8 Best Places to Visit in Africa: Our 2026 Bucket List

As 2025 draws to a close and the world begins to look into the next big year of travel, several prestigious publications (such as Condé Nast Traveller) are already buzzing with their predictions of the best places to visit in Africa for 2026.

While their list will always be iconic, we’ve adapted their list to include some of Africa’s hidden gems that are worth visiting in 2026.

At Discover Africa, we love seeing the continent in the spotlight and we know that the true magic often lies in a blend of iconic safari heavyweights and undiscovered treasures that offer something unique.

From the mist-shrouded rainforests of the Congo Basin to the stark desert beauty of Namibia, here are our top picks for the best places to visit in Africa in 2026.

1. Arusha, Tanzania

Often seen merely as a stopover, Arusha is stepping into the light as a destination in its own right. As the gateway to Tanzania’s famous Northern Safari Circuit (well-loved as it’s the path of the Great Migration herds), it’s the heart of the country’s safari industry. But in 2026, we encourage you to linger.

Located at the base of Mount Meru, Arusha offers lush coffee plantations, vibrant local markets, and a perpetually pleasant climate. It’s the perfect acclimatisation point before you conquer Kilimanjaro or head into the Serengeti.

For those seeking a conservation-focused experience towards the end of the year, consider a visit to the late primatologist Jane Goodall’s new museum in the city of Arusha. Dr. Jane’s Dream, The Goodall Centre of Hope, set to open in October 2026, will serve as a beacon of conservation, education, and empowerment.

To see conservation in action, pair your museum visit with a trip to the nearby Arusha National Park. Its montage of landscapes – from highland rainforests to crater lakes – hosts a thriving population of flamingos and the rare colobus monkey, offering an intimate wildlife experience just minutes from the city centre.

Of course, we cannot mention Tanzania without mentioning the Great Migration. Arusha is the perfect start to a migration safari. For example, this tour, Witness the Great Migration from June to October in Tanzania (HerdTracker), is available from mid-June to mid-October and allows for some of the best views of the migration’s river crossings.

It starts in Arusha and – depending on your flight time – can include a city tour, a coffee plantation tour, or even a half-day of game viewing at Arusha National Park.

2. Bazaruto, Mozambique

For those seeking the best places to visit in Africa for pure relaxation, look no further than the Mozambican coast. Vilanculos serves as the vibrant gateway to the Bazaruto Archipelago – a string of islands off the coast of southern Mozambique – that redefine “tropical paradise”.

Here, the dunes spill directly into turquoise waters which are home to dugongs and sea turtles, and private resorts dot the islands’ sandy white beaches.

With the launch of Safari Air’s Gorongosa-Beira-Vilanculos twice-weekly flight route in June 2025, a beach and bush combo has never been more seamless. One minute, you’re on a classic game drive in Gorongosa National Park spotting iconic African animals like hippos, lions, and the occasional wild dog, and the next, you’re sipping mojitos on the sandy shores of a private island resort.

The relaxed exclusivity of the Bazaruto Archipelago makes it a fantastic destination for a honeymoon. Unlike busier destinations where you might fight for a lounge chair, Bazaruto offers genuine solitude at top-tier resorts, an essential component for honeymooners.

Be inspired by our Mozambique Honeymoon tours!

3. Nairobi, Kenya

Nairobi is shedding its reputation as just a transit hub and asserting itself as a must-visit in the safari world. It’s the only city where you can photograph a skyscraper and a rhino in the same frame.

For 2026, the must-do experience remains the iconic Giraffe Manor. Sharing your breakfast with a resident Rothschild’s giraffe poking their long necks through the dining room windows to politely (or sometimes less politely) snatch a bite is a truly surreal, bucket-list moment that consistently retains its charm and magic, making it a timeless draw for visitors from around the globe.

Beyond the manor, Nairobi is also a dynamic start to any Kenyan adventure. The city itself offers a vibrant experience that makes it a perfect launchpad for any deeper Kenyan adventure. The city is home to a thriving, energetic contemporary art scene, with galleries like the Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute (NCAI) and smaller pop-up studios showcasing local talent and pan-African works.

Complementing the art scene is a sophisticated and burgeoning coffee culture. Nairobi is situated in the heart of one of the world’s premier coffee-growing regions, and stylish, artisan cafés are springing up everywhere, offering expertly brewed single-origin beans.

4. Northern Namibia

While Sossusvlei draws the crowds, the true adventurer heads north. Northern Namibia – encompassing Damaraland and the Kaokoveld – is one of the best places to visit in Africa for silence and solitude. This is a land of dramatic, stark beauty where desert-adapted elephants roam dry riverbeds and the Himba people maintain their ancient traditions.

The Skeleton Coast offers a hauntingly beautiful edge-of-the-world experience that you simply cannot find anywhere else. Hugging the northwest coast of Namibia, this destination is as eerie as it is beautiful.

Its name comes from the number of shipwrecks, whale bones, and seal carcasses that wash up on its shores. For a truly immersive experience, consider a stay at the Shipwreck Lodge. Designed to mimic the wreckage scattered on the sand, these uniquely shaped cabins offer a cosy refuge amidst the mists and roaring dunes.

In the northeast, you’ll find Etosha National Park, one of the best places to visit in Africa for game viewing. Unlike the dense bushveld of other parks, Etosha is defined by its ghostly white salt pans, which create a dreamlike, high-contrast backdrop for photography.

