12 “camps” to stay at when on an African Safari!

This post ties in with my “African Safaris – the Trip of a Lifetime” post and is basically part two; I’m not going to go into lot’s of detail, but rather I’m going to give you a pictorial view of what it’s like to go on safari in style. I’ll be listing them in the same order as the partner post to keep things easy.

When I say “camps”, know that I’m not talking about roughing it, though you can do that, it doesn’t mean sleeping in a tent in a sleeping bag on the ground, hoping something creepy crawly doesn’t makes it way into your bed, or tramples and eats you in the middle of the night. Rather it means experiencing all the wild outdoors has to offer, in a full size bed with linens and gourmet meals. it’s about experiencing these things not just comfortably, but in luxury!

So whether you want to experience The Big 5 (Lions, Buffalo, Elephants, Rhinos, Leopard), do water tours, see the Gorillas, experience red sand deserts, see Victoria Falls, get close (but not too close!) to hippos and alligators, or climb Mount Kilimanjaro I can help you achieve this adventure.

Whether you’re looking to travel alone, as a couple or are looking for group bookings, contact me and I’ll work to put together a custom package suited just for you. See my How It Works page for details.

Botswana – Peak season is April to October
Spanning across 600 370km2 (231,788 miles²) Botswana is one of Africa’s most popular tourism destinations. Located in southern Africa, just north of South Africa, Botswana is bordered by South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe and is home to over 1.5 million people.  The Kalahari Desert covers over 80% of Botswana resulting in its climate being mostly arid to semi-arid. Rainfall occurs mainly in summer with the peak times being in January.

Kenya: Peak season is July to October during the Great Migration. Kenya is a country in East Africa with coastline on the Indian Ocean. It encompasses savannah, lakelands, the dramatic Great Rift Valley and mountain highlands and a magical coastline. It’s also home to wildlife like lions, elephants and rhinos. From Nairobi, the capital, safaris visit the Maasai Mara Reserve, known for its annual wildebeest migrations, and Amboseli National Park, offering views of Tanzania’s 5,895m Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Namibia: Peak season June to October. Namibia, a country in southwest Africa, is distinguished by the Namib Desert along its Atlantic Ocean coast. The country is home to diverse wildlife, including a significant cheetah population. The capital, Windhoek, and coastal town Swakopmund contain German colonial-era buildings such as Windhoek’s Christuskirche, built in 1907. In the north, Etosha National Park’s salt pan draws game including rhinos and giraffes.

Rwanda: Best time to go Gorilla trekking any time – permit needed.
Rwanda is most known for wonderful gorilla trekking and that is the driving force for the bulk of tourism. Gorilla trekking is definitely one of the pinnacle wildlife experiences. Rwanda has the best logistics for high quality gorilla trekking, and because it is a very small country it is possible to get a lot of flavor for the place during a 2 to 3 night stay to focus on the gorillas.

Uganda: Best time to go June to September – permit needed for gorilla or chimpanzee trekking.
Gorilla trekking is the driving force of tourism in Uganda as well as their excellent chimpanzee treks making this the ultimate country for safari focused on great-apes. Between Bwindi (where the gorillas are) and Kibale (where the best chimp viewing is) lies Queen Elizabeth National Park so it is usually included as well, to see general game for those doing both gorillas and chimps. 

Zambia: Best time to go June to November
Zambia is often referred to as The Real Africa. Of course all other safari areas are very real too, but Zambian safaris are rightfully distinguished by the expedition of old adventure that they deliver under the care of exceptional guides, in out of the way wilderness areas teeming with wildlife. South Luangwa National Park is the birthplace of walking safaris. It is a rare treat to walk in areas where animals are habituated to humans on foot. In Lower Zambezi National Park river activities add to the adventure, with canoeing and power boating. Game drives can be exclusive with very few vehicles in the areas. Night drives are extremely good in the Zambian parks as well.

Zimbabwe: Best time to go for Victoria Falls February to May
Zimbabwe is best known as the home of Victoria Falls, and that remains its biggest attraction. Many safari goers to Botswana and/or South Africa add on Victoria Falls but do nothing else within Zimbabwe. Safari insiders know that Zimbabwe is legendary for its guides. Zimbabwe has the most stringent guide exams, much of it focused on walking.

South Africa: Best time to visit is May to October
The best place for safari is in private reserves adjacent to the Kruger National Park. This is without a doubt the easiest quality area in Africa to see the Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino), and often times you may see all 5 species in a single day. And the premier location to see leopards. The lodging tends to be very upscale walled chalets, and tented camps are few. It is common for lodges to have internet connections, gyms, and spas to use between game drives.

A safari means different things to different people, but how you stay can make all the difference. The inspirations above are rated among some of the best in each country, so whatever your preferences and priorities to see the beauty of Africa you can experience it all in style!

Looking to book? Remember, I’m here for all your luxury travel needs.

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Thanks – Maria