African Adventure Tours
Sharing a red sunset with a herd of elephants. Standing atop the highest peak of Africa, breath in your lungs like you’ve never felt it. There is always adventure to be had in Africa, here is how to find it.
-
Countries
South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana
-
Average Safari Cost
$600-$2,000 pp/day
-
Highlights
Climbing Kilimanjaro and watching Wildebeest Migration in Tanzania, gorilla trekking in Uganda, exploring the Okavango Delta in Botswana, paragliding off Cape Town’s Lion’s Head in South Africa
Best Time to Go
Different countries offer different sights, depending on the time of year you choose to visit. Generally though, for safari trips it’s best to time your African adventure around the region’s dry season. With low rainfall, there tends to be less vegetation and as such, better wildlife viewing. It’s also the period where you’re most likely to see animals gathering in large groups around rivers and waterholes.
Dry seasons tend to fall over winter so this often means cooler mornings and evenings, which can be a welcome alternative to the hot, wet summers. The list below is a general over view of the best times to visit but specific areas will differ.
It’s always best to check based on where exactly you’re travelling to and when doing so, to think about what kind of weather will suit the activities you intend to do. For example, Kilimanjaro has two distinctive trekking seasons: January to March and June to October, both of with offer different kinds of experiences.
TanzaniaThe Serengeti is impressive throughout the year but it’s during the dry season, from late June to October, that you’ll have the best sighting, particularly if you’re wanting to see the Wildebeest Migration.
Its dry season, July to October, is also the period when it’s best to catch animal migration through the Maasai Mara. This is when you’ll see the epic river crossings of the animals as they move through the region.
The country has two dry seasons, from January to February and from June to September, both of which make for ideal gorilla trekking weather.
The dry season lasts from May to September but if you’re thinking of visiting the Okavango Delta specifically, you’ll want to keep in mind that the area is flooded from June to October.
In most safari areas of the country, the dry season falls from May to September but if you’re considering a visit to Cape Town, which has winter rainfall, the earlier months of the year make for a far sunnier trip.For more detailed information on when to visit each country, see our Complete Travel Guides below:
Start your African Adventure
Popular Tours
One-Week Tembo Escape
Our Deluxe One-Week Tembo Safari offers accommodations at deluxe tented camps and lodges and grants the opportunity to learn and discover Tanzania’s most popular northern parks, such as Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and the boundless Serengeti Plains.
10 Days Maasai Mara Great Migration
Best season: Kenya is a year round destination with excellent game viewing. One of Kenya’s greatest attractions is the annual wildebeest migration between Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya between June and September. Peak season is from January to March when the weather is hot and dry. This is the most comfortable time for travelling. It is good for bird viewing on the Rift Valley lakes and game viewing is also best at this time. April – June and October – December are less popular times (this means no crowds!) for visiting Kenya as these are the months when Kenya receives its rain. You will still be able to get around easily during the rainy season.
4 Day Gorilla Trekking & Uganda Wildlife Safari
This affordable 4 Day Gorilla Trekking & Uganda Wildlife Safari takes you African Mountain Gorilla Trekking in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to encounter these endangered primates in the wild - a rare and unforgettable wildlife experience! The Uganda Budget Lodge Safari also travels to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel and game viewing in Uganda's top national park. Safari highlights include a village walk near Bwindi Park and visiting Igongo Cultural Village.A once-in-a-lifetime gorilla trekking and wildlife adventure in Uganda!
Tailor-Made South African Safari
We constantly strive to improve our award winning safari packages each year. I believe this is the best safari package we have ever offered, providing great quality at an affordable price. We start this safari at our safari base, the exclusive Rukiya Safari Lodge located on the banks of the Blyde River in the Wild Rivers private Nature Reserve. Rukiya is not only our safari base but is also a key location for our leopard research program. Following four days at Rukiya with our team, you will visit three other game reserves to ensure you can enjoy a variety of different lodge styles and reserves to give you a comprehensive safari experience. This safari provides a perfect balance between big five game viewing and a chance to gain a better understanding or be involved with wildlife conservation. As well as opportunities to explore in the company of wildlife conservationists. Of-course there is also time for some R&R to sit back, relax and enjoy the African bush. We recommend our safari itinerary shown below, as we’ve developed and honed it over many years in keeping with our company ethos and moreover feedback from safari guests. It covers all the elements that we feel should be included in an African safari, and has received many five star guest reviews”.
