Are you also one of those who consider going on a safari, the epitome of a luxury holiday? The Safari is surely becoming the go-to destination for celebrities, royals, and the high-class society to describe a life experience holiday.
The meaning of Safari has revolutionized over time, and today nothing in the world is more exhilarating than witnessing wild animals in their natural habitats. Making a safari trip is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But as it can be a once in a lifetime experience, you should also know where to head when planning for a dreamy safari adventure!
So, what are the 10 best Safari destinations in the world? What are they popular for? And do they actually offer you one of life’s biggest thrills?
Number 10: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Starting from number 10, we present to you Serengeti National Park, located in northern Tanzania and sharing a border with Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve. What makes it a classic safari panorama are its sprawling grasslands, lined with lone acacia trees and grazing herds of zebra and antelope.
If you have only seen Cheetah’s and Lions in TV documentaries or movies and always wanted to have the scene of having them walk in front of you, this destination is the one for you. The herbivores attract high numbers of predators, and the open environment only adds to the best place for predators to show what they have got!
The ideal season to visit Serengeti is from November to June, amidst the dramatic migration when you can see herds of zebra and wildebeest gathering to graze, mate, and give birth.
The next destination on our list is;
Number 9: Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
Covering over 5,655 square miles/14,650 square kilometers of land in the west of the country. It is the least crowded of Southern Africa’s major safari destinations. It is the largest park in Zimbabwe and is only one hour south of Victoria Falls. It is best known for its legendary elephants and large herds of buffalo.
The destination also bags the title of housing the famous African wild dogs. The cherry on the top is that the Hwange’s private game lodges offer a variety of different safari options – including walking safaris, horseback safaris, and night safaris. So, if you are in for an ever-lasting adventure, Hwange won’t disappoint you at all!
Number 8: Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
The highlight of Ngorongoro is its breathtaking volcanic crater, and it earns its spot as one of the best national parks in Africa. It surely is a majestic beauty of nature. Measuring about 20 kilometers across, 600 meters deep, and 300 square kilometers in area, it surely is the largest unflooded and unbroken caldera in the world.
The park accommodates around 25,000 large animals, and other than that, almost two million animals en-route it during the migration. Among these large number of animals, you will most likely see wildebeest, eland, gazelles, and zebras, and up in the rainforest of the crater rim, animals like elephants, reedbuck, and jackals may get eye to eye with you!
Adding more to its value is the historic Oldupai Gorge and a chance to meet the local Maasai people.
Number 7: Etosha National Park, Namibia
The number 7 on our list is Etosha National Park, which is home to the endangered black rhinoceros. Also known as the Etosha pan, it accommodates hundreds of species of birds, reptiles, and mammals. A perfect place for photographers, self-guided safaris, and camping, the park offers floodlit waterholes, giving you the lighting to admire nocturnal wildlife.
The place is mostly arid, and therefore you hardly see any buffalo or hippo, but you will probably spot some gemsbok, springbok antelopes, elephants, lions, hyenas, and cheetahs.
The park mostly remains dry, and therefore the animals are well adapted for arid seasons. Among the black rhinos, you may also see some white rhinos though scarcely.
Number 6: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda
At number 6 on our list of Best Safari Destinations in the world, we bring you Bwindi Impenetrable.
Located in the dense rainforest in southwest Uganda on the edge of the Albertine Rift, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is an impeccable location to be. Offering you divine scenery, its charm doesn’t end here, but also a sanctuary to chimpanzees, monkeys, and half of the world’s population of endangered mountain gorillas.
And if you want a step closer to these primates, you can also grab a permit and go gorilla trekking. Though the trails are rough, the park teems with beautiful birds, butterflies, and floral species.
Number 5: Okavango Delta, Botswana
Known as “Africa’s Last Eden,” this inland river delta is surely one of the best safari destinations in Africa. It is created at the point where the Okavango River flows into the Kalahari Desert basin and thus sustains an astonishing variety of wildlife. The best time to visit is during the annual flood which coincides with the dry season from May to September.
At this time, the Delta’s animals are confined to the islands created by the flood, making it easier to catch their glimpse. Herds of elephants and antelope, hippos, crocodiles, lions, and cheetah are the highlights of the region.
Number 4: South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
With every other destination, our list is becoming even jaw-dropping and irresistible. And we have only reached number 4, The South Luangwa national park speaks of its luxury and adventure with river-dwelling species such as hippos and Nile crocodiles thriving here and there with more than 400 bird species.
Located on the easter side of Zambia, South Luangwa National Park is arguably the best place for you if you love leopards. In addition to that, it is well known for its walking tours and thus provides a closer look at the wildlife. It is immersed in heavenly sceneries of nature and is home to several hundred Thornicroft’s giraffes, Cape buffaloes, and herds of elephants. You will also be mesmerized to catch a glimpse of woodland savannah every now and then.
Number 3: Kruger National Park, South Africa
The next safari location on our list is not only renowned for having the best safaris in South Africa and gorgeous mountain, plain, and tropical forest scenery but also for being the continent’s largest game reserves.
The park accommodates many vulnerable cheetahs, the endangered wild dog, and several elusive small cat species, and with 507 birds, 336 trees, 147 mammals, 114 reptiles, 49 fish, and 34 amphibians, it is a top destination for first-timers who want to have all in the first trip. The park is particularly designed with a well-maintained and easily navigated road system for independent tourists with places to even spend the night.
The best time to visit is between October and March as during this time, the park host more than 200 migrant bird species.
Number 2: Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
In Southwest Kenya, near Tanzania, Maasai Mara National Reserve is the country’s quintessential safari destination. Though the best time to visit it is during Africa’s Great Migration – when millions of wildebeests, zebras, and other herbivores follow the rain north from Tanzania’s Serengeti, Kenya’s stunning natural beauty and a dizzying array of wildlife are breathtakingly attracting at all times.
It covers over 580 square miles/1,500 square kilometers and is home to the Big Five. However, it is famous for its thriving big cat population and is, therefore, one of the best places to see lions.
Number 1: Chobe National Park, Botswana
Are you surprised to see Botswana number one on our bucket list? Well, you shouldn’t be. It has rightly earned its place! Thanks to the country’s aggressively forward-thinking approach to wildlife conservation and its unique array of national parks and game reserves, the Chobe National Park holds so much for nature lovers.
The park lies adjacent to the Okavango Delta in the northwest corner of Botswana. Chobe is incredibly famous throughout the world for its elephants, with an estimated 120,000 of the great grey animals living within the park’s borders. You can catch the elephants and even the other animals best during the dry season when they all come together along the banks of the Chobe River. The dry season in Botswana usually runs from April to October.
