WHERE TO GO ON YOUR FIRST SAFARI

African safaris are high up on travellers’ wish-lists all over the world. And why shouldn’t they be? The whistling yellow plains of the Serengeti, the wide open spaces, the vast blue skies, the feeling of being one with nature, the thrill of spotting wild animals —what’s not to love?

If you’re obsessed with everything ‘Africa’ but you’ve never had the chance to visit, then it’s definitely time to plan your first safari adventure. Planning a safari trip can be really difficult if you don’t know where to start—especially because of the numerous marketing sites that all claim to offer the best safari vacations.

First thing’s first. You need to decide which area of Africa you would like to visit. Eastern Africa has excellent areas for safaris – consisting of Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Uganda. Depending on the type of safari that you are dreaming about, you need to select the African country that you would like to visit very carefully. And, you need to keep the weather in mind because you don’t want to get caught up in the rainy seasons in Africa.

If you choose to visit East Africa, the rainy season is over April and May so it’s definitely best to avoid this part of Africa during this time. It’s also important however that you remember that wherever you go, be it a Game Reserve or National Park you will see game. You should also keep in mind that you can see most types of wildlife all over Africa so you don’t really have to choose your destination based solely on game viewing, unless you want to see something very specific.

With the weather in mind, you should then choose which country you would like to visit in Eastern or Southern Africa. This can also be tricky if you don’t know much about the different countries and what they have on offer. We’ve selected the two best places to visit in both Eastern and Southern Africa to narrow down your search.

TANZANIA

If you’re thinking of visiting Eastern Africa then Tanzania is absolutely perfect for first time safari-goers. In fact, we go so far as to say that it is the ultimate safari destination for first timers. It is perfectly beautiful and it offers guests a very authentic African feeling. If you plan your safari trip right, you could even be lucky enough to see the Great Migration which is another definite bucket-list experience. Tanzania is also home to the highest volume of big cats on the continent and, without a doubt, it has the biggest concentration of wildlife in Africa. It truly ticks all the boxes—great game viewing, opportunities to indulge in Tanzanian culture by visiting the Maasai, diverse parks, and, of course, the gorgeous beaches.

Tanzania is a true wilderness.  Over a quarter of this magnificent country is dedicated to incredibly wild and beautiful national parks and reserves – it is East Africa at its best.  Tanzania is a land of superlatives: the deepest, the hightest, the largest and the oldest.  Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Loliondo – which make up the famed “Northern Circuit” – tempt you with a million-strong Wildebeest migration, a huge volcanic caldera, a flamingo-rimmed lake, rhino, buffalo, black-maned tree-climbing lions and elephant bathing in rivers.  Experience the Ngorongoro Crater, a unique ecosystem isolated from the rolling savannahs that surround it.

Tanzania is dominated by Kilimanjaro; one of the world’s most massive extinct volcano’s and Africa’s highest mountain. It soars some 15,000 feet above the surrounding arid plains, and 2.5 square miles of its surface ascends to over 18,500 feet.

Tanzania is home to 35 species of antelope and over 1.5 million wildebeest – over 80% of the total population in Africa…   Famous parks such as the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area offer some of the best safari opportunities in Africa. The Serengeti plains alone support over 3 million animals whilst the Ngorongoro Crater hosts the greatest concentration of large mammals in Africa on the floor of an extinct volcano; a natural refuge for big game. Whilst these two parks are the best known, there are many others that offer more diverse opportunities for the more adventurous. Parks such as the Ruaha and Selous Reserve are huge and relatively untouched. The incredible wilderness of the Miombo woodlands in Southern Tanzania offers dramatically changing scenery and wildlife. And the exotic lure of the islands; Pemba & Zanzibar, are incredible ‘getaway’ destinations.

Lying between Lake Natron and Lake Eyasi the Olduvai Gorge is one of East Africa’s most amazing archaeological hotspots, where Drs. Louis and Mary Leakey discovered Homo Habilis (Handy Man); a 1.8 million year old fossil, whose bones were discovered in the wall of the Gorge. Early hominid footprints, estimated to be 3.5 million years old, were discovered at Laetoli by Dr Mary Leakey here in 1979.

A luxury safari to Tanzania is something that will live in your soul for years to come.  ‘When you are in Africa you feel primordial, rocked in the cradle of the world’,  Jodi Picoult (American Author).

KENYA

Another great country to visit in East Africa is Kenya. It is also an excellent first timer safari destination because it is totally geared up for tourists and it is where the word “safari” actually originates. In Kenya, they know exactly what tourists want, and they get it right every time. If you’re searching for a place that is utterly abundant with wildlife and that is a cultural hub, Kenya is the place to go.

Kenya is rightfully described as “All of Africa in One Country”, and it is exactly that. It is a fact that Kenya enjoys some of the world’s greatest environmental diversity resulting in unparalleled species and sub-species varieties.

Kenya is simply the best wildlife viewing destination in Africa. People from all over the world are drawn here by its essence – the chance to immerse yourself in the spectacle of the big game: the predators and the prey ritually entwined in a cycle of life and death. Kenya straddles the Equator with geography ranging from snow capped Mt. Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa, to lush tropical rainforest and golden sands at sea level. Kenya is a land of contrasts and extremes: a country with an extraordinary variety of landscapes and locations, all of them striking in their own particular way. It has earned the epithet ‘the cradle of mankind’ for the discovery of archaeological evidence of the earliest origins of mankind. Kenya not only boasts every known land form but also a wealth of animal and bird life which owes its very existence to the contrasts in the country’s terrain. You do not have to be an ornithologist to enjoy its one thousand species of birds or a zoologist to be amazed by its variety of animals – birds range from the beautiful to the bizarre and the wildlife from the weird to the wonderful…

We are among the last generations to have the opportunity to experience the vanishing cultures of East Africa. Kenya is the tribal home to 40 different ethnic groups, many still living exactly as their ancestors did thousands of years ago. You can immerse yourself in the ways and culture of some of Africa’s proudest and most striking tribes.

Kenya has 480 kilometres of Indian Ocean coastline and a coral fringe reef, which is home to a colourful plethora of marine life. You can explore its balmy waters by dhow, yacht or powerboat; dive, snorkel and swim in the clear azure waters over fabulous coral beds; hunt for Marlin, Tuna and Sailfish or explore the mangrove swamps and creeks where the cycle begins. The coast is home to a striking mix of people and cultures with beautiful ancient architecture contrasting with the modern da bustle of the 21st century.

The most important thing to keep in mind when planning your safari trip is to find a travel agency that understands you and exactly what you are looking for. If you’d like to find out how we can design the perfect tailor-made safari for you and your loved ones please get in touch. We have 50+ years of experience in authentic African travel experiences so look no further – contact us on the link below: www.originsafaris.com