Southern Africa Safaris

Southern Africa offers sheer beauty and an exceptional diversity of wildlife habitats, featuring epic Big Five safaris in parks such as well as sand dunes, deserts, and waterfalls.

Iconic safari parks such as Botswana’s Okavango Delta and South Africa’s Kruger National Park are popular choices for travelers seeking a trip that delivers big game viewing and unique safari activities. By combining safari destinations across multiple countries in Southern Africa, you can enjoy different safari styles and experiences during one trip. This region is also home to world-class destinations such as Cape Town, the Cape Winelands, Victoria Falls, Namibia’s desert landscapes, and the idyllic beaches of Mozambique or Mauritius. Adding a stay in any of these places is a fantastic way to enjoy an extra element to your vacation.

"Among our herd are professional guides who have worked across the entire region and camp managers who have run some of the finest properties in Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa itself."

Many of our team members were either born or have lived and worked in Southern Africa’s top safari destinations. So the best way to start researching your trip is to speak to our safari specialists and let them guide you through all the options available for a Southern Africa safari vacation to multiple countries!

The Best Safari Destinations in Southern Africa

South Africa

South Africa is the region's best destination for a Big Five safari and a great option for a first trip to Africa. Kruger National Park is famous for its wildlife, and the adjacent private reserves that make up the Greater Kruger are the finest locations for Kruger safari. The Sabi Sands and Timbavati private concessions, in particular, offer fantastic game viewing paired with luxury accommodation.

Botswana

From the Okavango Delta’s winding waterways to the arid Kalahari plains, a Botswana safari offers unparalleled levels of exclusivity. It’s home to Africa’s finest private reserves, luxury lodges, and impressive wildlife, making it one of the best safari destinations on the continent.

Zambia

The best destination in Africa for a walking safari, Zambia is the place to experience Southern Africa’s wild and remote safari destinations. Standout national parks include South Luangwa and the Lower Zambezi, and a Zambia safari pairs well with a trip to Victoria Falls.

Zimbabwe

Get away from the crowds and off the beaten track on a safari to Zimbabwe. It’s all about adventure under the guidance of some of Africa’s finest guides in national parks like Hwange and Mana Pools. Zimbabwe safaris also combine well with Victoria Falls.

Best Experiences to Include in a Southern Africa Safari

Cape Town and The Winelands

Cape Town is arguably Safari Africa’s most interesting city. Here, the bars and restaurants rival the hotspots of New York and London, the accommodation is some of the best in Africa, and you’re never too far from the incredible natural scenery, including the famous Table Mountain. The renowned Cape Winelands are within easy driving distance of Cape Town and are home to award-winning wine farms and fine-dining restaurants. With so much to experience, from outdoor adventures to gastronomic journeys, it’s very difficult for anyone to travel to Southern Africa and not visit Cape Town!

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is another incredibly noteworthy destination in Southern Africa. Located on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, this is the world’s largest waterfall. While it reaches full flood from March to June, the Falls are spectacular all year round, and the low water season is great for activities like white water rafting. Choose whether you’d like to be immersed in the Falls and stay close by or head to one of the camps upstream on the sleepy banks of the Zambezi River, which are great bases from which to explore the river on boat trips. Seeing the famous falls is a worthwhile addition to any traveler’s wish list for a trip to Africa!

Namibia

Namibia is quite unlike any other destination in safari Africa! It’s a land of unique scenery that plays host to some of the finest photographic opportunities for landscapes in Africa. For a Southern Africa trip, we usually wouldn’t recommend Namibia for a big game safari, simply because your experience in the Kruger or Okavango Delta, for example, will be much better for wildlife sightings. However, the sand dunes of Sossusvlei or the Skeleton Coast provide an excellent add-on to any trip.

Beaches

For travelers looking to spend time on the beach during their vacation in Africa, Mozambique is the dream destination. Home to several of Africa’s most beautiful beaches, this incredible destination is well off the beaten track. The downside is the expense of getting to and staying on Mozambique’s offshore islands, but the effort and ultimately the expense are well worth it. Mauritius offers a more affordable alternative, in the shape of a gorgeous, large resort-centred destination offering high standards and impeccably serviced hotels.