Safari planning guide

South Africa might be the easiest place in Africa to plan a first safari, and one of the most rewarding.

In one trip you can have incredible game drives, a few days in Cape Town and long lunches in the Winelands.

Here's what to know as you plan.

Why South Africa

• World-class game viewing. The Big Five, and some of the best leopard sightings in Africa.
• Safari and city in one trip. Cape Town and the Winelands are a short flight from the bush.
• Malaria-free options. Several excellent reserves are malaria-free, which is a big help for families.
• Easy logistics. Great flight connections, short transfers and lodges for every style.

Where to Go on Safari

• Greater Kruger and the private reserves: the area around Kruger National Park, including the Sabi Sand, is probably the most reliable place in Africa to see leopards. Private reserves mean off-road driving, night drives and fewer vehicles at sightings.
• Kruger National Park: one of Africa's great parks, with a huge variety of wildlife and beautiful scenery.
• Madikwe: a malaria-free reserve in the north, and one of my favorite suggestions for families.
• The Eastern Cape: malaria-free reserves and Addo Elephant National Park, easy to pair with the Garden Route.
• KwaZulu-Natal: private reserves like Phinda, where you can combine the bush with the Indian Ocean coast.

From a morning game drive to dinner by the ocean.

Beyond the Safari

Cape Town

Table Mountain, beautiful beaches, great restaurants and the drive down the Cape Peninsula

The Winelands

Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, with wine tastings, long lunches and gorgeous mountain views

The Garden Route and Hermanus

A scenic coastal drive, plus some of the best land-based whale watching in the world in season

The Panorama Route

Waterfalls and the Blyde River Canyon, an easy add-on near Kruger

When to Go

For safari, May to September is the dry season and the best time for game viewing in Kruger. The days are sunny and the nights are chilly.

For Cape Town, October to March is the warm, dry summer. Its winter is rainier.

If you want both at their best, September, October, April and May are lovely times to go. Summer is also the green season in Kruger, with baby animals and wonderful birding.

See my full month-by-month safari guide for every country.

Malaria

Most of South Africa is malaria-free, including Cape Town and the Winelands. Kruger and the Greater Kruger area have a moderate risk, highest from about September to May. Madikwe, Pilanesberg and the Eastern Cape reserves are malaria-free. Talk to your doctor or a travel clinic before you go.

How Long to Go

Plan on 10 to 12 days for a safari and Cape Town. A typical trip is 3 to 4 nights on safari, 3 to 4 nights in Cape Town and a couple of nights in the Winelands.

Safaris start at $1,500 per person, per day, excluding international flights, depending on the time of year and location.

South Africa also pairs beautifully with Victoria Falls, Botswana or a beach in Mozambique or Mauritius.

My Biggest Advice

Do both: the bush and the Cape. South Africa's magic is how easily you can go from a morning game drive to a sunset dinner overlooking the ocean.

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Safari planning guide

Namibia is unlike any other safari country.

It's red dunes and white clay pans, a foggy coastline lined with shipwrecks, elephants that live in the desert and waterholes full of wildlife. I spent 11 days there, and it's one of the most memorable trips I've ever taken.

Here's what to know as you plan.

Why Namibia

• The scenery. Namibia is about the landscapes as much as the animals, and they're unforgettable.
• Unique wildlife. Desert-adapted elephants and giraffes, seal colonies on the coast, and classic game viewing in Etosha.
• Adventure. Hot-air balloon rides, quad biking in the dunes, scenic flights and walks with a guide.
• Some of Africa's most unique lodges. From cabins built to look like shipwrecks to camps tucked into hidden valleys.

Where to Go in Namibia

• Sossusvlei and the Namib Desert: the red dunes you've seen in pictures, plus Deadvlei, the white clay pan with its ancient camel thorn trees. A sunrise balloon ride here was the highlight of my trip.
• Swakopmund and the coast: a seaside town where the desert meets the Atlantic, with catamaran trips to see seals, dolphins and pelicans.
• The Skeleton Coast: wild, remote and beautiful, with dunes running right into the ocean. Flying along it is an experience on its own.
• Damaraland and the Hoanib: rugged valleys and dry riverbeds, home to desert-adapted elephants, plus ancient rock art at Twyfelfontein.
• Etosha National Park: Namibia's top park for wildlife, built around a huge salt pan. In the dry season the animals gather at the waterholes, and some lodges have floodlit waterholes you can watch after dark.
• The Zambezi Region: the green, watery northeast (once called the Caprivi Strip), with rivers, boat trips and an easy link to Botswana and Victoria Falls.

