“Where should I go for my first safari to Africa?” – it’s like asking “how long is a piece of string?” The answer can be any length, and you can go anywhere… but here’s the thing: it all comes down to your expectations, your wish list, and your travel parameters.
The safari holiday decision framework:
What we actually consider
Before we even mention countries, we need to understand YOU. Here’s what goes into crafting your perfect first safari:
Your travel style
Are you the type who thrives on 05h30 wake ups and would jump onto a game drive, or do you prefer leisurely starts with coffee in bed? Do walking safaris excite you, or would you rather stay in the vehicle?
Love the idea of sleeping under canvas listening to lions, or do you prefer glass sliding doors, pull down blinds and extra luxury amenities and spa treatments? There’s no wrong answer – just different experiences for different personalities.
Can you see where we’re going with this? Keep reading! We promise to give you some helpful tips to consider so it’s easy to determine where you may wish to go for that very first safari to Africa.
What else do we delve into?
Your group dynamics
We like to find out who is travelling. Are you a solo adventurer? Going with your loved one for a romantic holiday to Africa? Take the kids and grand kids for that lifetime dream multi-generational family safari? Or are you going to hang out with your best friends and together explore the cities and experience a safari?
Each dynamic needs different pacing and you’ve likely got various preferences when it comes to accommodation styles, and activity levels. Plus, practical things like room configurations and age-appropriate activities become crucial factors in our planning process.
Your physical reality
Safaris in Africa involve early mornings, bumpy roads, dusty conditions, and varying altitudes. Any mobility considerations or health factors dramatically influence our recommendations for accommodations, vehicles, and activities not to mention destinations. Oh right I wasn’t to mention that yet! Oops.
Your timeline and budget
Are you working around school holidays? How long can you actually be away? What’s your realistic budget including flights from Australia? These practical parameters often narrow down the perfect destination faster than any wish list.
Now, the destinations that deliver
Here’s what 16 years in this business has taught us: the ‘best’ first safari isn’t about ticking boxes on a generic list. It’s about matching the experience to who you are, who you’re travelling with, and what’s going to light you up.
We’ve sent adventure-loving couples on mobile camping safaris through Botswana who still talk about sleeping under more stars than they knew existed. We’ve crafted luxury Kenya experiences for multi-generational families where grandparents and teenagers were equally enchanted. We’ve designed South Africa combinations for first-timers who wanted Big Five sightings AND world-class wine.
So let’s give you some intel based on 16+ years of sending Australians on their first safaris… this is where we consistently see magic happen:
East Africa:
The Great Migration corridor
Kenya and Tanzania really are the safari legends. It’s where those epic safari dreams were born, and for good reason. Whether you’re inspired by the Karen Blixen story made famous thanks to Robert Redford and Meryl Streep, vast golden savannas dotted with acacia trees, massive herds stretching to the horizon, and those legendary Great Migration river crossings, this is your calling. But work with experts to keep you away from the crowds so you and the wildlife are safe!
Why it works for first-timers:
- Incredible predator sightings (think cats – lions, leopards, cheetahs)
- The Serengeti ecosystem is outstanding for game density (humble human opinion, not fact checked to verify)
- Multiple national parks and eco systems mean diverse experiences
- World-class lodges ranging from authentic tented camps to ultra-luxury lodges
- Colourful cultures of Maasai, Hadzabe, Samburu and more
- Perfect add-on: pristine Zanzibar beaches or the smaller, crowd-free islands
Insider insight: The Maasai Mara-Serengeti ecosystem spans both countries. We often recommend a cross-border experience to follow the migration and see both sides of this incredible natural phenomenon. It’s quite the adventure flying from one country to another in a light aircraft and you land to clear immigration along the way.
Or go during the annual calving season which is February each year in the Southern Plains of the Serengeti around Ndutu. Think thousands of wildebeest calves born in a matter of weeks! That’s a lot of birthing and heightened predator action.
Southern Africa:
The Platinum Triangle
South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana are the ultimate trio, we call it the platinum triangle. It really doesn’t get better than this! If you want to tick off the Big Five, experience one of the best cities in the world, known as the Mother City (Cape Town), and dive deep into Africa’s most diverse ecosystems, this combination is unbeatable.
The Platinum Triangle experience:
- South Africa: Big Five safaris, Cape Town (the Mother City) with iconic Table Mountain, winelands, Garden Route and Eastern Cape safari options (for malaria free)
- Zimbabwe: UNESCO Victoria Falls – one of the world’s great natural wonders
- Botswana: Chobe’s elephant herds and the pristine UNESCO Okavango Delta
Why this works brilliantly:
- Incredible variety: game drives, walking safaris, boat safaris, mokoro excursions, mobile camping options
- Multiple ecosystems: from Kalahari Desert to lush delta waterways and majestic waterfalls
- Different accommodation styles: luxury lodges, authentic bush camps, unique water-based camps
- Photographic opportunities are endless
- Great value when combined (flights between countries are short and relatively inexpensive)
The Okavango Delta deserves special mention – this UNESCO World Heritage site offers experiences you literally cannot get anywhere else on earth. Mokoro (traditional dugout canoe – pictured here) excursions with local polers, walking on islands surrounded by pristine wilderness, and that unique combination of water and wildlife that makes Botswana magical.
The bottom line
While travel blogs might give you ‘Top 10’ lists, and AI can suggest popular destinations, crafting your perfect first African safari takes understanding your personal travel DNA. It’s about reading between the lines of what excites you, understanding your group dynamics, and matching that to specific properties, guides, and experiences that we know deliver.
Every first safari should feel like it was designed just for you – because it should be.
Ready to stop researching and start planning?