Safari : Nature at its most thrilling, raw and unforgettable
Nothing compares to the quiet crackle of anticipation as a pride of lions stirs at dawn, or the heart-pounding rush of tracking wild dogs in full sprint. Whether it’s watching elephants bathe in a sunlit river, sitting silently with mountain gorillas in Rwandan cloud-forest, or witnessing the sheer spectacle of thousands of wildebeest and zebra journey across the Serengeti, a wildlife safari in Africa connects you to the natural world in the most powerful way imaginable.
With such a huge diversity of landscapes, ecosystems and species, no two safaris are ever the same. You might find yourself on foot in Zambia’s remote valleys, in a mokoro gliding through Botswana’s Okavango Delta, or perched beside a Namibian waterhole, watching rhino appear through the dust. It’s not just about ticking off sightings though—it’s about the stories, the stillness, and the sheer wonder of being close to wild animals in their natural home.
Choosing the right wildlife safari depends on what you want to see and how you like to travel - from high-adrenaline predator tracking to slow, thoughtful observation. Just as important as the destination is the quality of your guide, whose insight, instincts, and storytelling can transform a good safari into an exceptional one. We can also help you build a trip around your interests, whether that's href="/birdwatching/africa">birdwatching , href="/photography-holidays/africa">photography, or bringing your href="/family-holidays/africa"> family along for an inspiring adventure in nature.
Our team has decades of experience across the continent, and we’ve personally visited every camp we recommend. If there’s a particular species or setting you’re dreaming of, our Wildlife page includes an interactive sightings map built on real traveller data to help guide your search.
To help you get started, we’ve created a curated collection of Wildlife Safari itineraries, each designed to showcase some of the most extraordinary animal encounters on the continent. Whether you're a seasoned safari-goer or planning your very first trip, these journeys are crafted to inspire - and to bring you closer to Africa’s wild heart.
The Finest Collection of Wildlife Safaris in Africa
Discover the most thrilling wildlife holidays in Africa, created to bring you up close to nature at its wildest. Watch in awe as thousands of wildebeest brave the crocodile-infested waters of Kenya’s Mara River, descend into Tanzania’s awesome Ngorongoro Crater for an impressive density of predators and flamingo-fringed waters, or observe leopards in Zambia’s South Luangwa, home to one of the highest densities of these gorgeous big cats in Africa.
From the shimmering waterways of Botswana’s Okavango Delta to the stark beauty of Namibia’s Damaraland, where desert-adapted elephants trek across rocky plains, every safari offers unforgettable moments. Track wild dogs on the hunt, marvel at huge herds of elephant, or even swim alongside whale sharks in Mafia Island’s marine park
Whether you're a first-time visitor or seasoned safari-goer, each of the journeys in our Wildlife Safaris Collection can be tailor-made to suit your specific wildlife interests, travel style and sense of adventure.
Our most recent reviews of wildlife safaris in Africa
Detailed, un-edited reviews from our Africa travellers whose trips we tailored towards wildlife safaris. Click below to read the traveller's full review, and see all the reviews of our Africa holidays here.
Frequently asked questions
Wildlife Safaris FAQs
What are Africa’s top ten wildlife encounters?
That said, there are certain experiences that consistently leave travellers awestruck - spectacles so special, so memorable, they’ve become legendary in their own right. From thundering migrations to silent moments with great apes, here are ten wildlife encounters in Africa that truly stand out:
1. The Serengeti’s Great Migration
More than a million wildebeest, along with hundreds of thousands of zebra and antelope, follow the rains in a vast, never-ending cycle across the plains. It’s not just the scale that’s staggering -it’s the noise and drama: river crossings teeming with crocodiles, lion ambushes in the grass, and the sheer noise of grunting animals and hooves on earth. Witnessing it from a safari vehicle, or even a hot-air balloon at dawn, is utterly unforgettable, and the different seasons offer different highlights, from calving in the south to crossings in the north. Check out our Migration map for what’s happening when.
2. Botswana's Zebra Migration
Africa’s second-largest migration is quieter, wilder and far less known, but no less extraordinary. Tens of thousands of Burchell’s zebra move across the Kalahari’s arid pans, guided by ancient instincts and the promise of water. It’s a beautiful and surreal sight: zebra on salt flats, kicking up dust as they stretch across a bone-white horizon. With fewer tourists and a wonderfully remote setting, this migration feels like Africa at its most untouched.
3. The Meerkats of Makgadikgadi Pans
They may be small, but meerkats deliver some of the biggest smiles on safari. In the salt pans of Makgadikgadi, habituated meerkat families go about their day completely unfazed by human presence - foraging, play-fighting, and even using human visitors as a lookout perch on occasion. Sit still as the sun rises and these curious creatures emerge from their burrows to warm up and begin their daily foraging: a quiet, playful, and oddly moving encounter in one of Africa’s most otherworldly landscapes.
