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African Tours & Safaris

Africa has a safari for every traveler – what will your travel story be? African safari packages and tours range from bucket-list adventures to ultra-luxurious vacations and everything in between. Use the links below to find family-friendly vacations, romantic honeymoon packages, thrilling African safaris and affordable holidays. Remember, all our itineraries are totally flexible and can be changed to suit you. No time to browse? Get in touch with an Africa Safari Expert to plan a tailor-made tour around your interests, wishes and budget.

ACCOMMODATION

Africa offers a diverse range of vacation experiences with matching standards of accommodation. We are tailor-made safari specialists, which means we create an itinerary around your individual tastes, preferences and interests. We know Africa’s best hotels, safari camps and villas because we have personally tried and tested them. You can count on independent, expert advice when you book a safari through us.

Ready to be inspired? Browse our favorite safari accommodation below or view all Africa accommodation.

Africa Travel Deals

We constantly negotiate on your behalf with Africa’s top lodges and hotels to bring you vacation deals that make the most of your travel budget without compromising on the experience. There are no hidden costs: our services are free, and our travel specials are all-inclusive. If you want optional extras, we’ll let you know what they cost upfront. Our promise is to always offer you the best seasonal rates available and real value for money. Take a look at our current safari deals below:

The best African safari destinations for 2023 will be the countries that can offer visitors more than just game viewing. Countries like Southern Africa and East Africa should top the lists of places to go on safari because they can deliver a variety of experiences from seeing incredible wildlife, enjoying world-class services and cuisine to basking on exquisite beaches – without crossing international borders. An African safari is one of the best ways you can travel in 2023 because of the direct impact your trip has on protecting wildlife, conserving habitats, employing people in rural communities, and educating children across Africa – it is also one of the safest.

Why is Safari a Safe Way to Travel?

No Crowds

Wide Open Spaces

Whether you are sitting down for a delicious dinner, enjoying a thrilling game drive or transferring between camps, social distancing is inherent in the African bush. Not only does safari travel put you in the great outdoors and keep you away from crowded places, but it also provides you with the healthiest natural air to breathe.

Every Detail is Taken Care Of

When both your satisfaction and your budget are at risk in a destination with foreign cultures, unusual logistics and a diverse offering of accommodation, you want to work with a travel agency that’s based in Africa, like Rise Africa Safaris. Someone that’s totally plugged in and understands the important cultural ins-and-outs of the continent.

Since 2017 we’ve successfully navigated various crises and global disruptions and are committed to creating once in a lifetime trips while supporting conservation, communities and sustainability in Africa, now more than ever. Health and safety protocols are excellent throughout the continent: sanitiser stations, temperature checks, social distancing and the wearing of masks are standard practices. But the real beauty of Africa lies in its isolated safari destinations, far away from any crowds…

Best Places to Go on Safari in 2024

1. Kenya

The Origin of Safari

Kenya is very likely to deliver some of the best African safaris in 2023. From unforgettable family safaris with child-friendly activities to exclusive hideaways for couples and honeymooners, there’s not much that beats a Kenya safari. The standards of service are high and Kenya’s top destinations offer luxury African safari accommodation ranging from lavish, colonial-style lodges to contemporary boutique hotels and authentic tented camps

Masai Mara

The Masai Mara’s rolling plains provide a sanctuary for an abundance of animals like elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, hyena and the Mara’s famous big cats: lion, leopard and cheetah. The reserve’s astonishing density of wildlife offers a spectacular safari experience no matter what time of the year you visit, and the wide-open plains and mild climate mean that vegetation is never too dense to see animals. We recommend staying in the private conservancies that are contiguous with the national reserve. These exclusive conservation areas offer uncrowded game viewing, walking safaris, and night game drives while staying at some of the best luxury African safari lodges in Kenya.

Laikipia

The high plains of Laikipia lie to the northeast of the Great Rift Valley and are increasingly recognised as one of Kenya’s best-kept secrets. Almost the size of Wales, the Laikipia region is home to some of Kenya’s most encouraging conservation success stories, like the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a sanctuary for black and white rhinos as well as Grevy’s zebra. This hidden gem destination sees low visitor numbers and features excellent family-friendly safari lodges and camps. You won’t need to escape any crowds on your 2024 African safari in Laikipia.

