Animal lovers can never quite get enough of Africa and its enchanting wildlife. Just ask Aaron Blaise, one of Disney’s best animators and the creative behind the blockbuster movie Lion King.
Aaron has been to Kenya countless times, particularly during the great annual wildebeest migration. Thanks to this yearly spectacle, he captures the spirit of the African Lion and other animal players in the Maasai Mara in their element.
Nonetheless, the annual migration is just one of the main highlights. Animals in the African jungles and savannahs are captivating all year round.
You may pick a destination based on the safari activities you wish to engage in and the animals you are likely to see once there.
Here are five of the most popular African safari destinations and why you should consider visiting them on your next vacation.
1. Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.
Africa boasts the most diverse and rich wildlife globally, and the Maasai Mara is the capital of it all.
Situated in the plains of South Eastern Kenya, the Maasai Mara Game Reserve was termed as ‘the greatest wildlife real estate on earth’ by CNN Travel, and it is easy to see why.
For starters, it is the recipient of numerous accolades from the World Travel Awards as Africa’s leading national park.
Also, it is home to the Big Five (buffalo, African Lion, Elephant, Leopard, and Rhino). Not only that, the Mara hosts the annual wildebeest migration, the greatest overland animal migration in the world.
Besides having an abundance of the Big Five, the park is also home to over 470 species of birds and smaller and medium-sized animals.
These include the Aardvark, the lesser Kudu, Dik Diks, Thompson’s Gazelles, Zebra, Giraffe, Hyena, Foxes, Jackals, Crocodiles and many more.
Most visitors are drawn to the park due to its high number of predators. According to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the Lion population alone is slightly more than 870!
There are tons of activities for visitors, ranging from hot air balloon rides, camping, game drives, and walking safaris.
You may also visit a Maasai village and meet members of the Maasai tribe, who lead a simple life and have coexisted with the wildlife for generations.
A village tour is also an opportunity to collect souvenirs as the Maasai are excellent craftspeople, particularly in beadwork.
The main entry point for Indian travellers to Kenya is Jomo Kenyatta International airport.
From there, you can either choose a 45 minutes flight from Nairobi to Masai Mara. Alternatively, you can do the 5 hours guided road trip using luxurious Masai Mara safari vehicles such as the land cruiser V8 or safari vans (mainly Toyota Hiace or Mazda Bongo).
You can as well opt for self-drive Kenya safaris to Masai Mara using off-load vehicles such as the 4Runner, Land Rover Defender, Jeep Wrangler, Ford Ranger Raptor, or the Mercedes Benz G-Class.
2. Kruger National Park, South Africa.
The Kruger National Park is the largest and oldest park in Africa. It spans an incredible 19,485Km2, making it the size of Wales!
Some of its prominent animals include the Big Five. In comparison, the Mara only covers 1,510Km2
Visitors with little time on their hands are more likely to see more wildlife within a short period in the Maasai Mara as opposed to Kruger National Park.
Nonetheless, Kruger National park has impressive populations and is a perfect destination for long game drives.
Also, the park is known for its splendid big birds, which are endemic and indigenous to the area.
These stately birds include the Martial Eagles, lappet-faced Vultures, Kori Bustards, ground Hornbills, saddle-billed Storks, and the pel’s fishing Owls.
There are also plenty of other impressive animals, such as the Grey Rhebok, Cheetahs, Baboons, Honey Badgers, Steenbok, and Wild Dogs.
Some of the activities you can look forward to include birdwatching, and of course, game drives.
3. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania:
Serengeti National Park is contiguous with the Maasai Mara. But while the Mara is in Kenya, the Serengeti is in Tanzania.
That notwithstanding, there is a free flow of wildlife in between the two parks depending on the seasons.
In terms of size, the Serengeti is a close second to Kruger park, as it spans 14,763Km2.
Over 1.2 million Wildebeest cross over from the Serengeti to the Mara.
They do so during July- November, whilst accompanied by an assortment of over 200,000 other herbivores. These include Zebras, Elands, Gazelles, and Impalas.
Due to their sheer numbers, the animals invariably attract the company of some of nature’s fiercest predators, such as Lions, Leopards, Jackals and Hyenas.
Also, while crossing the Mara River, these migrants have to contend with scores of the Nile Crocodile which inhabit the River.
The migration is a process that spans several months. Once the green pastures in the Mara are almost depleted, the animals will slowly disperse and head back into the Serengeti.
4. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Reserve, Uganda.
The 32,000-hectare Bwindi impenetrable forest boasts biodiversity of wildlife.
Besides the 320 mountain Gorillas that call this forest home, there are Chimpanzees, Monkeys, Elephants and Baboons.
A blanket of 25,000-year-old mist covers some areas of the forest. Therefore, the forest is a stark contrast to the grasslands of the Mara and Serengeti.
The primaeval rainforest was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site and is reputedly one of the forests with the most biological diversity globally.
Of interest is that the mountain Gorillas in the Bwindi forest constitute more than half of all the mountain Gorillas in the world.
Hiking in this natural gem is bound to leave you with lifetime memories.
5. Amboseli National Park, Kenya:
The Amboseli National park is yet another Kenya safari destination where you can catch sightings of the Big Five up close.
In particular, the park has an abundance of Elephants, whose number is now close to a thousand. The Elephant population in Amboseli is the highest of all the parks in Kenya.
However, the park’s crown jewel is perhaps the stunning views of the highest mountain in Africa, the ice-capped Mount Kilimanjaro.
Besides the Elephants and other Big Five members, you can also hope to run into Hyenas, Zebras, Wildebeest, and Giraffes.
Birdwatchers will also have their activity cut out, as the park has more than 600 bird species.