1. Kenya
Kenya is poised to offer some of the finest African safaris in 2025. From unforgettable family safaris with child-friendly activities to exclusive retreats for couples and honeymooners, a Kenya safari is truly unparalleled. The service standards are exceptional, and the country’s premier destinations boast luxury accommodations ranging from opulent colonial-style lodges to contemporary boutique hotels and authentic tented camps.
Our Picks:
Masai Mara
The Masai Mara‘s expansive plains provide a sanctuary for a wide variety of wildlife, including elephants, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, hyena, and the Mara’s renowned big cats—lions, leopards, and cheetahs. With its remarkable density of animals, the reserve guarantees an outstanding safari experience throughout the year.
The open plains and mild climate ensure that the vegetation remains sparse enough to easily spot wildlife. For a more exclusive experience, we recommend staying in the private conservancies that border the national reserve. These conservation areas offer uncrowded game viewing, walking safaris, and night drives, all while staying in some of the finest luxury safari lodges in Kenya.
Laikipia
The high plains of Laikipia, located northeast of the Great Rift Valley, are becoming known as one of Kenya’s hidden gems. Nearly the size of Wales, Laikipia is home to some of the country’s most successful conservation initiatives, such as the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, which shelters black and white rhinos along with Grevy’s zebra.
With fewer visitors and an emphasis on sustainability, Laikipia is ideal for a peaceful safari experience. The region offers excellent family-friendly lodges and camps, ensuring you won’t have to contend with crowds during your 2025 safari adventure.
Uganda
With only about 900 mountain gorillas remaining on Earth, trekking into their native forests is the only way to experience these critically endangered primates, as they cannot survive in captivity. No other wildlife encounter can compare to sitting with endangered gorillas in their natural habitat and observing the fascinating family dynamics of our ancient relatives.
The emerald rainforests of Uganda are among the best destinations for gorilla trekking—the continent’s most powerful wildlife experience—and the country’s trekking permits are some of the most affordable in Africa. Additionally, Uganda offers the opportunity to enhance your gorilla trekking experience with unique chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park and exceptional game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park. For some of the most diverse African safari tours in 2025, Uganda is the place to be.
Our Picks:
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Bwindi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that blends montane and lowland forest ecosystems, making it a lush habitat for about 350 bird species, 220 butterfly species, 120 mammal species, and a variety of reptiles and amphibians. Thanks to income from tourism, the park’s endangered mountain gorilla population has grown to account for nearly half of the world’s total. There are excellent accommodation options in and around the forest, ensuring your unforgettable gorilla trekking adventure is complemented by comfortable stays.Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s top game-viewing destination and the most accessible savannah reserve. The park is home to iconic big game, such as elephants, buffalo, leopards, and the famous tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha Plains. It is also one of the most biologically diverse parks in the world, with an astonishing 610 bird species—more than the entire British Isles! Don’t miss a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, where you can spot hippos, crocodiles, and an impressive array of birdlife.
Tanzania
Safari is woven into the fabric of life in Tanzania. With its immense diversity of wildlife and landscapes, few destinations in Africa can rival what Tanzania offers. From the endless savannah of the Serengeti to the pristine beaches and coral reefs of Zanzibar, a Tanzania safari delivers a series of captivating experiences.Our Picks:
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha is Tanzania’s largest national park. Despite its size, it is home to only a few lodges and camps, helping it maintain its status as one of the country’s best-kept secrets, especially for game viewing. The park’s abundant wildlife is matched only by their immense numbers. Ruaha is home to the largest elephant herds in East Africa, and its predator sightings—lions, leopards, cheetahs, and the endangered wild dog—are unmatched. For adventurous travelers in search of remote, untamed safari experiences, Ruaha will offer some of the best safaris in 2025.
Nyerere National Park (Selous)
Along with Ruaha, Nyerere National Park (formerly known as Selous) is part of the less-visited Southern Tanzania safari region. Vast, remote, and packed with wildlife, Nyerere offers a diverse safari experience that stands apart from Tanzania’s iconic destinations like the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. The park’s lifeblood, the Rufiji River, forms a series of lakes and palm-fringed channels, home to large populations of hippos, crocodiles, and mega-herds of elephants, as well as a remarkable variety of bird species. Nyerere offers unique safari activities such as boat cruises, walking safaris, and adventurous fly-camping excursions.Rubondo Island
While Zanzibar is Tanzania’s most famous island, Rubondo Island remains one of Africa’s hidden gems. Located in Lake Victoria, Rubondo is Africa’s largest island national park, offering a pristine and untouched landscape. Spanning 237 square kilometers (92 square miles) with 11 smaller islets, it hosts a range of wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, sitatunga antelopes, and chimpanzees.
Rubondo Island is a perfect off-the-beaten-path destination, providing total exclusivity with just one accommodation option, Rubondo Island Camp. Visitors can enjoy guided rainforest treks, game drives, and boat or canoe safaris, all while indulging in some beachside relaxation. With around 300 confirmed bird species, including marabou storks, pied kingfishers, and fish eagles, Rubondo is also a paradise for bird watchers. Additionally, anglers can enjoy catch-and-release fishing for the famous Nile perch.
