Guide to African Safari Adventures: Planning Wildlife Holidays in Africa

Camp with bushmen in the Kalahari. Walk with lions in Zambia. Or hang out with gorillas in the Ugandan highlands. In this guide to African safari adventures we help you with planning wildlife holidays in Africa.

**This article about wildlife adventures in Africa was originally published in 2013. It was most recently updated in November 2024**

There are few words that can do justice to the scale, size and beauty of the African continent. This is a place like no other, which is why exploring it on a African safari adventures is the only way to go.

You can pick and choose your own safari from countless options. Everything from affordable to luxury safaris, desert to jungle, and coastal to vast continental plains. You can simply build exactly what you want from scratch.

For the adventure side of things you can add rafting, hiking, biking, horse riding and much more when planning safaris in Africa. You can even overland your way around Africa visiting the best African safari destinations for the ultimate trip. Exploring this amazing continent in your own unique way is all part of the appeal.

Planning Wildlife Holidays in Africa

It’s hard to know where to start with Africa. This colossal continent is home to the most varied, spectacular and least explored terrain on the planet. From the huge Sahara desert, to dense jungles, vast plains and wetlands – Africa has every kind of landscape you could imagine and unique wildlife to match.

The Kruger National Park in the south is a great place to spot herds of animals, big game and the world’s most fearsome predators in the natural habitat. The legendary Masai Mara in East Africa and plains of the Serengeti are also popular destinations for traditional safaris.

The central highlands of Uganda and Rwanda are covered in rich jungle, providing a different but no less interesting safari experience. The other-worldly charm of Madagascar simply has to be seen to be believed with more unique flora and fauna than anywhere else in Africa.

The stunning coastline of Mauritius, the Seychelles and Mozambique offer the chance for a more relaxed wildlife holidays in Africa with a focus on marine life excursions. Whale watching, snorkeling and scuba diving bring you close to the wildlife beneath the waves, with beautiful beaches to relax on between adventures.

Perhaps you are worried about visiting Africa as it has a reputation for being dangerous. Of course that is all part of the allure for the adventurous… But for your first trip perhaps visit one of the safest African countries such as Morocco, Botswana, Mauritius, Kenya or Madagascar.

African safari adventures

Authentic safaris, staying in luxurious lodges and enjoying 4×4 adventures to spot the Big Five are especially popular in southern and East Africa including Tanzania, South Africa and Kenya. But Africa’s safari options include so much more.

The jungle highlands of Uganda and Rwanda offer unique opportunities for gorilla safaris. Catching glimpses of these huge, powerful and peaceful animals in their natural habitat is a humbling and once in a lifetime experience.

Walk with lions and cheetahs in Zambia’s remote national parks. Kayak or raft past hippos and crocodiles in the lower Zambezi and stand in awe at the massive Victoria Falls. Desert African safari adventures exploring the ancient cultures of the Tuareg of the Sahara or the San bushmen of the Kalahari are equally enthralling.

You can take trekking safaris in Tanzania, biking safaris in Kenya, or horse back safaris in Namibia. Why not try underwater scuba safaris during the Sardine Run in South Africa? Or sailing safaris along the Mozambique and Madagascar coastline?

Or if you want to take wildlife holidays in Africa to the next level, why not be trained to track wildlife or to be a park ranger in Uganda? Educational, photographic and even extreme sport safaris are available all over the African continent. Or you could just overland around the continent enjoying adventures and wildlife as you travel.

Guide to Africa Safari Adventures

The range and diversity of destinations, accommodation and cost means there are Africa safaris to suit everyone. From luxury safaris and honeymoons in five star lodges, to rafting and camping along the Zambezi to affordable backpacking safaris. The options are almost endless with something to suit every taste and budget.

We hope this guide to African wildlife adventures has inspired you. With more than 200 options, you can begin planning Africa safari holidays here!