There aren’t many travel experiences that beat going on one of the top safaris in Africa. They can transport you into a whole new world of beauty, nature and wildlife. This article covers ideas for safaris in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, South Africa and Botswana. Have a look at these safari lodges and animal adventures – and start planning!
# Safaris in Kenya
Great Plains Conservation’s safari lodges and camps are redefining eco-tourism with a seamless blend of safari experiences and conservation. Founded by renowned conservationists Dereck and Beverly Joubert, a stay here provides an intimate and considered experience while contributing to its preservation.
Where you’ll stay in Kenya
There’s a curated array of Relais & Châteaux Réserve and Explorer-Collection camps and safari lodges to choose from, each one set against a breathtaking Kenyan landscape.
For example, the Mara Plains Camp is in the southern section of the Olare Motorogi Conservancy which borders the northern boundary of the Maasai Mara. The accommodation is designed with deep reds, Lamu wood and brass accents. Mara Nyika Camp offers a safari tented camp with canvas suites beside a small river, while the Mara Expedition Camp has a “back to the classic” safari style. Alternatively, the ol Donyo Lodge has been designed with ancient lava rock from Kilimanjaro.
What to expect on one of these safaris in Africa
Picture waking up to the sight and sounds of 200,000 zebras on their lesser known but important migration. A sight of this magnitude is felt rather than only seen as they graze outside your tent or suite. Imagine dining under a starlit African sky, watching the shimmering constellations and knowing your presence contributes to preserving Kenya’s natural treasures. Expert-led safari drives take you to territorial predators prowling their lands, alongside Kenya’s abundant wildlife. In addition, encounters with the Maasai offer a profound glimpse into a rich heritage, weaving culture, and wilderness into an unforgettable journey.
How to extend your experience
You can select from a range of accommodation options and safari lodges that are set in hectares of protected land. This idea to conserve wildlife, empower local communities and support fragile ecosystems is at the heart of Great Plains, with proceeds from your stay going directly to these programmes and initiatives. It’s a sustainable tourism model where you can have an extraordinary experience and help leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
travel@curated-africa.com | curated-africa.com
# Safaris in Tanzania
African Wildlife Safaris has been exploring the continent and creating wildlife safaris for clients for over 40 years. The team are experts in custom-designed holidays; here we take a look at what you might see and experience on just one of their escorted small-group safaris to Tanzania.
Where you’ll stay
On 14 November this year, join the company’s General Manager and Africa aficionado Anne-Marie Zambelli on a 15-day safari in Tanzania’s iconic game parks in the north. The accommodation has been handpicked by Annie so you can enjoy a more intimate adventure. Throughout the trip, you’ll stay in luxury tented camps and safari lodges. These are all small properties located along rivers or hilltops and close to fantastic game areas.
What to expect on these safaris in Africa
This escorted safari in Tanzania is designed to take advantage of shoulder season pricing while experiencing the wilderness with fewer vehicles. The trip will explore the open plains of the Serengeti, famous for the annual migration of nearly two million wildebeest and zebra. You’ll find lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas and jackals following along too. You’ll also enjoy game drives inside the World Heritage listed Ngorongoro Crater – a volcanic caldera teeming with wild animals. There’s a visit to Tarangire National Park, too, with its giant baobab trees. Another highlight is meeting some of the Maasai tribal people. They’ve lived in this region for hundreds of years, herding their cattle amongst the native wildlife.
How to extend your experience
The experts at African Wildlife Safaris can advise on any extensions to this escorted safari, such as a visit to the spice island of Zanzibar or gorilla trekking in Rwanda. As specialists in tailor-made holidays, they know the best wildlife reserves to visit at different times of the year.
A top benefit of picking a company that creates experiences around your needs is that your holiday can be in a style and budget that works for you. You can also avoid the crowds! So there’s no limit to what your Africa adventure could look like, from where you stay to what you get to explore and do. You can also ask them about other destinations in Africa and beyond.
info@awsnfs.com | africanwildlifesafaris.com
# Safaris in Zambia
Time + Tide can take you on a journey to two of the most exceptional regions in Zambia, the South Luangwa and the Lower Zambezi, famed for their wild authenticity.
