|
Back to: |
AFRICA DESTINATION OVERVIEWS | |
|
An age old question among potential safari goers is should we go to Southern Africa (South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, etc.) or rather East Africa (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda). This is a difficult question as each has so much to offer. They are somewhat similar but at the same time very different. East Africa offers more the classic “Out of Africa” views; sweeping plains populated by masses of charismatic mega-fauna. It has a richness of culture that is more evident than in the south; the iconic Maasai people being a case in point. Generally speaking, East Africa offers greater volumes of game and of course is home to one of the greatest shows on earth with the migration of wildebeest and zebra. Southern Africa on the other hand can’t compete with the sheer mass of animals but generally makes up for it in terms of quality. That said destinations like Botswana house huge numbers of elephant (estimated at roughly 150,000 of the 600,000 on the continent). Generally speaking the safari experience in Southern Africa is more exclusive; this is borne largely out of a different land tenure basis than in East Africa. Southern Africa per se has been a later developer on the safari front hence has been more deliberate in its approach to conservation management. In Botswana for instance safari operators have secure tenure on exclusive concessions. It would be fair to say that a top end safari experience in Southern Africa is a more intimate affair than in East Africa with an emphasis on high quality low volume tourism. Southern Africa generally offers a greater mix of activities and more flexibility in the game-viewing experience with the like of off-road driving in the private safari concession areas abutting the parks. As a general rule, East Africa is more economical than Southern Africa however this does vary greatly depending upon the mix of camps and lodges. In both regions the old adage of “you get what you pay for” holds true. Click here to view accommodation options in Africa. Please bear in mind that the comments made above are very general in nature. Both regions offer a fantastic experience if you receive learned advice during the planning stage of your safari. As we always say to clients anguishing over the choice of regions, you will only appreciate the nuances once you have been to both. Of course many people note at the outset that their safari will be their only African experience. More often than not people return because it is a continent that ingrains a yearning to return! |
|
|
 |
 |
||
|
BOTSWANA Botswana is recognised as one of Africa's last remaining pristine wilderness areas. The timeless immensity of the great Kalahari Desert gives way abruptly to the magic of the Okavango Delta, a serene sanctuary of crystal clear waterways, lagoons and a prolific animal population. |
VICTORIA FALLS, ZAMBIA "Mosi oa Tunya" - the Smoke that Thunders - is an accurate description of what happens when the waters of the Zambezi River plunge over the 1,700 metre wide and 100 metre deep chasm, creating a shower of spray and a deafening noise. |
|||
 |
 |
|||
|
ZAMBIA AND ZIMBABWE The lower Zambezi Valley is one of Africa's iconic game areas and considered by safari aficionados as among the very best; the "Big Zambezi" with alluvial plains populated by huge albida trees backing onto an impressive range of mountains. |
NAMIBIA A country of startling contrasts, Namibia boasts deserts, seascapes, and boundlessness. The many national parks and game reserves present a huge variety of wildlife in a kaleidoscope of diverse environments. |
|||
 |
 |
|||
|
SOUTH AFRICA For the those with limited time and wanting to get a flavor for safari without compromising on comfort, one can’t go past a Singita experience. |
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA Spectacularly set against the natural backdrop of Table Mountain, Cape Town is one of the great harbour cities of the world. It offers culture and heritage, casual sophistication, as well as outdoor fun and beaches. |
|||
 |
 |
|||
|
TANZANIA Tanzania is still gloriously wild; huge herds of wildebeest, zebra and elephant along with a bevy of other plains-game species and a plethora of predators. Tanzania is vast and offers the discerning safari-goer a very uncontrived experience both for wildlife and culture. |
SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA This is undoubtedly the most famous of Africa’s icons. The Serengeti houses incredible game density as a result of the volcanic origins of its soil. For this reason it supports the annual migration of wildebeest and zebra. |
|||
 |
 |
|||
|
MOUNT KILIMANJARO, TANZANIA To summit Mt Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest free-standing mountain at just under 6,000 m (20,000 ft), on a breathless, blue sky dawn, surely rates as one of life’s great experiences. |
ZANZIBAR AND MAFIA ARCHIPELAGO, TANZANIA The islands off the coast of Tanzania are a wonderful adjunct to a safari. Steeped in history, this region is where Africa meets Arabia. |
|||
 |
 |
|||
|
KENYA Kenya has always viewed its wildlife as a national treasure with movies such as "Out of Africa" doing much to cement its romance in our minds. It is in this intoxicating region that the notion of the Swahili word "safari", meaning "to journey", was born. |
MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE, KENYA There are few places in Africa that compare to the Mara. It is widely regarded as one of the finest spots for predator viewing in all of Africa. Game is ever present in large numbers throughout the year with sections of the migration in residence between August and October. |
|||
 |
 |
|||
|
RWANDA With only 700 or so mountain gorillas left in the world, a brush with them is indeed very special. Nothing can prepare you for the impact of encountering a fully grown silverback gorilla, up to three times the size of an average man yet remarkably peaceable and tolerant of human visitors. |
UGANDA Uganda is an incredible safari destination. Situated among the "Mountains of the Moon", it offers the full gammit of primates, predators and plains-game. In our experience it is moreso a second or third time safari destination. |
|||
 |
||||
|
THE SEYCHELLES A name synonymous with the world’s most beautiful islands, the Seychelles archipelago is home to no less than two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and sanctuary to a myriad of natural treasures. |
||||
|
|