on the banks of the river in the dry season and see a thousand elephants stretched out along the river."

1. Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya – for families

The famed Masai Mara is the safari region that immediately springs to mind when embarking on a safari to Africa for the first time – and for good reason. A safari to the Mara allows for simply astounding wildlife spotting.

Not only is it home to the Great Migration during the months of July through to the end of September, but the Mara also has resident wildlife all year round. The long rains fall in April and May so this is a very quiet season where you may have parts of the reserve all to yourself. The wildlife is still here though and I love to visit at this time of year. One year on a game drive in April, I saw all of the ‘Big 5’ in one day and only three other vehicles during the whole day.

Although spending time in the Masai Mara National Reserve is certainly worthwhile, there is in addition more than double the area surrounding it that is dedicated to conservation and private conservancies. These are wonderful safari spots for families who want to hire a private villa or experience a fixed or mobile-tented option for incredible adventures. One of my favourite spots is Cottar’s Private Bush Villa, a private home for up to 12 guests with a breathtaking view of the savannah plains and its own private 25-metre swimming pool. From here you can go on bush walks and enjoy privately guided wildlife drives during the day and at night.

2. The Serengeti, Tanzania – for the Great Migration

Just across the border from the Masai Mara lies the legendary Serengeti National Park and together they form the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. It is here where you might catch sight of the Great Migration, as two million wildebeest, zebra and antelope travel through Serengeti from the Mara and back again in an endless cyclical journey.

The Serengeti and its abutting conservancies offer a chance to glimpse an abundance of wildlife, from cheetah to hyena, leopard, lion and giraffe. 

One of my favourite places to stay, Mkombe’s House, is an ideal base to witness the river crossings that take place between July and October, when the wildebeest plunge into the waters of the Mara River, often into the jaws of waiting crocodiles. However, the proximity of water here means that resident wildlife is plentiful year-round. Perfect for young families, Mkombe offers a unique private wildlife experience with highly trained resident guides and schedules to suit your family routine.

3. Laikipia, Kenya – for an insight into conservation

In the rolling hills of Laikipia, lie Lewa and Borana Wildlife Conservancies. The conservancies are committed to conservation and offer innovative wildlife protection programmes. There’s a world of opportunities at Lewa and Borana, including spotting rhino from the back of a horse to spending time with the Maasai who guide you across the plains, teaching you about their deep connection with the land and how they have lived off it for generations. You can also go behind the scenes and learn about the educational opportunities Lewa provides to local children or observe a demonstration of scent tracking with dogs designed to stop poaching.

Laikipia has a range of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, from the romantic Elewana Lewa Safari Camp – a traditional safari lodge with a few guest rooms – to exclusive use family houses and villas such as Lengishu, Sirai House or Laragai House.

4. Akagera National Park, Rwanda – for pure variety

If you are interested in seeing primates as part of your safari, Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda is well worth a visit. Once decimated by poachers and nearly lost forever due to human encroachment, the park has been under the guardianship of African Parks since 2010 and its fortunes have changed.

With the support of the Rwanda Development Board and Howard G Buffett Foundation, Akagera has transformed into a wonderful destination teeming with wildlife – including the ‘Big 5’. Ranging from lakes and savannah to riverine forests, woodlands and grasslands plains, and the subsequent diversity of animals is ideal for first-time safari goers with so much to see in just one place.

5. Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia – for walking safaris

One of the best countries for a safari, Zambia has several National Parks and Reserves that are worth visiting. I would recommend combining at least two of them, but I am especially fond of the Lower Zambezi National Park. Sandwiched between the Zambezi Escarpment and the magnificent Zambezi River, the park is filled with colour, from the purple-hued escarpment to the glittering blue waters of Zambezi and the pastel shades of the albida forest. The rivers are full of crocodile and hippo which make for interesting wildlife watching too.

The Lower Zambezi is perfect for walking safaris, either short walks each day from your camp or embarking on a longer five to six-day walk through the park with a private guide, sleeping in a mobile camp set up especially for you in different locations as you travel. There’s wonderful birdlife as well as the chance to spot dazzling Burchell’s Zebra (Grant’s Zebra).

