Five Top Safari Destinations

in Safari Destinations by Araneta&Tan — September 2, 2009 at 3:21 pm | 0 comments

There are so many great wildlife parks in Africa that it can be hard to know where to start. Although it is impossible to say that any one area provides the best safaris as they all have their highlights, the following five are generally accepted to be amongst the top picks for people going on a photo safari. So which do you choose? Here’s a run down of what you can expect to find in each one.

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Quite simply, the Serengeti has it all. Vast amounts of wildlife, huge open plains, a mix of campsites and luxury lodges – any trip here will provide you with the complete experience. This is the Africa of the storybooks, the romantic wilderness where huge wild animals walk the plains. It is also the setting for the great migration of the ungulates, so head here in July and you will be treated to one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth and one of the top safaris you could experience.

Ngorongro Crater, Tanzania

Located near to the Serengeti, Ngorongro Crater is another of the stand-out safari destinations in Tanzania, a country that has been blessed with its huge number and variety of wildlife. Whereas the Serengeti is made up of flat plains and rocky outcrops, Ngorongro Crater is a vast volcanic crater that was formed during a huge eruption millions of years ago.

The size of the crater is simply awe-inspiring, and the formation of the land is worth seeing in itself. But in addition to this, the crater has become home to up to 30,000 animals, boasting the greatest concentration of different animals anywhere in Africa. So if you want to enjoy one of the top safaris around by combining an enormous variety of animals with a truly magnificent landscape, this cannot be beaten.

Kruger National Park, South Africa

Kruger National Park is the location for the best safaris in South Africa, and one of the best places on the continent. At 7,332 square miles it is a vast area situated in the east of the country, and is one of the biggest game parks in the world. A pleasant year-round climate and the reduced presence of malaria combine with the 147 species of mammal – more than anywhere else in Africa – and over 500 species of bird, to make this a wildlife extravaganza that is a top photographer destination throughout the year.

Okavango Delta, Botswana

The Okavango Delta is the biggest inland delta in the world, and takes up a large portion of Botswana. This vast wetland area provides a very different safari destination from the dry savannah, but there is no lack of animals. You’ll find all the main animals here, as well as over 400 species of bird, and the landscape is truly unique, constantly changing and always exciting. Take a boat trip from island to island and travel silently through the water, observing the animals close up in this unique natural habitat.

Masai Mara, Kenya

The Masai Mara is the smaller Kenyan sister of the Serengeti in Tanzania, as it is essentially one large area that spans the two countries’ borders. This is one of the safari destinations for spotting wildlife, and it attracts a huge number of tourists every year. It is very well developed and easy to access, and its vast populations of all the major animals adds to its draw. The stunning savannah is a wonderful backdrop for photographs, especially at dawn and dusk. And if you head here in November you will be able to witness the Kenyan side of the great migration of the ungulates.