Must-Have Experiences on Your African Safari Adventure
A safari offers an immersive, once-in-a-lifetime glimpse into Africa’s untamed landscape. Whether you’re gazing down on herds of wildebeest during the Great Migration or watching baby elephants splash in the seasonal pools of the Okavango Delta, each animal sighting is a thrill.
Of course, each region and season has its own unique wildlife-viewing experiences. Consider incorporating these five must-have activities into your trip to ensure you get the most out of your safari.
Take a Walk in the Bush
A walk in the bush offers a more intimate experience with Africa’s natural environment. It’s a chance to smell the earth, hear birds chirping overhead, and spot wild animals from eye level.
Many lodges in Southern and East Africa offer walking safari experiences with experienced guides. You’ll learn tracking skills, read animal tracks in the sand, and explore remote wilderness areas that vehicles can’t access.
Zambia has excellent walking opportunities at its pristine wildlife-rich parks, including South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi. You’ll also find the new wetlands of the Okavango Delta in Botswana Safari, where water-based activities like mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) are a highlight. Kenya is the home of the classical safari and offers a variety of landscapes and ecosystems. Witness rhino rehabilitation in Laikipia, search for rare northern species in Samburu and follow the great migration through the Serengeti.
Go Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla trekking is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to encounter mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. This profound adventure takes you into the misty mountains of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda or Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda for an intimate wildlife encounter while contributing to their conservation.
You’ll learn about their social structures, including their hierarchies and family dynamics, as well as their habitats. You’ll also see their playful and charming natures up close. During the trek, loud clicks and whirring can scare them, so you must be silent.
The best time for a gorilla trek is during the drier seasons of December to February and June to September. This is because these primates live in rainforests, so tracking them during the dry periods is easier.
Visit Victoria Falls
This iconic landmark is an unforgettable natural wonder on the mighty Zambezi River. It is the world’s most giant curtain of falling water, with a width of 1,708 meters (5,604 feet) and a height of 108 meters (354 feet).
The locals call it Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke That Thunders), and it’s a must-see on any African safari adventure. You can walk the paths around the waterfall, lined with rainforest and cheeky monkeys and baboons, or take a more daring tour to swim in Devil’s Pool during low water levels.
The surrounding national parks are also epic and home to African wildlife, including elephants, lions, and giraffes. Then, there are the dunes of Sossusvlei, where you can find towering white salt dunes and eerie dead trees.
See the Great Migration
One of Africa’s most amazing wildlife experiences is witnessing the Great Migration. From July through mid-October, over 1.5 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra trek from The Serengeti to the lush grasslands of the Masai Mara for fresh grazing. It’s nature’s most excellent dramatic journey.
This epic event culminates in a dangerous river crossing of the Mara River – beset with eddying currents, steep riverbanks, and crocodiles waiting to take the unsuspecting herds down. The herds eventually make it across, and once again, they set off south for The Serengeti. And so the cycle repeats itself year after year. It is a truly unforgettable spectacle and an unforgettable safari experience.
Go Boating
Something about the smell of a savannah at sunrise or the sight of a herd of wildebeest crossing a grassy plain draws you in and puts you at one with the wilderness. It’s a feeling that reaches far beyond the open savannah and into your soul, making a safari a once-in-a-lifetime experience for every traveler.
From the classic savannahs of Kenya to vistas of snowcapped Kilimanjaro, witness Africa’s most iconic wildlife and landscapes on a traditional safari. On morning and afternoon game drives, observe herds of elephants and zebra in their natural habitat and follow the Great Migration on an expert-designed itinerary. Navigate channels and lakes on a mokoro (dugout canoe) safari to see the bush from a different perspective, or take a guided horseback safari to encounter a game on the ground.
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