Want to help your client choose the right safari?

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Want to help your client choose the right safari?

Find out when and where to go and what to see

South Africa

South Africa is a large country with a diverse landscape, from mountain ranges to wild unspoilt coast and from winelands to open savannah and vast, famous game reserves. Combining a visit to Cape Town, a tour of the coastal Garden Route and a safari is popular.

What to see: Kruger National Park is famous for its abundant wildlife and is prime safari land. Here you can see the big five – lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhino. The Sabi Sands Game Reserve offers some of the best camps in Africa.

When to go: the best time for big game viewing is July to October when the grass is low and water sparse. In the north the hot, wet summer is from November to March, when new-born animals can be seen amid lush scenery.

Sample: Southern Africa Travel’s flydrive, 15-day South Africa for the First-Time Visitor includes a safari in Kruger National Park. Lead in is £1,395 based on two sharing, including flights, car hire, bed and breakfast and full-board and drives on safari.

Namibia: a unique landscape

South Africa: miles of unspoilt coast

Namibia

Namibia is a land of desolate landscapes, from the vast Namib Desert with some of the world’s largest sand dunes to the beautiful Skeleton Coast where the Atlantic crashes onto the desert shore.

What to see: Etosha National Park is the prime game-viewing area. Here in a desert landscape, rhino, elephant, cheetah, lion and leopard roam. Soussusvlei Park in the south is home to spectacular dunes which turn from gold and burning red during the day to silver at night.

When to go: the coast of the Namib Desert is cool and rain-free for most of the year. Inland temperatures can be very hot in summer and rain falls between November and April.

Sample: Bales Worldwide has introduced a 14-day escorted Namibia Discovery tour. It includes Namib Desert, Cape Cross Seal Reserve, Etosha National Park and Mount Etjo. Prices start at £2,495, includingmost meals and first-class accommodation, based on two sharing.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is one of the continent’s most beautiful countries, boasting an abundance of wildlife, breathtaking scenery and stretches of untouched wilderness. Following political unrest earlier in the year operators say tourism is starting to recover.

What to see: the awesome Victoria Falls is an African highlight. Hwange National Park and the shores of Lake Kariba teem with elephants and other animals coming to drink.Giraffe, buffalo, zebra, lion and a huge variety of birds can also be seen.

When to go: Zimbabwe has the ideal climate for safaris – dry winters with cool mornings and evenings and hot summers. June to November is the dry season when game can be seen around the watering holes.

Sample: Thomas Cook Holidays features the Essential Zimbabwe eight-day tour which includes Victoria Falls, Hwange, Kariba and Harare. From £1,203 per person, for full board, based on two adults sharing, excluding flights.

Tanzania

Tanzania is an immense, diverse country with the vast plains of the Serengeti, the beautiful Ngorongoro Crater and the woods and swamps of Tarangire National Park. The quality of game reserves and wildlife is among the best in Africa and the coast boasts stunning beaches.

What to see: the endless expanse of the Serengeti is home to huge herds of zebra, wildebeest and gazelle and site of the annual wildebeest migration. Thousands of animals roam the flat floor of the Ngorongoro Crater and the central lake attracts flamingo and other birds. Lake Manyara supports a wide variety of animals, including many hippo and spectacular birdlife. To the south, the remote parks of Selous, Ruaha and Mahale teem with wildlife.

When to go: in this equatorial region, the season is year round. The long rains are from April to June while the short rains are around from October to November. The famous migration of the wildebeest north into Kenya is usually around June-July.

Sample: Kuoni features the eight-night Ngorongoro Safari, visiting Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro. Prices from £1,269, for full-board accommodation, based on two sharing, including return flights and guides.

Zambia

Zambia, to the north of Botswana and Zimbabwe, offers some of the best game viewing in an untouched expanse of bush. Woodland, grasslands, lagoons and rivers combine to make a spectacular landscape.

What to see: the South Luangwa National Park has one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. Lion, hyena and leopard are among the diverse game and 400 species of bird live in the varied habitats.

When to go: the dry season is between April and September when game can be seen at watering holes.

Sample: Cox and Kings Zambian Adventures 10-day safari to South Luangwa, Nkwali, Tena Tena and Nsefu. It costs from £1,595 per person, including flights and full-board accommodation.

Kenya

Kenya’s scenery varies from the lush forests of Mount Kenya and the Aberdares to the dry, dusty Samburu and from the lakes of the Great Rift Valley to the plains of the Masai Mara.

What to see: the big cats and wildebeest are found in the Masai Mara reserve. Lake Nakuru attracts millions of flamingos, while the park is home to leopard, lion and black and white rhino. Tsavo National Park’s residents include hippo and rhino. Elephants, buffalo and antelope are among the animals found at Mount Kenya and The Abedares, while giraffe, the long-necked gerenuk and zebra are found at Samburu.

When to go: Kenya is a year round destination. The long ‘rains’ season from April to June sees downpours followed by intermittent sunshine, while the short ‘rains’ are from October to November. The migration of the wildebeest south is from June to October.

Sample: First Choice offers a 14-night package with a seven-night Kubwa safari followed by a week at the Papillon Lagoon Reef Hotel in Mombasa South. Lead-in price £1,535.

Botswana

Botswana is a land of desert, immense wetlands and exclusive nature reserves. The Khalahari desert stretches over 80% of the country, while the Okavango River has the world’s largest inland delta. Botswana is represented at World Travel Market for the first time this year.

What to see: Chobe National Park is home to one of the largest concentration of elephant in Africa. Lion, leopard, cheetah and giraffe can also be seen and hippos, colourful birds and crocodiles live in the Okavango Delta region.

When to go: July to September is the best time to visit the northern Okavango Delta, when its at its highest. April to October, the dry season, is best for viewing game.

Sample: Abercrombie and Kent’s eight-night Wings Over Botswana safari visits Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta. Prices start at £2,670 per person including meals and flights.