AFRICA. LIFE CHANGING

WHY AFRICA?

While I plan trips for clients to amazing destinations across the globe, those who know me know that Africa holds a very special place in my heart. I think Africa is the perfect trip, whether it be for solo travelers, couples, families or friends, it is almost impossible to walk away from a trip to Africa without being changed. Most clients go into the planning process thinking that their trip will be a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Africa, yet almost universally, these clients are planning how they can possibly get back to the continent before they have made it back home.

Sharing my passion for Africa with clients is my greatest joy. To be able to get to know my clients and then figure out and design the perfect trip for them is what I love to do.

Here are some of my favorite things about the different areas of Africa:

EAST AFRICA

Kenya-

If I had to choose a favorite, Kenya might be it. Kenya is a great option for any safari goers, and especially for families. The many different eco-systems within Kenya that offer diverse experiences. There is also no better option for authentic cultural experiences and the people are some of the kindest in the world. You can, of course, find the Big 5, but Kenya is also home to the Northern 5: the Reticulated Giraffe, Grevy’s Zebra, Gerenuk, Besia Orxy, and the Somali Ostrich. Kenya is known for the Great Migration, the circular trek of 1.5 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra in a continual search for food.

Tanzania-

Tanzania, along with Kenya, is known for the Great Migration. Along with river crossings in the North, another highlight is the birthing season, from January- March, when some 500,000 wildebeest calves are born. Tanzania is home to Ngorongoro Crater, the largest inactive volcanic caldera in the world. In addition to the Serengeti, you can visit the tree-climbing lions in Lake Manyara, the massive Baobob trees in Tarangire, or the wild wilderness of Ruaha National Park. A lesser known but bucket-list-worthy gem is chimp trekking in the Mahale Mountains.

Rwanda-

Rwanda is best known for gorilla trekking and with good reason, but the country has much to offer beyond the great apes.  Kigali itself is a vibrant, incredibly safe city and worth exploration. Beyond gorilla and golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park, a visit to Nyungwe Park and a safari in Akagera National Park are very much worth your time. Rwanda is a stunner.

Uganda-

Where Rwanda is refined, Uganda is much rougher around the edges (which is not necessarily a bad thing). While most know you can gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, there is also gorilla trekking available at Mgahinga National Park. Beyond gorillas, Uganda offers some of the best birding on the planet at the Kazinga Channel. In addition, you can go on safari in Queen Victoria National Park, trek chimps in Kyumbura Gorge and whitewater raft the Nile River in Jinja.

SOUTHERN AFRICA

South Africa-

South Africa has something to offer for everyone. Home to some of the poshest lodges in Africa, South Africa offers epic game viewing. Love leopards? You are pretty much guaranteed to find them in Sabi Sand. For cheetah and rhino, the Phinda Reserve has you covered. Looking for a pangolin (I’m still looking), head to Tswalu in the Kalahari. South Africa excels at non-safari activities as well. In Cape Town, you can see the penguin population at Boulders Beach, climb (or take the cable car) to the top of Table Mountain, enjoy the beaches at Camps Bay, and taste world class cuisine. A couple days in the Winelands are a perfect complement to any safari and Cape Town adventure.

 Botswana-

My first safari was to Bostwana and it will forever be a favorite. Botswana is a stunningly beautiful country. The safari properties are few and far between, making for an extremely private safari experience, but the animals are everywhere. When the rainwater from Angola floods into the Okavango Delta, more than 700 species of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles follow suit. Botswana offers, privacy, exclusivity, and prolific animal viewing. It truly is an ultimate safari destination.

Zimbabwe-

Often overlooked and totally underrated, Zimbabwe has epic safari options. While many visit Victoria Falls before moving on to other safari destinations, those that delve deeper into Zimbabwe will be richly rewarded. The requirements to become a guide in Zimbabwe are some of the most rigorous on the continent and it shows. I’ve never felt safer on a walking safari than when I am with a Zimbabwean guide. From the massive elephant herds in Hwange to the incredibly impressive rhino conservation story in the Malalangwe Reserve, to the beauty along the Zambezi of Mana Pools, Zimbabwe should be on the list of every safari lover.

Zambia-

Zambia is arguably most well-known for Victoria Falls and as the home of the walking safari. Zambia has been somewhat of a slow burn but has been recently stepping up its game with the addition of several stunning new lodges. The topography varies, from the river system of South Luangwa to the wetlands of the lower Zambezi to the remote plains of Kafue, what stays constant is the abundant wildlife and wonderful people. It’s an up-and-comer, and now is the time to put in on your list. 

Namibia-

With desert making up most of the country, Namibia is the 2nd least populated country on Earth and gives new meaning to the term remote. From the red sand dunes of the Namib desert to the enormous salt pan in Etosha National Park, to the Skeleton Coast, what is consistent is that it is dramatic: the scenery, the desert-adapted animals, the entire experience. Namibia is like nowhere else.

“Africa changes you forever, like nowhere on earth. Once you have been there, you will never be the same. But how do you begin to describe its magic to someone who has never felt it? How can you explain the fascination of this vast, dusty continent, whose oldest roads are elephant paths? Could it be because Africa is the place of all our beginnings, the cradle of mankind, where our species first stood upright on the savannahs of long ago?”   

-Brian Jackman

Whether you travel solo, with friends, or with family, Africa has something special to offer everyone (and it just might be the best trip you ever take).