Top 10 African safari - vacation destinations

These are Africa’s Top Safari Destinations

10- Okavango Delta, (Botswana)

The Okavango is a labyrinth of lagoons, lakes and hidden channels covering an area of over 17,000 square km making it the largest inland delta in the world. Trapped in the parched Kalahari sands it is a magnet for the wildlife who depend on the permanent waters of this unique feature. On the mainland and among the islands in the delta, lions, elephants, hyenas, wild dog, buffalo and hippos can easily be seen. It certainly is a vacation destination that would provide you with a lifetime of memories.

9 - Mount Kilimanjaro, (Tanzania)

Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania stands at 19,340 feet (5896m) and takes about six days to conquer. Be warned, three in four people who attempt this mountain don’t make it to the top because either people underestimate the mountain and the altitude or they overestimate their fitness level. It may not be a serious climb like Everest but Mt Kilimanjaro demands respect.

8 - Ngorongoro Conservation Area, (Tanzania)

The Ngorongoro Conservation area in Tanzania includes the world’s largest crater which acts as a natural enclosure for almost every species of wildlife found in East Africa. The crater is like a big bowl and the lodges are located above the crater. To view the wildlife one drives down to the base of the crater.

7 - Virunga Mountains, (Uganda, Rwanda, DRC)

Think Gorillas in the Mist – According to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, there are about 700 mountain gorillas left. The Virungas are a place of legend along the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC in East Africa where visitors can buy permits to track gorillas and spend a small slice of time watching the mountain gorillas up close in their natural environment.

6 - Zanzibar, (Tanzania)

The word safari is often used to refer to wildlife and game viewing. Even so in Swahili(a language spoken both in Tanzania and Kenya) safari means journey. So with that I hve choosen to include it here even though you are not likely to see any wildlife. Stonetown, House of Wonders, Spice Plantations and incredible beaches make Zanzibar one of Africa’s top destinations. Famous for its spices, Zanzibar also became an important slave trading post under its Arab rulers. Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site cannot be missed. Together with the beaches.

5- Loango National Park, (Gabon)

Even though it is not well known, Loango National Park in Gabon is one of the most unique natonal parks in the world. This is because Loango is the only place in Africa where you can see whales, chimps, gorillas and elephants in one park. In Loango you get to enjoy watching wildlife on the beach, savannah, swamp and forest in a single day.

4- The sphinx and Pyramids of Giza, (Egypt)

Egypt is rich in history. There is so much to see and do within Cairo alone. You could visit the Egyptian Museum and, then the Pyramids of Giza, where you will also see the Sphinx -one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. You may enjoy a camel ride round the Pyramids as you contemplate the achievements of Ancient Egypt.

3 - Timbuktu, (Mali)

Timbuktu in Central Mali in West Africa is one of the candidates for the new Seven Wonders of the World. The lingo is French, so get a local guide, one with a 4×4. The whole Dogon region of Mali, including Timbuktu, boasts breathtaking desert scenery with the beautiful mud architecture.

2 - Kruger National Park, (South Africa)

Kruger National Park in South Africa boasts the highest variety of wildlife in Africa which includes the Big Five, hippos, crocodiles, cheetah and more. The park is bigger than the state of Israel and is one of Africa’s best maintained parks.

1 – Masai Mara, (Kenya)

Safari was born in East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania) In fact the word safari is adapted from Swahili a language spoken in both Kenya and Tanzania.  Kenya’s Maasai Mara game Reserve is the most popular wildlife park in Kenya and probably the best known worldwide. The reserve is well known for its wildebeest migration which occurs every year between July and October. Visitors flock every year to witness this incredible migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra.