Well Known African Safari Destinations
Kenya
For many years Kenya was considered the premier safari destination
in Africa. However in recent years it has tended to become the destination
of choice for cheap European tour groups, and you will recall the quotation
on our home page, which points out that, whilst in Kenya there are
four tourists to every lion, in Zambia there are four lions to every
tourist!
A number of Kenyan tour operators and lodge owners are attempting to reverse this trend, but the intending traveller needs to be very selective. However, although Kenya can no longer be considered a true wilderness destination, a visit to its Masai Mara during the period of the wildebeest migration (which takes place in July through September), remains a unique wildlife experience.
A further negative is unfortunately the addition of attacks due to international terrorism, on top of the country’s endemic crime problem, which has led to several safari groups being ambushed in the past. There are safer and better wildlife destinations in Africa .
Tanzania
Tanzania shares with Kenya an unfortunate history of attacks
due to terrorism, and, again, care needs to be taken to avoid the large
lodge/minibus tours that have led to Kenya ’s fall from grace as a great
tourist destination.
Although Tanzania offers abundant wildlife and incredible scenery, together with the other half of the wildebeest migration (in December through March), the standard of guiding can also be very variable, and, again, we have to conclude that better and safer destinations exist.
Botswana
Botswana is wild Africa. Although the scenery is not as visually
exciting as that of Kenya or Tanzania, the high concentrations of game,
and absence of crowding, make Botswana an excellent, if expensive safari
destination.
Botswana’s Okavango Delta teems with animal and bird life (reputedly having the highest density of lion in Africa, in addition to huge herds of buffalo, wild dog and so on). The need to fly guests into the remotely located camps adds to the cost of a safari to Botswana .
Namibia
Situated on the southwest coast of Africa, Namibia is a country
of contrasts. Towering sand dunes lead down to the notorious ‘skeleton
coast’, host to so many ancient shipwrecks, and the remarkable desert
elephant provides fascinating viewing.
Both Etosha Park and Caprivi provide excellent game viewing, and the country is also one of the last refuges of the fast vanishing bushman culture, made famous by Laurens van der Post.
South Africa
South Africa probably provides the widest range of experiences
available in Africa, although without exhibiting the true wilderness
that so typifies, for example, Zambia and Botswana. Its most famous
game park – the Kruger – combines first rate wild life with paved
roads and multitudes of tourists, although the neighbouring private
game lodges do provide a more exclusive atmosphere.
Add golf, whale watching, wine tasting, scuba diving and a world famous rail journey (the Blue Train), together with cultural visits to, for example, Soweto or Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was held for so long). However South Africa is not without its dangers, and the cities – Johannesburg in particular – must be treated with caution.
Zimbabwe
Once a prime safari destination, due to its teeming wild life
and a great wilderness experience, political intervention and a dying
economy have largely wrecked this beautiful country as a sensible tourist
destination.
Although many operators will insist that Zimbabwe is still a viable, and indeed immensely rewarding tourist destination, we ourselves see no need to take the risk of a visit when other African countries – neighbouring Zambia in particular – can offer at least as enjoyable a wildlife experience, with little or no downside due to the threat of violence or a destroyed environment.
Zambia
It will be evident by now that our destination of choice is Zambia.
Although it may not, historically, have been seen as a prime destination,
once people discover Zambia and its attractions they do return again
and again. Truly Zambia can lay claim to being “the real Africa ”.
Probably one of the safest countries to visit in Africa, with a stable, democratic political structure, Zambia is also blessed with some of its finest – if not its finest – game viewing opportunities. As a tourist destination, Zambia is sufficiently advanced to provide adequate transport, communications, health facilities, and so on, whilst remaining totally unspoilt. In particular, Zambia is the home of the ‘walking safari’, not to mention Victoria Falls, providing the ultimate holiday experience.
Although these benefits contribute to Zambia ’s growing reputation as a premier safari destination (and probably Africa’s fastest growing such), the Zambian government has realised that this wonderful natural resource must not be squandered, and is strictly controlling the growth of tourism. See the Reason to Visit Zambia section.
