How to choose a Safari Destination

A safari is an extraordinary journey into the wild, a journey into nature, and maybe if we dig a little deeper, even into the thoughts about your place in nature

It's an incredible, life-changing experience and allows you to fully immerse yourself in the natural world

One of the most popular parts of Africa, where people commonly go on a safari, is East Africa

And here, where I am in Southern Africa, I'll go into each one in more detail

Now, you should know that across all of Africa, there are over 225 national parks and protected

reserves, and that number is excluding any private reserves, of which there are many dotted

throughout the continent. Every national park has its own unique beauty and charm, but in order to

not keep you here for a month, I'm going to focus on the most popular reserves and national parks

Starting with East Africa, I'm going to be chatting through both Kenya and Tanzania with you

Kenya is known as the birthplace of safaris and has over 50 protected reserves and national parks

combined. The most popular safari destination in Kenya is the Masai Mara, famed for being home to

what is considered one of nature's greatest spectacles, the great wildebeest migration

which can also be seen from the neighboring national park in Tanzania, the Serengeti

If you have limited time in Kenya, for whatever reason, Ambuseli National Park would be one of my recommendations in order to get a safari experience

It's only 240 kilometers away from Nairobi, making it a very accessible location and Kenya's second most popular park

Proclaimed a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1991, Ambuseli National Park is best known for its large tuskers, which are elephants with very large tusks

and its impressive views of Mount Kilimanjaro in the nearby neighboring country of Tanzania

Another popular reserve is Samburu National Park, located in northern Laikipia, a lesser visited area of the country

It is home to the Samburu people who still live in the area

and you might see them tending to their cattle whilst on your safari

There is a long-standing collaboration between the two parties which aims to protect the wildlife as well as protect the culture of these people

It is a very unique ecosystem and the habitat will differ completely compared to what you might see in the Masai Mara or Ambuseli, for example, due to its semi-arid to arid environment

This makes it home to the rare five northern species specials, which include the Grevy Zebra, Somali Ostrich, Reticulated Giraffe, Geronook and the Basar Oryx

There is something incredibly healing about being in nature. For me, I think it's feeling really small in large landscapes, the peacefulness of being

outdoors and escaping the hustle and bustle of the city. But if we're being completely real, sometimes being in nature just isn't enough

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let's dive back into the adventure. Tanzania is home to a wide array of wildlife and landscapes that make it a very popular travel and safari destination From the classic savannah settings and safari locations of the Serengeti and Ngorogoro Crater

to being home to Africa's tallest mountain, to the idyllic white sand beaches of Zanzibar and surroundings

stretches of coastline, it really does have it all. Let's start with Tanzania's most well-known and popular park, the Serengeti

It has become so famous due to it being home of the bulk of the wildebeest migration

Every year, about 2 million wildebeest, which is a type of antelope

and hundreds and thousands of other planes game, namely the zebra, migrate from Tanzania's Serengeti to the Masai Mara in Kenya

following the rains in search of fresh food and water. The migration spans about 300 kilometers in distance and is a year-long event

with no start or end point as the wildebeest are on the move the whole time

A major highlight that many visitors will try and witness is the famed river crossings

This is where the wildebeest will need to make their way across two crocodile infested rivers

the Grometti and the Mara, the latter acting as a border between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara National Park

The best time of year to witness the crossing is from June to October

but due to the uncertainty of rainfall every year, dates and months can never be guaranteed

There are apps such as Herd Tracker that continually track the herds throughout the year and will give you up-to-date information as to where the bulk of the wildebeest currently are

Once these herds cross the river, they go back and forth many times in search of fresh grazing in the area

I can tell you from experience that the Great Migration is an amazing reason to come to East Africa and was definitely a bucket list experience for me

the Ngorogoro Crater is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and a world heritage site

Due to the dense concentration of wildlife within the crater, it is one of the best places to see

the Big Five. Mount Kilimanjaro, known as the Roof of Africa, is based near the town of Arusha

