4 itinerary ideas for your next African holiday

If it is at all possible, I think I am loving my job more every day. If going to Africa is on your bucket list but you aren’t sure where to go yet, I thought that I would give you some inspiration with trips I am currently organising for clients. 4 itinerary ideas and 3 less common but exciting countries (for me) to consider!
They do not cover the only destinations I can help you with, but these are just recent and ongoing ones.

Tanzania

Always a favourite and understandably so! The wildlife and scenery are both absolutely incredible! The classic ‘Northern circuit’ is a real godsent for the country as you can visit no less than 4 different parks within reasonable driving distance. Namely: Lake Manyara, famous for its tree climbing lions but generally a beautiful small park with thousands of pink flamingoes dotting the lake, Tarangire National Park, famous for its big herds of elephants but also beautiful landscape, the Ngorongoro crater home to the rare and endangered black rhinos but also so unique. It is an absolute must! 

View on top of the Ngorongoro crater. All the black dots are animals!
© Geraldine Morelli 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Finally, no Tanzania safari can be truly done without spending a few days in the Serengeti National Park. This is one of the most renown African national park and for a very good reason: it represents everything you imagine when you think of Africa: lions, cheetahs, leopards, the endless plains of savannah, breathtaking sunsets, hyenas calls at night, opened landscapes and so much more that has to be felt. 

Can you spot the pride of lions? 

There is also a leopard in the tree just below the hot air balloon!
© Geraldine Morelli 2020. All Rights Reserved.

South Africa

With so much to see and do, South Africa is a fantastic destination to vary experiences. There are however a couple of ‘classic’ itineraries that I want to share with you:

Cape Town & safari: The Mother City is not only beautiful with sea, mountains and city views but also vibrant and buzzing! It is close to many attractions such as Table Mountains for spectacular views of the city, the scenic Chapman’s peak drive leading to the penguins on Boulder’s beach, Nelson Mandela prison on Robben island or just a delicious lunch on the V&A waterfront and again, a lot more. The wineland is only an hour away by car and I highly recommend a visit as the landscape is stunning, wine tasting very affordable and the quality of wine exceptional! 

Views along the Chapman's drive
© Geraldine Morelli 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Take a flight or drive on the garden route to a national park or private reserve for a safari with a chance to spot the Big 5 but also some others magnificent mammals and birds. The specific reserve or national park depends on a few criteria so I generally advise on this when we discuss the holiday.

A stunning male lion in Amakhala private reserve in the Eastern Cape province.
© Geraldine Morelli 2020. All Rights Reserved.

It is worth mentioning that the garden route is a holiday on its own right as you would stop in small towns, have the opportunity to hike in the beautiful Tsitsikamma National Park and why not kayak on Storms river but also have the chance to see the Southern right whales in Hermanus depending on the season.

The suspension bridge in Tsitsikamma National Park over Storms river
© Geraldine Morelli 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Kruger and surroundings: You can also visit the North eastern part of the country and go on the Panorama route to stop at some breathtaking view points such as Blyde river canyon, Gods’ windows, the three rondavels to name a few, visit some wildlife rehabilitation centres or sanctuaries and finish with a few days on safari. There again, many reserves and the Kruger National Park itself are available for memorable safaris wth great variety in style and price.

There are probably another 20 trips and combinations that you can do! Food, wine, adrenaline junky activities, landscapes, and wildlife in malaria free reserves (except the Kruger National Park) are what make this country so popular especially for families with young children.

  

Uganda 

Ah Uganda…it is always going to be a fav of mine, simply because of the memories of the magnificent Chimpanzee and Mountain Gorillas encounters. But Uganda certainly has more to offer, and there again there is a commonly used itinerary: you would typically start with a drive to Kibale National Park to see the chimpanzees, and have a nature walk in Bigodi Swamps to try spot numerous primate and bird species. 

Chimpanzee in Kibale National Park. A truly magical sighting
© Geraldine Morelli 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Little annecdote: the bird on the logo of Rare Encounters is a very rare black bee-eater that we spotted on one of these walk. I would never forget the contagious excitement of our guide, and this made me realise that any rare encounter makes lifetime memories, which is what going to Africa is all about. And so the name 'Rare Encounters' was born.

Back to our itinerary: following Kibale and Bigodi Swamps, you would drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, which I highly recommend for the sunset cruise on the Kazinga channel but less for the game drive, which isn’t really what I’d call ‘spectacular’. The cruise however is amazing and you can get very close to elephants and hippos as well hundreds of birds. You can then do a game drive in Ishasha National Park, quite small but exciting park for it is home to tree climbing lions and there again, this is a truly unusual and mesmerising sighting! 

One of the nine lions in the tree in Ishasha National Park. Lions do sleep a lot!

© Geraldine Morelli 2020. All Rights Reserved.

You would then drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to go trekking the next day in search for the most incredible great ape to see: the mountain gorilla. Nothing can really prepare you for this experience and words don't give justice, so you'll have to go and live this unforgettable adventure yourself! 

 3 months old Mountain Gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Babies are so curious!
© Geraldine Morelli 2020. All Rights Reserved.

You can also see them in Mgahinga National Park, totally different landscape as it is among volcanoes, and just as memorable sightings.

