Planning your first African safari? From where to go and when to travel to what to pack, here is what to know before your journey begins.
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Planning your first African safari is exciting, but knowing where to begin can feel like the hardest part. With so many countries, landscapes, and ways to experience Africa, how do you turn all those ideas into one journey that feels right for you?
Where should you go? When is the best time to travel? How many nights do you really need? And can you fit in that beach stay you have been dreaming about too?
You do not need to have all the answers. This guide covers where to go on your first African safari, when to travel, how long to stay, what to pack, and how to combine destinations, helping you shape a journey that feels personal, considered, and never rushed.
Africa offers far more than one kind of safari. Open plains, winding waterways, rainforest, desert and Indian Ocean islands can all form part of the journey.
Here are a few places to start dreaming.
Think Botswana's Okavango Delta, where days can unfold by game-drive vehicle or mokoro; South Africa's private reserves, known for rewarding Big Five viewing; or the rivers, walking safaris and wide-open spaces of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Cape Town, the Winelands and Victoria Falls also make it easy to add something completely different to your safari days.
For sweeping plains and wildlife on a grand scale, look towards Kenya and Tanzania. The Maasai Mara and Serengeti are home to exceptional year-round wildlife as well as the seasonal movements of the Great Migration, while Ngorongoro, Laikipia and Samburu can bring a completely different landscape into the same journey.
If spending time with mountain gorillas is part of the dream, Rwanda and Uganda take you into another side of Africa entirely. Rwanda works beautifully as a shorter gorilla addition, while Uganda can combine gorillas, chimpanzees, river journeys and traditional game viewing in one trip.
For travellers looking a little further, there is Odzala's rainforest in the Republic of Congo, the extraordinary wildlife and landscapes of Madagascar, or the private islands and turquoise waters of the Seychelles.
And that is only a glimpse. Namibia's deserts, Mozambique's coastline, and plenty more are waiting too.
Explore all Safari Craftsmen destinations.
There is no single best time for an African safari. The seasons simply offer different reasons to go.
Then there are the experiences worth planning a journey around. The Great Migration moves through Tanzania and Kenya throughout the year, with different areas coming into their own at different times. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda is possible year-round, although the drier months generally make the forest trails easier underfoot.
Tell us when you can travel and what you would love to see, and we can work backwards from there.
For most first-time travellers, seven to fourteen nights gives you enough time to settle into the rhythm of safari without trying to squeeze too much in.
Where possible, give yourself at least three nights in each safari area. More stops do not necessarily make a better safari. Time to settle in, get to know your guide, and follow what is happening around you often makes all the difference.
“The biggest thing I tell first-time safari travellers is not to rush it. Spend a little longer in each place, get to know your guide, and give yourself time to enjoy where you are. You can always come back for the rest.” - Chris Renshaw, private guide and director, Safari Craftsmen
Your first safari doesn't have to look like everyone else's. Our journeys are starting points, not set itineraries. They give us a sense of how you would like to travel, and from there we craft the details around you.
Explore our Safari Craftsmen journeys.
Some of Africa’s safari regions carry a malaria risk, and your doctor or travel clinic can advise on preventative medication and precautions for your particular journey.
If you would prefer a malaria-free safari, South Africa has wonderful options, including Tswalu in the Kalahari and Marataba in Marakele National Park. Both offer beautiful landscapes, rewarding wildlife viewing and lovely places to stay. We would be happy to help you choose the one that feels right for you and your family.
Health advice and entry requirements can change, so always speak to a travel health professional before you go. When we know your preferences, we can also help shape your safari around destinations that feel right for you.
Packing for safari can be simple. Most camps offer a laundry service, so a few comfortable, practical favourites will go a long way.
Pack the essentials:
Leave the bright colours and bulky luggage at home. Comfortable and practical wins every time.
After early starts, long game drives and days filled with sightings, a few days beside the Indian Ocean can be a lovely way to finish.
Tanzania and Zanzibar, South Africa or Botswana with Mozambique, and an East African safari followed by the Seychelles are just a few combinations that work beautifully. Mozambique's Benguerra Archipelago and the Seychelles are both featured by Safari Craftsmen as natural beach extensions to safari journeys.
The trick is not simply choosing the prettiest beach. It is choosing the one that connects naturally with the rest of your journey, so you spend less time travelling and more time enjoying it.
Every first safari begins differently. Perhaps there is a place you have always wanted to see, an animal you would love to encounter, or simply a feeling that now is the time to go.
Share those ideas with us, and we will take care of bringing them together. From where to go and when, to the camps, guides, and little details along the way, we will craft a journey that feels entirely your own.