It is the world's highest freestanding mountain at 5,895 meters above sea level. Many companies

operates hiking or what we call climbing expeditions to the top of Kilimanjaro and there

are various different routes that you can opt to do which vary in length and difficulty. My advice

would be to do your homework thoroughly on the different companies and sometimes paying more on

an expedition like this does ensure better, safer and leave no trace environmentally friendly

climbing practices. Also make sure to be aware of fair pay practices to the heroes who are lugging

your camping kit, food and bags up to each camp as you gain elevation. You might not be aware of

this but Tanzania has a dreamy coastline with white sand beaches and warm tropical waters

Zanzibar, also known as the Spice Islands, was once a hub for the slave and spice trade

particularly within the Arab world. This is why you'll find that unlike the rest of Tanzania

Zanzibar is actually predominantly Islam. Zanzibar is an archipelago off of the mainland of Tanzania

with some of the more beautiful islands being Mafia Island, Namba Island and Pemba

Call me biased, but this is my favorite region as a whole, as it just offers something for every safari goer

Once again, I will just touch on the most popular national parks and reserves in the Southern African region

These countries include South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Let's begin with South Africa, a country that has so much to offer and has been my home since I was born

way back in 92. With 11 official languages spoken, South Africa is a melting pot of cultures

heritage, religion, and races, giving it the name of the rainbow nation. From Johannesburg's

cityscapes and trendy urban lifestyle to Cape Town's laid-back adventure capital, these two popular cities are juxtaposed with the ease of being able to escape to very accessible

and affordable natural environments. From the coast to the bush, South Africa is home to some of the most affordable

and accessible safari destinations, with some of the top big five game reserves on the continent

If you planning on visiting South Africa I would highly recommend combining two destinations in order to maximize your trip such as the Kruger National Park perhaps even followed by Victoria Falls which can be accessed via either Zambia or Zimbabwe

South Africa is a great destination for self-driving holidays, which essentially means that you can drive a car on your own

whether it's hired or your own car, rather than having a tour guide take you around

Doing a road trip around the country in your own wheels is a fun way to see all of the different

sights on your own time. If you have a lot of time, you could even combine a South Africa and

Namibia road trip together. So talking about self-driving, one of the most scenic self-drive

routes in the country is known as the Garden Route. It makes its way from the coastal town

of Mussel Bay, two and a half hours out of Cape Town, to Port Elizabeth, making its way up the

lush east coast of South Africa, or vice versa. I would highly recommend spending at least a week

driving this route, making sure to stop in at places like the Wilderness, Gneissner, Plettenberg

Bay, and during the Raberkei when you're there, Titsikama, Storm's River Mouth, and Jefferies Bay

if you're into surfing. The Eastern Cape has also become a very popular safari destination

with some beautiful game reserves such as Addo Elephant Park, Shemwari, and Kwandwe, to name a few

Moving on to the last area I'd like to highlight in South Africa is, of course, its most iconic and popular safari destination, the Kruger National Park

It is the most biodiverse region in South Africa, hosting more than 500 bird species and over 150 mammals

It stretches over 2 million hectares and is 350 kilometers wide, bordering both Mozambique and Zimbabwe

To put its size into perspective, that's roughly the size of Israel and one-third the size of Ireland

It is important to note the difference between the Kruger National Park and the private reserves surrounding the park

which form a part of the greater Kruger National Park. The area is made up of 20 additional private reserves, all run independently from the state-owned sandparks

All of these private reserves border the park and are fenceless, meaning that animals are free-flowing and can roam from the Kruger into these private reserves and vice versa

Although a few private concessions exist within the Kruger itself, the typical state-run sandparks accommodation is fairly basic

and caters to those looking for more affordable camping and self-catering options

meaning that you can bring your own food and drinks to your lodging

The Kruger National Park is very accessible due to several airports that serve the towns on the outskirts of the park, as well as Kakuza Airport, situated within the park itself

There are also several private runways within the park if you are staying in private concessions, as well as within the surrounding reserves

