Where and when to travel Africa: Explore the best of the African wildlife, landscape and people

Maybe it is the sound of an elephant munching in the night, right next to my fancy safari tent in the Okavango Delta in Botswana.

Or maybe the lion roaring benignly next to another luxury tent, on another night, in Zambia.

Maybe it is the sheer volume of blue wildebeest and zebra plodding steadily up the Serengeti of Tanzania in the great migration.

Or the colourful birds of the Maasai Mara in Kenya.

Or coming eye to familiar eye with a big male mountain gorilla in Rwanda.

I’m unsure with which African wildlife experience to start this story.

And then I think of the human, cultural experiences.

There’s the pleasure that comes from connecting with locals when you fold a note, and handshake a tip into their hand.

Then there is the general African three-part handshake (shake, twist-and-grip, shake again).

And then the complex handshakes of Ethiopia — a different one for different relationships and moments. (For someone known well, we smile, crouch down like a rugby players, lean in take right hand with right hand, bring right shoulders together and rub one another on the back.)

There’s the guide in South Africa who takes me into townships and so personally describes the end of apartheid and the years since.

In Uganda, a trader on a bicycle piled 4m high with shoes waves as I stand on the roadside.

There are waxed cotton fabrics with their wild colours and big designs in the local Mukuni market in Livingstone, Zambia.

And then there’s the sheer joy of the group of singers on a roadside in Zimbabwe, their voices intertwining in unforgettable harmony and vibration.

I’m unsure with which African human experience to start this story.

And then the landscape itself.

The Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania is 600m deep enclosing 260,000sqm of lush savanna, and is home to 25,000 animals.

The High Atlas Mountains of Morocco are full of walking paths, locals and donkeys passing.

Egypt is themed by the River Nile, and the human history running down its banks.

At Victoria Falls, I stand on a thin bridge, happily soaked in the mist of the waterfalls, standing in the middle of the almost-complete circle of a rainbow.

I’m unsure with which African landscape experience to start this story.

The memories of Africa come flooding in, each one precious and trying to nudge in front of the others.

And so, it seems, this story has started itself, as African moments run all over me.

THERE

Before we go any further, I’m going to take a step back, into practicalities.

We are fortunate to be on this western side of the Australian continent, looking across the Indian Ocean towards the African continent. We were, after all, once joined to southern Africa, as our flora shows.

And our geographical position means we don’t have to just plan a “once in a lifetime” trip to Africa. The countries of Africa are as different to me as the countries of Europe.

We are fortunate to have the South African Airways direct flight three times a week between Perth and Johannesburg — even though, for North Africa it will be easier to fly through the Middle East (Qatar Airways and Emirates) and for East Africa it may also be easier to fly through the Middle East, or Singapore. For example, after flying from Perth to Doha with Qatar Airways, there are good connections for flights to Nairobi in Kenya or Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. For both, it is only about five hours, 20 minutes flying time.

WHERE

I’m suggesting considering the countries of southern Africa, East Africa and North Africa.

And, for comfortable, welcoming, secure and interesting visits, my list looks like this …

Sub-Saharan (southern) Africa Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Tanzania, Kenya (Maasai Mara, not the north), Rwanda, Uganda, Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls area). Then South Africa (Cape Town region, Blue Train, Kruger National Park), Ethiopia (not the north), Malawi, Lesotho (rural, mountainous areas).

North Africa Morocco, Egypt (main tourist areas, not the north-east).

FARE

The last couple of years have given tour operators and travel arrangers a wild old ride in Africa. Some costs have absolutely shot up. At one stage, some lodges doubled or even tripled their rates overnight. It seemed that some little airlines flying small charter planes between wildlife camps were simply “picking a number”.

There was a huge interest in travelling to Africa after the pandemic shutdowns. That interest was, frankly, unexpected, and remains somewhat unexplained. There was just a massive pull towards this luminous continent, where humans first adopted tools, stood up, and started the migration that continues through today’s tourist perambulations.

In some areas, prices have settled a bit, as post-pandemic world tourism has recovered into an “evenness”. Africa was a spike that has flattened a bit.