I have done very different itineraries for Uganda for example including a visit to the North of the country to Murchison Falls, which is spectacular and offers a much better quality wildlife sightings on game drives. There is also a rhino sanctuary that can be visited on the way. 
In the South of the country, there is also a chimpanzee sanctuary that you can visit on Ngamba island. There are also more areas to see chimpanzees in the wild. Between main attractions, stop to lakes, marvel at lush mountains and be patient in cities traffic. For primate and bird lovers, Uganda must become your number one destination!

Botswana and Zimbabwe

This two-country combination works a dream because you can visit the northern part of Botswana namely Chobe area and Zimbabwe very easily with complete different experiences. Chobe river is fantastic for cruises watching hippos, elephants crossing, crocodiles and many birds up close. 

Elephants crossing the Chobe river

© Geraldine Morelli 2020. All Rights Reserved.

The sunsets are also incredible: they are the biggest and reddest sunsets I have ever seen in Africa! Chobe National Park is near too and offers great game drives with the bush and river as environment. 

Buffalos grazing at sunset on the banks of the Chobe river

© Geraldine Morelli 2020. All Rights Reserved.

In a very short time, you cross the border and arrive in Victoria Falls, a town that stole my heart. It is beautiful, laid back, safe, has great bars and restaurants, hotels and shops, you can walk everywhere and say hello to baboons on warthogs in town while possibly finding yourself face to face with an elephant…in the street! Of course, the main attraction of this little town is the thundering Victoria Falls themselves, which are a spectacle of nature and a must see. If you can experience a sunset cruise on the Zambezi river while hearing and seeing the falls in the background, do not hesitate, it is a very memorable experience too. 

Sunset cruise on the Zambezi river

© Geraldine Morelli 2020. All Rights Reserved.

From there, you can visit Hwange National Park for a safari with a chance to spot many animals including herds of elephants, predators and the national animal: the elegant Sable antelope. The choice of lodges is really great too and accommodate for most budgets. One huge positive point about Zimbabwe safari is the level of guiding, which is simply the best I have experienced together with its neighbour Zambia. This aspect alone takes a game drive to a different level. 

Busy waterhole during a game drive with elephants, zebras and the Sable antelope

© Geraldine Morelli 2020. All Rights Reserved.

You can also hop on a small plane and fly over the mighty Zambezi river to go Mana Pools. It is opposite the Lower Zambezi National Park, the most spectacular park I have ever seen. Imagine seeing lions, elephants, leopards, the rare endangered wild dogs and more animals in an African fairyland. Dense in vegetation, the sunlight dances between tree branches providing some truly magical images, particularly when the sun rises and sets. In addition to game drives, you can also do water activity such as bush walks, which both countries are famous for, or kayaking, which is very relaxing and again transports you in another world.

The magical Lower Zambezi National Park at sunset with a large herd of buffalos in the background, similar scene than Mana Pools.

© Geraldine Morelli 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Zimbabwe still has a lot more to offer. Lake Kariba is the largest man-made lake and worth visiting as is Matobo National Park, known for Matobo Hills, a range of balancing rock formations created by erosion of the granite plateau. It is great for hiking among boulders searching for ancient paintings or tracking black rhinos.

Remember that Botswana was voted best African safari destination for the second year in a town in 2019 and Zimbabwe came 4th!

Morocco

This doesn’t fall in the ‘African safari’ category but it is Africa and also a reminder that I do not only organise safari holidays but in fact, anywhere in the world. I am particularly keen on wildlife and nature adventures and another beautiful holidays I am currently preparing for example is to Borneo. 

Back to Morocco, there is again a lot to see. While Marrakesh is a must and a very popular option, I am working on a short itinerary for a family willing to do something different. So they will start the holiday in Tangier, drive to Chefchaouen also known as the Blue City and finish with a few days in Fez. 

Chefchaouen is known as the Blue City

They will also go on a 2 day trip to experience dunes buggy and sleep under the stars in the desert and I added a cooking lesson because moroccan food is so unique and delicious but also easy to reproduce at home!

Madagascar & Ethiopia

While these two countries don’t have much in common, the reason why I grouped them is because I am working on amazing itineraries for two individuals going to explore the countries over a period of 2 weeks and 3 weeks as solo travellers. Both are wonderful clients who are addicted to Africa, its wildlife and culture and always keen to discover somewhere new. 

Visit of the tribes in Ethiopia

Their itineraries take them to a different place every couple of days in average so it would be too long to describe them but I cannot wait for them to go and report on all the extraordinary sightings, people connections and memories of their trip of a lifetime. I will also ask them to do a short interview for you to read and learn more about these less popular destinations.

The famous Avenue des Baobabs in Madagascar

I hope this blog post gave you some ideas and useful insights. Kenya and Namibia are usually very popular but I’m not working on these destinations since the beginning of January, and I really hope to create an itinerary for Zambia soon, which if you know me, is my favourite African destination! Find more inspiration on Rare Encounters' Instagram account or some ideas for special experiences on the website.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your plans, do not hesitate to contact me either via email or phone: +44 7815553834.

Thank you very much,

Geraldine

African safari specialist at Rare Encounters.