Countries & Parks
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Countries & Parks
Learn more about the major safari countries, including their highlights, wildlife, best time to visit and more.
The 8 Major Safari Countries
Top Rated Safari Countries
Learn about the country's highlights, wildlife, best time to visit and more.
Parks & Reserves
Discover all major national parks & game reserves per country.
- Botswana Parks 14 parks
- Eswatini Parks 6 parks
- Ethiopia Parks 9 parks
- Kenya Parks 26 parks
- Lesotho Parks 3 parks
- Madagascar Parks 21 parks
- Malawi Parks 9 parks
- Mozambique Parks 8 parks
- Namibia Parks 13 parks
- Rwanda Parks 4 parks
- South Africa Parks 42 parks
- Tanzania Parks 13 parks
- Uganda Parks 10 parks
- Zambia Parks 14 parks
- Zimbabwe Parks 8 parks
Top Rated Safari Countries
Botswana
Botswana is the leader in low-impact, upmarket tourism in one of Africa’s last wilderness areas. The beauty of the Okavango Delta can be discovered on an unforgettable game drive or exploring by mokoro (wooden dugout canoe), while Chobe National Park, Moremi Game Reserve and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve combine stunning landscapes with exceptional wildlife.
- Rates $185 to $898 pp/day
- Best Time March to May (Dry parks), June to September (Okavango, Chobe)
- High Season July to October
Eswatini
Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) is easily incorporated in a South African holiday. It offers some outstanding wildlife viewing in low-key parks, stunning scenery and traditional cultures. Mkhaya Game Reserve and Hlane Royal National Park are excellent places to see many flagship animals.
- Rates $100 to $241 pp/day
- Best Time May to September (Dry season)
- High Season December to January and July to August (It never gets very busy)
Ethiopia
Awash in cultural attractions and dramatic scenery, Ethiopia is far from ordinary. The wildlife here does not appear anywhere else on earth. Memories of being surrounded by hundreds of gelada monkeys with their swirling golden manes and bold red chests will last a lifetime. As will driving the continent’s highest road to see an Ethiopian wolf – Africa’s most endangered carnivore.
- Rates $130 to $347 pp/day
- Best Time October to December (Beautiful scenery, little rain)
- High Season October to January (Some parks get busy)
Kenya
Kenya is a top wildlife destination, recommended especially for those booking a first-time safari. The Masai Mara National Reserve offers excellent big cat encounters and is the setting for the yearly wildebeest migration. Palm-lined beaches offer a perfect place to relax after an action-packed safari.
- Rates $127 to $500 pp/day
- Best Time June to October, January to February
- High Season July to November, January and February
Lesotho
A mountainous wonderland completely surrounded by South Africa, Lesotho offers an array of adventurous options. On horseback is the best way to discover the stunning landscapes, while hiking in just about any direction is rewarding. Getting here is half the fun if you choose the hairpin bends of Sani Pass, South Africa’s most famous 4x4 track.
- Rates $164 to $164 pp/day
- Best Time January to December
- High Season December to January and July to August
Lesotho Parks & Reserves
All 3 Parks & Reserves
Madagascar
While many visitors to Madagascar come for the beautiful beaches, the island with its 50 national parks and reserves is nothing short of a top ecotourism destination. If you like an active holiday, Madagascar won’t disappoint as all wildlife viewing is done on foot. For a true adventure, you can even go out at night, looking for animals by flashlight.
- Rates $102 to $1,996 pp/day
- Best Time August to November (Less rainfall)
- High Season July, August and December (Many parks get busy)
Malawi
Malawi’s main tourist attraction is enormous Lake Malawi, with its beaches and water-based activities. The country also offers a range of safari options. Lovely Liwonde National Park has a winding river ideal for boat trips and seeing lots of elephants. Majete Wildlife Reserve is Malawi’s top Big Five destination. The rolling green hills of Nyika National Park are ideal for walking.
- Rates $240 to $632 pp/day
- Best Time July to October (Dry bush and animals easier to find)
- High Season July to October (Some parks are busy, high-season rates)
Mauritius
Mauritius is one of the most beautiful islands on Earth. But that’s just the beginning of any visit here. Reefs and a crystal-clear lagoon surround an island encircled by near-perfect beaches. The interior, too, has plenty of appeal, with rugged mountains, forest-filled valleys and a handful of endangered species, as well as an intriguing cultural and culinary mix.
