The best places to visit in Africa include the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Masai Mara in Kenya, Victoria Falls on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border, Kruger National Park in South Africa, the Okavango Delta in Botswana, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking, Zanzibar for beaches and culture, Ngorongoro Crater, Cape Town, Marrakech, Mount Kilimanjaro, the Nile Valley in Egypt, Namibia’s Sossusvlei, Zanzibar, Lake Malawi, the Seychelles, Amboseli National Park, Rwanda’s Kigali, Ethiopia‘s Lalibela, Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago, South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, Virunga National Park, and the Rwenzori Mountains. Africa showed outstanding tourism growth in 2025, with international tourist arrivals rising 8% on the continent, twice the global average of 4%, making 2026 a strong time to plan your trip. Planning an African safari across multiple destinations gives you the broadest possible range of landscapes, wildlife, and cultural experiences the continent has to offer.
| Destination | Country | Best For | Best Season | Approx. Entry Cost (Adult) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serengeti National Park | Tanzania | Big Five, Migration | Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb | $70–$83/day |
| Masai Mara | Kenya | Migration, Big Five | Jul–Oct | $100–$200/day |
| Kruger National Park | South Africa | Big Five self-drive | Year-round | R602 (~$33)/day |
| Okavango Delta | Botswana | Water safari, elephant | Jun–Sep | From $200/day all-in |
| Victoria Falls | Zambia/Zimbabwe | Adventure, waterfalls | Jul–Aug | $30–$50 entry |
| Bwindi / Volcanoes NP | Uganda/Rwanda | Gorilla trekking | Jun–Sep, Dec–Feb | $800–$1,500/permit |
| Ngorongoro Crater | Tanzania | Dense wildlife | Year-round | $70+/day |
| Zanzibar | Tanzania | Beach, culture | Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb | No park fee |
| Cape Town | South Africa | City, coast, wine | Nov–Mar | No park fee |
| Marrakech | Morocco | Culture, history | Mar–May, Sep–Nov | No park fee |
| Kilimanjaro | Tanzania | Trekking | Jan–Mar, Jun–Oct | $70+/day |
| Seychelles | Indian Ocean | Beach, eco-luxury | Apr–May, Oct–Nov | No park fee |
Serengeti National Park Tanzania Game Drives and Migration
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania’s oldest and largest national park, tops the list of best places to visit in Africa for many safari-goers, and is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site largely on account of hosting the world’s most spectacular annual wildlife migration, comprising up to 2 million wildebeest. The park’s open plains in the south hold concentrations of lion, cheetah, and leopard throughout the year. Game drives here run from 6am to 6pm daily, and the northern Serengeti near the Mara River provides the best Wildebeest migration river crossings between July and October. Serengeti National Park entrance fees for 2026 are $83 per person per day for adult foreign non-residents and $24 per person per day for children of foreign non-resident status. Most safari packages bundle these fees into the overall cost, but travelers should confirm this with their operator before booking. The central Seronera Valley is the most accessible area and delivers reliable Big Five sightings year-round.
Masai Mara Game Reserve Kenya Wildlife Safari
Famous for its vast savannas and the Great Migration, the Masai Mara is a wildlife haven that rivals the Serengeti, with safari adventures providing opportunities to spot the Big Five, while hot air balloon rides at dawn offer views of the plains from above. The Mara sits in southwestern Kenya and connects directly with the Serengeti ecosystem across the Tanzania border, meaning the migration flows through both parks. The best time to visit for the Great Migration is July to October, though wildlife is abundant year-round. Private conservancies bordering the reserve, such as Ol Kinyei and Mara North, offer lower vehicle density and better guiding than the main park. Masai Mara fees can range from $100 to $200 USD per person per day depending on the season. Walking safaris and night drives, not permitted inside the main reserve, are available within the private conservancies.