Here you can go on a boat cruise, game drive or safari walk to catch sight of lions, leopards and other predators in action or resting beneath ancient msikizi trees.
Safari lodges in Zambia
There are various properties you can choose from to explore this part of the park. They’re all inspired by the surroundings, with an added touch of luxury. One highly recommended option is named after a type of tree that grows near camp: Time + Tide Chinzombo is a modern bush safari camp made with natural materials. There are six spacious luxury safari tents, with two-bedroom and two-bathroom options for large families. During the heat of the day, lounge on your shaded verandah or have a swim in your private pool, while watching wildlife wander to the river for a cool down.
What to expect on these safaris
The area around the property is rich with wilderness and wildlife sightings. You can expect to see elephant herds, prides of lions, a large leopard population, and packs of endangered wild dogs. Needless to say, the game viewing here is fantastic!
During your stay, game drives take place in the cool of the morning and evenings, which allows you plenty of time to relax or choose to explore more! One way to do this is by combining a walking safari of the South Luangwa to the Lower Zambezi’s dramatic landscape. During this experience, you can also go on a boating safari and canoeing.
How to extend your experience
On top of exploring Zambia’s natural beauty and wildlife, you can learn about the region’s warm and welcoming culture. Zambia is a country that is dedicated to protecting some of the world’s best-kept destinations, and it has always been renowned for its expert safari guides.
While you are relaxing between experiences, take a sip at the lodge bar while browsing through a special selection of collected books and photos. When you return to camp at night, you can delight in a dinner under the stars made with fresh produce grown by Time + Tide or sit around the suspended fire pit, high atop the river bank.
Special offer! Spend seven nights on safari, and receive one complimentary night’s accommodation.
travel@timeandtideafrica.com | timeandtideafrica.com
# Safaris in South Africa
Samara Karoo Reserve is a conservation-first destination restoring an entire ecosystem. By staying here, guests directly support re-wilding, habitat restoration and species protection, ensuring a lasting impact.
Safari lodges in South Africa
Samara offers three distinct stays, each designed to immerse guests in the Great Karoo. Karoo Lodge blends comfort with old-world charm, featuring wrap-around summery verandas and cosy winter fireplaces. The Manor, an exclusive-use villa, is a private retreat, ideal for families or groups seeking space and seclusion. For a truly off-grid experience, Plains Camp offers tented luxury in the vast plains of Camdeboo, where lantern light, open skies and nature replace modern distractions.
What to expect on game drives and walks
Guests at Karoo Lodge and The Manor set out on two daily excursions – one at sunrise and another at sunset – on game drives or guided bush walks. A highlight is tracking cheetahs on foot, a thrilling encounter with the world’s fastest land mammal. Wildlife sightings vary, from black rhinos and giraffes by day to nocturnal aardvarks at dusk.
At Plains Camp, walking safaris provide an immersive connection to the bush, revealing the land’s hidden details and fostering a deeper understanding of the ecosystem.
How to extend your experience on this safari in South Africa
Unwind with a daytime picnic overlooking the iconic landscape, relaxing at the safari lodge pool, and taking sundowners on the plains. As night falls, the stillness of the Karoo takes over, with only the crackle of the fire and a sky dense with stars.
Meals feature local flavours and seasonal ingredients, best enjoyed under the open sky or around the boma with a glass of fine South African wine.
reservations@samara.co.za | samara.co.za
# Safaris in Botswana
Luxury hospitality and conservation company Wilderness offers a selection of incredible lodges in the Natural Wonder of the World that is the Okavango Delta. Under the tree canopy, on the edge of picture-perfect floodplains bristling with water-loving wildlife, is Wilderness Tubu Tree: A Treetop Hideaway, located on an Okavango island. Elsewhere, DumaTau is a lodge set along the Linyanti River, offering a superb safari experience in the heart of elephant country. Positioned between two major elephant corridors, this camp provides front-row seats to viewing Africa’s largest elephant herds as they traverse ancient pathways, frolic in the water, and feast on waterlilies.
