There has long been an association of romance with the wilds of the African bush, cemented by the vast array of indulgent safari camps custom-made for dreamy nights under the stars.
there is a bewildering number of options depending on what you want to see and how you want to spend your days.
Here, we round up five of the best trips on the continent.
Tanzania
Serengeti National Park,
Best time to go: January-February to see wildebeest calving in southern Serengeti; June-September for overall wildlife viewing, with the Great Migration moving up the western corridor in June-July.
When most people close their eyes and dream of the African savannah, picture-perfect images of the Serengeti will be floating in their heads.
its famous plains punctuated with flat-topped acacia trees, rock kopjes and, of course, members of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo)
The park, along with the Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya, is also renowned for the annual Great Migration
when more than a million wildebeest and zebra travel thousands of kilometres in search of fresh grass – considered one of the greatest nature events on the planet.
South Africa
Kruger National Park,
Best time to go: Year-round; best wildlife viewing May-September
In terms of wildlife alone, Kruger stands as one of Africa’s greatest safari destinations – its diversity, density and sheer numbers of animals is almost unparalleled.
While far less exclusive than other parks, it has a vast network of roads as well as great-value guided wildlife activities.
Namibia
Best time to go: April-May or September-October
Hit the open road on a self-drive safari in what is arguably the most spectacular landscape in Africa. At times you feel like you have this remarkable country to yourselves.
As you drive through the shadows of towering dunes, down into twisted rocky canyons and among Africa’s enigmatic wildlife is both incredibly empowering and humbling.
Climbing a ladder each night onto your 4WD’s rooftop tent in the wilds, and looking up to the most spectacular night skies, is a truly spellbinding way to experience African safari.
Rwanda
Best time to go: December-February and June-September are the driest months and best for gorilla tracking, but chimpanzees are easiest to locate in the wet season
Tracking endangered mountain gorillas on the mist-covered slopes of Volcanoes National Park is an enthralling wildlife experience like no other.
Note that you need a permit to visit the gorillas, which should be booked several months in advance through the RDB Tourism and Conservation Reservation Office.
A visit to Nyungwe National Park, where it’s possible to hike through the thick forests to share time with one of our other nearest relatives, the chimpanzee.