4. Rwanda’s Mountain Gorillas
Few, if any, wildlife encounters compare to the moment you lock eyes with a mountain gorilla. Trekking through Rwanda’s lush volcanic slopes is a thrill in itself, but coming face-to-face with a silverback the size of a fridge, or watching a baby tumble through the ferns, is simply awe-inspiring. You’ll only spend an hour with them—but the intimacy, intelligence and gentleness of these great apes leaves a lifelong impression. It is utterly bewitching and humbling.
5. The Chimpanzees of Tanzania’s Mahale Mountains
To find the wild chimps of Mahale, you’ll walk along forest trails beside crystal-clear Lake Tanganyika, hearing calls echo through the canopy. And when you do find them - grooming, playing, chasing, arguing, and sometimes simply sitting - you’ll be struck by how eerily human they are: social, political, hierarchical and sometimes mean to each other. Mahale offers one of the most pristine and magical settings to watch our closest relatives in the wild - remote, raw and unforgettable.
6. The Wild Dogs in Zimbabwe's Mana Pools
Mana Pools is one of the best places on the continent to see African wild dogs, a species that’s both endangered and incredibly exciting to observe. What sets this experience apart is not just the chance to track them on foot, but the deep knowledge of the guides, who know each individual dog, their family history, personality and story. There’s a reason that David Attenborough picked this team and location to film wild dogs. But for anyone, seeing a pack rally excitedly for the hunt, pups play-fight in the sand, or a successful chase unfold is an intense, heart-pounding thrill.
7. A Walk on the Wildside in Hwange National Park
There’s something truly primal about walking through the bush, guided by some of Africa’s best professional walking guides. In Hwange, it’s not about chasing big sightings, but about learning to read the bush: a flick of a tail, a print in the dust, the warning call of a bird. And when you do come across game, be it a buffalo herd, a bull elephant, or a sleepy lion, the sense of connection, and vulnerability, is unlike anything from a vehicle. These are hands-down some of the most knowledgeable, engaging and experienced walking guides in the safari industry.
8. Tracking Big Cats in the Okavango
In northern Botswana, safaris at Lebala Camp all feature both a guide and a dedicated tracker seated on the front of the vehicle. This two-person team opens up a different safari rhythm - slow, deliberate, and highly skilled, a compelling and effective show of teamwork focused on reading signs in the sand and sounds in the bush. Tracking lions, cheetahs, or wild dogs this way adds a layer of anticipation and excitement to every drive - and success, which is frequent, feels like a shared triumph.
9. The Leopards of Zambia’s South Luangwa
South Luangwa is leopard country, and Kaingo Camp is one of the best bases to see them. With a high density of cats, expert guides, and some incredibly beautiful ebony groves in which to photograph them, your chances of multiple leopard sightings are high here. Watch them descend from trees at dusk, prowl riverbanks at night, or rest with cubs in golden morning light - it’s the stuff safari dreams are made of!
10. The Elephant Herds on the Chobe River
There’s something magical about drifting silently by boat as herds of elephants gather at the water’s edge - drinking, bathing, playing, and socialising. On Botswana’s Chobe River, you’re often so close you can hear them. Combine this with pods of hippo, basking crocs, and a golden sunset, and you’ve got one of the most peaceful and beautiful ways to watch Africa’s wildlife.
The Best Camps & Lodges for Wildlife Safaris in Africa
From predator-rich plains to remote desert landscapes, Africa’s top safari camps and lodges place you right at the heart of the action. Whether you’re watching wild dogs puppies at Lebala in northern Botswana, tracking desert rhino on foot from Onduli Ridge in Namibia, or enjoying close-up leopard sightings at Kaingo Camp in Zambia’s South Luangwa, the right base can elevate a safari from great to unforgettable.
Stay in classic bushcamps like Camp Hwange for raw, immersive wildlife encounters, or iconic lodges like Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, perched on the rim of the crater with views into the caldera below.
For those craving exclusivity and adventure, Selinda Explorers Camp and Offbeat Mara offer intimate, wild-luxury experiences in game-rich private conservancies.
Each of these camps has been carefully chosen for their outstanding wildlife viewing, expert guiding, and unique sense of place, and all of them can be included in your own bespoke wildlife safari.
Wildlife Safari Collections across Africa
Explore Africa’s top wildlife safari destinations! Sit eye-to-eye with curious meerkats in Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Pans, kayak past seals on Namibia’s wild Atlantic coast, or track cheetah across the Serengeti’s golden plains.
Follow a pack of wild dogs in Mana Pools, with expert guides who know each one by sight, watch black-maned lions stride across the Kalahari,, and marvel at the huge elephant herds of Chobe, gathering by the river.
Check out our curated Wildlife Safaris Collection, and let our safari specialists craft a journey filled with unforgettable animal encounters across Africa.










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