Africa Safari Highlights; Best of Africa

Best of Africa - Africa Itinerary Highlights 1

Below is a list of Africa's top highlights, as voted by us at Africa Archipelago. A couple may seem to be a bit too much on the beaten track, but please note that these destinations are crowded for a reason. The Ngorongoro Crater for example, is 'not a bloody zoo', as Philip Briggs puts it in his Tanzania guide. We love the crater for its sheer beauty and amazingly high concentration of wildlife, for its volcanic strangeness and the stunning highlands that surround it, not for its necessary crowd control.

No 1) The Serengeti and The Wildebeest Migration, Tanzania

The Great Serengeti Migration is one of the worlds most spectacular wildlife events. Often referred to as 'The Greatest Show on Earth' the Great Migration is the largest movement of herds on the planet; the sight is incredible. But even without the migrating herds, the Serengeti remains the finest park in Africa…It is vast and stunning. There is no competition.

No 2) The Mountain Gorillas, Rwanda/Uganda

Without doubt one of the most intense wildlife experiences, the endangered Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda and Uganda should be seen by everyone at some point in their lives; we have a connection with these primates like no other animal. Numbering approximately 600, they are very special indeed. Couple this with the fact that the area is scenically spectacular, a trip to the region is truly incredible.

No 3) The Okavango Delta, Botswana

The Okavango River flows down from Angola, fanning out over the Kalahari creating a maize of waterways, papyrus swamps and lilly scattered floodplains packed with prolific big game. It is one of Africa’s most beautiful areas; pristine Wilderness.

No 4) South Luangwa, Zambia

Regarded as one of Africa’s finest safari parks due to low visitor numbers, South Luangwa is Zambia’s prime attraction, widely recognised as the home of the walking safari and a park housing the best guides on the continent. Home to an incredible concentration of leopard and beauty of habitat that is rarely seen in other game reserves throughout the continent, South Luangwa is great for a second timer or adventure traveller.

No 5) Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe/Zambia

Located on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia the Mosi-oa-Tunya meaning the 'smoke that thunders' is the worlds largest curtain of falling water. At 1.7km in width and between 90 and 107 metres in height, Victoria falls truly deserves its place as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world and links in easily with a safari in Zambia, Botswana or Zimbabwe.

No 6) Zanzibar Beaches and Stone Town, Tanzania

Stone Town remains a living monument to the culture and histories of its curious mix of East African, Arab, Indian, Persian and European conquerors, traders and seafarers. Albeit somewhat run down nowadays the town still amazes many. The beaches are the finest in East Africa and the very fact its called Zanzibar is just intriguing!

No 7) Sossuvlei Sand Dunes, Namibia

A 300km by 150km dune expanse begs to be seen, climbed or flown over. With some dunes reaching 1000 foot high the treck can be ardusous to the top but the reward is one of the worlds most staggering and scenically beautiful sites.

No 8) Kilimanjaro

Once dismissed in the Western world as an impossible myth, the world's highest free standing, snow-covered equatorial mountain has now been charted and climbed, and stories of her resident man-eating spirits are relegated to the realms of folklore. But Mount Kilimanjaro continues to preserve a mysticism that defies all recent knowledge of her slopes. Images of the towering snow-covered cone rising majestically from fertile green foothills have become a powerful motif of Tanzania's extraordinary extremes. Whether you climb it or just see it depends on the person!

No 9) The Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Approximately 3 million years ago Africa’s largest volcano erupted sending volcanic ash all over the surrounds creating the fertile lands that are the Serengeti. The famous Ngorongoro Crater was formed, the worlds most spectacular natural arena. In fact not a Crater, the world's largest intact ‘caldera’ forms a spectacular bowl of about 265 square kilometres with sides up to 600m deep. The Crater hosts the highest density of game in Africa; the stalking ground of around 20,000 to 30,000 wild animals at any one time.

No 10) Cape Town, South Africa

Africa’s most cosmopolitan and staggeringly beautiful town lies at the bottom of Table Mountain; a picturesque postcard seen by us all. With a superb diversity of attractions from beautiful beaches to Winelands and a bustling city centre Cape Town is regarded by many as the most beautiful city in the world.

We strongly recommend that you telephone us to arrange a private presentation or simply to discuss any plans that you may have on Tel 44 (0) 20 7471 8780 or Email Us