With so many wonderful choices available, where do you start? Which reserves have the most animals? Who has the best accommodation? Who has the most activities? At African Safari Home our experts answer these and many more questions.
Contact Us Today and let’s build the perfect African safari together, with super specials for 2018.
Enjoy a South African safari experience from the pristine beaches, coastlines and world-renowned vineyards of the Cape to Big 5 Safaris in the wildlife rich Kruger Park.
from $3,392 pps 10 Nights
Eight Big 5 Safaris in the Timbavati Private Game Reserve and 3 nights in Cape Town, featuring sandy beaches, vineyards, shark cage diving, whale watching and more.
from $3,793 pps 7 Nights
The adrenaline junkies dream safari package with white water rafting, Big 5 wildlife safaris, shark cage diving, bungee jumping, mountain climbing and more.
from $4,375 pps 8 Nights
Escape to the magnificent Virunga Lodge in the Volcanoes National Park, renowned for its breathtaking views and a sanctuary for the regions rare mountain gorillas.
from $4,565 pps 4 Nights
From the more than 50,000 elephants in the Chobe National Park to an abundance of wildlife and world-class birding on the waterways of the Okavango Delta.
from $5,435 pps 7 Nights
Experience the best Southern Africa safari starting in the beautiful mother city of Cape Town, up to the magnificent Kruger Park and ending at the breathtaking Victoria Falls.
from $5,497 pps 11 Nights
Experience a world-class wildlife safari in the magnificent Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta, before escaping to the sublime Bazaruto Archipelagos.
from $6,791 pps 10 Nights
Escape to the warm azure waters of the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean and enjoy 2 nights at the 5-star Four Seasons and 6 nights in exclusive luxury at Zil Pasyon.
from $7,690 pps 8 Nights
Enjoy the best of both worlds with a world-class safari adventure followed by the breathtaking beauty of the Bazaruto Archipelago in the Indian Ocean.
from $7,744 pps 8 Nights
Experience the finest locations and luxury accommodations on this magnificent tour starting in Cape Town, up to the Kruger Park and ending in Victoria Falls.
from $8,897 pps 13 Nights
A sublime luxury wildlife safari in the magnificent Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta, followed by the azure waters of the Bazaruto Archipelagos.
from $11,391 pps 11 Nights
The ultimate way to experience the historic brilliance of Kenya from the root of the “Out of Africa” movie to vintage luxury safaris and 5-Star plus hospitality.
from $25,417 pps 8 Nights
What To Expect On Safari
When you go on an African safari as a first timer you may be expecting to step out of the airplane and into the wild, fully prepared in your safari gear with binoculars in hand. This is not what will happen however, unless you are flying via light aircraft into a remote bush location of course.
If you are visiting the Kruger Park in South Africa for example, you’ll more than likely fly into the JHB International airport, and then take a short flight to Hoedspruit. You’ll be met at the airport by a friendly lodge representative and transferred to the lodge in a 4×4 vehicle.
A typical African safari stay is 3-5 days in one location. There are two game drives per day on average, one leaving around 5am and the other in the late afternoon, leaving around 3pm. Be sure to pack warmly for these as they can be a little nippy in the colder months.
The average safari game drive lasts around 3-4hrs but may be longer depending on the animal sightings. A good guide will typically ask their guests if they have any animals in particular they would like to see, and then communicate with other guides in the reserve for possible locations or recent sightings.
There are plenty of photographic opportunities on safari as this is not a rushed event. During the safari drive your personal guide or guides will highlight and explain the many different animals, birds and plant species in the bush. This is an excellent learning experience and teaches you the finer intricacies of the bush you would miss on a self-drive experience. (Which are not allowed in the Private Reserves)
Typically at the halfway point your ranger will stop at a nice setting in the bush and lay out drinks and snacks for you. This is normally a variety of local treats like biltong (jerky), nuts and fruits. There will also be cold drinks, tea and coffee available, and of course alcoholic beverages for sundowners.
Once snacks are done you will make your way back slowly to the lodge where you have an hour or so to yourself before breakfast or dinner is served. Your private game ranger typically joins you for all meals where he shares stories or answers questions regarding the safari experience.
Best Time to Go on Safari
Africa has many great locations and the best time to go on safari differs from the Southern Africa countries to the East Africa countries. Let’s assume however that you want to go on a South African safari, as this is the most popular and all around best value experience.
