Wildlife experiences

Unlike the activities allowed in many national parks across the continent, night safaris are permitted in Zambia and provide a fabulous opportunity to spot some of the more elusive nocturnal creatures. In Luambe, night drives continue for a couple of hours after sundowners, and you should keep your eyes peeled for porcupine, honey badgers, serval and even the well-camouflaged leopard.

If we had to pick one thing that puts Lake Nakuru a head and feathers above the rest, it would be the mesmerising birdlife. Leave the jeep behind to take a walk along the lakeside where you'll see plumage of every colour. Lake Nakuru was made iconic by its flocks of rose-hued flamingos, and after leaving for eight years, the lake's star players have returned to delight twitchers once again. With 500 species and counting, there is plenty more to see. Scan the water and skies for gluttonous pelicans, elegant cranes and the striking long-tailed widowbird. March to May is your best bet for seeing the most birdlife as migratory birds also settle on the lake, while November to April is breeding season when many species are dressed in their finery.

The arid Kalahari is one of the best places to see the secretive aardvark and pangolin, sightings highly sought-after even by Big Five aficionados. Both animals are nocturnal so your guide will try to find them on an early evening safari. Stay alert and you might spot other wildlife too.

Rumble out of camp in the early morning light or closer to dusk, to explore the Waterberg's landscape of craggy cliffs, crystaline streams and plains dotted with mighty baobabs and leafy fever trees. Your expert guide knows all the right places to look (and in the Waterberg, it won't be far) for members of the Big Five, wallowing hippo and herds of plains game. Stop to take as many mental and real pictures as you can before driving on to spot even more wildlife. After a cuppa or cooling drink, return to home base, eyeing out plenty of animals on the way!

Leave the island in a speedboat in search of the oceans most majestic creatures, whales. Your skipper will give you a run-down of the whales you might see, their traits and the best way to see a whale up-close while respecting their peace. There is always the chance to see whales in Mauritius, as long as the weather conditions are good, but Humpback Whales migrate between July and November. The species you're likely to see year-round include Blainville's Beaked Whale, Gray's Beaked Whale, Dwarf Sperm Whale and the Sperm Whale, which is a favourite in Mauritius. Expect to be enthralled and humbled by these giants of the deep as they blow, flap and (if you're lucky), leap from the water.

Under a canvas of stars, set out from camp in a jeep to spy on the wildlife as Amboseli comes alive with a whole new cast of creatures. Even more so than the day, night time belongs to the predators. Lions slink between the trees, sniffing out hidden antelopes, and spotted hyenas howl in excitement as they look for leftovers. In the quiet of the evening, scan the brush for a pair of glowing eyes - then try and figure out if they belong to a bush baby, aardvark or even the shy civet. Your guide knows all and won't let any rustle go unnoticed!

The Laikipia private conservancies and game ranches have banded together to make this area a wonderful sanctuary for rare and endangered species. Here, you will find more elusive Northern species like Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, kongoni, bongo, giant forest hogs and oryx as well as wild dogs, black and white rhino and, most importantly, the last remaining Northern white rhinos in the world in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. These sanctuaries work closely with local communities to eliminate human/wildlife conflict and to encourage harmonious cohabitation and conservation.

With its life-giving waterholes, replenished by the rushing Zambezi River, Mana Pools is a dream safari destination. You'll set out at your choice of early morning or late afternoon for an open-air game drive, helmed by your expert guide who knows just where to look for the myriad species that live here. One of the great elephant sanctuaries in Africa, Mana Pools is also home to the rest of the Big Five, cheetah, herds of rare sable and, if luck is on your side, you just might get an African painted dog sighting. Beginning in June, winter is a particularly good time to visit. Park at one of the sprawling water holes and watch as the parade of wildlife arrives! Round off your drive with drinks before zooming back to camp.

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.

Depart from camp as the sun peeps over the horizon or as the midday heat subsides to find the jaw-dropping herds of elephant Linyanti is famous for. Your guide knows the landscape like the back of their hand and will have no trouble finding the magnificent tuskers as they gather along the permanent water sources to cool off and rehydrate. This is especially true in the dry season from May to October! Explore the lush marshlands, open grassland and shimmering channels, with your binoculars at the ready to spot the tough-skinned giants of Linyanti. Before you head back to camp, sip on a warm cuppa or chilled cocktail!

Birdwatching in Luambe is a lovely way to spend a morning or afternoon. Embark on a proper birding safari (on wheels or on foot) with one of the expert guides, and tick off everything from African fish-eagles to vivid Lilian’s lovebirds, or get comfortable in camp and watch our feathered friends straight from the veranda. Time your visit for September or October to visit the large colonies of carmine bee-eaters creating a storm of colourful activity along the banks of the Luangwa – magical.

Within the super remote Central Kalahari, as dawn breaks or dusk approaches, your expert guide will lead you on a game drive journey across this untouched desert landscape. Traverse the Kalahari in search of big cats (including black-maned lion), meerkats surveying the scene from rocky outcrops and, if you're around between November and April, herds of gemsbok. Stop for a refreshing cup of something hot or a sundowner before you return to camp.

Get to know the wilds of Kenya on a walking safari over golden grasslands, forested hillsides and wildlife-filled conservancies of Laikipia. Depart just after dawn-break to make the most of the daylight as you track African painted dogs (hopefully seeing them trot across a quiet path) and learning to sniff out where a lion may be snoozing while herds graze bravely on the plains. With the sprawling Laikipia plateau before you, lean in for a closer look as you spy a dung beetle rolling by and examine tree bark for signs of life. If you're staying on private land, there are no strict paths and you can really blaze a new trail. There's also the option to extend your walking safari into a multi-day activity, stopping to camp beneath the stars.

Staying in a conservancy just outside of the main Samburu National Park has its perks, most notably, the night drives! Under a moonlit sky, head out to experience a safari of a different kind when the big cats are in full hunting mode, their eyes glowing from behind the acacias. The daytime crowd has retired for the evening and a new host of creatures can be seen. As your eyes adjust, enjoy a game of 'what's that sound', which your guide should know the answer to and spot the likes of porcupine and mongoose to the bat-eared fox and aardwolf.