- Rates $567 to $567 pp/day
- Best Time May, June and September to November
- High Season November to April
Mozambique
Mozambique’s main attractions are its islands and its endless, largely undeveloped coastline. The Quirimbas and Bazaruto archipelagos are great to relax on the beach, and to see some amazing marine life. Maputo National Park is an excellent spot for ocean safaris, as well as for seeing elephants and other terrestrial wildlife in a coastal setting. Niassa National Reserve and Gorongosa National Park both have enormous potential to become top wildlife destinations with four of the Big Five present, though tourist facilities are limited at present.
- Rates $100 to $1,022 pp/day
- Best Time April to November (Lots of sunshine and little rain)
- High Season May to October (It never gets very busy)
Namibia
Namibia is characterized by its desert habitat. The harsh environment forms a magnificent backdrop for a different kind of safari. Animal populations are smaller, but sightings in this sparse setting tend to be rewarding. Not to be missed is Etosha Pan, the largest salt pan in Africa and a seasonal wildlife magnet.
- Rates $159 to $464 pp/day
- Best Time June to October (All parks)
- High Season July to October (Etosha gets crowded)
Réunion
Rising abruptly from the sea like an ocean-going mirage, Réunion is the most dramatic of all Indian Ocean islands. The hiking here is extraordinary with views to match, and so many other activities are possible – from whale watching to white-water rafting. A visit here also means fascinating village life, enticing food and fun festivals.
- Rates $0 to $0 pp/day
- Best Time May to November (Less rain)
- High Season July, August, Christmas, Easter (Busy)
Rwanda
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is the perfect choice for an unforgettable wildlife encounter. It’s challenging, thrilling and emotional, all in one package. This small but scenic country, referred to as the Land of a Thousand Hills, has a lot more to offer though. Thirteen other primates, including chimpanzees, inhabit the lush rainforest of Nyungwe National Park, while the Big Five traipse around the savannah plains of Akagera National Park. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can head out on foot, bicycle or boat to explore the beautiful Lake Kivu region, or even conquer one of the Virunga volcano peaks.
- Rates $278 to $1,053 pp/day
- Best Time June to September (Dry season)
- High Season June to September (Gorilla permits are scarce)
Seychelles
The island archipelago nation of Seychelles combines some of the world’s most beautiful beaches with astonishing biodiversity. Island and marine wildlife, found nowhere else on the planet, bring to life this superb chain of islands, with their volcanic interiors and blissful sense of Indian Ocean isolation. Exclusive resorts, trails through montane (mountain) forest, and aromatic spice gardens are among the many highlights.
- Rates $1,058 to $1,711 pp/day
- Best Time March, April, October and November (Shoulder months)
- High Season December to February
South Africa
South Africa is one of Africa’s great wildlife destinations. Vast Kruger National Park has an abundance of animals and is one of the continent's iconic attractions. For outdoor adventure, the Blyde River Canyon is the third largest on the planet, and jagged peaks of the Drakensberg mountains punch into the sky. Cape Town hums with an urban beat, and is fringed by white sandy beaches.
- Rates $135 to $488 pp/day
- Best Time All parks: May to September, Cape Town: November to March
- High Season October to March (Crowded during school holidays)
Tanzania
Tanzania has three safari circuits and each one of them, in its own right, would make Tanzania a top wildlife destination. The popular Northern circuit with the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater offers one of the best classical safaris in Africa, especially if timed with the annual wildebeest migration.
- Rates $197 to $560 pp/day
- Best Time June to October (Migration from June to July and January to February)
- High Season July to March (Northern circuit parks get crowded)
Uganda
Uganda is a great destination to view wildlife in both forest and savannah. Not to be missed is gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable or Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks, while chimps can easily be spotted in Kibale National Park and several other locations. Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks offer wonderful savannah safaris with good wildlife viewing, as does the more remote Kidepo Valley National Park.
- Rates $233 to $637 pp/day
- Best Time June to August and December to February
- High Season June to September (It's rarely crowded)
Zambia
In Zambia, you’ll be looked after on safari by some of the best guides in Africa. They’ll happily share everything they know about the local wildlife and landscape, while safely leading you on game drives, walking safaris and even canoeing safaris along the Zambezi River.
- Rates $220 to $982 pp/day
- Best Time May to September (Most parks)
- High Season July to October (Victoria Falls and South Luangwa get busy)
Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe, tourists are few and prices are competitive. Years of political instability has paid its toll on the country, but the main parks are still cared for and well worth visiting. Hwange National Park is not to be missed, and Mana Pools National Park offers great canoeing safaris on the Zambezi River. Victoria Falls, Africa’s largest waterfall, is a must-go-to destination; standing in the spray of this powerful curtain of flowing water is both moving and majestic.
- Rates $200 to $620 pp/day
- Best Time May to September (All parks)
- High Season July to October (Only Victoria Falls gets busy)