2. South Africa

A World in One Country

When it comes to complete holiday destinations in Africa, South Africa is seriously tough to beat. The country offers its visitors a plethora of unique experiences and arguably the best tourism infrastructure network on the continent. Daily commercial flights link all its major cities, while chartered airplanes can easily get you to safari lodges that have their own private airstrips. From Big 5 safaris at luxurious lodges and the world’s best land-based whale watching to gastronomic delights amid magnificent rolling vineyards, South Africa has it all and then some. Plus, you can crown your South Africa safari with some well-deserved R&R along the country’s stunning coastline

Our Picks:

Cape Town

Bathed in over 3 000 hours of sunshine a year, South Africa’s oldest city offers visitors a smorgasbord of activities while being immersed in its incredible natural beauty. Table Mountain, gorgeous beaches and surrounding wine valleys provide an elegant, Mediterranean twist to a South Africa safari while culinary excellence can be relished at Cape Town’s award-winning restaurants. If visiting between July and September, add a sojourn in Hermanus to experience the world’s best land-based whale watching. And if you’re in the mood for a family road trip, consider an unforgettable self-drive holiday along the Garden Route: one of Africa’s most beautiful stretches of coastline.

3. Tanzania

The Ultimate Bush-to-Beach Destination

Safari happens almost everywhere you look in Tanzania. It’s been a way of life here for decades. Few destinations in Africa can rival Tanzania’s sheer diversity of wildlife and landscapes. From the never-ending savannah of the Serengeti to the beaches and coral reefs of tropical Zanzibar, a Tanzania safari delivers one fascinating experience after another.

4. Uganda

More Than Just Gorillas

There are only about 900 mountain gorillas left on Earth and trekking into their native forests is the only way to see these critically endangered primates, as they cannot survive in captivity. No other wildlife encounter can rival sitting with endangered gorillas in their natural habitat and observing the fascinating family dynamics of our ancient relatives. The emerald rainforests of Uganda are incredible destinations for gorilla trekking – the continent’s most powerful wildlife experience – and the country’s trekking permits are among the most affordable in Africa. Plus, Uganda offers the chance to augment your gorilla trekking experience with one-of-a-kind chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park as well as fantastic game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park. If you’re looking for some of the most diverse African safari tours in 2024, look no further than Uganda.

5. Zambia

Birthplace of The Walking Safari

Although a visit to the world-renowned grandeur of Victoria Falls should be on everyone’s Zambia safari itinerary, it’s the country’s hidden gem locations that are among some of Africa’s most under-rated safari destinations. Zambia is home to an alluring network of national parks that are often less visited than their counterparts in South Africa, Botswana, Kenya and Tanzania. The country boasts some of Africa’s wildest and most remote corners, but you’ll be far from roughing it on a Zambia safari. You can enjoy sensational big game viewing accompanied by some of the best safari guides in the business, while staying at luxury African safari lodges and camps. A long-time favourite among safari connoisseurs, Zambia doesn’t attract the crowds that cluster around sightings in the better-known parks of Africa. The raw and undisturbed beauty of Zambia will undoubtedly stage some of the best African safaris in 2024.

6.Zimbabwe

Wildlife, Adventures & Stunning Landscapes

Victoria Falls and all its wares might have put Zimbabwe on the international travel map, but this treasure of a country is so much more than an iconic waterfall. Zimbabwe is one of Southern Africa’s most rewarding big game safari destinations, offering off-the-beaten-track adventures in hidden gems, classic safari experiences in big game country, and thrilling activities in Africa’s adventure capital

Zimbabwe is an authentic, rugged destination, specially recommended for travellers returning to Africa, for an experience remote from much-travelled regions. In addition to delivering superb game viewing in the care of some of the most respected guides in the business, a Zimbabwe vacation offers classic tented camps that are comfortable without being ostentatious, wholesome cuisine, and one of the warmest welcomes in the world, wherever you go.

