Going on a safari vacation seems to be the latest trend, and with the rising popularity comes the rising cost. But who wants to spend their wildlife adventure stuck with a load of other tourists all clicking away madly and posting to Instagram?
Seeing animals in their natural environment, away from the noise of everyday life and without the distractions we encounter daily, is a different experience from the action-packed package tours that are currently so popular.
If you’re looking for a safari adventure that goes beyond the guidebook and takes you out in the wild, where you’re making camp each night and getting up close and personal with nature, these seven wildlife destinations have it all.
No. 1 Kafue National Park in Zambia
The scale of Kafue National Park hits you the moment your plane dips low over the plains and endless grasslands broken only by winding rivers and pockets of mist. Days here have their own rhythm. You might wake before dawn to the sound of hippos grunting in the distance, a soft fog still clinging to the Busanga Plains.
It’s the most magical time for photography when the sun lifts through the mist and lions appear like ghosts against the pale grass. Later, you can float silently across the flooded meadows in a mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe, watching antelope and elephants graze so close you can hear them breathe.
At camp, there’s usually a fire going and a cold drink waiting, the air alive with night sounds. The stars stretch endlessly overhead, no city lights to dull them. Time simply slows and almost comes to a standstill. You’ll hear the rustle of dry grass, the sudden flash of a Pel’s fishing owl in flight, or the stillness before a herd of buffalo emerges on the horizon.
Before you leave, stop at one of the community markets and buy a piece of handmade craftwork directly from local artisans. It’s a simple way to give back to the people who help preserve this extraordinary place.
Safari Snapshot
- Where it is: Western Zambia, about 200 miles from Lusaka
- Getting there: Charter flight from Lusaka or a 6–8 hour drive; transfers arranged by lodges
- Best time to visit: June to October for dry weather and prime wildlife viewing
- Ideal stay: 4–6 days
- Where to stay: Shumba Camp, Mukambi Safari Lodge, Kaingu Safari Lodge
- Must-try experiences: Hot-air balloon ride over the Busanga Plains, mokoro canoe trips, and walking safaris
- Insider tip: Stay in the Nanzhila Plains for a quieter, more affordable experience
- Cultural connection: Support local artisans by buying beadwork or carvings directly from community markets
- Photography tip: Early morning fog on the plains makes for unforgettable wildlife shots
- Book it: Liuwa Plains & Kafue Safari by SafariFrank
No. 2 Ruaha National Park in Tanzania
There’s a wildness to Ruaha that you don’t experience in other parts of Tanzania. It’s where baobab trees stand like ancient guardians over red earth and dry riverbeds. In the morning, the cool air is filled with birdsong and the low rumble of elephants moving through the bush. As the sun rises, you’ll spot giraffes in the distance, their shapes outlined against the pale horizon.
Tuides read the ground, pointing out leopard tracks near a dry stream or where lions rested during the night. You might stop for coffee under a tree, the air thick with the scent of dust and wild basil, while zebras and impalas graze nearby. It’s insane being this close to them.
At night, the sky turns molten gold, and the heat gives way to a soft, comfortable warmth. Most camps are small, with open-sided tents and simple comforts. You’ll sleep to the sound of crickets and wake to the faint crackle of the campfire being rekindled. Meals are often served outdoors, the scent of woodsmoke mixing with grilled meats and fresh bread baked over coals.
Safari Snapshot
- Where it is: Southern Tanzania, about 80 miles west of Iringa
- Getting there: Charter flight from Dar es Salaam or Arusha arranged by camps
- Best time to visit: June to October for dry conditions and easier wildlife viewing
- Ideal stay: 3–5 days
- Where to stay: Jabali Ridge, Ikuka Safari Camp, or Kwihala Camp
- Must-try experiences: Walking safaris, off-road game drives, and sundowners overlooking the Great Ruaha River
- Insider tip: Visit late in the dry season when wildlife gathers at the riverbanks
- Cultural connection: Ask your guide about the local Hehe tribe and their deep ties to the land
- Photography tip: Early mornings bring dramatic light and long shadows across the baobabs
- Book it: Luxury Safaris in Ruaha National Park by Jacada Travel
No. 3 Nyerere National Park in Tanzania
If you’re looking for a safari that feels truly wild, Nyerere National Park delivers. Once part of the vast Selous Game Reserve, this is where the Rufiji River winds through open grasslands and thick woodland, drawing animals to its banks in endless numbers. The air hums with life, birds calling from every direction, monkeys rustling through the trees, and hippos grunting in the shallows.
