Safaris in Southern Africa
Southern
Africa is home to most of us in the company - the part of Africa that we
know intimately. Here're some notes on
planning a first time safari to southern Africa.
|
|
-
Unquestionably
Africa's best walking safari destination, remoter
areas only accessible in the dry season May to
October - nocturnal species are a very special
attraction
-
South
Luangwa: home of the modern-day walking safari,
one of the best places to see leopard, has some of
the finest bushcamps and lodges in Africa
-
North
Luangwa: remote walking safari wilderness,
practically off-limits for four decades, restricted
access, "serious safari turf"
-
Kafue:
best reserve in Africa for antelope, ideal for old
hands and "birding" enthusiasts
-
Lower
Zambezi: a relatively unexplored wilderness,
Africa's real canoe safari spot with true wilderness
lodges (canoeing tackled equally well
from the Zimbabwean bank)
-
Victoria
Falls: from Livingstone - World Heritage Site, largest curtain of
falling water on earth, Africa's "adrenaline
capital" - one of the seven Natural Wonders -
offers better "adventure" and
"cultural" options than the Zimbabwean
shoreline
|
 |
|
|
|
- Best
tackled on a fly-in or mobile basis - best from May to
October
- Chobe:
renowned for its elephant population, popular river
front game viewing, zebra migrations in the Savuti and
outstanding camps in the Selinda Reserve on the western
front
- Okavango
Delta: Africa's finest wetland - an oasis in the
Kalahari, best accessed by light aircraft, usually explored
from Moremi
- Moremi
Game Reserve: focal point for Delta safaris, makes up
nearly 70% of the Okavango Delta, includes some of Botswana's best
camps - best on fly in safaris
- The
Kalahari: home of the bushmen, one of the world's
largest sand mantles, best tackled on a mobile safari,
broadly encompasses the Makgadikgadi Pans
|
 |
|
|
|
- Best
tackled on a fly-in or mobile basis - best from May to
October but fully accessible year round - allow lots of time
if you can spare it
- Etosha:
Namibia's premier wildlife spot, accessible only on the
southern rim, has some particularly well known game viewing
spots
- Central
Namib: includes Namib-Naukluft, Sandwich Harbour and the
famous sand dunes of Sossusvlei - a scenic photographers
ideal
- Skeleton
Coast: most of the area has limited access, best tackled
on a fly-in safari in the north - very rugged, extraordinary
wildlife
- Kaokoveld:
Africa's last great wilderness, fascinating geology and
ancient rock art - best tackled on a packaged safari
|
 |
|
|
|
- Victoria
Falls: World Heritage Site, largest curtain of falling
water on earth, Africa's "adrenaline capital" -
one of the seven Natural Wonders - offers a wider range and
selection of accommodation options than the Zambian
shoreline
- Matusadona:
on the shores of Lake Kariba, holds the highest
concentration of wild lions, one of the last sanctuaries of
the Black Rhino
- Mana
Pools: World Heritage Site on the banks of the lower
Zambezi River, best canoe safaris in Africa, ideal for
walking
- Hwange:
one of Africa's finest reserves, home to the Presidential
herd of elephants
- Best
tackled with a walking and canoeing safari - safaris year
round but best May to October
|
 |
|
Safaris in East Africa
Tanzania
and Kenya
are East Africa's most popular wildlife destinations and you'll find a
host of expensive to cheap "safari packages" and "safari-beach
combinations". The annual
wildebeest migration is the big event.
The trick
to a planning a successful safari in East Africa invariably comes down to
guiding standards and achieving a balance between affordability and
"crowd avoidance".
|
|
-
Katavi
and Mahale: Katavi is renowned for its outstanding
resident game and lack of crowds; Mahale is home to a
healthy population of habituated chimps...but there's so
much more
-
Zanzibar:
Stonetown and the eastern beaches are the obvious draw but
if it's diving you want then go to Mafia
|
 |
|
In
Tanzania - this crowd avoidance formula works easily in southern
Tanzania (particularly in Ruaha and Selous but better still in
Katavi and Mahale between May and late
October) during which time we also have some great beach
combinations.
|
|
-
The Masai
Mara: From Nairobi, access into the Masai Mara Reserve
and Mara Group Ranches - best from July to October
|
 |
|
In Kenya
- there's a huge amount of diversity in terms of wildlife, cultural
options and beach breaks especially when combining the Mara with
Laikipia, Amboseli and the north coast. Unless considering one
or two very specific spots avoid Kenya in April, May and November.
|
|
-
Queen Elizabeth National Park:
part of a much larger conservation area including the
Ruwenzoris, Kibale, Virunga National Park and Kigezi/Chambura.
Almost included as part of a more encompassing Uganda
safari.
-
Kibale Forest National Park: Especially good for chimp
trekking but renowned for some specialist guides whose
penchant is for birds, orchids, butterflies and more.
|
 |
|
Destinations excluded from this part of our website....
-
South Africa
is an ideal destination for extensions particularly from Cape Town,
something that we do regularly. We don't regard the Kruger
National Park as a particularly good safari spot though - access is
simple, it has a very well developed infrastructure and tends to attract
big crowds....it's like a big safari park. The only real
alternative are some of the smaller and more exclusive private
concessions..$ (South Africa lacks the wilder nature of
destinations up north).
-
Kilimanjaro
is an area that we regularly combine with our Serengeti trips.
We've partnered with specialists and offer both private and set date
trips - 8000 climbs since 1993 with a 95% success rate....(speak to
Mark
or Jackie)
-
Central Africa: Our
"emerging destinations" include Gabon, Congo-Brazzaville, CAR
and Cameroon.
We've done expeditionary trips since 2005 - better suited to
seasoned travellers and available as guided set-date trips each season (speak to John,
Trish and Chris)
-
Get the
latest on Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles
from our parent site at www.zambezi.com
|
Destinations
Destinations
& Maps |
