African Safaris
We offer private access to Africa’s finest wildlife and wilderness areas. Our resources include some 50 luxury camps and safaris across nine African countries:
South Africa
Whether you’re seeking a Big Five safari experience, cosmopolitan cities, a rainbow nation of richly diverse cultures or “the cradle of mankind”, South Africa is like a world in one country—an ideal destination for those seeking variety during their time in Africa. Explore beautiful Cape Town, the “Mother City”, with its iconic Table Mountain, picturesque wine lands, and “Fairest Cape” peninsula. In Johannesburg, the “City of Gold”, follow in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela and learn about the country’s complex colonial history and banned apartheid policies. From colorful Durban on the Indian Ocean, ascend the continent’s highest pass to meet the Sotho People in the Kingdom of Lesotho, or visit the province of the Zulus (the only African tribe that defeated the British) and its Mkuze and Hluhluwe game reserves. Wildlife enthusiasts will be pampered in world-class safari lodges and camps in Kruger National Park and the ultimate in luxury accommodations within the surrounding private game reserves. Join daily morning and evening magical game drives conducted under the guidance of professional game rangers in the Madikwe Game Reserve, a prime wildlife reserve and safari destination situated on the border of Botswana in South Africa. Madikwe is one of the largest game reserves in the country and is home to a range of birdlife and wildlife, including the Big 5 and over 300 bird species. With an abundance of activities and full range of lodging styles from five-star and boutique hotels to luxury tented camps, South Africa is an excellent choice for private or family travel.
Botswana
With conservation-oriented controlled development and a small population, Botswana has a small tourism footprint and provides a profound safari experience. For a safari destination like no other, Botswana’s gem is the Okavango Delta, the world’s largest inland delta. Explore the waterways with your expert rangers via slow motorboats or traditional mokoro (canoes), spotting hippos, crocodiles, and a myriad of birds. Fly from camp to camp to take in the delta’s diverse eco systems—wet and marshy delta that then empties into a desert full of wildlife. North of the delta is Chobe National Park and the Chobe River, one of Africa’s most sought-after safari destinations, where the elephant reigns supreme.
Zimbabwe
After experiencing awesome Victoria Falls and its plentiful adventure activities, visitors to Zimbabwe have a wealth of safari opportunities. Take a short flight to diverse Hwange National Park and discover its herds of elephants and large population of endangered African wild dogs. Or visit Mana Pools, the country’s second World Heritage Site, to walk and canoe in a game-rich region filled with elephants, buffalo, hippos, and crocodiles. Head southeast to the secluded Malilangwe Reserve, a breeding sanctuary for the sable antelope and black rhino, and explore more than 100 of the ancient bushman’s rock art sites.
Zambia
Beyond Victoria Falls and Livingstone, Zambia’s interior parks will delight those seeking a more off-the-beaten path safari experience. Explore three diverse ecosystems, each with its own distinctive wildlife and exclusive safari camps: the lush rivers and flood plains of Kafue; arid Luangwa where Africa’s first walking safaris were pioneered; and the Lower Zambezi National Park, a massive wildlife sanctuary opposite Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools Reserve.
Namibia
With the giant sand dunes in Sossusvlei, the expansive Namib desert, and the stark Skeleton Coast named for its countless shipwrecks, you might think you’ve landed in no man’s land when you touch down in Namibia. While sparsely populated, here you’ll find the ancient bushmen, portrayed in The Gods Must Be Crazy, continuing their humble coexistence with the solitary oryx and giant elephants of Etosha National Park. Namibia promises an out-of-this-world safari adventure.
Mozambique
Mozambique, whose coastline extends from South Africa to Tanzania, is known for its pristine, less-traveled beach destinations along the Indian Ocean. Accessible mainly by flying, there are several small beach resorts offering fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving, as well as small safari camps with simple accommodations.
Kenya
With its celebrity first established by Teddy Roosevelt’s “African Game Trails”, Kenya has long been the top destination for safari seekers. Showcasing a wealth of wildlife and iconic lodging, its ecologically diverse game parks include the arid Samburu and Shaba Reserves and the lush Masai Mara, encompassing the northern Serengeti plains where nearly two million wildebeest and herbivores make their way during the annual Great Migration. While guests can check off the Big Five throughout their exploration, each park has its own distinct wildlife and prolific birding. Those looking for a more exclusive safari experience can indulge by staying at luxurious ensuite tented camps and lodges within the private concessions. Beyond your expertly-guided game drives and bush walks, immerse yourself in the local culture—join a local family for dinner or take a bushwalk with the stately Maasai warriors. Wrap up your journey with a visit to Mombasa’s beaches.
Rwanda
Wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists are steadily increasing their treks to witness Rwanda’s endangered mountain gorillas. Rebuilding its tourism since its mass genocide in 1994, Rwanda and conservationists remind visitors that the best way to help save the gorillas is to come see them. Expert guides and conservationists lead you on treks through the rain forest to observe the uncannily human-acting animals in Parc National des Volcans. Spot some 13 other species of primates in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Tanzania
Tanzania’s attractions are superlative—Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest free-standing caldera teeming with one of Africa’s densest concentrations of wildlife; Olduvai Gorge, renowned for the Leakey family’s profound discoveries of early man; and the Great Migration across the Serengeti plains, just to name a few. Building up its safari infrastructure some 50 years after Kenya, Tanzania delivers a less-traveled experience within its prolific game parks. For those seeking a truly wilderness experience, travel south to the immense and untouched Selous and Ruaha game preserves or visit Mahale Mountains National Park at Lake Tanganyika, home to the world’s largest population of chimpanzees. Easily combinable with Kenya, a Tanzania safari can wrap up with a beach getaway to the spice island of Zanzibar.