WHAT TO EXPECT IN AFRICA
A magical blend of blissful serenity and excitement, a safari is the answer when you need a little soul renewal. Everything is arranged for you, with game drives in the morning and again before sunset. In between, relax, read, nap, or have a massage. Discover our insider’s look into all that Africa has to offer!
I Things You Need To Know
What are game drives?
A game drive is where the magic happens and your addiction to safaris will begin to take hold. Around every turn could be a pride of lions, a pack of wild dogs, a herd of elephants, or a leopard in a tree. It is where you will come face to face with wildlife you have only seen in documentaries and where you will make memories that will last a lifetime.
How do game drives work?
At each camp, you are assigned a highly trained guide as well as a safari vehicle that is designed so everyone has a window seat with plenty of room. Private vehicles can also be arranged upon request.
The wildlife is accustomed to seeing safari vehicles and is unaffected by your presence. As long as you stay within the vehicle and follow the instructions of your driver/guide, you can view the wildlife in very close proximity.
During your morning game drives, you will stop at a beautiful spot to enjoy a coffee. During your late afternoon game drives, you will stop just before sunset at another beautiful location and witness the magnificent African sunset – a safari tradition known as the ‘Sundowner’.
Should I stay at multiple camps?
We recommend that you visit more than one camp so you can benefit from new locations and potentially different species of wildlife.
Should I take my family on safari?
A family safari is a wonderful shared adventure with the potential to strengthen bonds and create lifelong memories. For some families, it’s also a chance to unplug from the digital world, learn about the environment and highlight the importance of wildlife conservation efforts.
Custom itineraries are planned for each family
Taking into consideration the age of the children and any special interests or requests. Younger children might learn to track animals, capture and release butterflies and frogs, learn how to make a fire or traditional bows and arrows, cook with the chef, enjoy painting and beading, visit a local community, play traditional African games, gaze at the stars, or listen to African storytelling.
Teens are challenged in different ways. They might, for example, play soccer with local teens, visit a classroom, learn about and participate in conservation efforts, learn beading from the local women, go on guided bush walks, horseback rides, hikes, and even go mountain biking. They can also try their hand at archery and participate in evening astronomy presentations.
The Best Time to Travel
Eastern Africa
Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia
January to March: In the Southern Serengeti, the young are born to wildebeest, zebra, and antelope. There are many predators at this time.
April to May: Because of the long rains in April and May, most camps will close, but not all of them.
June through October: The migration starts mid-June in the Serengeti, crossing the Mara River into the Masai Mara in Kenya.
November to December: These months offer short rains, but sometimes they do not arrive. This can be a wonderful and inexpensive time to travel, before the holidays with the least amount of people.
Southern Africa
South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe
January to March: A very green season with minimal rain, it is a very productive time in the Kalahari Desert, with herds of zebra, elephants, and plenty of predators.
April to June: The flood comes into the Delta from Angola. There are lower elephant populations at this time, but they’re still there.
April to May: This is the shoulder season and pricing can be reasonable; a great time to go.
July to October: The dry season, with the most travelers and highest pricing. With larger elephant concentrations in the Linyanti, July and August are in demand.
November to January: Short rains start mid-November; the game viewing is fantastic.
Our Favourite Places
Kenya
With endless savannah plains, Kenya is a beautiful country offering the Great Rift Valley, Mount Kenya, and Mount Meru. Find lakes full of pink flamingos, discover the landscapes of Amboseli National Park, or go for a game drive in the Masai Mara National Reserve.
Botswana
This magnificent country offers the Okavango Delta, where the Moremi, Khwai, Linyanti, and Savuti camps are located. Most wildlife documentaries set in Southern Africa are filmed in Botswana, including BBC’s Planet Earth.
Namibia
Known as the Skeleton Coast, Namibia is a country of contrasts and unique once-in-a-lifetime experiences. See the highest dunes in the world from a hot air balloon, or track rare desert elephants and rhinos. Learn about the nomadic Himba people or just enjoy big night skies, brilliant with stars.
Rwanda
This is the best place to stay if you want to see the critically endangered mountain gorillas and the surrounding countryside. Upon seeing the gorillas, you will stay with them for a magical hour as they go about their daily life, feeding, playing, resting, and raising their young.
South Africa
Fly from Johannesburg to the Sabi Sands Region. Enjoy all the creature comforts of home, including gourmet cuisine, spa treatments, and wine tastings. Spend relaxing afternoons surveying the ancient landscape and remarkable wildlife on your twice-daily game drives. Visit the Delaire Graff Estate in Stellenbosch, the ultimate in luxury and a world-leading destination for wine, art, and hospitality.
Tanzania
Tanzania offers the Ngorongoro Crater and the Great Migration of wildebeests in the Serengeti. Lake Manyara has flamingos and tree-climbing black-maned lions. Tarangire has heaps of elephants and lovely baobab trees.
Zambia
Enormous, remote, and wildlife-filled, Zambia is home to one of the largest waterfalls in the world: Victoria Falls. The area offers impressive diversity, large concentrations of wildlife, and some of the most remote game areas in Africa. Catch sight of the tree-climbing lions of Kafue and discover the thrill of walking amongst the wildlife. Many canoe down the Zambezi River or take a hot air balloon over Victoria Falls.
Zimbabwe
One of the best-priced Republics in Africa, Zimbabwe is home to Mana Pools National Park, which offers a remarkable concentration of elephants, buffalo, zebra, hippos, and Nile crocodiles. Hwange National Park is the largest game reserve in the country.