Where Is the Best Place to Go for a Safari?

The thought of an African safari brings up beautiful images of wild animals, open spaces, and sunrises in the bush. It’s one of the most exciting trips a person can take.

Seeing a giraffe walk across the plain or watching a lion hunt in its home is a memory that stays with you forever. Because the experience is so special, many people wonder: Where is the best place to go for a safari?

Finding the right place makes sure your dream trip is perfect. It’s important to know that the best place depends on what you want to see and how you want to travel.

At Labbé Travel, we create custom journeys that make your travel dreams real. We use our knowledge of top travel spots to deliver experiences that are truly unique. This guide will help you understand the amazing safari destinations available for your next adventure.

TL;DR

The top safari destinations are in East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania) and Southern Africa (South Africa, Botswana, and Zambia). Tanzania is great for seeing the large Great Migration herds and dense wildlife in the Ngorongoro Crater. Botswana offers an exclusive, high-cost safari with amazing water-based trips in the Okavango Delta. South Africa gives travelers the best chance to see the Big Five and has good travel systems for visitors. Kenya is famous for its big cats and the exciting Mara River crossings.

1. Choosing Your Safari Region: East Africa or Southern Africa

A safari is a powerful experience, and the best place to visit depends completely on what you want to experience and see. The best spots are usually in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania) and Southern Africa (South Africa, Botswana, Zambia). Each one gives a very different kind of adventure.

The choice between these two areas is the first step in planning your personal trip.

Destination	Main Focus	Key Parks & Areas	Best Time to Go
Kenya	Big Cats & The Great Migration (River Crossings)	Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Laikipia	July to October for migration river crossings.
Tanzania	Great Migration (Calving Season) & Many Animals	Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater	Late June to October (dry season) or January to March (calving season).
Botswana	Water Safaris & Private, Low-Crowd Tourism	Okavango Delta, Chobe, Moremi	June to October (dry season).
South Africa	Guaranteed Big Five & Easy Travel	Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand	Year-round, with the dry season (May–October) offering easier viewing.

2. East Africa: The Classic Safari of Wildebeest and Big Cats

East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania) is where the idea of a safari first began. It features the classic, wide-open plains and the world-famous Great Migration. If your dream safari includes scenes from nature documentaries, this is the region for you.

Tanzania: The Migration and the Crater

Tanzania features the Serengeti National Park, which is connected to Kenya’s Maasai Mara. This country is the primary location for most of the year for the Great Migration.

The Main Show: Tanzania hosts the majority of the Great Migration. This is a circular journey where millions of wildebeest and zebra travel across the land. From January to March, the southern Serengeti, near the Ndutu area, becomes the center for the calving season. In this period, thousands of wildebeest give birth, and predators like lions and cheetahs are very active.
The Best Time to Visit: The dry season, which runs from late June to October, is generally considered the top time to visit Tanzania for a safari because wildlife is easier to find. During the wet season, from March to May, the land is lush and green, offering great value and fewer tourists, but the rains can make some roads hard to use.
Unique Sight: The Ngorongoro Crater is a world-renowned place. This volcanic crater holds a unique, very high number of animals inside its walls, giving very reliable “Big Five” sightings. This protected area is ideal for seeing rhinos, which are often harder to find in other places.
Planning Your Trip: Travelers should book early for the peak season (July–October). If you want a quieter experience, the calving season in the southern Serengeti offers fewer crowds.

Kenya: River Crossings and Predator Action

Kenya is a great country for your first safari or for people who love big cats. The Maasai Mara National Reserve gets much attention for its large number of predators.

The Main Attraction: Kenya is famous for great views of lions, leopards, and cheetahs. From July to October, it is the location for the exciting Mara River crossings. This is when the herds face crocodiles in the water as they move to Kenya from Tanzania.
Cultural Experience: Guests can meet the traditional Maasai tribe. You can visit local villages and community-run areas to learn about their culture.
Park Highlights: Amboseli National Park is another top spot. It is famous for its large elephant herds that walk against the amazing background of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Value and Price: Kenya generally offers more affordable options than the Serengeti in Tanzania for safari tours. You can find a good range of options from simple to high-end camps.

3. Southern Africa: Luxury, Water, and Guaranteed Views

The countries in Southern Africa (South Africa, Botswana, and Zambia) offer a different kind of safari. They focus more on exclusive, personal experiences and often feature diverse landscapes like deserts and water deltas.

Botswana: Exclusive Luxury and Water Safaris

Botswana’s way of doing tourism is special: a low number of visitors, high cost. This means fewer crowds, a lower impact on the natural environment, and a more private, exclusive experience for travelers.

The Main Draw: The Okavango Delta is a unique inland delta that floods every year. This amazing ecosystem is famous for water-based safaris using light mokoro canoes. Botswana also has Africa’s largest elephant herds, often seen in Chobe National Park.
The Cost Factor: Botswana is generally more expensive than its neighbors. The high price helps limit the number of visitors, ensuring that the camps are small and the wildlife sightings are more private. A typical safari here can start at over $800$ per person per night for a semi-permanent camp and go much higher for ultra-luxury options.
Travel Style: This country is the definition of a private, high-end safari. Getting between areas often needs charter flights. This adds to the feeling of being in a remote, private space.

