Article Highlights:

  • Witness the Great Migration in Serengeti (Tanzania) and Masai Mara (Kenya)
  • Spot the Big Five in Kruger (South Africa) and Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania)
  • Explore the watery wilderness of the Okavango Delta, Botswana
  • Discover desert-adapted wildlife in Namibia’s Etosha National Park
  • See Africa’s largest elephant herds in Chobe National Park, Botswana

 

 

Africa is the world’s greatest stage for wildlife. Its vast savannas, deserts, deltas and craters host the most spectacular animal encounters on the planet, from the thunder of wildebeest hooves during the Great Migration to the silent stalk of a leopard in the tall grass. Whether your dream is to see the Big Five up close, watch elephants cross a river at sunset or trek through jungles in search of gorillas, Africa offers some of the richest wildlife experiences anywhere.

Here are the best places to see wildlife in Africa and why they should be on every safari-goer’s list.

 

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

The Serengeti is the epitome of African safari landscapes: endless golden plains dotted with acacia trees, lions lounging in the shade and wildebeest herds stretching to the horizon.

It is most famous for hosting the Great Migration, when nearly two million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles make a year-long circuit through Tanzania and Kenya in search of fresh grazing. Crossing crocodile-infested rivers and dodging predators along the way, this migration is one of the greatest natural spectacles on Earth.

For much of the year, the action is centered in the Serengeti, making it the ultimate destination for travelers wanting to witness this iconic event.

 

Masai Mara, Kenya

North of the Serengeti lies Kenya’s Masai Mara, the second half of the Great Migration’s cycle. Each July to October, the herds surge into the Mara, where dramatic river crossings play out. Watching wildebeest plunge into the Mara River as crocodiles wait in ambush is an unforgettable, and humbling, sight.

The Mara is also renowned for its predator populations, particularly lions, cheetahs and leopards, making it one of the best places in Africa for seeing big cats.

 

Kruger National Park, South Africa

For travelers hoping to see Africa’s legendary Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo—Kruger National Park in South Africa is a prime choice.

Covering nearly 7,600 square miles, Kruger offers incredible biodiversity and some of the continent’s best wildlife infrastructure. Visitors can opt for guided drives, self-drive safaris or exclusive stays in adjacent private reserves, such as Sabi Sands and MalaMala, where sightings of leopards are almost guaranteed.

Kruger is also one of the most accessible and affordable safari destinations, making it ideal for first-time visitors to Africa.

 

Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Ngorongoro Crater is often described as a “natural zoo.” This massive volcanic caldera, 12 miles wide and 2,000 feet deep, is home to an astonishing amount of wildlife within its walls.

From black rhinos grazing the grasslands to prides of lions stalking prey in the open plains, Ngorongoro offers one of the best chances to see the Big Five in a single day. Its dramatic landscapes add to the experience, making it a top destination in Tanzania.

 

Okavango Delta, Botswana

Few safari destinations feel as wild and remote as the Okavango Delta. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a seasonal floodplain that turns the Kalahari Desert into a watery wilderness teeming with wildlife.

Here, travelers can spot elephants wading through rivers, hippos submerged in lagoons and rare African wild dogs on the hunt. Safari activities are as unique as the ecosystem itself, with mokoro (dugout canoe) rides offering an intimate way to explore the waterways.

The Okavango is also where Global Rescue assisted a young member who developed worsening dehydration and vomiting while at a remote camp. After initial treatment failed, she was evacuated by helicopter to a hospital in Maun. Diagnosed with acute gastritis, she recovered quickly and returned home to the United States, a reminder that even in paradise, emergencies can happen.

 

Etosha National Park, Namibia

Namibia’s Etosha National Park stands out for its stark beauty and the desert-adapted wildlife it supports. At its heart is a vast salt pan so large it can be seen from space. During the dry season, animals gather around Etosha’s waterholes, offering unparalleled opportunities for photography.

Travelers can spot elephants, lions, giraffes and the endangered black rhino. The park’s unique setting provides a safari experience very different from the grasslands of East Africa.

