Best Place and Time for Wildlife Safari in Africa
August 20, 2024
Best Place and Time for a Wildlife Safari in Africa for wandering in the vast wilderness of Africa to witness a wide range of wildlife. There is nowhere like Africa for wildlife viewing, untamed sweeping landscapes, and captivating cultures. There are so many amazing places to go on safari to pick from, the choice ultimately comes down to experiences and bucket lists. South Africa is an excellent option if viewing the Big 5 is your main priority; however, Tanzania might be a better fit if you’re looking for a more raw and real experience.
Activities then take the role, ranging from hot air balloon rides and boat-based safari excursions to walking safaris and wildlife drives.
While there is debate over where in Africa is the best place to go on safari, time is also crucial. Africa’s Green Season (warm rainy months from November to May/June) is always less crowded, offers amazing birdwatching, and brings with it baby species. However, because of the green settings with tall grasses and new leaves, it may be a little harder to identify the wildlife. So this season is a low safari travel season and not considered the perfect time for wildlife viewing. The best wildlife sightings, as well as the largest crowds, occur during the hot and dry season of May through November.
Kenya Safari Experience
Kenya is the place where the safari travel was originated. Given that the word “safari” means “journey” in Swahili, it should be no surprise that safaris have existed in Kenya since its invention. But remember that Kenya has become one of the busiest and most well-liked wildlife destinations on the African continent because of its historical record.
Top National Parks and Game Reserves in Kenya
The Great Rift Valley of Kenya includes Masai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli National Park, Samburu National Reserve, the Laikipia Plateau, and Lake Nakuru National Park. The Masai Mara, Amboseli, and Lake Nakuru are all part of the classic safari circuit, which is framed spectacularly by Mount Kilimanjaro.
A popular Big Five safari destination, Kenya offers plenty of chances to watch buffalo, lions, elephants, leopards, and the critically endangered black rhino. Every year, millions of wildebeest and zebras travel from the Serengeti in southern Tanzania into Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve. It is a famous yearly event known as the Great Migration.
Amboseli National Park, which is second in popularity only to the famous Masai Mara, is the greatest spot to see the renowned Mount Kilimanjaro in addition to providing excellent elephant sightings. Combining an Amboseli safari with multiple Tanzanian parks is an additional choice.
The closest parks are Mount Kilimanjaro National Park and Arusha National Park. However, the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, and Serengeti are the main draws in northern Tanzania and are easily accessible from this area.
Situated on the periphery of the dry savannahs of northern Kenya, the Samburu National Reserve is a place that is equally appealing to novice and experienced safari travelers alike. Samburu is the most gratifying of the three national reserves (Shaba and Buffalo Springs are the other two) that are centered around the life-giving Ewaso Ngiro River. It is known for its world-class wildlife viewing, adventurous activities, and unique cultural exchanges. Overall, the Samburu offers a distinctive safari experience. This is particularly true when combined with Kenya’s more well-known Masai Mara or Amboseli parks.
Located northeast of the Great Rift Valley, the high plains of Laikipia are becoming acknowledged as one of Kenya’s best-kept secrets. The Laikipia region, which is nearly the size of Wales, is home to some of Kenya’s most inspiring success stories in conservation. Such as the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, which serves as a haven for Grevy’s zebras and black and white rhinos. With few tourists, this undiscovered gem offers top-notch family-friendly safari hotels and campgrounds.
In Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru is only a three-hour drive from Nairobi. It has breathtaking scenery and a wealth of fauna. Imagine a shallow, alkaline lake surrounded by rocky escarpments, savannah grasslands, acacia groves, black and white rhinos, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hippos. Lake Nakuru was famous until 2014 for having an enormous flamingo population up to 1.5 million at a time that blanketed the lake in a layer of pink plumes.
Best time to Visit Kenya
The ideal months to visit Kenya are the dry seasons: June to October when it’s pleasant and hot, and the best times for witnessing wildlife. January and February are dry months that are excellent times to visit in between the rainy season. The short and long rain months are November through December and April through June.
In July or August, the wildebeest migration typically arrives at the Masai Mara, where it stays until September. Around October, it begins to return to Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. It’s a fantastic time of year to see wildlife.
So, August to October is the best time of year to witness the wildebeest migration in the Masai Mara. During the peak season (June to October), the Masai Mara may get quite crowded, particularly near the river crossings. From January until the end of March, the Masai Mara is fantastic. Typically, the weather is dry and moderate, and there aren’t many safari crowds.
South Africa Safari Experience
South Africa is quite hard to beat out regarding all-inclusive vacation spots in Africa. The nation boasts the greatest network of tourism infrastructure on the continent. And an abundance of unique experiences for its guests.
South Africa provides a safari experience that suits all levels of travelers, from the well-known Kruger National Park to the stunning scenery of Cape Town. For first-timers and low-budget travelers, Kruger is the most accessible and rewarding safari location. In addition to hundreds of other bird species, you can witness the Big Five (elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, leopards, rhinos, and buffaloes.
