Everyone has their own memories of Africa they take away with them, but the wildlife makes for some of the most magical to remember. Here are some of our favourite wildlife encounters.
Exploring the magnificent Okavango Delta in Botswana – besides being a Mecca for birds the waters of the Okavango attract a host of species making Botswana one of the best safari experiences around. The pristine environment adds to the experience as you lazily float along one of the channels in a mokoro (dug out canoe) on the lookout for watering elephants and grunting hippos. Swap the boat for a 4x4 and you have exciting game drives following prides of lion or packs of wild dog out on the hunt in huge herds of buffalo or antelope.
Up close and personal with the ‘Big 5 in South Africa – Generally the private reserves in South Africa offer some of the best up close game viewing across the whole continent. You will find yourselves holding your breath in amazement as you sit just meters away from a leopard playing with her young cub in the fading light after your sundowners or creeping towards a herd of elephants in your open Land Rover as they happily munch away on the trees around you.
The great migration – the annual pattern of the wildebeest takes them on a journey through Tanzania's Serengeti National Park and Kenya's Maasai Mara. Floods of animals running in columns, grazing as far as the eye can see, engaged in excited battles during the rutting season and of course the infamous river crossings make the great migration one of the most incredible wildlife spectacles you can witness.
Tracking the Mountain Gorilla – whether you go for Rwanda or Uganda tracking endangered mountain gorillas is a moving experience. Listening to them communicating with each other in low grunts, surrounded by the smell of freshly crushed foliage, as they roll around and play together. Coming so close to such gentle yet powerful animals is enough to melt anyones heart.
Walking in the wilds in Zambia – walking safaris are always different and exciting but with Zambia being the birth place of the walking safari they offer some of the best experiences
around. Being on ground level just meters away from some elephant scratching against an uprooted tree sends a feeling of electric through you as you feel exposed, yet more at one with the bush than on any safari, you have been on to date.
With so many encounters to choose from its hard to narrow them down, there is so much to discover. Why not have your own personal African wildlife experience with an itinerary tailored to you, focused on making that trip of a lifetime.
Contact a specialist to plan your holiday of a lifetime to Africa