First-Time Safari Guide

An African safari ranks among the world's most transformative travel experiences, and the planning, done well, can be as exciting as the journey itself. With so many destinations, lodges, and seasons to consider, the choices can feel overwhelming, particularly for those new to wildlife travel. Our travel experts share their personal insights on where and when to go, what to expect, and how to plan a safari that exceeds every expectation.

Best Places To Go On a First-Time Safari

For your first safari, we recommend the popular national parks and reserves in South Africa, Kenya or Tanzania.

While wildlife sightings are never a guarantee, South Africa’s Kruger offers consistently outstanding game viewing and a strong chance of encountering all of the Big Five. If your vision of safari is one of vast golden savannah, open skies, and the timeless drama of the great wildebeest migration, East Africa is the natural choice. Kenya's Maasai Mara and Tanzania's Serengeti are among the finest wildlife destinations on earth, and ideally suited to first-time visitors.

Families travelling with young children may prefer a malaria-free setting. South Africa’s Eastern Cape offers exceptional game viewing without the need for antimalarial medication, while Kenya's Laikipia and Lewa conservancies are among the most genuinely family-friendly safari regions in Africa.

The Best Time To Go On Safari

Southern and East Africa can be visited year-round, though the dry season from April to October is widely regarded as the optimal time for game viewing across most destinations. Vegetation thins and animals congregate around water sources, making sightings more frequent and rewarding. Certain experiences — the wildebeest migration, gorilla trekking, the calving season — follow their own seasonal rhythms, and timing your visit around them makes an already extraordinary journey unforgettable.

Greater Kruger Area, South Africa

The ideal time to visit is during the shoulder months of the dry season, either April to May or August to September, when temperatures are comfortable, the bush thins to reveal exceptional game viewing, and the region feels at its most exclusive.

Maasai Mara, Kenya

The ideal time to visit is from late June to early October, when the great wildebeest migration reaches its dramatic peak. We recommend arriving in late June or September to enjoy extraordinary wildlife encounters in a quieter, more intimate setting and at more favourable rates.

Serengeti, Tanzania

The dry season from late June to October offers the Serengeti at its finest. Game is concentrated around water sources, the great migration is in full motion, and the landscape takes on a golden, cinematic quality. For those drawn to the spectacle of the calving season, the plains of the southern Serengeti come alive from late January through February.

Choosing the Right Safari Accommodation

There are two main accommodation styles to choose between on safari: lodges and camps. Lodges typically offer brick-and-mortar suites or cottages, while camps favour canvas tents that evoke the spirit of the original safari expeditions — classic, considered, and breathtakingly close to the wild. Lodges are more common in South Africa, whereas camps are typical of the Maasai Mara and Serengeti.

There is no compromise in comfort or quality between the two. Whether you prefer the immersive experience of a tented camp where you feel closer to nature, or the familiar reassurance of a beautifully appointed lodge, both offer exceptional service.

Your stay will typically be fully-inclusive, with all meals, drinks, game drives, activities and conservation fees covered. Tipping is the only additional expense to consider during your stay.

Inspirational First-Time Safari Itineraries

Every safari we design is tailored to the individual, but these itineraries offer a starting point — a sense of what a first safari with Mahlatini might look like, and the experiences that await. Browse a selection below, or speak with one of our experts to begin planning something entirely your own.

• Classic Cape Town, Winelands and Kruger Explorer
• Maasai Mara Safari and Seychelles Family Holiday
• Malaria-Free Safari Holiday