The Kruger Park is the most popular wildlife reserve in Africa thanks to the abundance of animals, superb accommodation, facilities and mouthwatering cuisine. The best time to go to the Kruger on safari is from late July to October.
This is the back end of winter which means those early morning and late afternoon game drives are not so cold, and believe us, sitting on the back of an open top vehicle at 5am in Winter is not the most fun you can have in the bush. Which reminds me, the back of the vehicle gets the most air flow, if you want to be warmer, sit in the middle or near the front.
This July to October period features cooler weather and the summer rains have not fallen yet, which means less dense vegetation. Less dense bush means better wildlife sightings and cooler temperatures means the animals are more active during the day, resulting in better sightings.
Be advised however that this is by far the most popular time to go on safari and you will need to book your trip well in advance. There is certainly more demand than there is accommodation when we are talking luxury safaris.
South Africa is however a year round destination and if you are unable to travel during these peak dates, consult with one of our safari specialists and come up with a solution that better meets your needs. There is no shortage of options when it comes to planning an African safari vacation.
African Safari Tour Prices
The price of a luxury African safari tour starts at around $450 per person sharing nightly in the low season, and around $750 per person sharing nightly in the high season.
This can vary from country to country as a location like the Kruger Park is far more accessible than The Okavango Delta for instance.
A great value location which offers a rich wildlife experience is Zambia. You can get terrific value here and it is not as busy as some of the more popular locations. This will change in the years to come as more companies start to promote it, so if you are looking for a great value experience, check it out.
Another important thing to remember is that many of the prices for luxury safaris include full board. This means that all meals and local drinks are included, often times even the more exclusive brands, depending on the lodge.
At African Safari Home we are often sent limited time specials that don’t make it on the website, so be sure to contact us and our consultants will keep you notified when they arrive.
Lastly it’s worth noting that many times it makes sense to stay at the slightly more expensive properties as they typically offer the best animal viewing locations. The Kruger Park for example, has an abundance of wildlife, but if you want to see leopard on your trip you should stay at the private Sabi Sabi reserve on the border.
Again, we recommend you contact us with your wish list and we will have an area specialist design a tour with the best safari options for your budget.
What To Wear On Safari
The best clothes to wear on safari are earth tones. Khaki is most definitely the dominant colour worn by guides and lodge employees and the perfect option for your African safari.
You don’t want to pack too many bright colours however as wearing a red shirt in the bush is not going to help you blend with the natural surroundings and remain discreet during sightings.
Evening attire is also very casual and there is absolutely no need to pack to impress. More often than not your guide will be dressed in cargo pants and a neutral colour button shirt, which is perfect for you too.
When packing for safari be sure to include a hat for the hot sunny days and a warm jacket, scarf or beanie if you are travelling in winter. The early morning and late afternoon game drives can get rather chilly, blankets are however provided on the game vehicle should you need an extra layer or two.
Cape Town is one of the world’s most beautiful cities and frequently voted in the Top 10 worldwide. The majestic Table Mountain forms the backdrop with the city surrounded by pristine beaches, quaint harbour towns and world-class vineyards.
Cape Town is located at the Southern most tip of Africa and is a must-see destination if you are planning a South Africa safari holiday. For more info on popular attractions see our Cape Town Information page.
The Kruger National Park in South Africa is one of the premier wildlife reserves in all of Africa, and boasts more large mammal species than any other, over 140 in total. The Kruger is also home to more than 500 bird species making it the ideal destination for an African Safari holiday.
The Kruger Park is easily accessible by roan or light aircraft and offers a large variety of accommodation types, from very basic to ultra-luxury five star. For more information visit our Kruger Park info page.
Victoria Falls is the world’s largest waterfall and is located on the mighty Zambezi River on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia. This incredible spectacle of nature is one of the seven wonders of Africa and an extremely popular attraction for safari goers.
The Victoria Falls offers more than just a spectacular waterfall however, it is also an oasis of adventure. The area offers incredible white water rafting, bungee jumping, zip lining, cultural visits, tiger fishing, sunset cruises and much more. See our Victoria Falls info guide including safaris in the nearby Chobe and luxury African safari packages.
The Serengeti in Tanzania is renowned for Africa’s largest migration of animals, The Great Migration. This intense spectacle of wildlife in its rawest form is an experience that should be on every wildlife lovers bucket list.