If this is not enough reason why you should visit Zimbabwe, here are our favourite qualities that the country has to offer:

 Adventure Activities in Victoria Falls

Few African destinations can compete with Victoria Falls for sheer visual drama. At its full, roaring peak, the ‘Smoke that Thunders’ is one of the continent’s most mesmerising sights, leaving visitors lightly soaked and absolutely exhilarated at the same time. The Falls are on the mighty Zambezi River, which means you can see them from either Zambia or Zimbabwe. Arguably, the best on-foot views are from Zimbabwe’s side – so lovely, in fact, that explorer David Livingstone declared that they must have been gazed on by angels.

But the picturesque view of an angelic waterfall isn’t the only thing Victoria Falls has to offer. This iconic destination is also known as Africa’s adventure capital – a nickname earned for the many exciting pastimes afforded to the thrill-seekers among us.

Water lovers will delight in experiencing the mighty Zambezi River white river rafting, canoeing and on sunset cruises. Or, take to the sky and enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Vic Falls with a helicopter or microlight flight (a lightweight aircraft that carries no more than 2 people). Lastly, get your adrenaline pumping while exploring the width and length of the waterfall through bungee jumping, ziplining and gorge swinging

Incredible Wildlife Sightings

Victoria Falls is just one of the many beautiful places in Zimbabwe. The Southern African country is also home to 11 national parks, all of which are vast, wonderful and delightfully unpolished. A few of Zimbabwe’s national parks also boast some of the most abundant wildlife populations in Africa.

Zimbabwe’s flagship reserve is Hwange National Park, a short drive from Victoria Falls and home to a full cast of your favourite mammals, from lions, leopards and hyenas to big herds of elephant and buffalo, elegant antelope, giraffe and zebra. Add to these characters the wildlife of the Zambezi River – hippos, crocodiles and shy water buck and you’re on safari in Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park, where activities include game drives, canoe adventures and walking safaris

Off-the-Beaten-Path Safaris in Zimbabwe’s Hidden Gems

Zimbabwe’s lesser-known destinations offer some unique experiences that make them well worth the effort of getting there. Fly into Matusadona National Park, set on the shores of Lake Kariba, a haven for rhinos and elephants and home to a thriving lion population. Lucky visitors may even get the chance to tick off both black and white rhinos.

The far-flung wilderness of neighbouring Gonarezhou National Park and the adjoining Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve is hard to beat. This underdeveloped wilderness promises stunning scenery and diverse game viewing. Its remote setting makes this fly-in destination romantically adventurous and immensely rewarding, featuring big-tusker elephants, all the big cats and nearly 400 bird species.

Matobo National Park is one of Zimbabwe’s smaller reserves, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in incredible, untouched natural beauty and an exciting rhino population. The park is named after its signature feature, Matobo Hills – the famous rock formation of balancing rocks in Zimbabwe. It’s amongst Matobo National Park’s balancing rocks here in Zimbabwe that you can find the ancient San (Bushman) paintings and early Stone Age settlements.

Exceptional Luxury Safari Lodges

Zimbabwe’s lodges, hotels and camps are just as beautiful as the attractive safari destinations they are found in. The wide range of accommodations cater to every type of traveller, from the bush-camper wanting a more authentic experience to the luxury safari enthusiast who prefers the finer things in life.

Whether you’re being sprayed by the downpour of Victoria Falls or enjoying night drives in the exclusive private reserves of Hwange and Mana Pools, there is sure to be a space that meets your every want and need.

Convenient Travel Logistics

Zimbabwe’s location in Southern Africa and reliable flight connections make travel logistics a breeze. This brilliant destination is easily combined with other safari gems, including the world-famous Kruger National Park in South Africa and Botswana’s game-rich Okavango Delta.

And since the other half of Victoria Falls can be found in neighbouring Zambia, you’re just a hop and a skip away from enjoying a walking safari in the renowned South Luangwa National Park.