Next, I want to talk about Namibia. with a population of two and a half million and a country twice the size of japan or germany

namibia is the second most sparsely populated country in the world it is a land of stark

contrasts and miles of remote desolate areas offering up a safari unlike any other due to

its unique desert environment one of the main attractions in namib is the namib desert the

world's oldest desert. And these red rolling dunes can be climbed and best enjoyed from the

popular Narmid-Nauklift National Park, home of Saussefle. There is a lot of accommodation

available here, both luxury lodges, self-catering chalets, and campsites in the area. Between the

small town of Aus and the coastal town of Luderitz, there lies a ghost town called Coleman's Cop

This is a fascinating place to visit and allows you to see what life was like during the diamond

mining boom in the early 1900s. Further down south lies Africa's largest canyon, the Fish River Canyon

I would recommend viewing it at either sunset or sunrise and definitely take a camera. Note that

you cannot walk down into the canyon yourself and there are special hiking excursions that need to

be booked in advance with a qualified guide. Namibia's main safari destination is Itosha National Park

where you can marvel at the incredible wildlife and desert adapted species that live in this

harsh environment Examples of these include the desert adapted lion elephant and giraffe who have all mastered being able to go for several days without access to water Namibia is a great self destination and offers some incredible accommodation options

from beautiful campsites to self-catering units to luxury lodges. There is something to suit

all budgets in this country. If you're not driving from South Africa, you can fly into

Namibia's capital city, Buntuk, and are able to rent a car from there or catch smaller charter

flights to your next destination. Next up is Botswana. Botswana really is a magical safari

destination and will keep avid safari lovers coming back over and over again. With the highest

percentage of protected land in Africa, Botswana supports a large and flourishing ecosystem

A large portion of the country consists of the dry, arid Kalahari Desert, but due to the lush

and tropical wetlands of the Okavango Delta, it offers a multitude of different experiences

in different habitats. The Okavango Delta is Botswana's most popular safari destination

It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the few inland deltas in the world that does not

lead to the sea. The life-giving water source that fills up the narrow waterways and pans

arrives from over 1,000 kilometers away, situated in the Angolan Highlands. The journey takes about

six months making the dry months from May to August the best time to visit as the rains have

ceased in the area but the floodwaters from Angola have finally reached the delta. Another safari

destination that is incredibly popular in Botswana is Chobi National Park and is well known for its

abundance of elephants which love the lush riverine vegetation. The best place to fly into is either

Gaborone, Botswana's capital, or Mound, the safari capital of Botswana, and is best to combine with

other destinations such as Victoria Falls or South Africa. And finally, on to Zimbabwe

Despite some political and economic instability, Zimbabwe is full of warm people, incredible scenery

and beautiful national parks. It is a firm favorite safari destination. One of the main

highlights of visiting Zimbabwe is to witness one of the world's seven natural wonders, Victoria

Falls. The touristy town of Victoria Falls is also known to be the adrenaline hub of southern Africa

and offers a range of activities such as white river rafting, bungee jumping, helicopter flights

above the falls, as well as river cruises. Just a couple of hours away from Victoria Falls lies

Zimbabwe's biggest national park, Wangi National Park, home to one of Africa's largest elephant

populations. If you're slightly pressed for time, this could be a great place to visit as it is in

close proximity to Victoria Falls International Airport. Next is the World Heritage Site of

Mahna Pools National Park, considered to be one of Africa's greatest wildlife regions. This place

will truly leave you in awe of its beauty with its riverine wilderness on the banks of the mighty

Zambezi River. It is advised to not visit during the wet season, which is November to March, as the

Rains are in full force and the roads can become unmanageable. Most visitors will fly into Victoria Falls International Airport

or will drive across the border from the neighboring countries of Botswana or Namibia

If this is your first African border crossing, make sure to do your research beforehand of the documents that you might need

Lastly, have patience. You might need it. There is nothing quite like the experience of going on a safari for the first time and

discovering a whole new world that you never knew existed. I'm Nicole Eddy and I have been lucky enough to have experienced the magic of the bush

since childhood and it just never gets old. So join me as we explore the best safari destinations in Southern and East Africa

I'll help guide you through choosing the right country to visit, accommodation, what to pack

and the best times of year. We'll also dive into concepts like the Great Migration, the Big Five, and what a typical day on safari looks like

I cannot wait to share with you my favorite places on Earth

So come and join me and let's get stuck into the ultimate safari guide