Namibia rewards a slower pace.

Fly-In or Drive?

Fly-in safari

Small private planes between regions. Namibia is huge, and flying means more time at the lodges and less time on the road. This is how I traveled, and what I recommend for most clients.

Self-drive

Namibia is one of the best self-drive countries in Africa, with good roads and great lodges along the way. It's a wonderful option for adventurous travelers with more time.

When to Go

May to October is the best time for most of Namibia. It's dry and sunny, and in Etosha the animals gather at the waterholes. July to October is the busiest season, and desert nights can drop to about 7°C (45°F), so bring warm layers.

November to April is the hotter, wetter season. The landscape turns green and there are fewer people, but wildlife is harder to spot in Etosha. I traveled in November and loved it.

See my full month-by-month safari guide for every country.

Malaria

Northern Namibia, including Etosha and the Zambezi Region, has a medium malaria risk, highest from November to April. Most of the rest of the country is low risk or malaria-free. Talk to your doctor or a travel clinic before you go.

How Long to Go

Plan on 10 to 12 days. Namibia is big, and that gives you time for the desert, the coast and Etosha without rushing.

Pricing varies by camp and season, and I'll give you real numbers once I know your dates.

Namibia also pairs beautifully with Botswana, Victoria Falls or a few days in Cape Town.

My Biggest Advice

Don't try to see it all in a week. Namibia rewards a slower pace, and the best moments, like sunrise over the dunes or a quiet evening under the stars, happen when you're not racing to the next stop.

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Safari planning guide

If you want a safari that feels truly wild, Botswana is where I send you.

It's a country of small camps, few vehicles and huge open spaces, from the waterways of the Okavango Delta to the salt pans of the Kalahari.

Here's what to know as you plan.

Why Botswana

• Fewer people. Most camps are small and remote, and many sit on private land where only their guests can drive. Outside the Chobe riverfront, it rarely feels busy.
• More ways to explore. In the private areas you can go off-road to follow animals, head out on night drives and walk with a guide.
• Water and desert in one trip. Gliding through the Delta in a mokoro (a traditional dugout canoe) and sitting on the edge of a salt pan feel like two different countries.
• Wonderful wildlife. Elephants, lions, leopards and cheetahs, plus a real chance at African wild dogs.

Water, River or Desert?

Most Botswana trips combine two or three of these areas, and each one feels completely different.

The Okavango Delta

The world's largest inland delta, with mokoro trips, boat rides, game drives on the islands and some of the most beautiful camps in Africa

Chobe and the North

Huge elephant herds, boat safaris on the Chobe River, and remote private areas like the Linyanti that are known for predators

The Kalahari and the Pans

Endless open space, the Makgadikgadi salt pans, and a desert that comes alive with zebra and wildebeest in the green season

One camp on the water, one on land: the best of Botswana.

Where to Go in Botswana

• Okavango Delta: the heart of a Botswana safari. The private concessions offer off-road driving, night drives and walks, along with mokoro trips through the channels.
• Moremi Game Reserve: the protected reserve inside the Delta, with excellent game viewing on both land and water.
• Chobe National Park: famous for its elephants. A boat safari on the Chobe River at sunset is a highlight, and it's the easiest jump to Victoria Falls.
• Linyanti and Savute: remote areas between the Delta and Chobe, loved for big cats, wild dogs and elephants.
• Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans: vast salt pans that are at their best in the green season, when the zebra and wildebeest arrive.
• Central Kalahari: a true desert experience, best from about December to May, with the chance to spend time with San guides.

When to Go

The dry season, roughly May to October, is the classic time to go. The animals gather around the water, and the Delta's camps are at their best.

Here's the surprise: the Okavango floods during the dry season. The water arrives from the Angolan highlands months after the rain, so the Delta is at its highest from about July to October. That's perfect for mokoro trips.

September and October get very hot. From November to March it's green season, with afternoon storms, baby animals, lower rates and the Kalahari and the pans at their best. Some camps close for part of January to March.

See my full month-by-month safari guide for every country.

Malaria

Northern Botswana, including the Delta and Chobe, is a malaria area, and the risk is highest from November to March. Talk to your doctor or a travel clinic before you go.

Traveling with young children? South Africa has wonderful malaria-free reserves, and I'm happy to help you compare.