Round your trip off with some rest and relaxation by the sea. Cape Town’s Blue Beaches are the perfect place to unwind after a week-long safari. Or, maybe you prefer a more paradisical locale? Mozambique’s coast and the tropical islands of Mauritius, Madagascar and Seychelles are ideal choices.

6. Namibia

A Dream World in Real Life

Namibia is a place where the concept of ‘vastness’ can not only be truly comprehended, but also felt. It is of course the gigantic, incomparable sand dunes of the ancient Namib Desert that feature most prominently on a Namibia holiday itinerary. But this Southern African country, lying between the Kalahari and the Atlantic Ocean, has much more up its sleeve.

Huge, sparsely populated Namibia is a country of gigantic skies and dramatic scenery. Destinations such as Damaraland, the shipwreck-strewn Skeleton Coast, or the Kaokoveld literally echo with emptiness and atmosphere, yet excellent lodges are tucked away in these remote regions and provide intrepid travellers with havens of serenity and comfort. And there’s a lot more wildlife than you might think!

If spotting unique animals is on your wish list, then the Namibia wildlife won’t disappoint. Excellent game viewing is what you’ll get at Etosha National Park, famous for its animal-packed waterholes and abundant predators. Small populations of desert-adapted elephant, black rhino, giraffe, ostrich, oryx, and lion can be seen in off-the-beaten-path destinations like Damaraland and Kaokoveld. These unique animals have adapted their lifestyles to survive in one of our planet’s harshest environments, and spotting them is a highlight on any Namibia safari.

A Namibia holiday is ideal for wildlife enthusiasts, while its decent road infrastructure and easy-to-access destinations provide straightforward self-drive safaris for more independent travellers. Some of the best lodges in Namibia are remote, luxurious and exclusive accommodations that make for romantic holidays to Namibia for couples, while families with children will be delighted by the country’s safe, well-functioning and friendly nature.

 A Place of Otherworldly Landscapes

If you’ve been researching a trip to this country, you’ve probably come across phrases like ‘Namibia moonscape’ or ‘Namibia welwitschia plains’. The Namib Desert, the oldest desert on Earth, not only makes the country one of the least densely populated places in the world, it’s also responsible for providing unrivalled, see-it-to-believe-it Namibia landscapes.

The Namib’s enormous sand dunes, arid gravel plains, and mountainous terrain make Namibia’s scenery and landscapes some of the most dramatic you will ever see. In fact, in some areas of Namibia, you’ll feel like you’ve landed on Mars.

• Glide over Sossusvlei’s soaring red sand dunes on a hot-air balloon safari.
• Visit the eerily beautiful Deadvlei (‘dead marsh’).
• Explore Damaraland’s untamed and rugged beauty.
• Go on 4×4 excursions and guided beach walks along the hauntingly beautiful Skeleton Coast.
• Peer into the depths of the Fish River Canyon, our planet’s second largest canyon.
• Be awestruck by the stargazing in the NamibRand Nature Reserve, the only International Dark Sky Reserve in Africa and the second place on Earth that was designated with Gold Tier status.

One-of-a-Kind Game Viewing Opportunities

During Namibia’s dry season (May to October), the temporary water holes around Etosha Pan become a magnet for animal numbers of biblical proportions. Etosha National Park is dominated by this colossal mineral pan (the size of Holland), while the surrounding grasslands are feeding grounds for dense herds of plains game and Namibia wildlife like elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, cheetah and giraffe.

Damaraland is home to small populations of desert-adapted elephant, black rhino, giraffe, ostrich, oryx and springbok (gazelle). Desert-adapted elephants can travel up to 70 kilometres (40 miles) a day through the desert in search for food and water – and unlike their larger savannah cousins, they don’t destroy any trees in their quest for nourishment.

Kaokoveld is an otherworldly and mountainous landscape of rugged beauty. The region is a refuge for rare desert-adapted lion, elephant, black rhino, giraffe and oryx. The nomadic lions of Kaokoveld have adapted their lifestyles to survive in one of the world’s harshest environments. Sustenance is difficult to come by in the desert, so these powerful cats have learned how to take down big animals like giraffe and even elephant.

