Where to go on your first safari in Africa. Planning to go to Africa for your very first time, and wondering where to best visit for your first Africa safari? This guide shall probably be of great help to you. Choosing where to go on your first safari in Africa can be daunting. Most travellers who do consider visiting Africa for the very first time have so many questions popping up including where should I go on safari for the first time? Which part of Africa is best for safari? Which African country has cheapest safaris? How many days do you need for African safari?
Africa is a beautiful continent with so much to offer, from vast endless plains teeming with abundant wild game to thick impenetrable jungles hosting endangered primates, among so much more. Africa safaris are your best way to explore and experience the wilderness at its best. Wondering where to go on your first tour, below are the 5 top Africa safari destinations that you should look to visit, even for your first Africa safari;
Tanzania
Tanzania has amazing wildlife parks across the vast country offering excellent and unparraled safari experiences. Tanzania has the highest mountain in Africa Mount Kilimanjaro which offers a great climbing adventure. has amazing Tanzania safari destinations including Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tarangire National Park as well as Mount Kilimanjaro which offer amazing and unparalled Tanzania safari experiences. Combining a Tanzania wildlife safari with Zanzibar is one of the best options to get to relax after extensive game drives in mainland Tanzania.
Tanzania also inhabits other world-class wildlife attractions including Gombe and Mahale Game Reserve found out west, offering amazing primate viewing, best visited on a return safari.
Kenya
Kenya is one of the best and most sought after Africa safari destinations, especially by first time Africa safari travellers. Kenya has amazing infrastructure, and a variety of tourist attractions which all offer great and unforgettable Africa safari experiences. There are hundreds of perfectly structured lodges and camps, as well as camps and resorts in Kenya with standards of service from local staff. Kenya has outstanding wildlife destinations, with the main safari circuit being the Masai Mra National Reserve, Amboseli National Park, Lake Nakuru, Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park as well as Samburu National Park. going on any of these Kenya safari destinations, or combining any of them sees you enjoying amazing Kenya safaris to see the various wildlife in Kenya with Kenya wildlife safaris, seeing various animals including the African big 5 animals as well as witnessing the great wildebeest migration in Masai Mara National Reserve. Kenya’s coast is a great getaway especially after enjoying game viewing in the savannah parks of Kenya.
Uganda
Uganda is indeed the Pearl of Africa as stated by Sir Winston Churchill. Uganda is a great Africa safari destination for first time travellers given the variety of tourist attractions. Uganda boasts of having the source of the longest river in the world River Nile which is also a great extreme adventure activities like white water rafting of up to grade 5 rapids. Uganda inhabits all the African big 5 animals, seen in the various savanna national parks of Uganda including Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park which is also the home of the loudest waterfalls in the world, Murchison Falls and Lake Mburo National Park as well as Kidepo Valley National Park which offer amazing wild game drives.
Uganda is a great Africa safari destination that has you enjoying primate tracking of chimpanzees as well as the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Rwanda
Rwanda is a luxury Africa safari destination that looks to attract luxury travellers to enjoy intimate and get up-close with nature whilst staying in some of the most beautiful and luxurious accommodation. For first time travellers to Africa and looking to encounter the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat Volcanoes National Park, or even the golden monkeys and chimpanzees, Rwanda is your destination to opt for. Rwanda also has Akagera National Park which is the only Rwanda savannah park perfect for Rwanda wildlife safaris any time of the year, for an opportunity to see a variety of wildlife including lions, elephants, among so many others.
South Africa
South Africa is a great first-time Africa safari destination that travelers can go for a good introductory Africa safari experience. A South Africa safari has you combining game viewing with sedate pleasures like wineries and vast plantations which see you relaxing after long game drives in Kruger National Park among other South Africa national parks perfect for game viewing. Kruger National Park is a splendid savannah park inhabiting the African Big 5 animals including lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos and rhinos, in large numbers as well as a number of other animals in Kruger National Park. With amazing and well-run accommodation, Kruger national Park and South Africa as a destination is one of the best Africa safari destinations where to go on your first safari in Africa.
When to go for your first Africa safari
You can go for your very first Africa safari anytime of the year, for as long as you are available to take on the safari. The best time to go for a tour is during the dry season which is also the peak season of travel that sees a high number of tourists visiting as it coincides with summer. The dry season in Africa is often times in the months of June to October, and late December through February. You can consider when to go for your first tour in relation to the particular activity you have in mind. Travellers after birding safaris in Africa could consider visiting during the rainy season in the months of November to April; while travellers after witnessing the great wildebeest migration in Serengeti national Park or Masai Mara National Reserve could consider following the great wildebeest migration routes, with best time to see the great wildebeest migration being from June to September.
How many days do you need for African safari?
Africa safari lengths can depend on your availability for a safari. The shortest you can have one day, especially to safari destinations near the capital city of the country in question, case in point Tanzania which has Lake Manyara National Park and Tarangire National Park as well as Arusha National park which offer amazing game viewing safari experiences to travellers with limited time to spare. On average however you may need between 4-12 nights in total depending on how many countries you are visiting and number of parks you are visiting for your Africa safari.
Which African country has cheapest safaris?
Kenya is one of the cheapest and most amazing Africa safari destinations which will reward you with unforgettable Africa safari experiences. A 3 Days Masai Mara National Reserve safari can cost as little as 150$ per day per person, depending on the budget, number of travellers, and season of travel. Uganda also has affordable safaris which travellers can opt to take on for amazing safari experiences, especially to encounter the endangered mountain gorillas.
Get in touch with a credible Africa safari company to help you pitch together an amazing Africa safari to your destination of choice.
