How to choose the right safari for you

South Africa: best for the Big Five and a well-balanced holiday

South Africa is one of Africa’s most varied wildlife destinations. There, you can spot the Big Five in a private game reserve in the Greater Kruger region, visit historical cities, and savour great food & wine, as well as penguins, whales and meerkats along the south coast.

Our Kruger Safari holidays can be combined with stays in Cape Town, Johannesburg, the Cape Winelands, and more, all while providing a well-balanced and diverse option for those seeking a wider range of settings from their safari holiday. Outstanding wildlife, scenery and culture in one well-paced itinerary. Optional extensions to Victoria Falls or a journey on the Rovos Rail add an extra sense of adventure.

South Africa wildlife

Perhaps the biggest draw of a safari in the Kruger region is its abundance of wildlife, many of which are on our guests’ safari bucket lists.

The region is the best place in the world to spot lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and Cape buffalo, collectively known as the ‘Big Five’. While the leopard is notoriously elusive, an expert safari guide will do their best to follow established wildlife movement patterns to spot certain animals when possible.

The reserves that Llama Travel’s safari lodges are in are well-regarded for sightings of other carnivores like cheetahs, African wild dogs, and hyenas, and the wider region is home to 500 bird species, including the white-backed heron, ground hornbill, and martial eagle. Khaya Ndlovu Safari Manor and Abelana River Lodge both have active bodies of water nearby (abundant watering holes and the Selati River, respectively), which are frequented by crocodiles and hippos.

South Africa safari accommodation

Kruger National Park is one of Africa’s largest protected game areas, and the largest in South Africa. While the core park itself is managed by a government body (South African National Parks), many private reserves have been set up around or adjacent to the park in the Greater Kruger region, catering to growing demand and offering higher standards of accommodation.

These Kruger-adjacent safari lodges are comfortable and often furnished with natural materials and traditional patterns to immerse you in the wilderness setting. You can expect great hospitality from a small lodge team, who often like to build a rapport with guests during a stay. The lodges that Llama Travel offers have great access to private reserves with wildlife spotting opportunities for the likes of the Big Five, as well as giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and crocodiles.

Both Llama Travel Kruger lodges (Khaya Ndlovu Safari Manor and Abelana River Lodge) have outdoor pools and shared social spaces to relax in after your game drives.

What is a day on safari in South Africa like?

Days on safari in Kruger start early. You wake up before sunrise for a light snack, heading out on a morning game drive to spot animals at their most active. An expert guide from your lodge will help you search for the Big Five and dozens of other species, including giraffe, zebra, antelope and hippopotamus. You may have the chance to stop for tea and coffee, when possible, often at a scenic overlook point.

On return, a full breakfast is served at the lodge, and you have time to relax before lunch.

In the afternoon, you go out for a second game drive, often staying out until after sunset. You might stop for a ‘sundowner’ drink as you watch the sunset, returning to the lodge as nocturnal species start to appear.

Dinners are often cooked over a braai, a traditional South African grill, and served in open-air deck restaurants or in a boma, an outdoor enclosure traditionally used to protect settlements from wildlife across parts of southern Africa. A relaxed end to the day and an early night is recommended to make the most of your early morning game drives.

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Botswana: best for natural immersion

Botswana is possibly Africa’s greatest safari destination, known for excellent wildlife viewing and vast, unspoilt landscapes. The Okavango Delta, a unique inland delta that attracts large numbers of animals and offers consistently rewarding game viewing, often without crowds.

A mobile safari keeps you in the hart of the Delta, moving through prime areas such as Moremi and Mababe. You stay in a comfortable en-suite tent, with morning and afternoon game drives each day, spending six nights in the Okavango Delta followed by two nights near Chobe National Park. You finish at Victoria Falls, or can extend to a nine-night mobile safari for more time in the bush.

Botswana wildlife

The Okavango Delta is technically home to the Big Five, but its rhinoceros population is small and elusive, so sightings are rare. The area does, however, have healthy populations of hippo, crocodile, giraffe, wildebeest, cheetah, impala, wild dog and dozens of bird species. Chobe National Park, in Botswana’s north-eastern corner, is famous for its large herds of elephants, and is a wonderful complement to the Okavango Delta before concluding your Llama Travel safari holiday in Victoria Falls.

Botswana safari accommodation

A mobile safari with Llama Travel keeps you in the heart of the Okavango Delta, moving through prime animal movement areas such as Moremi and Mababe. You stay in comfortable ensuite tents, with morning and afternoon game drives.

Camps are set up in remote areas, with a central campfire and open-sided dining area. Spacious canvas safari tents include proper camp beds, mesh windows and a shaded porch, with a private open-air bathroom with a bucket shower and pit toilet. The camp area is unfenced, allowing wildlife to wander through the camp.

With a maximum of just 7 guests, you are well looked after by an expert guide, chef and camp staff. The smaller group size allows your guide to follow wildlife movements with more flexibility.

As the natural marvel of Victoria Falls draws your holiday to a close, you have the option to stay in quiet, family-run lodges away from the bustle of the falls or at the grander Edwardian Victoria Falls Hotel.

What does a day on safari in Botswana look like?

