Africa has 54 countries, so no list of must-sees can be complete. This one sticks to places that consistently deliver, are reasonably easy to reach, and work well together on a first trip.
Serengeti and Maasai Mara
These two connected ecosystems, in Tanzania and Kenya, are the heart of East African safari. Over a million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra circle between them each year, following the rains, with lions, cheetahs and crocodiles in their wake.
- When: July–October for the northern crossings, January–March for calving in the south.
- How long: Four to six days gives you time to move between areas.
- Tip: Choose the camp for its location relative to the herds, not just its pool. Mobile camps can follow the migration.
Pair either park with the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, a collapsed volcano where you can see lions, hippos and often black rhino in a single morning.
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Kruger is the easiest big safari to do independently. You can rent a car in Johannesburg, book rest camps, and drive yourself on well-kept roads. It offers excellent chances to see the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino).
- When: May–September, when the bush is thin and animals come to water.
- Tip: Leave the gate at sunrise. Predators are most active in the cool early hours.
- Add-on: The Panorama Route, with Blyde River Canyon and God’s Window, is a couple of hours away.
If you want smaller crowds and luxury, private reserves next to Kruger share the same wildlife and allow night drives and off-road tracking.
The Pyramids and Nile, Egypt
Giza is touristy and still impressive. Go early to beat the heat and the tour buses, and walk around the plateau rather than just visiting the front. The new Grand Egyptian Museum nearby holds the Tutankhamun collection.
South of Cairo, Luxor and Aswan have the best temples: Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Philae. A Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan takes three to four nights and makes a relaxed way to see them.
- When: October–April.
- Tip: Hire a licensed Egyptologist guide for Luxor. The tombs make much more sense with context.
Marrakech, Morocco
The medina’s maze of souks, courtyards and riads is a short flight from Europe. Spend a day getting lost, then see the Bahia Palace and the Jardin Majorelle.
- When: March–May and September–November.
- Tip: Agree on a price before taking a taxi, and expect to bargain in the souks.
- Add-on: A two-night trip over the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara dunes at Merzouga, or a day in the coastal town of Essaouira.
Cape Town and the Winelands
Table Mountain, Cape Point and the penguin colony at Boulders Beach are all within a day’s drive. The nearby Stellenbosch and Franschhoek valleys have some of the world’s best-value wine and food.
- When: November–March for beaches and hiking.
- Tip: Check the Table Mountain cable car status in the morning. Wind often closes it.
Combining them: three sample trips
- Classic safari (10–12 days): Nairobi, Maasai Mara, then Serengeti and Ngorongoro, ending in Zanzibar for a beach rest.
- South Africa (10 days): Cape Town, then fly to Johannesburg for Kruger, with a couple of days on the Garden Route if you have time.
- North Africa (10 days): Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, then a flight to Marrakech if you want a second country.
Planning notes
- Choose one region per trip. Internal flights and border crossings eat days.
- Add a city after safari to break up long days in a vehicle.
- Check vaccine, visa and malaria guidance well before you book.
- Travel insurance with medical evacuation is worth getting for safari trips.
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