The Great Migration boasts almost 2 million animals moving in a circular pattern through the Serengeti in search of greener grazing pastures as they follow the seasonal rain falls. The Serengeti is of course more than just the Great Migration, it is also home to Masai Lion, African Leopard, Tanzania Cheetah, Bush Elephant, Rhino and African Buffalo.
For more information on this sublime part of Africa with its never ending plains views and magnificent luxury safari accommodation, visit our Serengeti Luxury Accommodation and Info page.
The Okavango Delta in Botswana is one of Africa’s leading destinations for a luxury safari. This inland delta is teeming with wildlife and home to an estimated 200,000 large mammals, with large herds of elephant and buffalo totaling in excess of 30,000.
The Okavango Delta offers unique experiences like a traditional mokoro (dugout canoe) safari, where you can get up close to the animals as they come down to quench their thirst on the many channels and inlets of the Delta. For more information on this gem of a location including luxury safari accommodation, visit our Botswana Safaris page.
The Mara in Kenya, as it is referred to by the locals is a large game reserve contiguous with the Serengeti. It is named in honour of the local Maasai people and their description of the plains when looked at from afar.
The Great Migration can be viewed in the Mara when the animals move from the Serengeti to the south of the reserve typically from July to October. All members of the Big 5 are also present in the Mara as well as large groups of hippo and crocodiles in the rivers. For more information and luxury safari accommodation and packages see our Maasai Mara info page.
The rainbow nation as it’s fondly known provides an abundance of breathtaking vacation packages and experiences in one very special country. The Cape in the south offers world-class beaches, whale watching, shark encounters, wine estates and sublime scenery. The Kruger Park in the north is the home of Big 5 African safari tours and boasts more mammal species than anywhere else in Africa.
GREEN SEASON
Dec – March
TRANSITION SEASON
Apr, May & Nov
DRY SEASON
Jun – Oct
Botswana lies in the centre of southern Africa with the Kalahari Desert forming the majority of the country. The Okavango Delta is a wondrous wetland within the desert and Africa’s premier destination for unique luxury African safari tours. Chobe in the north-east of the country is renowned for their predators and large concentrations of game.
GREEN SEASON
Dec – March
TRANSITION SEASON
Apr, May & Nov
DRY SEASON
Jun – Oct
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Tanzania is best known for the Great Migration in the Serengeti where millions of animals move in a circular pattern following the rainfalls in search of grazing grounds. This spectacular African safari experience is the biggest movement of animals anywhere in the world and provides a front row seat to magnificent wildlife encounters. This is often the setting for many National Geographic wildlife documentaries.
GREEN SEASON
Mar – May & Nov – Dec
TRANSITION SEASON
Jan – Feb
DRY SEASON
Jun – Oct
Kenya’s biodiversity is fascinating, with scorched deserts and endless savannah plains interrupted by snow-capped mountains, equatorial forests and cool highlands. The Great Migration also passes through the Masai Mara during the annual wildebeest migration, a perfect setting for viewing roaming predators and plains game on a luxury safari tour. The Masai Mara is often featured on Animal Planet and other wildlife shows.
GREEN SEASON
Oct – Nov and Mar – May
DRY SEASON
Dec – Feb and Jun – Sep
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Named after the Namib, the oldest desert on the planet, Namibia is celebrated for its infinite blue skies, vast open landscapes and star-filled nights. The many national parks and game reserves boast an abundance of wildlife from the white saltpans of Etosha to the red dunes of Sossusvlei and lonely beaches of the Skeleton Coast. This is a superb destination for a photographic safari tour.
GREEN SEASON
Dec – March
TRANSITION SEASON
Apr, May & Nov
DRY SEASON
Jun – Oct
Zambia is one of Africa’s least travelled and most rewarding African safari vacation destinations. The country boasts many rivers including the mighty Zambezi ending in the magnificent Victoria Falls. Zambia is also the premier destination for walking safaris and is the best way to enjoy the country’s rich fauna and flora. Birding safaris in Zambia are particularly prolific, attracting enthusiasts worldwide.
GREEN SEASON
Dec – March
TRANSITION SEASON
Apr – Jun & Nov
DRY SEASON
July – Oct
The Seychelles comprises 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, situated off the east coast of Africa and epitomises the “tropical island paradise” expression. The Seychelles features the world’s largest raised coral atoll and a World Heritage site home to more than 150,000 giant tortoises. The islands additionally boast more than 1,000 flowering plant species and more than 220 bird species.
GREEN SEASON
Nov – March
TRANSITION SEASON
Apr & Oct
DRY SEASON
May – Sep
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