How Long to Go

Plan on 8 to 10 days. That gives you time for two or three camps, often one water camp and one or two land camps.

You'll fly between camps in small planes, so bags are soft-sided and weight is limited. My safari packing list covers what to bring.

Pricing varies by camp and season, and I'll give you real numbers once I know your dates.

Add Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is a short trip from Chobe, which makes it an easy and popular way to start or finish a Botswana safari. Two nights is perfect for seeing the falls, a sunset cruise on the Zambezi and a little time to relax.

My Biggest Advice

Book early. The best Delta camps are small, and for July to October I recommend booking 12 to 18 months ahead.

And mix your camps. One camp on the water and one on dry land gives you the best of Botswana in a single trip.

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Safari planning guide

After a week of early wake-up calls and game drives, there's nothing better than a few days with your toes in the sand.

Ending a safari on the beach is one of my favorite ways to finish a trip, and it's a must for honeymooners.

Here's how I help clients choose.

Which Beach Goes With Your Safari?

Zanzibar

The natural pairing for Tanzania, just a short flight from the Serengeti. Swahili culture, Stone Town and beautiful white beaches.

Mozambique

Barefoot-luxury island lodges in the Bazaruto and Quirimbas archipelagos, easy to add after a South Africa or Kruger safari.

Mauritius

Lagoons, luxury resorts and lots to do, with good flights from Johannesburg after a southern Africa safari.

The Seychelles

Dreamy beaches and the most exclusive resorts, a beautiful finish after an East African safari.

Zanzibar

Zanzibar is easy, exotic and full of character. Spend an afternoon in historic Stone Town, take a spice tour, look for red colobus monkeys in Jozani Forest, and snorkel or dive around Mnemba Atoll.

The best months are June to October and January to February, when it's dry and warm, and the water is clearest for snorkeling. The long rains come in March to May, with April the wettest month.

Nothing beats a few days with your toes in the sand.

Mozambique

Mozambique's islands feel like a true escape: white sand, turquoise water and small, beautiful lodges. The Bazaruto and Quirimbas archipelagos are the places to go, with direct flights that make them easy add-ons. Depending on the season, you may see whale sharks and turtles.

The best time is April to November. December to February is very wet.

Mauritius

Mauritius has calm lagoons protected by coral reefs, some of the best luxury resorts in the Indian Ocean, and plenty to do beyond the beach, from hiking in Black River Gorges to exploring its mix of cultures and food.

May, June and September to November are wonderful. Cyclone season runs from about January to March.

The Seychelles

The Seychelles is the ultimate island splurge, with soft white beaches, granite boulders and lush green mountains. Many travelers split their stay between Mahé and Praslin, a short flight or ferry away.

The sweet spots are March, April, October and November, which are also the best months for diving and snorkeling. December and January are the wettest.

I've written more about the Seychelles and its resorts.

Best Months for the Beach

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Zanzibar
Mozambique
Mauritius
Seychelles

BestGoodMixed

How Long to Stay

Plan on at least 4 nights at the beach. After the travel day, that gives you three full days to truly relax.

My Biggest Advice

Choose your beach based on your safari, not the other way around. A Tanzania safari flows easily into Zanzibar, while a Botswana or South Africa safari pairs beautifully with Mozambique or Mauritius. I'll help you match the beach, the month and the flights so the whole trip feels effortless.

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Kenya and Tanzania safari guide →Botswana safari guide →South Africa safari guide →Month-by-month safari guide →Safari planning page →Safari pricing guide →

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Safari planning guide

When most people picture an African safari, they're picturing East Africa: endless golden plains, acacia trees and huge herds of wildebeest on the move.

That's Kenya and Tanzania. Together they're home to the Great Migration, and they're the classic choice for a first safari.

Here's how the two compare, and how I help clients decide.

Kenya or Tanzania?

You really can't go wrong with either, and it's easy to combine the two. The Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania are actually one connected ecosystem, and the migration moves between them through the year.

Kenya

The Masai Mara for big cats and river crossings, hot-air balloon safaris, private conservancies, and easy add-ons like Amboseli's elephants under Kilimanjaro

Tanzania

The vast Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, calving season in January and February, and the beaches of Zanzibar to finish

Where to Go in Kenya

• Masai Mara National Reserve: Kenya's most famous park, known for lions, leopards and cheetahs, and the migration from about July to October. The private conservancies around it offer night drives, walking safaris and far fewer vehicles.
• Amboseli National Park: big elephant herds with Mount Kilimanjaro as the backdrop.
• Samburu National Reserve: a drier, more remote landscape in the north, with species you won't see in the Mara.