But I suggest that it is still a moment when the best way to get value and lots of experiences is through small group tours. Lets talk numbers. I think travellers should expect to pay $18,000 to $20,000 per person for a 12 to 14-day tour to, say, two countries.

My favourite combination in southern Africa is Botswana and Zambia. These safe, stable countries have mastered the balance of tourism and conservation; of welcome and wildlife.

Kenya and Tanzania would also be a classic example, maybe with a couple of days in South Africa to visit Kruger National Park.

Look for tours where you can stay three nights in each place — for example, the Maasai Mara in Kenya, Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. I’d expect to spend a couple of nights in Nairobi at the start.

For trip to South Africa, a classic 14 to 16-night package to Victoria Falls, a safari camp and Cape Town, including the three-day Rovos Rail trip, could start at about $12,000 per person (including international flights).

For bespoke, tailor-made experiences, I find a good guide to a company’s credentials is simply how long they have been around — and some small Africa safari companies have more than 30 years’ experience. Tourist safaris only got their first, tenuous foothold in the 1960s, taking shape in the 1970s and 1980s more into what we know today as luxury African safaris. Some of the companies we can still travel with today were some of the early pioneers.

They will often offer complete itineraries, tailor-made trips, air safaris, and then specialist options like horse riding holidays in Africa, or getting (lightly) involved in conservation work.

POLITICS

Africa is political, mercurial, divisive, aggressive, fiery, cooperative, cheerful, benign and peaceful. A country that has been corrupt and dangerous becomes calm and well-run. In another country, there’s an election, and everything seems to swing.

My point is that the recommendations in this story are thoroughly thought through, and relevant to this moment.

And underlying all of that is the fact that Africa is not a dark continent. It is a luminous continent, filled with light and life. It is a dynamic continent, full of complex relationships and undertones.

I’ve been travelling the African continent, writing about it, and been intensely involved in its evolving story — and every single time I come to write a piece like this, there have been significant shifts.

For example, there has been a lot going on for South Africa. The recent election saw Cyril Ramaphosa re-elected as president following a coalition deal between the governing African National Congress and opposition parties. The ANC had always polled above 50 per cent since the country’s first democratic elections in 1994, when Nelson Mandela became president, got only 40 per cent of the vote.

South Africa has also lodged an application in the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of genocide in the Gaza Strip. This has roots in South Africa’s apartheid era, and a perceived parallel between South Africa under the situation for Palestinians in Gaza. Just a fortnight after Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990, he flew to Zambia to meet with African leaders who had supported the fight against apartheid, but was greeted on the tarmac by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

For sovereignty (the authority and ability of a country to govern itself), in southern Africa once again I turn first to Botswana and Zambia.

WHEN

SOUTHERN AFRICA

Botswana

The rainy season is between December and March. Expect clear skies and a green landscape in April and May, with the warmer months of June to August being peak season for safaris.

Zambia

Most of the country’s safari camps open at the beginning of June and are busy until the end of August. The rain comes mainly from December to March.

Namibia

It’s pretty dry and pleasant all year, but I think April and May are the best months. It usually dries a lot from June to August, and that forces wildlife to gather around water sources, which makes good viewing.

South Africa

The best months for wildlife viewing in Kruger National Park are from May to September. Across the other side of the country, the Western Cape and Cape Town should be sunny and dry from November to March.

Zimbabwe

The rain usually clears by April or May, and by June and July, it’s cold at night and clear in the day. August and September are good months, with game gathering around water.

EAST AFRICA

Kenya

A fair bit of the parts of Kenya that we like to visit are at altitude — and that means a cool climate, often with clear skies. The big Masai Mara wildebeest and zebra migration usually comes in July and August. Then, in September, they usually get to the Mara River and spread across the northern Serengeti.

Tanzania

It is more than 1200km north to south, and only a bit less from east to west — so the climate varies a lot across the country. The dry season, from June to October, is a good time to visit, and June and July are the months to aim for if you want to see the best of the wildebeest migration. That’s when the herds start to move across the Serengeti, heading north. Expect the rainy season in November and December.