Durban, Cape Town, and Johannesburg are culturally rich towns with excellent worldwide cuisine. The Winelands are ideal for gourmet vineyard excursions, and the Drakensberg escarpment’s spectacular peaks lead to wonderful tropical beaches. The favorite part of South Africa is driving along the Garden Route, which is one of the world’s top road trip destinations.
South Africa offers the world’s best land-based whale-watching experience and Big 5 safaris at luxurious lodges. Plus, you can round off your safari in South Africa with some well-earned relaxation along the breathtaking beach.
Top National Parks and Game Reserves in South Africa
Kruger National Park, Kwandwe Game Reserve, Amakhala Game Reserve, Hluhluwe Game Reserve and Madikwe Game Reserve. South Africa is one of the Big Five safari destinations, where national parks like Kwandwe and Amakhala are home to the elusive black and white rhino. While cautious cheetahs are mostly observed in central Kruger, big cats like lions and leopards are also abundant. Aside from the abundant wildlife found in the national parks, you can go whale watching at Hermanus or hang out with African penguins on the beach.
- Kruger Safari Experience
Kruger National Park is South Africa’s most popular wildlife destination. It is one of the best locations in Africa to witness the Big 5 with the widest variety of wildlife. Choosing a Kruger safari is the best option if witnessing the Big 5 (elephant, lion, buffalo, rhino, and leopard). Observing all five on a single day is not rare.
- Cape Town Experience
Nothing compares to Cape Town, a breathtakingly gorgeous city crowned by the spectacular Table Mountain National Park. It is a melting pot of cultures, cuisines, and landscapes.
- Tanzania Safari Experience
In Tanzania, safari is available almost anywhere you look. In the second-biggest country in East Africa, it has long been a way of life. Tanzania boasts an abundance of diverse species and landscapes that few other places in Africa can match. From the beaches to the well-known savannah locations of the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, and Serengeti.
Tanzania and Kenya are similar with lots of wildlife reserves and top-notch safari companies. However, Tanzania seems to be less stressful overall. This could be because the Serengeti is over ten times larger than Kenya’s Masai Mara. It provides infinite space and a wider range of habitats. The greatest herds of elephants in East Africa, millions of creatures traveling across the Serengeti during the Great Migration. And many varied species inhabiting the microcosmic crater floor are all present. Justifiably, Tanzania ranks among the world’s top safari locations.
Best time to visit South Africa
Though South Africa is a year-round travel destination, the majority of tourists choose the milder, dry season that lasts from May to August. Because there is less vegetation and greater animal activity around water holes during these months, it is easier to spot wildlife.
Tanzania’s Top Game Reserves & National Parks
Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, , Lake Manyara , Ruaha National Park, and Selous Game Reserve.
A must-do for both first-time and seasoned safari visitors, Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s primary conservation region. The Park is home to one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in the world as well as the majority of the Great Wildebeest Migration.
There are hardly many safari locations that offer the same experience as the Crater of Ngorongoro. An Ngorongoro Crater safari will not let you down if you’re looking for some of the easiest and most gratifying game viewing in East Africa, even if there are larger and wilder parks.
The Ngorongoro Crater, is a must-see location on Tanzania’s renowned Northern Safari Circuit. It provides a traditional Big 5 safari experience in the extraordinary setting of an old volcanic caldera.
Tarangire is the least visited site on the so-called Northern Safari Circuit, despite being easily accessible. But don’t let that discourage you with the most famous for its herds of elephants and lions that climb trees. Few people know that the Tarangire National Park is one of Tanzania’s most rewarding reserves. It is located in the region; most visitors to northern Tanzania are on their route to the renowned Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.
Situated at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara is a shallow alkaline lake. It lies with the Lake Manyara National Park protecting the northwest. Don’t miss Lake Manyara National Park, an essential component of a Tanzania safari experience. Even if you are in a hurry to see its more well-known neighbors, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. It is conveniently located just down the road from Arusha, Tanzania’s entry and departure point for the Northern Safari Circuit. It is really a delightful place to spend a day or two of relaxation and sightseeing.
The largest national park in Tanzania is Ruaha. There are very few lodges and campgrounds there, even with its immense size. Ruaha has solidified its status as the best-kept secret in the nation, particularly when it comes to game viewing. It is due to the park’s enormous animal diversity and abundance.
The park offers great sightings of predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs, and the critically endangered wild dog. It is also home to the greatest population of elephants in East Africa. Adventurous travelers seeking breathtakingly natural and undiscovered experiences will find some of the greatest African safaris available in Ruaha.
The Nyerere National Park (Selous) falls in the lesser-known Southern Tanzania safari zone, along with Ruaha. Unlike Tanzania’s well-known safari locations, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, Nyerere is remote, massive, and teeming with animals. It offers a remarkably varied African safari experience in one place yet is still comparatively unknown to most safari tourists.
- Best time to visit Tanzania
Make travel plans to the Ngorongoro and Ndutu districts between January and March. These are the perfect months to witness the migrating wildebeest and their lambs. In the Serengeti, July and August are the busiest months to see the renowned wildebeest river crossings.