Boat safaris are the best way to experience this landscape. You’ll drift quietly down the river, crocodiles basking on the sandbanks while elephants splash in the water just meters away. The scent of wet grass and mud hangs in the air, and you can feel the cool mist on your face when a hippo suddenly surfaces. On land, open-vehicle drives take you deeper into the park, through mopane forests and golden plains where lions lounge in the shade.
At night, your campfire flickers beside the river, the stars reflecting off the water, and you can hear hyenas calling in the distance. Many lodges here are unfenced, so it’s not unusual to wake up and find giraffes browsing just beyond your veranda.
Safari Snapshot
- Where it is: Southern Tanzania, about 130 miles southwest of Dar es Salaam
- Getting there: Charter flight from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar to one of several small airstrips
- Best time to visit: June to October for dry weather and prime wildlife viewing
- Ideal stay: 4–6 days
- Where to stay: Roho ya Selous, Sand Rivers Selous, or Siwandu Camp
- Must-try experiences: Boat safaris on the Rufiji River, walking safaris, and sunset drives through the floodplains
- Insider tip: Stay near Lake Nzerakera for a mix of river and land-based game viewing
- Cultural connection: Visit nearby villages to learn how local communities coexist with wildlife
- Photography tip: Early evening light on the Rufiji River creates mirror-like reflections and dramatic silhouettes
- Book it: Selous & Nyerere Safaris by Go2Africa
No. 4 Liuwa Plain National Park in Zambia
The first thing that strikes you about Liuwa is the vastness of the space. It stretches in every direction, a vast sweep of golden grassland where the horizon feels impossibly far away. When the rains arrive, the ground transforms into a mirror of shallow pools and soft green. The herds begin to appear; thousands of wildebeest moving in rippling waves across the plain.
You might spot cheetahs balanced on termite mounds, their tails flicking as they scan for movement, or hyenas returning from a night’s hunt. Sometimes your guide cuts the engine, and for a few long moments, there’s nothing but the wind brushing the grass and the distant call of a fish eagle.
Evenings, you’ll sit by the fire, the sky streaked pink and orange, watching lightning dance far off in the distance. The air cools quickly, and the scent of wood smoke lingers on your clothes. The only sounds are the rustle of canvas, a chorus of frogs, and the low rumble of wildebeest moving somewhere out in the dark.
Safari Snapshot
- Where it is: Far western Zambia on the Upper Zambezi floodplains
- Getting there: Charter flight to Kalabo, followed by a short lodge transfer arranged by your operator
- Best time to visit: November for the wildebeest migration or May to June for dry conditions and concentrated wildlife
- Ideal stay: 3–4 nights
- Where to stay: Time + Tide King Lewanika Lodge or seasonal mobile bush camps
- Must-try experiences: Game drives, guided walks, canoeing when the floodplains fill, and night drives to spot hyenas and lions
Insider tip: Pack for unpredictable weather, as afternoon storms can create spectacular skies but muddy tracks. - Cultural connection: Visit nearby Lozi villages to learn about traditional life on the plains
- Photography tip: The light after rainfall turns the landscape into a living mirror
- Book it: Time + Tide King Lewanika
No. 5 South Luangwa National Park in Zambia
At South Luangwa, the park is teeming with life, with elephants wandering among mahogany trees, leopards stretched out along thick branches, and hippos bellowing from the river below. The Luangwa River cuts a winding path through the park, its banks lined with tall reeds, and the sound of waterbirds calling fills the air through the heat.
You’ll move quietly through the bush at sunrise, the air cool and heavy with the scent of dust and dew. Guides stop to show you animal tracks, a feather, a crushed leaf that smells faintly of lemon. Every sense sharpens when you’re on foot, and even the sound of your boots in the grass feels amplified.
By midday, the air shimmers. You’ll head back to camp for lunch overlooking the river, watching elephants crossing in single file. As the sun dips low, game drives pick up again, often ending with a drink in hand while the sky turns every shade of gold and rose. After dark, spotlights sweep the night for leopards, civets, and genets on the prowl.
Evenings end around the fire, the air warm and still. You can hear hippos grunting and the occasional splash from the river.
