Where to Safari in Africa

90+ reserves across 12 countries — rated across 7 key safari criteria

Choosing the right destination for a safari in Africa can feel overwhelming — the continent is vast, and every region offers something different. Our curated guide rates 90+ reserves across 12 countries against seven key criteria, from wildlife density and photographic potential to exclusivity and value. Whether you’re chasing the Great Migration, tracking mountain gorillas, or seeking remote wilderness, this is your starting point.

Categories:🐘 Wildlife Density — frequency & ease of sightings · 🏕️ Infrastructure — roads, lodges & access · 📷 Photography — light, positioning & guides · 🥾 Adventure — walks, canoes & fly-camps · 🎯 Exclusivity — remoteness & crowd levels · 💰 Price — relative cost tier · 🌄 Scenery — landscape drama

Scale:★★★★★ Exceptional · ★★★★☆ Very Good · ★★★☆☆ Good · ★★☆☆☆ Limited · ★☆☆☆☆ Specialist only

Price scale:$ Budget · $$ Budget-to-mid · $$$ Mid-to-premium · $$$$ Premium/luxury · $$$$$ Ultra-luxury/exclusive-use — a lower price tier is not a lower rating, just a lower cost

Southern Africa

South Africa

Reserve	Wildlife	Infra	Photo	Adventure	Exclusivity	Price	Scenery
Addo Elephant NP	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	$$	★★★★☆
Babanango	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	$$$$$	★★★★★
Eastern Cape Safari	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	$$$$	★★★★☆
Greater Kruger	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	$$$$	★★★★☆
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	$$	★★★★☆
Karoo National Parks	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	$	★★★★★
Kgalagadi TP	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	$$	★★★★★
Kruger NP	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★☆☆☆	$	★★★★☆
Madikwe GR	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	$$$	★★★☆☆
Mapungubwe	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	$	★★★★★
Pilanesberg NP	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★☆☆☆	★★☆☆☆	$$	★★★☆☆
Sabi Sands GR	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	$$$$$	★★★★☆
Sanbona	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	$$$$	★★★★☆
Tswalu Kalahari	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	$$$$$	★★★★★
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg	★★☆☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	$$	★★★★★
Waterberg	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	$$$	★★★★☆
Zululand & Elephant Coast	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	$$$$	★★★★★

Botswana

Reserve	Wildlife	Infra	Photo	Adventure	Exclusivity	Price	Scenery
Central Kalahari GR	★★★☆☆	★☆☆☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	$$$	★★★★★
Chobe NP	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	$$$	★★★★★
Linyanti, Selinda & Kwando	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	$$$$$	★★★★★
Makgadikgadi Pans	★★★☆☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	$$$	★★★★★
Moremi GR	★★★★★	★★☆☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	$$$$	★★★★★
Northern Tuli (Mashatu)	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	$$$$	★★★★☆
Okavango Delta	★★★★★	★★☆☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	$$$$$	★★★★★

Namibia

Reserve	Wildlife	Infra	Photo	Adventure	Exclusivity	Price	Scenery
Bwabwata NP (Caprivi)	★★★★☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	$$	★★★★☆
Damaraland / Palmwag	★★★☆☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	$$$	★★★★★
Erindi	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	$$	★★★★☆
Erongo Mountains	★★☆☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	$$	★★★★★
Etosha NP	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	$$	★★★★★
Fish River Canyon	★☆☆☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	$	★★★★★
Khaudum	★★★☆☆	★☆☆☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	$	★★★☆☆
Namib & Sossusvlei	★★☆☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	$$$	★★★★★
Okonjima	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	$$$	★★★☆☆
Skeleton Coast NP	★★☆☆☆	★☆☆☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	$$$$	★★★★★
Waterberg Plateau	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	$	★★★★☆
Zambezi Region (Caprivi)	★★★★☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	$$	★★★★☆

Zimbabwe

Reserve	Wildlife	Infra	Photo	Adventure	Exclusivity	Price	Scenery
Chizarira	★★★☆☆	★☆☆☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	$	★★★★★
Gonarezhou NP	★★★★☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	$$	★★★★★
Hwange NP	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	$$$	★★★★☆
Mana Pools NP	★★★★☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	$$$$	★★★★★
Matobo NP	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	$	★★★★★
Matusadona & Lake Kariba	★★★★☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	$$	★★★★★
Southeast Lowveld Conservancies	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	$$$	★★★★☆
Victoria Falls & Zambezi NP	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★☆☆☆	$$$	★★★★★