4 Day Kruger Safari
Wild Planet`s 4 Day Kruger Safari a perfect introduction to South Africa's Kruger National Park. On this tour you will spend 3 nights at 2 different Rest Camps inside the National Park. We choose the camps based on the best wildlife viewing opportunities. The tour is an absolute must for first time visitors to South Africa and for wildlife enthusiasts. Kruger Park is one of the best examples of conservation in Africa. The Park is home to the `Big 5` and many other endangered animals that you have always dreamed of seeing. Join us on your ultimate dream African vacation.
Kilimanjaro Climbing Via Lemosho Route - 7 days
The seven day Lemosho variation is preferred over the six day option because it breaks up day two into two days, providing better acclimatization and a more gradual ascent. On the seven day route, we walk from Forest Camp to Shira Camp 1 on day two, a reasonable altitude gain of 2,000 feet. Then on day three, we continue from Shira Camp 2 to the little used Moir Hut, at 13,800 feet. Overall the exposure to this altitude will help prepare the body for higher altitudes coming on the following days. However, the treks from Barranco to Barafu, followed by the summit day are unchanged from the six day Lemosho variation. This schedule is still very tough, though the extra day on the mountain on the seven day route will help climbers deal with the exhausting itinerary better than those who opted for the six day route.
African Adventure Tours at a Glance
Tanzania remains one of the continent’s most popular destinations. From the gorgeous beaches of Zanzibar to the grand expanse of the Serengeti, and all the way to top of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania has a wide range of stunning adventures on offer.
Move a little north, and there’s Kenya, where African safaris were first born. It’s also the home to some of Africa’s wildest and most impressive game parks.
If it’s gorillas you’re after, Uganda is the place to be. Trek through dense, untouched forest and see these incredible creatures in the wild.
For something a little off the beaten track, Botswana has what you’re looking for. It’s the place where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle profess to have fallen in love, away from the prying eyes of the world. There’s certainly some magic there. Finally, at the southernmost tip of Africa, is South Africa. Its malaria free safaris tend to be one of its biggest draw cards, but another point of attraction is Cape Town – a jewel of a city perched between epic mountains and pristine beaches.
Cost Estimate
A standard, 5 day safari can cost anything from $ 4,800 USD (including flights) to the upper thousands. It really depends on how luxurious you’re wanting to go.
If you’re looking for a cheaper route, consider the camping safaris or going in a larger group where you might get discounts. Botswana tends to be the most expensive of the destinations mentioned and South Africa, because of its favourable exchange rate at the moment, works out as one of the least expensive places to visit.
Highlights
Tanzania: Fly camping the Great Migration (Serengeti) and hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro
Kenya: Taking a hot air balloon over the Masaai Mara to see the migration.
Uganda: Gorilla trekking in the Virungas, a volcanic, forested area that straddles the connection point between Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC.
Botswana: Exploring the Okavango Delta, and visiting the rock art of the Tsodilo Hills.
South Africa: Paragliding off Cape Town’s Lion’s Head or further afield, seeing the black-maned lions of the Kalahari desert.
Getting There and Safety
For the flights to Africa, it is advised to check Skyscanner (for multiple destination flights), to see which airlines can take you there and compare various ticket prices.
If you are based in the UK and Europe, check out these flights.
If you are based in the USA and Canada, check out these flights.
For more detailed information on visa policy in each country, see our Complete Travel Guides below:
Going on a safari in Africa comes with obvious risks. We recommend you get travel insurance for all safaris in Africa. Make sure your insurance has full medical coverage, emergency air evacuation, repatriation and the standard travel insurance for cancellations, delays and luggage cover.
Check World Nomads’ travel insurance calculator to see the cost of your safari trip cover.
For more details on what to pack see our Safari Packing List.