Safari experiences

Arusha may not be known as one of Tanzania's safari powerhouses, but this small, beautiful park has a lot to offer. The closest national park to the airport, you can easily make a day trip to Arusha, which sits in the scenic foothills of Mount Meru. On a game drive through the park, look out for black-and-white colobus, leopard, giraffe and a plethora of plains game. Plus, pods of hippo wallowing in the quiet, pretty lakes. On the clearest of days, you can even see the shimmering, snow-capped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The Eastern Cape's reserves are chock-a-block with critters of the smaller variety. Chuck on your walking boots for a few hours of exploring on foot, with a seasoned guide to share the secrets of the bush with you. Spy on plentiful birdlife chattering from the trees, examine the earthy trails for porcupine quills, honey badger tracks and holes where aardvarks have been scavenging, and spot the shiny shell of a rhino beetle. Adjust your focus to truly appreciate the finer details on this close-up walk through nature. This makes a fantastic post-game drive or pre-lunch activity.

The 'greatest show on earth' is no superlative when it comes to the wildebeest migration, a year-long trek where millions cross the endless plains and rushing rivers to reach sweet grasses. Embark on a game drive that is sure to enchant, excite and overload your senses as you join the viewing party for this epic spectacle. Depending on the time of year, you may watch new life begin on the southern grasslands in February or follow the rambunctious herds on their march northwards before they return to the Serengeti in November. The circuit has no end and neither does the once-in-a-lifetime chance to see this awe-inspiring event.

Perhaps the most elusive member of the Big Five, the leopard, ranks highly on most safari bucket lists and the private reserves on the western edge of Kruger are just the place to find them. Venture out on a game drive where your expert guide will take you to the known haunts of the local leopards. Although they are masters of camouflage, leopards spend their days draped over tree branches near the Kruger's coursing rivers. Keep your eyes peeled for its distinctive silhouette and swishing tail! We rate the October - November impala calving season to be the best time to do some leopard-spotting, and you may even watch in amazement as the big cat nabs their prey and drags it up a tree in a matter of seconds. Whether it's lazily snoozing under the leaves or in the heat of the hunt, seeing a leopard in the wild is unforgettable.

We don't doubt you've heard of the Great Wildebeest Migration, but what about Botswana's Zebra Migration? Leave your lodge at the hornbill's call to follow the hoof prints of these striped beauties as they walk the route carved out over thousands of years. On their circular pilgrimage from North to South, they make a pitstop on the sun-cracked Makgadikgadi Pans as the rains bring sweet green shoots for them to eat. Here, they remain from December until March, filling the arid pans with a flurry of activity for you to marvel at. And Makgadikgadi's vastness makes it easy to track and spot the zebra. The big cats follow hot on their heels, so be ready for some full-throttle predator versus prey!

Depart from camp as the dawn breaks or after the midday heat subsides for a game drive across bold and rugged Damaraland. Amongst the volcanic mountains and forests of petrified trees, your expert guide will lead you on a search for desert-adapted elephant, quietly grazing black rhino and herds of mountain zebra (plus the pint-sized Damara dik-dik). You'll explore the designated concession areas (much of Damaraland is left for nature to enjoy) with a pitstop for snacks and a cooling drink. As is the case for much of Southern Africa, the dry season months of May to October provides the best wildlife-spotting.

While much of a Mozambique holiday is all about sea, sea, sea, take a safari detour to the Maputo Special Reserve. Helmed by your expertly-trained guide, you'll get a front row seat to the wild goings-on in this biodiversity hotspot - it's one of only 36 in the world. Along the way, you may see herds of antelope, incredible butterfly (over 433 species!) and birdlife and, of course, elephant. If you leave in the morning, enjoy a post-game drive picnic brunch overlooking Lake Hlunguti and its snorting hippo, or sundowners following an afternoon drive.

Ruaha’s dramatic landscape is dominated by hills thick with towering baobab trees, some of them hundreds of years old. The call it the “upside tree” as it wiry top reaches for the sky looking much like its roots. Baobab’s produce a delicious fruit who’s spongy seeds are rich with vitamins that boast an array of health benefits. The powder extracted from these seeds is expensive over the counter, but free in Ruaha. It’s also excellent for munching on during long bush walks if you need an energy boost!