 

Chobe National Park, Botswana

If elephants are at the top of your wish list, Chobe National Park delivers. It is home to Africa’s largest elephant population, with herds often numbering in the hundreds.

Sunset boat cruises on the Chobe River are particularly rewarding, as elephants, hippos and crocodiles gather along the banks, creating some of Africa’s most iconic safari scenes.

 

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

While most people picture open savannas when they think of African wildlife, some of the continent’s most profound encounters happen in the dense mountain forests. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda is one of the last remaining strongholds of the endangered mountain gorilla.

Here, travelers trek deep into the misty jungle, guided by trackers who follow signs such as broken branches, dung or distant chestbeats to locate gorilla families. The hike itself can be challenging. Steep slopes, thick vegetation and humidity test your stamina. But the reward is extraordinary.

After hours of trekking, the moment arrives: a silverback gorilla emerges from the undergrowth, his massive presence both intimidating and gentle. For one precious hour, you watch as mothers groom their young, juveniles play and the silverback keeps a watchful eye. Unlike a game drive, this is an intimate, face-to-face experience that underscores the deep connections humans share with primates.

Permits are strictly controlled to protect the gorillas, but those who are lucky enough to go describe it as a life-changing highlight of African wildlife travel.

 

Kasanka National Park, Zambia – The Bat Migration

Africa’s wildlife isn’t just about the land’s biggest animals. At Kasanka National Park in Zambia, the skies tell their own story. Each year between late October and December, this little-known park hosts the world’s largest mammal migration: the arrival of over 10 million straw-colored fruit bats.

At dusk, the bats pour out of the park’s swamp forest in black clouds that stretch across the horizon, filling the sky with the sound of wings. Unlike the precision of the Great Migration’s wildebeest herds, this event feels chaotic, primal and overwhelming. It’s not dangerous for humans (the bats feed on fruit, not blood) but the sheer scale is awe-inspiring.

The bat migration also attracts a ripple effect of predators. Martial eagles swoop overhead, crocodiles lurk in the waterways below and hyenas and leopards prowl the forest edge, capitalizing on weakened or grounded bats. For wildlife photographers and adventurous travelers, Kasanka offers a surreal spectacle unlike anywhere else in Africa.

 

Wildlife and Risk in Africa

For all its majesty, Africa’s wilderness carries risks. Safari-goers should be aware that encounters with wildlife can sometimes turn dangerous.

In South Africa, a Global Rescue member learned this the hard way when a leopard attacked, biting through his leg and splintering his femur. Despite immediate surgery, infection set in. Global Rescue evacuated him by medical aircraft to Johannesburg, where limb-saving surgery was performed. Abraham later praised the service, saying, “One phone call was all it took. They simply took over.”

In Zimbabwe’s Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, American visitors Daniel and Laura Core had their own brush with danger when a giraffe attacked, knocking Daniel onto rocks and nearly trampling Laura. With only basic care available, Global Rescue physicians remotely guided their treatment, ensuring Daniel’s injuries were manageable and not life-threatening.

These stories highlight the reality of wildlife travel: while the experiences are awe-inspiring, they require careful preparation and a safety net in case the unexpected occurs.

 

The Global Rescue Connection

Every safari destination in Africa delivers unforgettable wildlife encounters, but also the possibility of sudden emergencies in remote areas. From evacuating a teenager in Botswana’s Okavango Delta to rushing a leopard attack victim to top-tier care in Johannesburg and guiding an American couple through the aftermath of a giraffe encounter in Zimbabwe, Global Rescue has proven that help is always within reach.

Traveling into Africa’s wild places means venturing beyond the safety nets of modern infrastructure. Global Rescue provides the critical link back to advanced medical care and expert guidance when it matters most. A Global Rescue membership is more than peace of mind; it’s the assurance that wherever the adventure takes you, from the Serengeti plains to Namibia’s salt pans, you’ll never face the unexpected alone.