Safari lodges and camps in Botswana
Tubu Tree provides a retreat tucked deep within the heart of Hunda Island. Elevated among towering jackalberry and marula trees, the camp features elegant tented suites on raised platforms, each with private deck and panoramic views stretching across the floodplains. The newly reimagined suites offer a serene sanctuary, where comfort and nature merge, serving as an extension of the wild inspiration just outside.
Duma Tau safari camp has eight expansive tented suites, each with its own private plunge pool. They’re elevated on wooden walkways mere steps from where wildlife wanders peacefully through camp. Inside, the interiors, crafted from hand-laid mosaic tiles, rich acacia wood and locally sourced textiles, beautifully capture the spirit of the Linyanti, one of Botswana’s most cherished wildlife havens.
What to expect on these safaris in Botstwana
The Okavango Delta has a rich and diverse habitat. You’ll most likely start the day with a family of elephants coming into camp. Then you’ll head out on game drives to spot lions, leopards, hyenas, wildebeest, giraffes and endangered wild dogs. Small aircraft flights between lodges provide a remarkable perspective of this natural marvel. The waterscapes below are captivating.
How to expand the experience
Take to the water on a mokoro to float past hippos, reed frogs, kingfishers and more. If you’d like to see the Delta from an elevated perspective, you can also organise a helicopter safari. More options include birding with wilderness guides, or catch-and-release fishing. For birders, there are well over 450 bird species that thrive here. If you’re lucky, you may catch sight of an elusive Pel’s fishing-owl.
travel@curated-africa.com | curated-africa.com
More on Curated Africa
Curated Africa is a travel company that designs inspirational, bespoke journeys to awe-inspiring natural locations and safaris in Africa, for those embarking on their first safari or seasoned visitors looking to discover new untamed places.
Over two decades of travel writing, Curated Africa’s founder Lara had many readers reach out for first-hand advice on destinations. This gave her the idea of offering unique, individually-tailored Africa recommendations aimed at multinational travellers.
“On a safari, personal wildlife encounters form the intimate memories of your journey,” says Lara. “The experience is further defined by the landscape, enhanced by the design of the lodges you stay in, and enriched by the cultures and personalities of the people you meet.”
Lara recommends lodges and service providers that she has experienced first-hand. Amongst her trusted recommendations are Great Plains, Samara, Time + Tide, Wilderness Safaris and AWSNF.
A childhood of family safaris sparked a passion in Lara for wildlife and conservation. This extended to travel writing for international publications. Having personally visited nearly 50 lodges in Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, she’s well placed to guide your booking of a superb safari experience. Lara is Africa based, connected with people in the industry and able to source favourable packages and promotions. And, having lived as an expat abroad, she understands and can address the concerns of foreign travellers.
Lara’s travel highlights
“Among my most memorable safari sightings was the birth of a baby elephant. A trio of elephant midwives surrounded the mother, kicking up dust to hide the vulnerable new arrival. Additional elephants then formed a barrier line between our viewing vehicle and the mother. Astounding! When the baby got to its feet, its little trunk raised to smell its new world, the rest of the herd appeared out of the vegetation, trumpeting in greeting and celebration. Then, as if nothing had happened, the baby joined the herd and they vanished into the vegetation again. It still gives me goosebumps to recall!
“Another time, we watched a male leopard intently following a scent. To our delight, he found what he was looking for: a female leopard reclining high in the boughs of a sausage tree. He scaled this effortlessly, but she wasn’t interested in his arduous attention. A mighty cat fight broke out above our vehicle, with leaves and fruit crashing down, while the two leopards lashed at each other, balancing as if on a tightrope. The ferocious standoff left them clinging to branches only by their claws! The female then chased her suitor off down the trunk of the tree. He slunk away, unsuccessful in his endeavours on this occasion.”
travel@curated-africa.com | curated-africa.com
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