Safari Snapshot
- Where it is: Eastern Zambia, bordering the Luangwa River
- Getting there: Charter flight from Lusaka to Mfuwe, followed by a short drive to your lodge
- Best time to visit: July to October for prime wildlife viewing and dry conditions
- Ideal stay: 4–6 nights
- Where to stay: Chinzombo, Tafika Camp, or Nkwali Camp
- Must-try experiences: Walking safaris, night drives, riverbank photography, and seasonal boat trips during the green season
- Insider tip: Visit toward the end of the dry season when animals crowd around the river and sightings are at their best
- Cultural connection: Stop by nearby Mfuwe village to meet textile makers and buy handwoven fabrics
- Photography tip: The golden afternoon light along the Luangwa River is perfect for silhouettes of elephants and giraffes
- Book it: South Luangwa Safaris with Robin Pope Safaris
No. 6 Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana
Makgadikgadi is another place where the horizon stretches forever, only this time it’s across a cracked salt pan that once formed the bed of an ancient lake. When the sun rises, the light turns the surface silver, and the air tastes faintly of salt. Flamingos move in loose pink clouds over the water, and the silence is so complete you can hear your own heartbeat.
During the dry months, it’s a land of mirages and endless skies. You’ll explore by quad bike, the engines kicking up fine white dust as you ride toward nothing but open space. At night, you’ll sleep out on the pan itself, wrapped in blankets under an unbroken sky of stars. The air cools fast, and when you look up, the Milky Way feels close enough to touch.
When the rains come, the pans change completely. Water fills the hollows, grass pushes through the crust, and herds of zebra and wildebeest appear almost overnight. Brown hyenas and jackals follow, and the call of flamingos fills the air. You can smell the rain long before it falls.
Safari Snapshot
- Where it is: Northeastern Botswana, part of the greater Kalahari Basin
- Getting there: Fly from Maun or Kasane to a nearby airstrip; lodges provide transfers into the pans
- Best time to visit: July to October for dry-season quad biking and sleepouts; December to March for the migration and birdlife
- Ideal stay: 3–4 nights
- Where to stay: Jack’s Camp, San Camp, or Camp Kalahari
- Must-try experiences: Quad biking across the pans, sleeping under the stars, and walking with San Bushmen trackers
- Insider tip: Visit during the green season to see one of Africa’s largest zebra migrations
- Cultural connection: Join a guided walk with the Zu/’hoasi Bushmen to learn traditional survival skills and stories passed down through generations
- Photography tip: At sunrise and sunset, the salt flats glow pink and gold — perfect for wide-angle shots
- Book it: Jack’s Camp with Natural Selection
No. 7 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (Botswana / South Africa)
Kgalagadi is desert country. It’s fierce, beautiful, and quiet in a way that stays with you. The landscape glows deep red under the sun, framed by dry riverbeds and acacia trees where oryx and springbok gather in the heat. The air smells faintly of dust and wild sage. When the wind drops, it’s utterly still, broken only by the call of a distant korhaan or the bark of a gecko from the sand.
Morning drives follow the dry Nossob and Auob riverbeds, where lions pad along the tracks and bat-eared foxes dart through the dunes. The park is famous for its black-maned Kalahari lions. Raptors circle overhead, their shadows sweeping across the dunes, and the light shifts constantly; warm gold at sunrise, white-hot by noon, then soft and amber in the evening.
Many travelers choose unfenced wilderness camps where the boundary between you and the wild barely exists. At night, you might hear hyenas calling close by or the deep, rolling roar of a lion somewhere in the dark. The stars here are brilliant. There’s no humidity or light pollution, just an endless night sky stretching above the dunes. Mornings come early, and the first thing you notice is the chill in the air, followed by the glow of the sun lifting over the sand.
Safari Snapshot
- Where it is: Spans northern South Africa and southwestern Botswana, within the Kalahari Desert
- Getting there: Drive from Upington (South Africa) or Gaborone (Botswana); 4×4 vehicles recommended
- Best time to visit: May to September for cooler days and clearer skies; December to March for dramatic storms and better predator sightings
- Ideal stay: 3–5 nights
- Where to stay: Rooiputs Lodge!Xaus Lodge, or one of the wilderness camps such as Kieliekrankie or Urikaruus
- Must-try experiences: Self-drive game viewing, night skies at wilderness camps, and tracking black-maned lions with guides
- Insider tip: The best light for photography is in the first two hours after sunrise — the dunes glow red, and wildlife is most active
- Cultural connection: Learn about San rock art and desert survival traditions from guides who grew up in the Kalahari
- Photography tip: Use a telephoto lens for predator sightings along the riverbeds, and wide shots for the dunes at sunset
- Book it: Rooiputs Lodge with Ta Shebube