Best African Safari Tours 2026: Serengeti Takes the Crown

The question isn’t whether Africa will move you; instead, if you’re seeking the best African safari tours for 2026, it’s where to begin. SafariBookings’ latest Top 10 African Safari Parks & Destinations ranking offers a clear, trusted answer.

Drawn from thousands of independent traveller reviews and expert assessments, this list reflects the top-rated safaris in Africa right now. These are places where wildlife encounters remain authentic, landscapes are still vast and untamed, and the experience feels deeply personal.

What’s the Absolute Best Safari Destination in Africa?

Well, according to more than 2,600 reviews by safari-goers and experts, you can’t beat Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. For the sixth consecutive year, it’s the top-ranked safari park in Africa, scoring 4.86 out of 5 in the latest SafariBookings.com rankings.

Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park follows closely in second place with 4.73/5, while Botswana’s Okavango Delta rounds out the top three with 4.71/5.

In total, 12 South African parks and 11 Kenyan parks made the Top 50 list, reflecting the sheer number of world-class protected areas in these countries.

These are the best wildlife safaris in Africa if you seek a genuine connection to people, place, and story. A safari in one of these parks offers cultural immersion, a transformative journey. For discerning travellers, these best luxury African safari tours take you to the rare, the exclusive, and promise unrivalled experiences.

SafariBookings.com took data from 1,492 reviews from safari travellers from 74 different countries, as well as 1,173 park reviews from renowned industry experts, including guidebook authors working with Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Frommer’s, Bradt Travel Guides, and Footprint.

Africa’s Top 10 Safari Destinations for 2026 According to SafariBookings

Here are the official rankings for the Top 10 Safari Destinations for 2026:

1. Serengeti National Park (Tanzania) – 4.86/5
2. Lower Zambezi National Park (Zambia) – 4.73/5
3. Okavango Delta (Botswana) – 4.71/5
4. Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve (South Africa) – 4.71/5
5. Ruaha National Park (Tanzania) – 4.70/5
6. Moremi Game Reserve (Botswana) – 4.64/5
7. Chobe National Park (Botswana) – 4.62/5
8. Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania) – 4.61/5
9. Masai Mara National Reserve (Kenya) – 4.61/5
10. Kidepo Valley National Park (Uganda) – 4.58/5

Each represents the very best of African safari experiences – and you can see them all with Discover Africa.

Top 10 Best Safari Parks in Africa for 2026

Below, we follow SafariBookings’ top 10 safari in the world for 2026, highlighting why each destination stands out and who it suits best.

1. Serengeti National Park – Tanzania

Serengeti National Park once again takes the crown. This is safari on a scale that humbles – endless plains, dramatic skies, and the Great Migration unfolding as it has for millennia.

For many travellers, this is the most popular safari in Africa, and with good reason. Predator sightings are prolific, the Big Five are present (although rhinos are rare), and the rhythm of the land feels timeless.

Best for:

• Explorers drawn to epic natural narratives
• Travellers seeking front-row access via private mobile camps

Why it stands out: The Great Migration remains the most iconic wildlife event on Earth.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Great Migration, use our HerdTracker AI-powered tool to follow the herds throughout the year. This way, you can plan the best time to visit Africa’s favourite safari destination.

2. Lower Zambezi National Park – Zambia

Rising rapidly in the rankings, Lower Zambezi is intimate, wild, and refreshingly understated. Set along the Zambezi River, it offers canoe safaris, walking safaris, and exceptional leopard sightings.

This is a destination for travellers who want Africa to feel close – not curated.

Best for: Explorers seeking low-impact, deeply engaging safaris.

Why it stands out: Canoe safaris for a different view of the wildlife along the riverbanks.

3. Okavango Delta – Botswana

The Okavango Delta is a masterclass in balance – water and land, silence and spectacle. Seasonal floods transform the Delta into a mosaic of channels and islands, drawing wildlife in astonishing numbers.

This is one of Africa’s best safari destinations for travellers who value conservation-led luxury.

Best for: Understated luxury and deep immersion in the wild

Why it stands out: Mokoro safaris offer a serene, immersive way to experience the wild.

4. Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve – South Africa

South Africa’s Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve remains one of the best safari parks in Africa for close-up Big Five encounters, especially leopards. We frequently recommend it as a luxury option in the Greater Kruger National Park region thanks to its superb lodges, up-close wildlife sightings, and its proximity to some of the most beautiful natural areas in South Africa.

​​This is one of the leading destinations for the best luxury African safari tours.

Best for: Those who value discretion, polish, and consistency.

