The Best of Africa - Safaris

  1. Serengeti National Park/Ngorongoro Crater - Tanzania

    The Serengeti is a breathtaking tapestry of golden plains, acacia-dotted horizons, and endless skies that glow at sunrise and sunset. During my visit I saw the Big Five up close — elephants, lions, buffalo, leopards, and rhinos — each encounter leaving me awestruck by their grace and power. Cheetahs streaked across the grass with dazzling speed, while packs of African wild dogs worked together with focused, playful precision. Every moment made me feel like I was in the middle of an Animal Planet segment!

    While many shows and movies portray the beautiful Serengeti, the real winner is Ngorongoro Conservation Area in northern Tanzania. A UNESCO World Heritage site, centered on the vast Ngorongoro Crater, a collapsed volcanic caldera that is the home to the highest densities of wildlife in all of Africa! The crater’s grassy plains, woodlands, and swamps support lions, black rhinos, elephants, zebras, wildebeest, and a large flamingo population in nearby lakes. Giraffes are notably absent from the crater itself because the steep, enclosed walls and limited tall-tree habitat make it unsuitable for their feeding and movement patterns. Unlike the Serengeti, Ngorongoro hosts the Big Five year round, due to its abundant water and food resources found throughout the year!

  2. Kruger National Park - South Africa

    I was lucky to go to Kruger National Park in April of 2022 on a family trip. It was the first safari I had ever been on! Kruger offers tons of wildlife, from the iconic Big Five, to abundant antelope, impalas, hippos, crocodiles, and hundreds of bird species. Animals concentrate around permanent rivers and waterholes during the dry winter months, making game viewing especially rewarding from May to September. The park has a subtropical climate with hot, wet summers (October to March) and warm, dry winters (April to September), when temperatures are milder and bush cover thins.

    April was a perfect month for animal spottings! It was beautiful weather and the animals were easily spotable in the sparse wintery brush. It was perfectly on the verge of the peak season, so we had spotted all of the Five plus hyenas, wild dogs, cheetahs and the elusive black rhino!

  3. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - Uganda

    Bwindi is not your classic safari, but the gateway to the amazing mountain gorillas! It is one of the last communities for mountain gorillas, offering an unmatched chance to see these gentle giants in their natural habitat. Trekking through the misty, moss-draped forest trails is both challenging and deeply rewarding, as guides lead small groups to habituated gorilla families. My group hiked for nearly four hours through the forest to find our gorilla family. We were so lucky to see a family of 14, with 5 baby gorillas swinging from vine to vine and putting on a full show for us to observe! It was truly a ‘pinch me’ kind of moment, being just inches away from these amazing creatures!

    **Do be aware, mountain gorilla encounters are intimate (8 people or fewer) and strictly regulated (1 hour of viewing) to protect the gorillas and visitors, creating a respectful, once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience!

  4. Okavango Delta - Botswana

    If you are looking for a true adventure, look no further than the Okavango Delta! The Delta is a lush, seasonal inland oasis in Botswana where winding channels, reed-fringed lagoons, and floodplains create an ever-changing mosaic of habitats. Glide silently through water lilies on traditional mokoros, a traditional dugout canoe, which is guided by skilled polers who navigate these waterways. Minutes in I was greeted by hundreds of hippos and elephants drinking along the banks of the delta at my campsite! During my experience, we went on walking safaris, that offered us a unique way to interact (from afar) with the animals. We got to see unique birds up close and experience the unique animals the delta had to offer at dusk.

  5. Etosha National Park - Namibia

    One of the most unique safari experiences is Etosha National Park in northern Namibia, a wildlife-rich reserve centered around the desert. The park supports abundant animals, including big herds of elephants, giraffes, powerful lions, and rare black rhinoceros, all drawn to scattered waterholes that make for spectacular, accessible viewing. With the desert environment, spottings can be more scarce, specifically in the hot summer months. My group was extremely lucky to witness a herd of giraffes and elephants all surrounding one of the few water holes in the area. Migratory and resident birds add color and sound, with flamingos sometimes painting the pan pink after seasonal rains. Etosha’s unique desert environment — a mix of arid plains, scrub, and gleaming salt pan — creates dramatic contrasts and an intimate safari experience unlike wetter savannas.