Zambia

Reserve	Wildlife	Infra	Photo	Adventure	Exclusivity	Price	Scenery
Kafue NP	★★★★☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	$$$	★★★★☆
Liuwa Plain	★★★★☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	$$$	★★★★★
Lower Zambezi NP	★★★★☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	$$$$	★★★★★
Mosi-oa-Tunya	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★☆☆☆	$$	★★★★★
North Luangwa NP	★★★★☆	★☆☆☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	$$$$$	★★★★☆
Northern Zambia	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	$$$	★★★★☆
Nsumbu & Lake Tanganyika	★★★☆☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	$$$$	★★★★★
South Luangwa NP	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	$$$$	★★★★★

Malawi

Reserve	Wildlife	Infra	Photo	Adventure	Exclusivity	Price	Scenery
Liwonde National Park	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	$$	★★★★☆
Majete Wildlife Reserve	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	$$	★★★★☆
Lengwe National Park	★★★☆☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	$$	★★★☆☆
Lake Malawi National Park	★★☆☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★☆☆☆	$	★★★★★
Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	$	★★★★☆
Kasungu National Park	★★☆☆☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	$	★★★★☆
Nyika National Park	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	$$	★★★★★
Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve	★★★☆☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	$$	★★★★☆

Mozambique

Reserve	Wildlife	Infra	Photo	Adventure	Exclusivity	Price	Scenery
Gorongosa NP	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	$$	★★★★★
Limpopo NP	★★★☆☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	$	★★★★☆
Maputo NP	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	$$	★★★★★
Niassa Special Reserve	★★★★☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	$$$$$	★★★★☆

Eswatini

Reserve	Wildlife	Infra	Photo	Adventure	Exclusivity	Price	Scenery
Hlane Royal National Park	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	$$	★★★☆☆
Mkhaya Game Reserve	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	$$	★★★★☆

Eastern Africa

Kenya

Reserve	Wildlife	Infra	Photo	Adventure	Exclusivity	Price	Scenery
Aberdare NP	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	$$	★★★★★
Amboseli NP	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★☆☆☆	★★★☆☆	$$$	★★★★★
Chyulu Hills	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	$$$$$	★★★★★
Laikipia Plateau	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	$$$$	★★★★☆
Lewa-Borana Landscape	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	$$$$$	★★★★☆
Lake Naivasha	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★☆☆☆	$$	★★★★☆
Lake Nakuru NP	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★☆☆☆	★★☆☆☆	$	★★★★☆
Maasai Mara NR	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★☆☆☆	$$$	★★★★★
Meru NP	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	$$	★★★★☆
Nairobi NP	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★☆☆☆	★☆☆☆☆	$	★★★☆☆
Samburu, Buffalo Springs & Shaba	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	$$$	★★★★☆
Tsavo East NP	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	$$	★★★★☆
Tsavo West NP	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	$$	★★★★★

Tanzania

Reserve	Wildlife	Infra	Photo	Adventure	Exclusivity	Price	Scenery
Arusha NP	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	$	★★★★★
Katavi NP	★★★★☆	★☆☆☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	$$$$	★★★★★
Lake Manyara NP	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★☆☆☆	$$	★★★★★
Mahale Mountains NP	★★★☆☆	★☆☆☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	$$$$$	★★★★★
Mikumi NP	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	$	★★★★☆
Mkomazi NP	★★★☆☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	$$	★★★★☆
Ngorongoro Crater	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★☆☆☆	★★☆☆☆	$$$$	★★★★★
Nyerere NP	★★★★★	★★☆☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	$$$	★★★★★
Ruaha NP	★★★★☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	$$$$	★★★★★
Rubondo Island NP	★★★☆☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	$$$$	★★★★★
Saadani NP	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	$$	★★★★☆
Serengeti NP	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★☆☆☆	$$$$	★★★★★
Tarangire NP	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	$$	★★★★★

Uganda

Reserve	Wildlife	Infra	Photo	Adventure	Exclusivity	Price	Scenery
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	$$$$	★★★★★
Kibale NP	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	$$$	★★★★☆
Kidepo Valley NP	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	$$	★★★★★
Lake Mburo NP	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	$	★★★★☆
Mgahinga Gorilla NP	★★★☆☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	$$$$	★★★★★
Murchison Falls NP	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	$$	★★★★★
Queen Elizabeth NP	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	$$	★★★★☆
Toro-Semliki WR	★★☆☆☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	$$	★★★★☆

Rwanda

Reserve	Wildlife	Infra	Photo	Adventure	Exclusivity	Price	Scenery
Akagera NP	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	$$	★★★★☆
Nyungwe Forest NP	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	$$$	★★★★★
Volcanoes NP	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	$$$$$	★★★★★

Ratings reflect typical conditions during optimal season. Infrastructure, accessibility and wildlife populations evolve — contact us for current conditions before planning your trip.