South Africa: Seeing the “Big Five” and Easy Travel

South Africa is a great choice, especially for people traveling to Africa for the first time. It has world-class systems and great chances for seeing animals.

The Main Attraction: South Africa gives one of the surest ways to see the “Big Five” (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo). Kruger National Park and the private reserves next to it, like Sabi Sand Game Reserve, are famous for having many animals and excellent guides. Sabi Sand is very well-known for great sightings of the leopard.
Travel Comfort and Ease: South Africa is easy to reach with direct international flights to major cities. The luxury private reserves offer a highly advanced, high-service safari experience. You can also choose self-drive safaris in the public Kruger National Park.
Added Benefits: You can easily combine a safari here with city breaks in Cape Town or trips to the winelands, making for a full and varied holiday.

Zambia and Rwanda: The Specialist Adventures

For the adventurous traveler, some countries offer trips focused on very specific, amazing experiences.

Zambia: Walk the Wild Side: Zambia is the country that started the walking safari. In parks like South Luangwa, a walking safari offers a personal, immersive trip where you track animals on foot with an expert guide. This is an authentic trip for people who know and love safaris.
Rwanda and Uganda: Primate Encounters: These countries are the best places for gorilla trekking. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest offer the amazing experience of spending time with mountain gorillas. This is a very special and important journey.

4. The Labbé Travel Difference: Your Custom Safari

For a Labbé Travel client, a safari is about accessing the wilderness with privacy, comfort, and personalized service. We look at your trip as a complete journey where every step is important.

True Luxury in the Wild Means:

Personalized Service: You get your own expert guide and vehicle for most activities. This allows you to travel at your own pace. You can stay longer to watch a hunt or take a sudden side trip without worrying about a large group.
Private Land Access: Many luxury safaris give you access to private game reserves or special areas. These spaces limit the number of people visiting. This means you get a more private view of the wildlife, away from busy tourist routes.
High-End Stay: Our chosen lodges or beautiful tented camps provide five-star comfort in remote places. Rooms are large, and you can expect nice features like private plunge pools, special dinners, and sometimes even butler service.
Unique Activities: We arrange activities beyond the typical game drive. These include hot air balloon rides over the plains, private guided walking safaris, or special bush dinners under the stars.

5. Guiding Your Safari Decision

The ultimate safari destination will depend on your personal travel goals. To choose the perfect place, we ask every client to think about these important points:

What Is Your Priority Animal Sighting?

Your main goal should help you pick your country. The movement of animals changes over the year.

Gorillas or Chimpanzees: You must select Rwanda or Uganda for this incredible trek.
The Great Migration: For the exciting river crossings, choose Kenya’s Maasai Mara from July to October. For the calving season and many young animals, choose Tanzania’s Serengeti from January to March.
Guaranteed Big Five: South Africa, especially the private reserves near Kruger, gives you the highest chance of seeing all five: lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo.
Large Elephant Herds: Botswana, specifically Chobe National Park, has Africa’s largest number of elephants.

What Is Your Style of Safari?

The atmosphere of your trip is just as important as the animals you see.

Quiet and Private: Botswana is the best option. The policy here means fewer people and a real sense of wild nature.
First-Time Traveler with Comfort: South Africa offers easy flights and excellent systems. It combines wildlife views with city exploration.
Active and On Foot: Zambia is the place for you. It offers the authentic adventure of a walking safari.
Classic and Iconic: Kenya and Tanzania have the traditional views of Land Rovers driving across the famous open plains.

The Best Time to Go

Even within the same country, the experience changes with the season:

Dry Season (June to October): This is the peak wildlife viewing time in East Africa. Water is scarce, so animals gather near rivers and water sources. The grass is shorter, making animals easier to spot. This time has the highest prices and the most tourists.
Green Season (November to May): This period includes the rainy months. The land is green and beautiful. This season is great for birdwatching, and you see many baby animals being born. Prices are lower, and there are fewer crowds. If you travel in late May or early June, you get green land before the big rush.

6. Planning Your Custom Safari with Labbé Travel

A journey to Africa is more than just a holiday. It is an experience that changes your view of the world. Because the options are so wide, working with an expert ensures that your trip matches your vision perfectly.

Caroline Labbé has handpicked only the best locations, lodges, and guides for our clients. We move beyond common packages to create an adventure that is a seamless mix of quality, adventure, and comfort. Our focus is on the small details that make a trip special, whether that is finding a specific black rhino or arranging a private dinner in the bush.

Ready to Plan Your Custom Safari?

Do you know which country interests you most? Do you want the vast plains of the Serengeti, the water channels of the Okavango Delta, or the mountain mist of Rwanda? We can create a journey that fits your budget, your interests, and your exact timeline.

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