Rwanda

June to September, then December to February, are the most popular times to trek up the mountains to see Rwanda’s gorillas, as they are drier — but it can be done at any time of year. Rwanda, just south of the equator and at high altitude, has a tropical highland climate.

Uganda

Mountain gorilla families can also be visited in Uganda. Once again, June to September are popular months. The best game viewing in Uganda is from June to August, then December to February.

Ethiopia

The dry season is from October to March, and January and February are very good months to visit. Expect rain from March to September.

BIG FIVE

Lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and African buffalo.

My Big Five national parks in southern Africa . . .

+ Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

+ Maasai Mara, Kenya

+ Chobe River National Park, Botswana

+ South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

+ Kruger National Park, South Africa

BIG TICKET ITEMS

It’s testing to come up with four suggestions for “big ticket items” in Africa.

Okavango Delta

There is a difference between safari lodges (which are more formally built) and bush camps (which, at their most luxurious, are safari tents with bathrooms and separate tented lounges and dining areas). For a close-up wildlife experience, I’ll always look for a bush camp over a lodge. And there’s a difference between national parks and concessions. If I spot the term “concession land”, I know the wildlife experience may be even “closer”. In national parks and reserves, drivers and guides have to stay on tracks. If you see a lion 100m away, obscured by grass, that’s all you will see — and there’s a good chance other vehicles will quite quickly join you. If you are on a concession, the guides can steer their drivers through the bush, much closer to it. There are bush camps on concessions in the Okavango Delta, which has wonderful wildlife. A good example is Machaba, in the Khwai area — a 35,000ha concession.

Victoria Falls

“Zambia or Zimbabwe? Which side?” I’m often asked. And the answer is “both”.

On the Zambezi River between the two countries, Victoria Falls really is its own destination — somewhere you could happily spend certainly two and very probably three nights. On the Zambian side, it is hard to go past the Royal Livingstone Hotel (if you can afford it), because it is “front row”, and has giraffe and zebra walking its grounds. It is right on the river bank and there’s a “back gate” through to the falls. The town of Livingstone has wide roads, good pavements, ATMs and restaurants that range from Indian to Italian. And don’t miss the Livingstone Museum, with Dr David Livingstone’s actual medical chest. While he is known for his journeys in Africa, I think of him most for his opposition to slavery and part in ending it.

The best time to see Victoria Falls is usually from June to September, but from mid-December to September, there’s usually water on the Zambia side of the 1700m-wide falls.

It’s worth the US$50 ($74) cost of the visa (for up to 30 days) and the time crossing the border to the Zimbabwean side. I always feel very welcomed and comfortable in the town of Victoria Falls, in Zimbabwe. There are good places to stay and the town of Victoria Falls is an easy town to be in.

Gorillas in Rwanda

+ It is less expensive to visit mountain gorillas on the Ugandan side of the mountains, but there has recently been allegations that some Uganda Wildlife Authority officials have been issuing fake permits, taking revenue away from the agency and benefits to mountain communities, many of which have had their traditional rights to the forests restricted, as a result of their protection status.

I understand that more than 10 officers were quite recently suspended as they were suspected of fraud. Communities living near the gorilla parks, many of, say they’re aware of the scandal and that it’s only the latest in their litany of grievances against the UWA.

Egypt, the Nile & Pyramids

We shouldn’t forget North Africa, of course. And, for all the colour of Morocco, where there’s a warm welcome and good riads and tour companies, my mind swings back to the epic sights of Egypt.

I’ve been cautious about recommending it, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade still has a “reconsider your need to travel warning”, but I haven’t seen issues in what I call the “the usual tour and river cruise corridor” from Cairo, down the Nile, to Luxor, Aswan and the Valley of the Kings.

And there are sights and moments which will surely live with travellers forever.

For me, it’s not the Sphinx or the street food and markets of Cairo. It is the River Nile itself — this river which 95 per cent of Egyptians live within a few kilometres of. It is often described as the lifeblood of the country. It is certainly the most important character in the country, I think — more than just a body of water, but a presence in the Egyptian life and mind. I see major tour and river cruise companies offering good, well priced packages to visit Cairo and cruise the Nile — and think this is still the best, safest way to visit Egypt at the moment.