For a fixed base, I recommend the wonderful Chongwe House. Set on a peaceful stretch of the Chongwe River, you can enjoy an impressive array of activities during your stay at this luxury lodge including wildlife drives, walking safaris, boat cruises, canoe safaris and tiger-fishing. 

6. South Luangwa National Park, Zambia – for leopard sightings

Team the Lower Zambezi National Park with the most well-known Zambian Park, the South Luangwa, for an adventure to remember. Walking safaris are the order of the day here and the guides are some of the most dedicated and knowledgeable in Africa. The park is known for its great leopard sightings – I once saw 12 different leopards in a five-day visit!

To avoid the crowds, I would recommend hiring a private safari house. Set on the banks of the Luangwa River, Robin’s House has two private en-suite bedrooms, a spacious sitting and dining area and its own plunge pool. This is the perfect spot to relax and watch as the wildlife comes to drink and bathe in the river. Another favourite exclusive-use house is Luangwa Safari House, a four-bedroom house built on private land near Nkwali with views of the Chindeni Hills. The house sits on the edge of a lagoon system frequented by large herds of elephant, impala, giraffe and countless other species.

7. Chobe National Park, Botswana – for river-based safaris

Chobe National Park in Botswana is close to my heart – I lived here for 15 years and it’s the only place where I have been able to sit on the banks of the river in the dry season and see a thousand elephants stretched out along the river.

You’ll find plenty of other wildlife here too, but what makes Chobe so special is the combined land and river-based game drives. To me there is nothing as spectacular as an afternoon drift along the river, watching wildlife coming down to drink at sunset.

8. Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe – for elephant enthusiasts

Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park is the first National Park that I lived in. Currently home to 45,000 elephants, I would almost guarantee a sighting of the world’s largest land mammal. On my last safari to Hwange, I spent a glorious afternoon in a hide which gave me a ground-level, close-up view of the watering hole with several herds of elephant coming to drink and mill around just feet from where I was sitting.

This is the perfect place to take time out and let the wildlife come to you. There is always something happening around waterholes and I enjoy watching the flocks of sandgrouse coming down to drink and wet their feathers. You will also see crocodiles lying in wait in the shallows, kudu daintily tip-toeing to the water’s edge and elephants arriving, swotting thirsty buffalo away so that they can spray themselves with a cooling shower of water on a hot afternoon. 

9. Eastern Cape, South Africa – for the best of both worlds

South Africa has something for everyone, whether you’re on your honeymoon, a family looking for child-friendly adventures or just searching for rest and relaxation in a luxurious villa. The best of both worlds, South Africa’s Eastern Cape has a wide variety of private reserves and national parks, where you can go on safari in the morning and lie on a beach lapped by the Indian Ocean in the afternoon. 

If you’re time-poor, you are likely to see a host of animals in just one or two game drives. Beyond the wildlife, there are gentile boutique hotels with opportunities to learn about the local culture, visit excellent restaurants and enjoy some walking and fishing too. There is so much to see and do for young families too and all visitors will be kept busy from dawn til’ dusk. 

10. Sabi Sands, South Africa – for the ‘Big 5’

Another perfect destination for first-time safari adventurers, Sabi Sands is well-known as a place where you’re almost guaranteed to see the ‘Big 5’ in one day. Made of up multiple private reserves that surround the Kruger National Park, Sabi Sands is a conservation success story. The passion the owners have for preserving the land and its fauna and flora for generations to come, whilst also supporting local communities, makes it an important safari destination.

Here you’ll find luxury lodges aplenty, and combined with the incredible experiences and activities on offer, you will leave with breathtaking memories of your first safari. Set within 45,000 acres of private reserve, Singita Castleton is a favourite lodge of mine and can be taken exclusively if you are looking for complete privacy. Another delightful place to stay is Lion Sands, which has two beautiful treehouse suites where you could spend a night sleeping out under the stars in complete comfort.