Why it stands out: Private land access allows off-road tracking and night drives rarely permitted elsewhere.

5. Ruaha National Park – Tanzania

Ruaha is vast, remote, and deeply rewarding. As Tanzania’s largest national park, it feels untamed in a way few places still do.
Expect large elephant herds, powerful predator sightings, and very few other vehicles.

Best for: Travellers seeking solitude and scale.

Why it stands out: One of the biggest safaris in Africa, with minimal tourism pressure.

6. Moremi Game Reserve – Botswana

Moremi combines the best of Botswana – floodplains, forests, and open savannah – within a carefully protected reserve. Wildlife density is high, and landscapes change dramatically over short distances.

Best for: Safari-goers who want diversity without sacrificing quality.

Why it stands out: Excellent year-round game viewing within a pristine ecosystem.

7. Chobe National Park – Botswana

Chobe is defined by elephants. Thousands gather along the river, especially in the dry season, creating some of Africa’s most memorable wildlife scenes.

Best for: First-time safari-goers and photographers.

Why it stands out: Besides the extraordinary number of elephants, river safaris reveal wildlife behaviour rarely seen from vehicles.

8. Ngorongoro Crater – Tanzania

Ngorongoro delivers extraordinary wildlife density within a single volcanic caldera. Lions, elephants, hippos, and endangered black rhinos share this natural amphitheatre.

Best for: Travellers short on time but seeking maximum impact.

Why it stands out: One of the most concentrated wildlife safaris in Africa.

9. Masai Mara National Reserve – Kenya

The Masai Mara is synonymous with dramatic river crossings and big cat encounters. During migration season, the intensity is unmatched.

Best for: Those chasing a classic, high-energy safari.

Why it stands out: Exceptional predator action and access to private conservancies.

10. Kidepo Valley National Park – Uganda

Remote and rarely visited, Kidepo feels like Africa before tourism took hold. Set against rugged mountains, it offers powerful landscapes and culturally rich encounters.

Best for: Pioneers who seek something genuinely different.

Why it stands out: Raw, remote, and deeply atmospheric.

The Top 50 Safari Destinations in Africa

This year’s list highlights the enduring strength of Tanzania and Botswana, while Zambia and Uganda continue to rise. Together, these safari countries in Africa represent the pinnacle of conservation, guiding expertise, and meaningful travel.

From vast national parks to private reserves, these are the safari parks in Africa shaping how safari will be experienced in 2026 and beyond.

How the Top 50 Parks Were Chosen

The study analysed 2,665 reviews specifically written for the SafariBookings website. Initially, 204 parks across 15 countries were included in the study. But to reach the final Top 50, SafariBookings narrowed its focus:

• Activity focus: Only parks recognised for classic wildlife-viewing safaris were eligible. Parks primarily known for scenery or primate tracking (gorillas and chimpanzees) were excluded.
• Data reliability: To ensure a statistically significant result, any park with fewer than nine reviews was excluded from the final list.

Top 50 Parks by Country

The final list of 50 parks is distributed across nine African nations. South Africa and Kenya dominate the list, accounting for nearly half of the top-rated destinations.

• South Africa: 12 parks (Sabi Sand, Kapama, Kruger, Timbavati, Madikwe, Balule, Sabi Sabi, Addo Elephant, Manyeleti, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, Pilanesberg, and Karoo).
• Kenya: 11 parks (Masai Mara, Samburu, Amboseli, Ol Pejeta, Tsavo West, Tsavo East, Lake Nakuru, Shimba Hills, Aberdare, Nairobi, and Hell’s Gate).
• Tanzania: Nine parks (Serengeti, Ruaha, Ngorongoro Crater, Katavi, Nyerere, Tarangire, Arusha, Mikumi, and Lake Manyara).
• Botswana: Six parks (Okavango Delta, Moremi, Chobe, Central Kalahari, Nxai Pan, and Makgadikgadi Pans).
• Uganda: Four parks (Kidepo Valley, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, and Lake Mburo).
• Zambia: Three parks (Lower Zambezi, Mosi-oa-Tunya, and Kafue).
• Namibia: Two parks (Etosha and Waterberg Plateau).
• Zimbabwe: Two parks (Hwange and Zambezi).
• Malawi: One park (Liwonde National Park).

Determining the best safari parks is like curating a prestigious art gallery; while hundreds of works are considered, only those that meet the highest standards and receive the most consistent acclaim from both casual visitors and professional critics earn a place on the main walls.

Thinking about 2026? This comprehensive list is the perfect starting point for your next luxury safari adventure. Let’s start shaping a safari that feels truly yours.