As the sun sets, the park’s floodlit waterholes become a theatre of the wild; you can sit in silence and watch a parade of elephants, giraffes, and maybe even endangered black rhinos (Etosha is one of the best places to see them) emerge from the dust to drink under the Milky Way.

For a journey that connects these distinct worlds – the red dunes of the south and the wildlife-rich north – our Classic Namibia Flying Safari is the ultimate itinerary. This fly-in adventure sweeps you from the heights of Sossusvlei to the remote valleys of Damaraland and the Kunene region before culminating in the private reserves of Etosha, ensuring you see the country’s most dramatic landscapes without the long hours on the road.

5. Okavango Delta, Botswana

No list of “best places to visit in Africa” is complete without Botswana’s iconic Okavango Delta. As the world’s premier water-based safari destination, it offers a contrast to the dusty savannahs elsewhere.

If you’re new to the world of safaris, the Okavango Delta is also a perfect first-time safari destination. This vast inland river delta is known for its sprawling grassy plains, which flood seasonally and attract scores of wildlife, including vast elephant herds, buffalo, and even endangered wild dogs.

With a record amount of rainfall in 2025 – the highest flood levels since 2017 – there are several new waterways in the Delta to discover. Explore our Okavango Delta tours and get inspired to start planning your safari.

6. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

While you can see Victoria Falls from Zambia, the Zimbabwean side boasts 75% of the falls’ viewing points as well as the “Main Falls” – a curtain of water so massive it creates its own weather system. The vibrant ecosystem thrives under this constant shower, offering a unique photo opportunity of lush vegetation contrasted against the majestic columns of spray. This has consistently ranked it among the best places to visit in Africa, year after year.

A walk through the rainforest here guarantees you’ll get soaked by the spray of the “Smoke that Thunders”. For a more adrenaline-filled perspective, you can venture out to the Cataract Pools on Cataract Island. This excursion (available from July to January) allows you to swim in natural infinity pools right on the precipice of the falls, offering a heart-pounding experience and unparalleled views into the abyss.

From the Zimbabwean side, visitors can access viewpoints that offer different but equally spectacular angles, including the iconic outlooks over the Devil’s Cataract, the massive Main Falls, and the deep chasm of the Eastern Cataract. The unobstructed views across the entire width of the main chasm make Zimbabwe the definitive choice for witnessing this natural wonder in all its glory and understanding the sheer scale of one of the world’s greatest waterfalls.

Seeing the falls is not a sight to be missed and is often included as part of a larger itinerary, such as this one: From Victoria Falls to Matopos. You start off with a tour of the falls and a dinner cruise on the Zambezi and end in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park for a classic safari experience full of game drives and walking safaris.

What We Think is Missing

While lists from big publishers cover the classics, we believe a few spectacular destinations deserve a spotlight. If you are looking for the truly “undiscovered”, here’s what we think is missing from many mainstream 2026 forecasts:

7. Congo

For the ultimate wildlife encounter, the Congo Basin is the final frontier. We aren’t just talking about safari; we are talking about tracking western lowland gorillas in the wild forests of Odzala-Kokoua National Park in Congo-Brazaville.

It’s raw, real, and profoundly moving – a destination for the adventurous traveller who thinks they have seen it all, making it one of the best places to visit in Africa in 2026.

Before we get into it, it’s important to distinguish this peaceful nation from its larger neighbour to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Congo-Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo) is a stable and safe country, offering a secure gateway to the rainforest without the volatility often associated with the region.

Discover Africa offers three tours into the Congo wilderness, each featuring gorilla trekking expeditions as well as adventures in the wetlands and kayaking along the Lekoli River.

8. Malawi

Often overshadowed by its bigger neighbours, Malawi is the “Warm Heart of Africa” for a reason. This title is earned not just for its gentle climate, but for the unparalleled kindness and hospitality of the Malawian people, who welcome visitors with genuine smiles that make you feel instantly at home.

Lake Malawi looks more like an ocean, with crystal-clear waters and golden sands that rival the Caribbean. It offers a laid-back, uncrowded experience that is becoming increasingly rare. To fully embrace this unhurried rhythm, we have curated journeys that balance the thrill of the wild with the restorative calm of the water.

Our ten-day Wild Landscapes & Lakeside Serenity safari is the quintessential Malawi experience, taking you from the conservation success stories of Majete and Liwonde – where rhinos and elephants roam free – to the pristine shores of the lake for a “castaway luxury” finale.

For a deeper immersion into this hidden gem, consider the 13-day Best of Malawi tour. This comprehensive route offers an intimate look at the country’s diverse beauty, allowing you to transition effortlessly from tracking the Big Five in the bush to snorkelling in the aquarium-like waters of Lake Malawi, all while enjoying the genuine hospitality that defines the nation.

Final Thoughts

As we look toward the horizons of 2026, these destinations offer a spectacular array of experiences, ranging from the mist-shrouded rainforests of the Congo Basin to the stark desert beauty of Namibia. We believe that the true magic of an African adventure lies in this blend of iconic safari heavyweights and hidden gems that offer something uniquely profound.

If you’re ready to explore these one-of-a-kind adventures, get in touch with Discover Africa to start planning your 2026 journey today.