River crossings are never guaranteed, which is part of what makes seeing one so special.

Where to Go in Tanzania

• Serengeti National Park: the heart of the Great Migration, with excellent game viewing all year. Different areas are best in different months.
• Ngorongoro Crater: an enormous volcanic crater packed with wildlife, where you can see the Big Five in a single day. It's best as a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch.
• Tarangire and Lake Manyara: smaller parks that pair well with the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, known for elephants.
• Nyerere and Ruaha: remote southern parks for travelers who've already done the classics, and two of the best places to look for wild dogs.

Where the Great Migration Is, Month by Month

MonthWhere the herds usually are

January to MarchSouthern Serengeti (Ndutu), for calving season in January and February

April and MayMoving north through the central Serengeti, during the long rains

June and JulyWestern Serengeti (the Western Corridor)

August and SeptemberNorthern Serengeti and Kenya's Masai Mara, with the Mara River crossings

OctoberStarting the journey back south from the Mara

November and DecemberHeading back toward the southern Serengeti with the short rains

The herds follow the rain, so the timing changes a little every year. River crossings are never guaranteed, which is part of what makes seeing one so special.

When to Go

June to October is the classic dry season, with the best game viewing and the migration in the north. January and February are wonderful too, especially for calving in Tanzania.

April and May bring the long rains. It's low season, with lower rates and fewer people, but some camps close.

See my full month-by-month safari guide for every country.

How Long to Go

Plan on a minimum of 8 days. That gives you time for two or three camps without spending your whole trip in transit.

Pricing varies by camp and season, and I'll give you real numbers once I know your dates.

Finish on the Beach

After a safari in Tanzania, Zanzibar is just a short flight away. It's the perfect place to slow down for a few days, and a favorite add-on for honeymooners.

My Biggest Advice

Decide what you want to see first. If seeing a river crossing is at the top of your list, go in August or September. If you'd love baby animals and fewer people, look at January and February in Tanzania. I'll help you match the month, the parks and the camps.

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How to choose your safari →Safari planning page →Safari pricing guide →

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Safari planning guide

Of all the experiences in Africa, spending time with a family of mountain gorillas might be the one people describe as life-changing.

Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park is where Dian Fossey began her famous gorilla research, and today it's one of the best places in the world to see them.

Here's what to know before you go.

What a Trek Day Is Like

• You stay outside the park. Lodges sit near the park edge, and each trek is a guided day trip.
• You'll start early. You'll meet your guides, be matched with a gorilla family, and then hike into the forest to find them.
• The hike varies. Some families are close, and some take longer to reach. The trails are steep, muddy and slippery all year, so good hiking shoes matter.
• It's cool up there. Expect cool, damp days around 15°C (59°F), and colder nights.
• Sightings are very likely. The gorilla families are habituated, and the trackers know where they are.

When to Go

The drier months, June to September, are the most popular because the trails are easier. January and February are also drier.

The rest of the year is wetter, with April usually the wettest month, but treks run year-round. The gorillas don't mind the rain, and the green season brings lower rates.

The gorillas don't mind the rain.

Gorilla Permits

Every trek requires a permit, and the number of permits each day is limited. They sell out first in the June to September high season, so book well ahead. I take care of securing permits for my clients as part of planning the trip.

Beyond the Gorillas

• Golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park, a fun second trek
• Nyungwe National Park for chimpanzee trekking, a canopy walk and rainforest birding
• Akagera National Park for a classic savanna safari with the Big Five, plus boat trips
• Lake Kivu for a few relaxing days by the water

How to Add Rwanda to Your Trip

A gorilla trip can be just 4 to 5 days, so it's easy to add to a Kenya or Tanzania safari. Many travelers do the gorillas first and then head to the savanna for game drives.

See my Kenya and Tanzania safari guide for ideas.

What to Pack for a Trek

• Sturdy, broken-in hiking shoes
• A lightweight rain jacket with a hood
• Long pants and long sleeves in neutral colors
• Layers for cool mornings
• A small backpack, water and snacks
• Camera with a spare battery

For the rest of your trip, here's my full safari packing list.

My Biggest Advice

Book early, and give yourself time. An extra day in Rwanda means you can add a second trek or explore beyond the gorillas without rushing.

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Month-by-month guide →Safari planning page →Safari pricing guide →

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