Victoria Falls Zambia and Zimbabwe Adventure Activities
Victoria Falls is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and is the largest sheet of falling water on the planet. It straddles the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, and both sides offer distinct experiences. The Zambian side gives closer walking access to the gorge while Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls town has the wider range of accommodation and activity operators. To take advantage of white water rafting and dip into the Devil’s Pool that sits on the lip of the falls, visit when the falls are low, typically in September and October. July and August balance good water levels with dry conditions, making them the most popular months. Popular combinations from Victoria Falls include Botswana’s Okavango Delta and Chobe for water-based safaris, Cape Town and Kruger for Big Five safaris, and Zambia’s Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa for walking safaris and night drives.
Kruger National Park South Africa Big Five Self-Drive Safari
For many first-time safari-goers, South Africa is an ideal starting point, with Kruger National Park and Sabi Sand Nature Reserve offering exclusive Big Five safaris complemented by luxurious safari lodges. Kruger stretches 350 kilometres from north to south and has 11 entry gates. Self-drive safaris are fully permitted here, making it one of the most accessible and affordable Big Five parks on the continent. International visitors pay R602 per adult and R300 per child per day. All gates are cashless, so a debit or credit card is required at entry. When comparing Kruger to private reserves like Sabi Sands or Timbavati, the SANParks experience remains significantly more affordable, while a luxury lodge in a private concession might cost R15,000 or more per person per night. The southern section around Skukuza and Lower Sabie delivers the highest lion and leopard density in the park.
Okavango Delta Botswana Water Safari and Elephant Encounters
Botswana is known as one of Africa’s top safari destinations, with more than a third of the country’s land designated as protected wildlife areas, and is home to the largest elephant population in Africa, including lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffalo. The Okavango Delta floods seasonally each year, typically peaking between June and August, transforming the Kalahari into a network of channels, islands, and floodplains. Travelers can explore the delta’s channels and lagoons in traditional dugout canoes called mokoros, gliding silently through reed-lined waterways while spotting elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and a range of bird species. Most camps in the delta are fly-in only, keeping visitor numbers low and wildlife density high. Okavango Delta safaris start from around US$200 per day for an all-inclusive package, covering accommodation, shuttle service, and activities. Moremi Game Reserve, within the delta, is the most wildlife-rich section and best for Big Five sightings on dry land.
Gorilla Trekking Uganda and Rwanda Bwindi and Volcanoes National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best places to visit in Africa for wildlife lovers, known for its dense forests and incredible biodiversity as home to nearly half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Permits are required to trek any habituated gorilla family and must be booked months in advance. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park costs $800 USD per person for foreign non-residents in 2026. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is an alternative where the gorilla trekking permit costs USD 1,500 per person per trek in 2026, issued by the Rwanda Development Board. Volcanoes National Park sits just 2.5 to 3 hours drive from Kigali International Airport, making it the most accessible gorilla trekking park on the continent. Uganda’s Bwindi offers longer, more physically demanding treks through denser forest, while Rwanda delivers a more polished logistical experience at a higher permit price.
Ngorongoro Crater Tanzania Wildlife Density
The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest intact and un-flooded volcanic caldera, covering approximately 260 square kilometres at its base. The crater floor offers excellent game viewing all year round, with some 30,000 animals living here. Black rhino, which are rarely sighted in most East African parks, are seen with relatively consistent frequency inside the crater. The descent into the crater is done in 4WD vehicles, and a professional guide or ranger is required by regulation. Concession fees for staying inside the park are $59 per adult per night for non-residents. Additionally, a crater descent fee per vehicle applies on top of park entry costs. The Ngorongoro Crater vehicle service fee is $295 per vehicle per descent. Many travelers combine Ngorongoro with Serengeti and Tarangire into a northern Tanzania circuit that typically runs seven to ten days.
Zanzibar Tanzania Beaches and Stone Town Culture
Zanzibar is an archipelago off the coast of Tanzania, approximately 35 kilometres from Dar es Salaam, and is reachable by a 20-minute flight or a two-hour ferry from the mainland.