A Guide to Planning Your First Safari in Africa

You’ve had “African Safari” on your travel bucket list for a while now, and you’ve officially decided to make it a reality in 2025. Going on safari is an amazing New Year’s goal and will lead to experiences that will become some of your fondest memories.

If you’ve never been on a safari before, planning can be daunting. But it doesn’t have to be! With Discover Africa in your corner, you can plan your dream safari in Africa effortlessly. Keep reading for our guide on how to plan a safari.

Where is the Best Place to Go for a Safari for the First Time?

When planning a safari, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the destinations available. For a first safari, you’re likely going to want to see the stars of the show: the Big Five. Here are the four countries we recommend to first-time safari-goers and where you can see the Big Five:

South Africa

For first-time safari goers, we would always recommend South Africa, as it gives travellers a good chance to see the Big Five. There are a variety of other reasons why a South African safari is an excellent choice, including the wide range of easily accessible game reserves, the variety of accommodation options, and its malaria-free destinations.

Botswana

Botswana is also popular; it has amazing wildlife, world-renowned national parks, and eco-accommodation. A Botswana safari can also include unique activities that some other countries don’t offer, like mokoro rides. A mokoro safari is a water-based wildlife viewing experience done in a canoe, and the Okavango Delta is one of the best places to do this.

Tanzania

A safari in Tanzania can feature the Big Five as well as one of the most incredible events on Mother Nature’s calendar: the Great Migration. This event sees millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles migrate across Serengeti National Park.

If you want to combine a safari with an island vacation, Tanzania is a great place to do it! From a safari on the mainland, you can then travel to Zanzibar, an island paradise known for its picture-perfect beaches, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant marine life.

Kenya

Kenya is home to one of the most famous national reserves in the world. The Masai Mara is renowned for its abundant wildlife and amazing landscapes. It’s home to the Big Five and a high density of predators, including large lion prides; plus, the open plains make it easier to spot these animals, making a Kenyan safari an exciting and educational safari experience.

Kenya also has private conservancies, allowing for a low-density, exclusive safari experience.

How To Plan an African Safari

When planning an African safari, it’s important to get clear on these five points:

1. Who You’re Travelling With

Is this vacation going to be a couple’s trip, honeymoon safari, or multi-generational family safari? If you’re thinking about a family safari with children, it’s important to note that many lodges have age restrictions. While most lodges accept kids aged six years and older, some will accommodate younger children while others have a higher age limit.

2. How Much You Want to Spend

Safari lodges come in various styles and levels of luxury, from rustic tented camps and eco-lodges to opulent safari lodges and boutique hotels. There are also different packages to consider and extra activities that may be excluded.

Explore the different safari types out there and what’s included to gain a better understanding of what’s aligned with your perfect African safari.

3. Preferred Accommodation Type/Safari Style

As already stated, Africa is dotted with different types of safari lodges and camps. Take a look at the different options available to narrow down your choices and gain more clarity.

Some questions you could ask yourself are: How immersed in the wilderness do you want to be? Do you need Wi-Fi? What amenities are a must? What kind of activities should be available to you at the lodge or camp?

Good to Know: A safari is typically a relaxing type of vacation. If you’re a jogger or someone who gets restless, you may want to put “lodge with a gym” on your wishlist, because you can’t just go running into the wilderness when you’re staying in a game reserve.

4. What You Want to Experience

While 4×4 game drives in the African bush are the main activities while on safari, there are an array of additional activities you may want to put on your wishlist. Walking safaris, cultural trips, horseback safaris, and birding excursions are a few examples of what you can experience.

Each country has its own unique options for travellers. In Tanzania, for example, besides the fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities, you can tour the Ngorongoro Crater. This landmark is a three-million-year-old collapsed volcano and UNESCO World Heritage site; at 600 m (1968.5 feet) deep and 20 km (12.4 miles) wide, it’s the largest unflooded, unbroken caldera in the world.

In Kenya, travellers can go on a hot-air balloon safari over the Mara – an incredible way to see the wilderness – as well as embark on cultural visits to Maasai villages to learn more about the local culture.

5. Special Occasions

Is there a special occasion you’ll be celebrating while on vacation in Africa?

If you’re celebrating a birthday or an anniversary, or perhaps you’re planning on proposing, let your accommodation know so that a special dinner or experience can be planned for the event.

Imagine celebrating a birthday while on a family safari during a bush dinner under a tapestry of stars, or going on a hot air balloon ride to propose over the Masai Mara. Whatever the special occasion, it can be made a unique experience you’ll enjoy looking back on.

Take the above points into consideration when planning your ultimate African safari adventure!

Once you’re clear on where you want to go, what you want to see and experience, and your safari style, planning becomes a lot simpler!