African Safari Tours and Wildlife Holidays with Mission Africa Safaris

OUR AFRICAN TOURS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING DESTINATIONS IN EAST AFRICA

East African Safaris

The main safari destinations in East Africa are Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Game viewing is better experienced in Tanzania and Kenya. Uganda and Rwanda are better primate destinations (gorillas, golden monkeys and chimpanzees) but also offer the opportunity to view all the big 5 mammals. The ability to combine game drives with primate tours and cultural experiences is what makes a safari in East Africa special and complete.

An African safari in Kenya

With 16 national reserves, 6 marine parks/reserves and 25 national parks, Kenya is considered one of the best countries for an African safari. Kenya abounds with an amazing collection of wildlife as you may have already seen from the many TV documentaries. From the big 5 to beautiful coastal beaches, the country is second to none if you want to experience all that is great about Africa. The annual wildebeest migration in the Masai Mara draws over 50,000 tourists to Kenya each year. This spectacle is considered to be one of the greatest wonders on earth. Other important attractions in Kenya include the Laikipia Plateau, Mount Kenya conservancies like Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Amboseli National Park just to mention a few. Overall, Kenya has over 1100 species of birds, 37 of carnivores, 390 of mammal, 115 amphibians and 280 reptiles.  The country’s landscape consists of not only acacia trees but vast deserts, thick jungles, snow-capped mountains, amazing beaches and coastlines.

African Tours in Tanzania

Tanzania is a classic safari country and home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. Wildlife viewing in Tanzania is spectacular and can be done in 16 national parks. You can expect to see all the Big 5 (Cape buffalo, lions, rhinos, elephants and leopards). The great migration occurs between Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Masai Mara. There are many who say it is even more spectacular in Tanzania but that discussion is for another day. During this migration, over 1.6 million wildebeest, zebras and antelopes migrate between the two countries in search of fresh grass and water. As they do so, they are followed by predators and scavengers. Tourists follow this migration to witness new births or observe the endless battle between predator and prey.

Tanzania is not just about the Serengeti. There is so much variety here. Wildlife can also be viewed from the amazing Ngorongoro Crater. A large volcano the size of Mount Kilimanjaro exploded leaving behind a 250 square kilometer crater which is home to lakes, forests and plains. All the big 5 mammals are enclosed in this massive animal garden of Eden enabling tourists to have one of the best wildlife experiences on earth. You can go on safari here all year long without noticing any decline in animal numbers like it is in the Serengeti of Kenya’s Mara.

Other amazing safari destinations in Tanzania include Ruaha National Park in the south for one of the largest elephant populations in Africa, Katavi National Park for large populations of hippos, Selous Game Reserve for wild dogs, Gombe Stream National Park for chimpanzees, Tarangire National Park for elephants, Lake Manyara National Park and so much more. A safari in Tanzania cannot be complete without visiting the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar and her pristine neighbors like Pemba. By the end of a long trip in Tanzania you would have spotted African wild dogs, cheetahs, elephants, flamingos, gazelle, giraffes, hippos, hyenas, jackals, tree-climbing lions, wildebeest, zebra and so much more.

African tours in Uganda

Known as the “Pearl of Africa” ever since a visit by the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the early 20^th century, Uganda is blessed with great weather and incredible natural beauty. Although more known for having half of the remaining population of mountain gorillas, Uganda should not be overlooked for standard game viewing safaris. While on a Uganda safari, tourists can combine gorilla trekking with amazing wildlife encounters in Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park. Queen Elizabeth National Park stands out for its landscape, elephants, buffalos and rare tree climbing lions.

Uganda is arguably the best place to track primates in Africa. Over 14 species can be sighted in Kibale, Kalinzu, Budongo, Maramagambo, Bwindi and Mgahinga forest. Uganda is also one of the best birding destinations in the world with over 1100 species including the rare shoebill stork. What makes Uganda attractive to birders is the high concentration and variety of birds. Birds are everywhere in Uganda and it is one of the first things you notice once you land in Entebbe International Airport.  Mountaineers have an opportunity to conquer the Rwenzori ranges of mountains – Africa’s highest ranges of mountains.  Other attractions in Uganda include bungee jumping, whitewater rafting, visiting the source of the Nile and cultural encounters with tribes like the Batwa Pygmies of the Karamojong.