Zambia
While a visit to the iconic Victoria Falls should be included in every Zambia safari itinerary, it is the country’s lesser-known destinations that truly stand out as some of Africa’s most underrated safari locations. Zambia is home to a collection of national parks that are often less crowded compared to their counterparts in South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Boasting some of Africa’s wildest and most remote landscapes, Zambia offers a safari experience that is far from rough. Here, you can enjoy sensational big game viewing, guided by some of the best safari experts, while staying at luxury lodges and camps. A long-time favorite for safari enthusiasts, Zambia’s untouched beauty ensures a quieter, more intimate safari experience than the crowded hotspots of other African countries. Zambia is poised to deliver some of the best African safaris in 2025.
Our Picks:
South Luangwa National Park
Few parks in Africa can match the extraordinary density of wildlife found in South Luangwa, particularly around the park’s lakes and rivers. Vast numbers of elephants, buffalo, and giraffes come to drink, watched by Nile crocodiles and powerful lion prides. South Luangwa is world-renowned for its walking safaris, ranging from relaxing morning walks to more challenging multi-day treks between camps. Experiencing Africa on foot provides an entirely new perspective, just as the first explorers did. A bush walk is a unique physical, mental, and spiritual adventure, where the sights, sounds, and smells of the bush come alive. Expert guides will lead you through the heart of the wilderness, offering one of the best African safari experiences you can have. South Luangwa is unrivaled in delivering this experience.Lower Zambezi National Park
Unlike much of Africa, several of Zambia’s national parks are set aside for private use, ensuring a quieter and more exclusive safari experience. In Lower Zambezi National Park, for example, no tour buses or self-drivers are allowed. Only licensed operators can conduct safaris, and only a select few lodges within the park are authorized to run boat and canoe safaris, all under strict regulations.
This makes Lower Zambezi an exceptional destination for those seeking solitude and pristine wilderness. Visitors will enjoy uninterrupted game viewing and can take part in a wide range of safari activities, including day and night game drives, guided nature walks, river cruises, and fishing expeditions. The park’s unique setting along the Zambezi River enhances the experience, offering an authentic and immersive safari.
Kafue National Park
For a true sense of Zambia’s wild heart, head to Kafue National Park, the largest conservation area in the country, spanning an impressive 22,400 square kilometers (13,918 square miles). Kafue is known for its intimate safari experiences—because there are only a handful of camps and lodges in the park, it is common to have entire areas to yourself, with no other vehicles or visitors in sight. Explore the park’s diverse landscapes and encounter its unique wildlife, including lions that leap over streams in the stunning Busanga floodplains. Game drives and walking safaris allow you to explore the park up close, and many of the park’s lodges offer “silent safaris” using solar or electric vehicles, which helps minimize disturbance to the wildlife. With a prolific predator population and around 20 different antelope species, Kafue is a prime destination for both game viewing and birdwatching, with nearly 500 bird species recorded in the park.South Africa
When it comes to comprehensive holiday destinations in Africa, South Africa stands out as a top contender. The country offers a rich variety of unique experiences, backed by some of the best tourism infrastructure on the continent. Major cities are well connected by daily commercial flights, while chartered planes make it easy to reach safari lodges with their own private airstrips.
From Big 5 safaris at luxurious lodges to world-class land-based whale watching and culinary experiences amid picturesque vineyards, South Africa truly has it all. Cap off your adventure with some relaxation on the country’s stunning coastline.
Our Picks:
Cape Town
Bathed in over 3,000 hours of sunshine each year, South Africa’s oldest city offers a wealth of activities, all set against a backdrop of breathtaking natural beauty. Table Mountain, beautiful beaches, and nearby wine valleys give Cape Town a Mediterranean flair, while its culinary scene is one of the best in the world, with award-winning restaurants to explore. If you’re visiting between July and September, a trip to Hermanus for the world’s best land-based whale watching is a must.
For families seeking adventure, the Garden Route offers one of Africa’s most scenic self-drive journeys, taking you along a stunning stretch of coastline.
Kruger National Park
Known as South Africa’s premier wildlife destination, Kruger National Park is one of the best places to see the Big 5 in their natural habitat. The park is teeming with wildlife and boasts some of the best game viewing in the country. With a variety of top-tier camps and lodges, as well as expert guides, Kruger provides an exceptional safari experience. The park is especially family-friendly, offering excellent infrastructure, first-rate service, and private-use accommodation and safari vehicles. Easily accessible from Johannesburg, Kruger National Park is the perfect destination for both first-time and seasoned safari-goers.Indian Ocean Islands
After experiencing some of Africa’s top safari destinations and discovering its stunning wildlife, why not unwind on the idyllic Indian Ocean islands? Thanks to their proximity to Southern Africa, the Seychelles and Madagascar make perfect combination destinations for your holiday.
A bush and beach vacation provides the best of both worlds: the untamed wilderness and wildlife of a safari paired with serene beach days and peaceful island escapes. Embrace the island lifestyle as you relax on pristine beaches, explore crystal-clear waters by boat, or snorkel among vibrant marine life.
Our Picks:
Seychelles
Unlike many other islands, the Seychelles is a fantastic year-round destination. Positioned close to the equator, visitors are treated to warm tropical weather and plenty of sunshine. In addition to its picture-perfect white sandy beaches and swaying palm trees, the Seychelles boasts some of the finest luxury hotels, resorts, and villas in the region.
Top-tier service and world-class amenities await at renowned establishments like the Four Seasons, Constance Lemuria, and the Enchanted Island Resort, alongside private island options. With accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, the Seychelles offers something for every traveler. During your stay, explore the island’s coral reefs through water-based activities, or simply unwind on a blissful beach, soaking in the tropical climate.
