Drive your own Toyota Hilux four-wheel drive with an unfoldable tent attached to the roof to visit Etosha National Park in Namibia – home to lions, leopards, black rhinos, giraffes and zebras. More than 340 species of birds can be spotted including eagles, ostriches and flamingos. Simply park at campsites after picking up your vehicle – which comes with a hob for cooking and a fridge – from Windhoek, the capital.
Book it: From £335pp for a week (camperdays.co.uk), return flights from 900pp (skyscanner.net), campsites from about £20pp per night – or £1,375 in total (etoshanationalpark.co.za).
Take a visit to the Addo Elephant Park, where four game drives are included
Colourful houses in the vibrant city of Cape Town in South Africa
CITY, WINE AND ELEPHANTS
Enjoy a stay in the vibrant city of Cape Town in South Africa followed by a visit to the Stellenbosch wine region and a journey along the beautiful ‘Garden Route’ by the coast, staying at hotels along the way on a self-drive trip. This culminates in a visit to the Addo Elephant Park, where four game drives are included. In Cape Town, a tour to Cape Point at the extreme southwest tip of Africa is arranged.
Book it: From £1,669pp including flights, ten nights in four/five star hotels and car hire (flightcentre.co.uk).
CLASSIC KENYA
Spot elephants, lions, hippos, leopards and much more on a 12-day tour covering the Masai Mara National Reserve, Lake Naivasha, Amboseli National Park, Tsavo West National Park and the Taito Hills reserve in Kenya. Expect also to see giraffes, chetahs and zebras – plus herons and kingfishers. An optional balloon ride is offered at the Masai Mara. The trip includes two days at Diani Beach at the end before flying home.
Book it: From £2,712pp including flights, 11 nights’ accommodation with 11 breakfast, nine lunches and nine dinners, plus game drives (tui.co.uk).
BOTSWANA CAMPING
Immerse yourself in the African wilderness on a fortnight-long organised camping trip with stays for four nights at designated campsites with hot showers and laundry facilities, while seven nights are spent ‘wild camping’ in the bush, where support crews will erect bucket showers and rudimentary toilets. Yes, you’re ‘roughing it’, but it’s a brilliant chance to see sunsets and sunrises out in the open. You also visit the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve Savuti and Chobe National Park with game drives included.
Book it: 13 nights from £1,709pp including most meal; international flights about £1,000 extra (responsibletravel.com).
Travelling by private 4X4 allows an intimate view of the spectacular Masai landscape, including lions
Baboons are a common sight in the Masai Mara Nature Reserve
Aberdare, to the east of the East African Rift Valley, is home to lions, wild dogs, baboons and elephants
MASAI TASTER
If you’re short of time, but want a taster of a good value safari, pop over to Kenya for a four-night ‘Private Taste of Kenya’ 4X4 road trip to Aberdare National Park, Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara Nature Reserve. Aberdare, to the east of the East African Rift Valley, is home to lions, wild dogs, baboons and elephants. Travelling by private 4X4 allows an intimate view of the spectacular landscape.
Book it: From £2,199pp for four nights including accommodation full-board (tropicalsky.co.uk).
UGANDAN GORILLAS
To witness some of the rarest creatures on the planet up close and personal in their wild natural habitat (not in a zoo), join an 12-day adventure in Uganda to see the lovely, gentle mountain gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. There’s an opportunity to spot chimpanzees and red-tailed monkeys in Kibale Forest, plus giraffes, zebras and leopards at Lake Mburo National Park.
Book it: Seven nights from £2,399pp including accommodations, guides, all activities and many meals, but not flights, which are from about £500 return (gadventures.com).
Go swimming and snorkelling in Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi National Park is a habitat for diverse wildlife, from colourful birds and fish to the Big Five
MAKE IT MALAWI
Explore the wildlife in Majete Wildlife Reserve and Liwonde National Park in the regions bordering Lake Malawi on a ten-day small group tour of this southeastern African country, where cheetahs, lions and black rhino can be seen wandering across the savannah. Go swimming and snorkelling in Lake Malawi and then laze on a beach at Mumbo Island Lodge and Nankoma Island at the end.
Book it: Nine nights from £2,666pp with accommodation, game drives and most meals, but not flights, which are about £800 return (yellowwoodadventures.com).
An African leopard in Zimbabwe, among the stunning wildlife on show
Large herd of elephants on the open plains in Hwange national park
The Victoria Falls make a spectacular sight at sunset, and you may even see a rainbow
FULL OF ZIM
Enjoy four nights at a lodge on the banks of the Zambezi river in Zimbabwe, where there’s the chance to visit Victoria Falls (three miles away), go kayaking and white-water rafting and see elephants, before heading off on a three-night safari. This is at the Hide Safari Camp in Hwange National Park, with walking safaris and game drives included. Expect to spot lions, leopards, cheetahs, zebras and giraffes.
