Best African Safari Trips: Kenya, Tanzania or South Africa?
Last month a couple from Tampa sent me three safari itineraries they had found online, one each for Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa, every one with a friend's strong opinion attached. They wanted to know which was the best African safari. Before I said anything about the countries, I asked when they could travel, because a safari in August and a safari in February are different trips.
As a travel advisor, I treat dates and the animals a client most wants to see as the starting point. The best African safari for one traveler can be a dull week for another.
What Makes an African Safari the Best One for You
Lions and elephants live in all three countries, so the animal list alone rarely settles anything. Kenya and Tanzania are open plains with large herds on the move, while South Africa has private reserves where a small group shares a lodge and a guide.
Dates narrow the choice fastest. From July to October more than a million wildebeest cross the Mara River, and a client who wants to watch that has to travel in those months. Come in February or March and the herds are in the southern Serengeti, where calving season runs from late January into March.
Transfers are the other thing I ask about. Driving between camps can use up most of a day, and a bush flight takes a fraction of that. Most people have a clear preference once they hear both options.
Kenya for a First Safari
Many of my first-time safari clients end up in Kenya. The Masai Mara is known for its big cats, and the river crossings run from late July through October. Camps range from tented camps with proper beds and hot water to small lodges with private plunge pools, and most travelers reach them on a bush flight from Nairobi, which saves a full day of driving.
When a client wants one company to handle the details, I often look at Micato Safaris. They're family run, with deep roots in East Africa, and their itineraries come with the logistics already worked out.
Tanzania and the Serengeti Herds
The Serengeti is far larger than the Masai Mara, so sightings are spread over a wider area and the herds move around through the year. That makes the choice of camp matter more here than it does in Kenya.
From late January to March the herds gather on the southern plains around Ndutu, where the calves are born. By July they've moved north to the Mara River, and the same crossings Kenya is known for can be watched from the Tanzanian side.
Getting between parks usually means a flight or a long drive, so I plan Tanzania for a week or more. Abercrombie & Kent runs safaris in all three countries in this article, which is useful when a client is still undecided and wants to compare itineraries from one company. Kensington Tours is another company I compare when a client wants a fully private itinerary.
South Africa and the Private Reserves
South Africa feels different from the other two. Kruger is huge, and you can drive through it yourself if you like. The private reserves on its edge are where I'd send someone who wants a guide tracking animals off the road, which the park's own roads don't allow. I'd aim for May to September, when it's dry, the bush is thin and the animals come down to the water.
Malaria is worth sorting out early. The CDC Yellow Book says Kruger is a malaria area with transmission that changes by season, and it advises avoiding mosquito bites all year and taking preventive medication from September through May. That's why I ask clients to see a travel doctor early. If you're traveling with small children, the Eastern Cape is worth a look, since its reserves sit outside the malaria zone.
Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa Side by Side
| Kenya | Tanzania | South Africa |
Known for | Big cats in the Masai Mara and the river crossings | The huge Serengeti plains and calving season | Private reserves and simple logistics |
Best months | Late July to October, for the crossings | January to March in the south, July to October in the north | May to September, when it's dry |
Getting around | Short bush flights from Nairobi | Flights, or long drives between parks | Flights, drives, or self-drive in Kruger |
Suits | A first safari or a shorter trip | Anyone with a week or more | People who want things simple |
How I Plan an African Safari With Clients
I build the trip around the dates. The Tampa couple could only go in August, so I started with Masai Mara camps close to the river crossings. In February I would have started in the southern Serengeti around Ndutu. After that I work out how many nights each camp needs and how clients will move between them, since a flight and a long drive make for very different days.
If you're still deciding between the three countries, I'm happy to talk through your dates.
Best African Safari FAQs
What is the best African safari?
Mostly it comes down to the month you can go. If it's August, I'd put you in the Masai Mara, since the Mara River crossings run from late July through October. If it's February, I'd look at the southern Serengeti near Ndutu, because the calves are born there from late January into March. And if neither month works, South Africa is easiest for spotting animals from May to September, when it's dry and they gather around the water.
Where are the best African safaris?
If you want to see the migration, Kenya's Masai Mara and Tanzania's Serengeti are where you go. Kruger National Park in South Africa and the private reserves next to it are the ones I suggest when someone wants an easier trip with less moving around.
Where is the best African safari for a first trip?
I send most first-timers to Kenya. You fly from Nairobi straight into a camp, so you're not losing a day on the road, and the Masai Mara is very good for lions and cheetahs. South Africa is a fine choice too if you'd rather keep things simple.
What is the best African safari tour?
I'd start with your dates and the pace you want, and only then look at companies. I check where the camps are and what's included in the price. A private itinerary feels very different from a group departure, so I talk clients through both before they pick.
Do I need vaccines or malaria pills for an African safari?
It changes by country and by camp, so it's worth talking to a travel doctor well before you go. For Tanzania, the CDC says travelers heading to certain areas should take prescription medicine against malaria, and it doesn't usually recommend the yellow fever vaccine for Tanzania itself. If you're arriving from a country with yellow fever risk, you may also be asked for a certificate at entry.
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