See enormous numbers of Namibia wildlife in Etosha during the dry season.

• Track desert-adapted rhino on foot in Damaraland.
• Search for rare desert-dwelling elephant and lion in Kaokoveld.
• Spot Cape fur seals and the elusive brown hyena on Skeleton Coast safaris.
• The Caprivi Strip in Namibia is a birdwatching paradise

The Ultimate Adventure Playground

When it comes to sheer scale and natural beauty, Namibia’s epic landscapes are hard to beat. Imagine ochre sand dunes more than 300 metres (985 feet) high, soaring inselbergs, or a tempestuous coastline scattered with shipwrecks and whale- and seal bones.

From sandboarding down the dunes of our planet’s oldest desert to climbing the granite flanks of the ‘Matterhorn of Africa’, a Namibia vacation offers a plethora of activities for thrill seekers.

• Hike through the second largest canyon in the world, the Fish River Canyon.
• Slide down the Namib’s massive dunes on a sandboard.
• Go rock climbing at Spitzkoppe, an inselberg rising high above the desert plains of Damaraland.
• Mountain bike the singletracks through the Namibia moonscape outside Swakopmund.
• Enjoy an early-morning balloon ride over the spectacular Sossusvlei dunes.

Meet the Desert Specialists

Journey to a remote corner of the Kalahari to meet the San Bushmen. This indigenous hunter-gatherer society still uses Stone Age technology, yet they possess a knowledge of their environment that researchers are only just beginning to comprehend. Their understanding of the natural environment is extraordinary to witness, and their survival skills are beyond belief.

The Himba are an indigenous people living in the Kaokoveld region of northern Namibia. Meeting them is among the top cultural interactions you can have in Africa. They are famous for covering themselves with otjize paste – a cosmetic mixture of butterfat and ochre pigment – to protect themselves from the harsh, hot and dry desert climate. It gives the Himba’s skin and hair a very distinctive style, texture and orange-red tinge.

• Learn about the extraordinary survival skills of the San Bushmen, the first cultures of Southern Africa.
• Spend time with the Himba, considered the last remaining nomadic people of Namibia.

7. Botswana

Much More Than a Classic Safari Destination

From lunar-like desert landscapes and open grasslands to riverine forests and papyrus-lined canals, Botswana vacations deliver the very best in land- and water safari experiences. Furthermore, you can combine luxury and adventure in some of the world’s remotest locations, while the magical sights and sounds of Africa leave you with memories you’ll cherish forever.

Botswana’s Okavango Delta is arguably one of the most sought-after safari destinations on Earth. Travellers come here to experience the world’s biggest inland wetland that is completely surrounded by a desert. Tourists also flock to Chobe National Park to witness the highest concentrations of wild elephants anywhere in Africa.

Desert, delta, rivers and baobabs, unusual species like lechwe and sitatunga, sensational birdwatching, an annual zebra migration, exquisite safari accommodation… Botswana really does have it all.

One-of-a-Kind Safari Activities

The diversity in Botswana’s terrain lends itself to an array of unique activities to suit virtually anyone with an interest in the outdoors. Whether it’s your first trip to Botswana or your tenth, there is always something exciting and new to experience in one of Africa’s friendliest countries.

From gliding through the Okavango Delta’s tranquil waterways on a traditional mokoro (think of it as the ‘Venice of Safari’) to socialising with a family of Kalahari meerkats, Botswana vacations offer the kind of experiences found nowhere else in Africa.

• Go on mokoro excursions and boat cruises – some of Africa’s best aquatic safari activities.
• Meet and interact with habituated meerkats.
• Enjoy quad bike (ATV) rides and desert sleepouts on Makgadikgadi Pans – one of the biggest salt flats on Earth.
• Go game viewing on horseback – one of the best things to do in Botswana.
• Learn about the life of one of the oldest cultures on Earth – meet the San Bushmen of the Kalahari.
• Get a bird’s eye view of the Okavango Delta on helicopter and balloon safaris.

