Best Africa Safari destinations for first timers : Every love affair originates somewhere. The majority of people fall in love with Africa prior to their arrival, while arranging their first safari. Then, as soon as you set foot on African soil and immerse yourself in your safari, I have no doubt that you will be hooked and planning your next excursion.
Which country, national park, reserve, or conservancy should you visit on your first safari in Africa? There are numerous countries that are ideal for a first-time safari, as they offer large “bucket list” experiences that you may want to “tick off” during your visit. Alternately, there are numerous lesser-known, unique, and off-the-beaten-path safari destinations that will provide the most memorable safari experiences.
Whether you’re interested in wildlife, culture, historical heritage locations, marine adventures, family experiences, horseback riding, cycling, or conservation, your choice of destination will be heavily influenced by your interests and preferences. The enumeration continues! Here are my top 10 safari destinations for first-time safari travelers to Africa:
The Masai Mara, Kenya.
The Serengeti, Tanzania.
Laikipia, Kenya.
Akagera National Park, Rwanda.
South Luangwa National Park, Zambia.
Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia.
Chobe, Botswana.
Hwange, Zimbabwe.
Eastern Cape, South Africa.
The Sabi Sands, South Africa
- Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.
The renowned Masai Mara is the first safari destination that comes to mind for first-time safari travelers planning their first luxury African safari, and for good reason. A Kenyan safari to the Mara provides extraordinary opportunities to observe wildlife.
In addition to being home to the Great Migration from July to October, the Mara is also home to resident fauna throughout the year. The lengthy rains fall in April and May, making this a very peaceful time of year when you may have the reserve to yourself. On a game drive in April of one year, you can see the Big 5 mammals that includes elephants, leopards, lions, buffaloes, rhinos.
Spending time in the Masai Mara National Reserve is undoubtedly rewarding, but there are also more than double the area surrounding it that is devoted to conservation and private conservancies. These are fantastic safari destinations for families with older children who wish to rent a private villa or a small fixed or mobile tent. Consider Cottar’s Private Safari House or a private tented camp guided by Sam Stogdale, to name a few of my top recommendations.
- The Serengeti, Tanzania.
Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is comprised of the legendary Serengeti National Park and the Masai Mara. The Great Migration of two million wildebeest, zebra, and other antelope travels from the Mara to the Serengeti and back again in an infinite cycle.
Calves are born in the southern Ndutu region between January and early March. In a single day, up to 50,000 infants can be born, as one of my acquaintances witnessed last year. The fauna that inhabits the Serengeti and its adjacent conservancies is astonishing. In addition to cheetahs, hyenas, lions, leopards, and giraffes can be found in some regions.
Mkombe’s House is a fantastic option for an all-ages-friendly Tanzanian family safari at Mkombe’s House. Or, if you want to get a bit more off the beaten path, take a private mobile tented camp for a few days, set up in a private conservancy to give you the best views of the Migration with no other visitors around.
- Laikipia, Kenya.
The Lewa and Borana Wildlife Conservancies are located in the rolling highlands of Laikipia, at the base of Mount Kenya. One of the finest regions for a first safari because it is appealing and suitable for everyone. The conservancies are dedicated to conservation and innovative wildlife protection programs, such as anti-poaching teams, the preservation of endangered species, and community development and support.
There are a variety of accommodations to accommodate all preferences. You could choose to remain at the luxurious and romantic Elewana Lewa Safari Camp, a traditional safari lodge with a small number of guest rooms, or one of several completely private, exclusive-use family houses and villas such as Lengishu, Sirai House, or Laragai House.
The Lewa and Borana Wildlife Conservancies offer a plethora of safari activities, such as horseback riding among the wildlife and observing the 169 black rhinos that inhabit the conservancies. You may even see zebras and giraffes from your lodge, much to the family’s pleasure, as many roam the lawns.
Spend time with the Maasai who will guide you across the plains and teach you about their profound connection to the land and how they have subsisted for millennia. Alternatively, you can visit the anti-poaching dogs and their handlers who protect this magnificent land.
- Akagera National Park, Rwanda.
Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda is a conservation success story and is highly recommended for first-time safari-goers who also wish to see primates. It was once decimated by poachers and nearly extinct due to human encroachment, but since 2010 it has flourished under the care of African Parks.
African Parks, in collaboration with the Rwanda Development Board and with the support of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, has transformed Akagera into a magnificent safari destination teeming with animals, including the Big 5! I would recommend this safari to first-timers due to its diversity. The terrain includes lakes, savannah, riverine forests, woodlands, and grassland plains, and the resulting diversity of animals makes it possible to see so many in one location.
