TOP SAFARIS IN AFRICA

Africa's top safari destinations include wildlife parks in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia and Gabon. If you're looking for the best safari where you're almost guaranteed to see the "Big Five" you can't go wrong with these choices.

  Masai Mara National Reserve (Kenya)

Kenya is Africa's most popular safari destination and the Masai Mara Reserve is the most popular wildlife park in Kenya. From July - October you can witness the incredible migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra. The Maasai tribesman also offer cultural tours which will enhance your 

  

Chobe National Park (Botswana)

Chobe National park lies in Botswana's Okavango Delta and covers four distinct Eco-systems. The Savuti marsh in particular offers some of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa year round. Chobe boasts around 120,000 elephants, you're unlikely to miss them when you enjoy a safari here.

The best time to visit Chobe is between May and September, the dry, cooler winter months. Herds of zebra, eland, buffalo, giraffe and wildebeest congregate around the Savuti marsh this time of year. Chobe is accessible by car which makes it a little less expensive than some other Botswana Parks. There's a wide variety of accommodation available to suit all budgets, you can even rent a houseboat.

Kruger National Park (South Africa)

Kruger National Park in South Africa boasts the highest variety of wildlife in Africa which includes the Big Five, hippos, crocodiles, cheetah and more. Kruger is one of the best maintained parks in Africa which means it's ideal for a self-drive safari.

South Luangwa National Park (Zambia)

 Home of the "walking safari" South Luangwa National Park in Zambia offers a true African experience. There's plenty of wildlife and over 400 species of birds. The Luangwa river is filled to the brim with hippos and if you're lucky you'll spot prides of over 30 lions at a time. There are 60 different animal species and over 400 different bird species living in the National Park.

South Luangwa offers both budget and luxury safari lodging. The best time to visit is during the dry season from April to October. Near the end of the dry season, the animals really concentrate around the remaining waterholes, which makes for a great safari.

  Serengeti National Park (Tanzania)

The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania offers the absolute classic African safari setting. The grasslands make the Serengeti fantastic for spotting lion kills because you can see the whole spectacle clearly. The migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra starts here and because it's much larger than the Mara (see above), it is also less touristy.

Loango National Park (Gabon)

  Loango National Park in Gabon is probably the least well known park on this list but it's only a matter of time before it's discovered. Loango is the only place in Africa where you can see whales, chimps, gorillas and elephants in one park. In Loango you get to enjoy watching wildlife on the beach, savannah, swamp and forest in a single day. Unfortunately in September 2010,Africa's Eden ceased their operations and lodging is very limited. Check their web site for further info.

  Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe)

Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe is preffered by many  because of its abundance of giraffes, elephants, and lions as well as 105 other mammal species. Hwange also has one of the largest populations of wild dogs left in Africa. There are several comfortable lodges to stay at for reasonable prices. The park is close to one of the world's greatest natural wonders -- the Victoria Falls.

GET PREPARED FOR A TRIP TO AFRICA

GET  VACCINATION

Get all of your vaccinations at least a month before you plan on arriving in Africa. You may need to carry a certificate of your yellow fever vaccination before you are allowed entry into some African nations. In addition, you will need to ask your doctor for plenty of malaria tablets to last through your entire trip.

OBTAIN A VISA,UPDATE PASSPORT

Obtain a passport before you plan a trip to Africa. Bring your original birth certificate, one other form of identification and two small passport-sized photographs of yourself to the post office. Give yourself 4 to 6 weeks for the passport to be mailed to your home, unless you opt for the rush service, which may double the price of your passport.

 ARRANGE PROPER  FINANCE

Arrange for proper financing before you plan a trip to Africa, since modern banking methods and access to cash may be limited. Up until recently, Western visitors had to enter Africa with large amounts of cash, which made tourists attractive targets for violent crime. In recent years, modern banking advances have made it easier to acquire cash in Africa, but you may still encounter obstacles in rural areas or the less developed countries.

  

GET RETURN  TICKET

 Keep a return plane ticket with you whenever you enter an African country. In many places, such as Nigeria, you will be refused entry into the country without one. Anyone without a return ticket back home will be viewed with extreme suspicion, and you may wind up in jail until you can produce one.

Tips & Warnings

•             Never give your passport to anyone other than a uniformed official, such as a policeman, border guard or airport security guard while you travel through countries in Africa. Remember that stolen U.S. passports can fetch a lot of money on the African black market.