African Safari blog

Top 3 Must-See Locations in Africa

Destinations

Africa itself is an absolutely MUST see location and if not already on everyone’s bucket list, it should be!

Here we list some of our favourite must-see attractions in this amazing and awe-inspiring continent:

1. Greater Kruger Area

Top of the list must surely be a wildlife destination, and the top of my list of African wildlife locations has to be the Greater Kruger area in South Africa. Obviously this includes the national park but also incorporates large tracts of private game reserves. I am not a fan of national parks, primarily because of the restrictive rules that seek to protect the park as well as its residents (both plant and animal alike) from the hoards of visitors. The second reason is of course the hoards of visitors themselves – which detract from the “wildlife escape” one is seeking.

Therefore it is the adjacent private game reserves that get my top vote of must see locations in Africa. There are no fences separating many of the private reserves from the national park, so the animals are free to move between them. Of the numerous private reserves in the Greater Kruger area, the Sabi Sands is generally thought of as the best for game viewing with a great diversity of wildlife and variety of terrain. It is certainly the best place for safari tours.

2. Victoria Falls

The second must see location on my list is Victoria Falls on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia. Referred to colloquially as Mosi-oa-Tunya, literally translated as “the smoke that thunders” with good reason! One of the seven natural wonders of the world Victoria Falls is, it is claimed, the largest curtain of water in the world.

The best time to witness the raw power of the falls is April to the end of August but during those months it is metaphorically impossible to see the wood for the trees – meaning the rush of water is so great that the gorge into which it pounds is shrouded in mist which (at the height of the water level) can be seen rising from as far as 30 kilometers away! But even when the water is at its lowest level (November, when the photo below was taken, and December – anticipated to be only one-tenth of the flow as than in April) the falls offer quite a spectacle as it is then possible to see into the gorge 103 meters below.

Victoria Falls is also known as the adventure capital of Africa and has something to offer everyone from the flight of angels (helicopter ride) to sunset cruises to real adventure like bungee jumping from the bridge and white water rafting.

It is also a great place to include in an itinerary with the Greater Kruger area

3. The Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta is one of our favourite places in all Africa. Located in Botswana, the Okavango Delta is a heritage listed site and pristine water wonderland in the heart of the Kalahari Desert. It offers a refreshing contrast to the relatively dry bush location of most wildlife safaris and the opportunity to see both animals and prolific birdlife from a different perspective, ie from the seat of a motor boat or a silent (man-powered) mokoro (a dug-out canoe.) The Okavango Delta also serves as an ideal fit in an itinerary with the Sabi Sands and the Victoria Falls. Indeed the combination represents an ideal introductory trip to Africa.

Read about more must-see African locations

If we’ve whet your appetite for an African adventure, even just a little bit, we invite you to find out more about planning a trip with us (we’re not just a travel agency!)

We will create an itinerary suited to you, or you can view some samples.

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