Phenomenal Game Viewing All Year Round

Thanks to a mild climate and an abundance of wildlife in heavyweight destinations like the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park, Botswana vacations deliver superb safari experiences any time of the year.

The Big 5 (elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion and leopard) tops the list of what to see on a Botswana safari for every first-time visitor. Rare and unusual wildlife like wild dog, brown hyena, lechwe and sitatunga are also very special sightings. But if you want to experience Botswana in all its game-viewing glory, head to Chobe to see colossal elephant herds and Savuti or Moremi for a predator spectacle.

• Track the Big 5 in the Okavango Delta’s Moremi Game Reserve.
• See our planet’s biggest elephant herds on a Chobe safari.
• Encounter Savuti’s powerful lion prides – famous for taking down big animals like buffalo, giraffe and even elephants.
• Enjoy excellent leopard sightings in Moremi.
• Spot rare and unusual animals like wild dog, brown hyena, sable, red lechwe and sitatunga.

Some of the Finest Safari Lodges & Camps in Africa

Despite some camps being situated on remote islands in the heart of the Okavango Delta, they still take ‘glamping’ to a new level with facilities like spas, gyms, outdoor bathtubs and private plunge pools. You may even find swimming pool pavilions and in-room, wood burning stoves in the middle of the Kalahari!

Consistently rated as one of the best luxury safari destinations in Africa, Botswana offers a range of exclusive lodges and camps for travellers in search of privacy. Properties situated in private game reserves also deliver superb flexibility for activities on luxury Botswana safaris – their guides may drive off the tracks when searching for animals, most offer night game drives, and some even offer guided walking safaris. Botswana’s private game reserves protect some of the last great wildlife wildernesses on Earth and contain just a handful of intimate camps – most of which are only accessibly by light aircraft or boat.

• Stay at some of the most luxurious safari camps in Africa.
• Enjoy off-road game viewing, night drives, and walking safaris – exclusive to camps in private game reserves.
• Discover secluded lodges situated on small islands in the Okavango Delta.

The Best Off-the-Beaten-Path Safari Destinations

From the evergreen labyrinth of the Okavango Delta to the rolling savannah of the mysterious Savuti and the far-flung stretches of the Makgadikgadi salt flats, Botswana vacations deliver the ultimate off-the-map safari adventures.

Holding almost a mythical status, the Okavango Delta is at the heart of Botswana’s safari attractions and best explored by boat or mokoro (a traditional dug-out canoe that is propelled through shallow waters by skilfully pushing a pole). The Makgadikgadi Pans are the remnants of a superlake that once covered an area bigger than Switzerland. It’s a gigantic, near-desolate landscape scattered with fossils and patrolled by curious meerkats and arcane brown hyenas.

Then there are the vast plains of the Kalahari, offering an astounding antidote to the modern world. This is where to go in Botswana to meet the San Bushmen, the first cultures of Southern Africa whose centuries-old adaptation to this harsh environment is legendary.

• Explore the Okavango Delta’s myriad of waterways under the watchful eyes of kingfishers and fish eagles.
• Be awestruck by the seemingly endless space of the Makgadikgadi Pans – the photographic opportunities are exceptional.
• Discover the mysterious Savuti area, home to a mercurial water channel and notoriously large lion prides and hyena clans.
• Journey to remote corners of the Kalahari to witness Botswana’s zebra migration, the longest terrestrial wildlife migration in Africa.

Easy Logistics & Convenient Add-Ons

Thanks to dedicated airports that service the Okavango Delta and Chobe regions, you can enjoy quick and easy air transfers on a Botswana vacation. Many of the private game reserves have airstrips, which makes flying in via light aircraft effortless.

Because of regular flights and accessibility to other blockbuster destinations like South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, it’s easy to augment your Botswana vacation. Adding a visit to beautiful Cape Town, the gigantic Victoria Falls, or Namibia’s ancient desert landscapes is very straightforward.

• Quick and easy air transfers between Botswana’s safari destinations.
• Dedicated airstrips in private game reserves.
• Easily add South Africa, Zimbabwe or Namibia to your Botswana vacation itinerary.