Rwanda Safaris

Rwanda may be a small and landlocked country but it makes up with natural beauty (amazing volcanoes, lakes, rivers and over 1000 hills). Ever since the great genocide in 1994, the country’s leadership has aggressively marketed it as a leading tourism destination. More national parks were created and infrastructure was developed to counter the ever increasing number of travelers. Gorilla tracking in the Volcanoes National Park is what draws most visitors to the country but tourists can also view the big 5 in Akagera National Park. Chimpanzee and smaller primate tracking is open to tourists in Nyungwe National Park. Other activities while on a Rwanda safari  include visiting the Musanze caves, hiking one of the two 5 volcanoes within the volcanoes National Park, swimming in Lake Kivu or visiting the Gorilla Guardians village.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL AFRICA SAFARI DESTINATIONS

• Tree Climbing Lions of Ishasha
• Tree Climbing Lions of Ishasha
• Tree Climbing Lions of Ishasha

Southern Africa Tours

The main Southern Africa safari destinations are South African, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. The best wildlife tours occur in the Okavango Delta of Botswana and the Kruger National Park in South Africa. Other attractions in Southern Africa are the Zambezi river and the Victoria falls but there is more as we will find out below: –

African Trips in South Africa

South Africa stands out for its incredible diversity (people) but the wildlife is equally impressive. Tourists get a chance to spot giraffes, rhinos, crocodiles, leopards, baboons, lions, elephants among many other creatures on offer. The Kruger National Park is the most popular wildlife destination and is where most of the wildlife enthusiastic go to. This 22,000 sq. km park is home to the Big Five, wild dogs, cheetahs, birds and over 520 species of birds. The park is well managed with excellent facilities and roads hence allowing self-driving tourists to view wildlife even during the wet season. Safaris can also be arranged at the Imfolozi Wilderness Trails for rhino encounters, Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Kwandwe Game Reserve, Madikwe Game Reserve, Amakhala Game Reserve and any of the private game reserves. South Africa has a rich history with beautiful cities to explore such as Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.

Botswana Safaris

Botswana also has her own unique offerings with over 131,000 elephants (the highest number in the world), black-maned lions, zebras, hippos, other mammals and birds spread around its national parks/reserves – Chobe National Park, Nxai Pan National Park, Central Kalahari Game reserve, Moremi Nature Reserve, Makgadikgadi Pans National Park and the Okavango Delta.

The great Okavango Delta is Botswana’s answer to Kenya’s Masai Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti or Ngorongoro crater. A boat rides or canoeing across the lagoons and other water channels within the Delta will expose you to an amazing collection of wildlife. By this we mean large bird colonies, wild dogs, baboons, crocodiles, hippos, rhinos, giraffes and other big game. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve with its sandy grasslands is perfect for those who want to experience something different in Africa. The rains from January to May turn the reserve green bringing with them eland, wildebeests springboks, gemsbok and predators (lions, hyenas, cheetahs and leopards). An amazing bushwalk can also be arranged to meet one of Africa’s last bushmen, the San people. Just imagine spending a night out in the African wilderness and admiring the perfect assembly of stars while sipping a drink the great Kalahari.

African Trips in Central Africa

Congo Safaris

Mission Africa Safaris organizes primate tours in Central Africa too. Central Africa and especially the Democratic Republic of Congo offers some of the best wildlife experiences in Africa. The Congo remains relatively untamed with pristine wilderness that have yet to be fully explored. A safari in Congo allows you to experience Africa as it once was – unspoiled, raw and beautiful. You can expect to go to places that only a few have gone too. We confidently predict that once total peace prevails, the Democratic Republic of Congo will become the leading tourism destination in Africa. The country has so much to offer that other countries will struggle to match. From vast forests, lakes and endless rivers to mountains, the country has it all.  The country offers many unique species like the okapi, Eastern lowland gorillas, bongo, pygmy chimpanzees (bonobos) and others that have yet to be discovered.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is the only country where one can track both mountain and Eastern Lowland gorillas. Hiking Mount Nyiragongo to see the lava-filled summit is one of the highlights of an African safari.

Other African Safaris

Apart from the more known African safari destinations, we can also organize amazing wildlife viewing experiences in South Luangwa National Park of Zambia, North Luangwa in Zambia, Liuwa Plains of Zambia for wildebeest sightings, Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in Zambia, Etosha National Park of Namibia, Northern Damaraland in Namibia, Bwabwata National Park in Namibia, Khaudum National Park in Namibia, Hwangwe National Park in Zimbabwe and Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe.  There is also the Lake Malawi National Park, Hlane Royal National Park and Milwane Wildlife Sanctuary in Swaziland.