Africa has a vast variety of national parks and game reserves for visitors to explore, but we are often asked which ones are the best for first-time safari goers. The truth is that choosing the wildlife safari destination that is best for your first trip to Africa depends a lot on you: what you want to see, how you like to travel, your budget, and what kind of experiences are important to you. Our Africa Specialists can guide you through this process while planning your African Safari. But, in the meantime, we wanted to share some tips and top recommendations below.

Ten years ago, we would often advise our clients to spend as little time as possible in Johannesburg during their South Africa tour. Clients would stay at an airport hotel for one night before moving on to a Kruger National Park safari or the scenic vistas of Cape Town. Some guests interested in history might spend a day visiting the Apartheid Museum or take a Soweto tour, but for the most part, the largest city in South Africa (and the second largest city in Africa), received a bad rap.

This Blog was written by one of our Africa travel specialists, Valentina Michaels, who in addition to many previous Africa experiences, visited Tanzania earlier this year during green season. You can learn more about Val and the rest of our team here.

Home to some of the world’s most exceptional natural attractions like the Namib and Damarland Deserts, Etosha National Park, and the elusive Skeleton Coast, Namibia earns a well-deserved spot on many bucket lists. While travelers familiar with the Africa often aim to visit during the dry season  ( April-October) for desert wildlife viewing, the Green Season ( January-March ) actually provides an ideal set of conditions for a Namibian holiday.

Zimbabwe may not be a top name in safaris like South Africa, Kenya or Tanzania, but trust us -  this not a bad thing! Fewer travelers, further flung landscapes and authentic experiences await travelers who would venture off the beaten path, to giving this country a try for a safari experience set apart from the rest. Read on as we set out to explore five top things to do in Zimbabwe!