Selous Game Reserve

Getting its name from Frederick Courteney Selous, the British explorer who inspired the fictional character Allan Quartermain, Selous Game Reserve is one of the biggest in the world. Situated in the south of Tanzania, it is a rugged, isolated wilderness that was granted the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 for its stunning array of wildlife. Here you will find more African wild dogs, elephants, hippos and crocodiles than anywhere else in Africa.

Compared to the frequently visited northern parks, the Selous is truly wild. You are unlikely to bump into anyone else on your photo safari, and if you take a walking safari here then you’ll get an experience like no other. Highlights include the 100-metre-deep Stiegler canyon, and the mighty river Rufiji.

Mikumi National Park

Situated near Morogoro, Mikumi is the fourth-largest national park in Tanzania. It borders Selous Game Reserve, and together the two form one giant ecosystem. With a similar savannah landscape to the Serengeti, you will find incredible rock formations here as well as huge amount wildlife. Lions, giraffes, zebras, elephants and buffalos are present in large numbers, as well as over 400 species of bird. Between May and November is the best time of the year to head here on your photographic safari.

Ruaha National Park

The Ruaha is the biggest national park in the country, and is situated right next to the Selous. It is home to the Great Ruaha River, which provides excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing. There are a huge number of elephants here, about 10,000 in all, and well over 400 species of bird, including kingfishers, sunbirds and white storks, making it a fantastic destination for photo safaris.

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire is only the sixth biggest national park in Tanzania, but it offers some superb game -viewing opportunities. Situated near to Lake Manyara, it is easily accessed from major towns like Arusha. It is divided in half by the Tarangire River, which provides great opportunities for game viewing as it becomes the only source of water for animals during the dry season, attracting them in huge numbers. A massive elephant population is another huge draw for visitors going on a photo safari. Its terrain comprises floodplains, hills and wide, open grassland dotted with acacias and baobab trees.

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.

Ngorongoro Crater

Located only 112 miles away from Arusha, Ngorongoro Crater is very easy to reach for people heading there on a safari. And in terms of wildlife you will be spoilt for choice when you head to the crater as you will be able to find all of the ‘Big Five’ animals in one location. Lions, leopards and elephants are all present in abundance, as well as nearly all of the other exciting animals that you could hope to see on a safari. One really special treat are the back rhinos, because the crater is one of the only places in the wild where they are still breeding.

Ngorongoro Crater is also situated relatively near to the mighty Serengeti, meaning many people choose to visit both of these wildlife havens during a single safari for an experience that is hard to equal. One of the most amazing events at the Serengeti is the migration of the ungulates, including zebra and wildebeest, so head here between July to September to witness this incredible spectacle.

But it’s not just the animals that attract visitors to the crater. When you go to Ngorongoro Crater you will also almost certainly come face to face with the tribesmen who live in the area. Dressed in brilliant colours and always armed with their spears, a photo of a tribesman will look great on your wall at home – but don’t expect to take a picture for free as they’ll expect a few dollars for the privilege.

Masai tribe at Ngorongoro Crater

The area is also incredibly important for its hominid remains. Nearby to Ngorongoro Crater you can visit Olduvai Gorge, the site of the oldest homo habilis remains ever found on earth and the cradle of humanity. The crater highlands also offer great hiking opportunities, and if you are really adventurous you can head to the active volcano, Ol Doinyo Lengai, during your trip.

Ngorongoro Crater certainly lives up to its name as one of the natural wonders of the world. Head here on a safari and you’ll get to experience so much more than just the animals. The spectacular scenery, the people and the sheer scale of it will mean you’ll have some truly great photos to show your friends on your return home.

Chimpanzees in Gombe National Park

Chimpanzees are our closest evolutionary relatives, sharing 94% of our DNA. They are incredible creatures whose profound intelligence allows them to recognise numbers and to use tools. But unfortunately these amazing apes are, like so many primates across the world, endangered. In fact, some estimates predict that only 300,000 of them remain in the wild.

One person who knows more about chimpanzees than just about anyone else is Jane Goodall. In 1960 Goodall began a research programme in Gombe Stream National Park in western Tanzania. Her research has since cast light onto many areas of the previously unknown lives of these amazing creatures. For example, it was Goodall who first discovered that chimps used tools just like humans. Since she arrived in Gombe, she has also set up the Jane Goodall Institute to protect chimpanzees across the world.

Jane Goodall

If you are amazed by chimpanzees and would like to see them in the wild, then you can head to Gombe Stream National Park yourself to see them in the wild. Located on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, it is a wild place only accessible by boat. But if you want an adventure then you can head here on a chimpanzee safari to try to catch a glimpse of the animals. The best time to visit the park is from May to November, the dry season, as during the rains it can become perilously slippery.

If you go to Gombe, it’s not just chimpanzees that you will become acquainted with. You will also be able to see numerous other apes including blue monkeys, olive baboons and red colobus monkeys. On top of these, you’ll also get to see other animals in the park such as leopards and elephants. So although you’ll be going on a chimpanzee safari, you’ll be seeing far more than that. However, the experience won’t come cheap. The entrance fee to the park is $100 per day, but when you get an experience that you can’t get anywhere else in the world then it has to be worth it.

If you are a keen photographer, make sure to take plenty of film with you or a big memory card for your camera. If you come across the chimps then you won’t be able to stop taking pictures. You might even want to consider turning your chimpanzee safari into a dedicated photo safari and go along with a professional photographer who can help you get the perfect snaps to take home and impress your friends.

Chimpanzees are amazing animals, and seeing them in the wild is an absolute treat. Helping to share the knowledge of these apes will also lead to better protection for them in the wild. But if you can’t go and see them yourself, then why not donate to the Jane Goodall Institute to help the good work that is being done to protect them in the wild so that future generations can enjoy them as well.