Mornings on safari in Botswana start with a light breakfast, before a game drive to spot animals at their most active. After a brief stop for tea, you return to camp for lunch and relaxation time during the hottest part of the day.

In the late afternoon, you head out for a second game drive. On return from your afternoon game drive, the camp chef and staff prepare a three-course meal around the campfire, served and enjoyed under the stars. Alcoholic drinks are included.

Much of the appeal of a mobile safari stems from the friendly and social atmosphere it creates. With a maximum of 7 guests, groups get to know each other well, and the social environment aboard the game drive vehicles and around the campfire creates a nice atmosphere.

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Kenya: best for the quintessential safari experience

Kenya is the quintessential safari destination, and a great choice for a first safari or those looking for a classic, well-paced safari holiday. Llama Travel holidays to Kenya offer excellent game viewing in the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Ol Pejeta Conservancy, with curated accommodation. From July to October, the Great Migration moves through the Masai Mara, making this an especially rewarding time to visit.

You can choose to end your safari holiday in Kenya with a few nights on Diani Beach; the Indian Ocean coastline offers white sand, warm seas and a slower pace after time on safari.

Kenya wildlife

The greatest density of game in Kenya is found in the Masai Mara National Reserve. Along with the Big Five, the area is home to cheetahs, zebras, hippos, ostriches and crocodiles, and the skies are equally as active as the land, with storks, spoonbills, cranes and eagles abundant. From July to October, the Great Migration sees over 2 million wildebeest, zebra, gazelle and antelope travel through the Masai Mara, making this a wonderful time to visit.

Lake Nakuru, which forms part of Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, has a sanctuary protecting rhinos and giraffes, and zebra, lion, buffalo and antelope often graze on the riverbanks.

The Ol Pejeta Conservancy has Africa’s largest population of black rhino in East Africa and the two remaining northern white rhinos in the world. As well as visiting the conservancy, you can visit the Jane Goodall Sanctuary.

Kenya safari accommodation

Accommodation on safari in Kenya is high-quality, close to active wildlife areas and well-equipped with facilities to help you unwind during downtime. Expect pools, bars and lounge areas with campfires to unwind. Most accommodation is unfenced, allowing wildlife to roam in and around the lodges.

All meals are included on Llama Travel safari holidays to Kenya, meaning you can settle into your accommodation and the rhythm of safari life.

What does a day on safari in Kenya look like?

Days on safari in Kenya centre around the morning and late afternoon game drives.

You wake up early to travel by a comfortable four-wheel-drive vehicle with a maximum group size of 6. Vehicles are equipped with a pop-up roof and window seats for all passengers, providing great views of the surrounding wildlife.

Your driver-guide accompanies you throughout the holiday, sharing their knowledge of the wildlife, landscapes, and local culture, and building a friendly rapport with the group.

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Namibia: best for scenery and wildlife

Namibia offers a totally different kind of safari experience from other destinations, combining great wildlife spotting with incredible scenery. It has the world’s largest free-roaming populations of black rhino and cheetah, as well as desert-adapted species like oryx and springbok. As the sparsest country in Africa, its big skies and striking landscapes form a dramatic backdrop to a holiday.

Travelling overland, a safari in Namibia with Llama Travel can feel more like a road trip as you cover over 1,200 miles through Etosha National Park, Damaraland, Sossusvlei, and along the Skeleton Coast.

Namibia wildlife

Etosha National Park is probably the country’s best area for game viewing. With limited water due to its location around a vast salt pan (which is visible from space!), animals frequently gather around the limited waterholes, making wildlife easy to spot. Game drives focus on elephants, lions, rhinos and many other species.

Despite the variety of species and vast number of animals you can see in Namibia, the desert scenery and rugged landscapes elevate it far beyond a traditional safari holiday. You will have the chance to climb the tallest dune in the world in Sossusvlei and take a boat ride along the Atlantic coast to spot seals, dolphins and occasionally whales.

Namibia safari accommodation

Llama Travel’s accommodation in Namibia is a mix of desert ranches and safari lodges with great views of surrounding landscapes and wildlife, generally on a smaller scale for a more relaxed atmosphere and leisurely facilities like bars and pools to unwind after game drives.

Those traditional options are balanced with more modern city options in Windhoek and Swakopmund, where there are more facilities and leisure activities.

What does a day on safari in Namibia look like?

Due to the variety of landscapes and experiences in Namibia, no two days are the same.

Some game/scenic drives require an early wake-up call to spot animals when temperatures are cooler, or scenery (like Sossusvlei dunes) at its most impressive. Other times, like in Etosha National Park, you may spend an entire day on a game drive, stopping at a small camp for lunch.

When travelling between areas in Namibia, you depart early for your long, scenic drive to the next location. You may stop en route, for example, near Walvis Bay or Swakopmund, where you can spot large flocks of flamingo during some parts of the year.

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Choosing a destination is just the first decision to make when booking a safari holiday. Our Travel Experts can help you choose the right itinerary for you, weigh up which excursions and extensions to choose, and offer an expert’s insight into the safari experience.

Call us on 020 7263 3000 or make an enquiry here to speak to a member of our team who knows our destinations well and can share their expertise and experience to help you narrow down your dream safari holiday.