Even better, you can combine Akagera with a mountain gorilla safari in the adjacent Volcanoes National Park if you are also interested in seeing gorillas. This is the ultimate wildlife combination that fulfils so many African safari wish list requirements.
- Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia.
Zambia is undoubtedly one of the best safari destinations in the world; you will never be disappointed. There are numerous National Parks and Reserves that are all worth visiting. I would suggest combining at least two of them, but the Lower Zambezi National Park is the favorite one.
Located between the Zambezi Escarpment and the magnificent Zambezi River, which separates the Lower Zambezi National Park from the Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe, the park’s colourful landscape is what makes it special to me. The violet escarpment, the blue waters of the Zambezi, and the pastel hues of the albida forest. The rivers are filled with crocodiles and hippos, making wildlife observation fascinating.
The Lower Zambezi is ideal for walking safaris, either short walks each day from your camp or a five- to six-day walk through the park with a private guide and sleeping in a mobile camp set up specifically for you in various locations as you travel. You can observe magnificent birds and the scintillating Burchell’s Zebra (Boehms Zebra). This park requires a minimum of four nights to completely experience all of the land and water-based activities.
- South Luangwa National Park, Zambia.
Team the Lower Zambezi with the most well-known Zambian Park, the South Luangwa. Walking excursions are standard, the guides are among the most devoted and knowledgeable, and this is without a doubt one of my top three safari destinations in Africa!
The concentration of fauna is among the highest in all of Africa. The park is renowned for its leopard sightings. Consider renting a private safari lodge to add an exclusive twist and avoid the crowds. The two-bedroom Robin’s House is ideal for families with small children. Children enjoy going on safari walks with your guide and learning about the animal tracks they discover, as well as stargazing walks in the evenings. The Luangwa Safari House is a second exclusive and impressive property that sits gracefully on the edge of a lagoon system frequented by elephants, impalas, giraffes, and innumerable other species.
- Chobe National Park, Botswana.
Chobe National Park in Botswana is near and dear. This is the only location where, during the dry season, you be able to recline on the riverbanks and observe a thousand elephants stretched across the river.
The combination of land-based and river-based game excursions is what distinguishes this destination from others. There is nothing more special than an afternoon float along a river, observing wildlife arriving to drink, and concluding with an orange and red sunset.
- Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.
Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe was the first national park. I would almost guarantee a sighting (or several) of the world’s largest terrestrial mammal in a region that is currently inhabited by 45,000 elephants. I strongly recommend taking a walking safari and spending time in hides! Spending a magnificent afternoon in a hide provides a close-up view of the watering hole, where several herds of elephants come to drink and mills around mere feet from where you can be sited that is breathtaking.
Take a break, relax, and observe the wildlife approach you. There is always activity around waterholes, that is observing flocks of sandgrouse as they descend to drink and wet their plumage before returning to their young. You will also see crocodiles lying in wait in the shallows, kudu tiptoeing delicately to the water’s edge, and elephants arriving, shooing away thirsty buffalo in order to enjoy a refreshing shower of water on a sweltering afternoon.
- Eastern Cape, South Africa.
South Africa is often referred to as “a world in one country,” and there are so many vacation options there that it is difficult to choose. There is something for everyone, from honeymooners to families to those seeking exclusive villas for private escapes. There are numerous private reserves and national parks in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, where you can go on a safari in the morning and then relax on an Indian Ocean shore in the afternoon.
Some of these wildlife-rich parks offer a slow and gentle safari for those with limited time, during which you can see an abundance of animals in just two game excursions. Or, there are genteel boutique hotels for those who wish to spend more time and explore in a relaxed manner in order to learn about the local cultures, dine at exquisite restaurants, go strolling, and fish. However, there is so much to do for young families that you will be occupied from dawn until twilight.
- The Sabi Sands, South Africa.
Sabi Sands, a collection of private sanctuaries bordering Kruger National Park, is an additional ideal safari location for a first-time luxury safari in South Africa. The 65,000-hectare area is a conservation success, as it is well-known as a site where it is almost certain to see the Big Five in a single day.
The dedication of the Sabi Sands’ owners to preserving the land and its flora and fauna for future generations, while also supporting the adjacent communities, increases its significance. The abundance of luxury lodges, coupled with the exceptional safari experiences on offer, will leave you with the most unforgettable memories of your first safari.
The incredible lodge in the Sabi Sands is Singita Castleton, which can be rented exclusively by those seeking total seclusion. Another charming lodge is Lion Sands, which features two exquisite treehouse suites on stilts, where you can spend a night under the stars in complete privacy and comfort!
