Africa has an increasing array of vacation options so we asked Umang Gossain from UK-based tour operator Ubon Safari to make his five top country choices for 2020. Umang, who has decades of experience working and living in Africa, features many established country destinations but has included a few fresh ideas and less familiar vacation options and places to explore in his list that begins with…
ZIMBABWE
“When you arrive in Zimbabwe you are always guaranteed to meet friendly and helpful people. The history of the country is fascinating and its regions have so much to offer travellers ranging from trout fishing to hiking.
Zimbabwe has 11 National Parks all having unique experiences. I would recommend Matobo National Park where you may see the Black Rhino in their natural habitat. Leopards are regularly seen hiding from the heat of the sun in the large granite ‘kopjes’. The beautiful Camp Amalinda, offering a five-star experience at a very reasonable rate, is an ideal place to stay.
Zambezi National Park is an outstanding destination to see elephants and plain game as well as lions, leopards, buffalo and many beautiful birds. You can also enjoy watching the sun setting with a G&T on a Zambezi sunset cruise. There are some beautiful camps and lodges in the park that offer canoe or walking safaris as well as game drives.
Hwange National Park is an iconic destination to visit with its big cats and large herds of elephants roaming the plains. The bird life is incredible while game drives offer amazing chances to see zebra, wildebeest, impala and buffalo. Hwange has fewer visitors than many other national parks with this abundance of wildlife so visitors can enjoy a really special safari experience.
Zimbabwe is a perfect destination for families, honeymooners, single travellers and caters for all budgets. For those who wish to relax and soak up a really unique environment, we recommend a house boat experience on Lake Kariba. As you glide through the calm waters you are able to see wildlife along the banks. Never leave Zimbabwe without seeing the mighty Victoria Falls! Remember to wake up early and see the Falls before sunrise to get your dream photo shot. Adventurous travellers can take a helicopter tour of the Falls or even experience a bunjee jump and white water rafting.
The country also offers some of the best walking safaris in Africa. Guides are extremely professional and are all certified.
We recommend visiting during the Winter Season when the temperature is pleasant. Remember early mornings and evenings can be chilly. May to September are the best time to see the national parks. We also feel this is a better time to visit Victoria Falls as the spray from the water will not block the view. The Falls are at their fullest from March to May.
Great flight options, depending on your location, include RwandaAir to Harare or flying from South Africa to Victoria Falls International Airport with South African Airways. Remember, you can also easily incorporate Zambia and Botswana into your tour itinerary.
BOTSWANA
When you wish to get away from it all then think Botswana! The country offers the real bush experience. Most travellers will fly between camps and lodges in light aircraft. There are daily flights into Kasane or Maun airports. Your trip can start from either airport and within an hour or two you could be sitting in a lodge surrounded by amazing wildlife.
Accommodation can ranges from outstanding luxury lodges to simpler tented camps where you can sleep under canvas in the wilderness and sit around camp fires sharing stories with fellow travellers at night.
There are a number of wonderful parks to visit. Chobe National Park covers approx. 11,700 sq km and its ecosystem is diverse. It has swamps, woodland, flood plains while the mighty Chobe River flows through it all. Expect spectacular sightings of elephants crossing the river in the height of the dry Winter Season. Visitors can experience a river cruise or, for a more luxurious experience, stay on a house boat. We recommend staying at Chobe Game Lodge on the banks of the Chobe for a memorable ‘Eco Luxury Experience’.
The Okavango Delta is one of the last remaining unspoilt wilderness areas in the African
continent. It is a wetland system with teaming wildlife, including an amazing array of birdlife. Visitors can experience a boat safari using a Mokoro (dug out canoe) as well as game drives in private concessions offering unforgettable, luxury safari experiences. The Okavango, a UNESCO World Heritage site, can be explored through walking safaris and game drives with professional guides. When visiting the Delta we recommend taking a helicopter tour to enjoy uninterrupted views of the waterways below.
The country also has the second largest animal migration in Africa, starting in November from the Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan National Parks. Vast herds of zebra migrate to the Makgadikgadi area and cover almost 500km. The best place to see this spectacle is along the Boteti River on the western boundary of the Makgadikgadi National Park. We recommend staying at Leroo La Tau lodge on the banks of the Boteti River. The best time to see this spectacle is February to March.
Botswana is a perfect destination for families, honeymooners and single travellers.The best time to visit is the Winter Season when temperature is pleasant. The months from May to September are ideal for visiting the national parks.
TANZANIA
This majestic east african country is known for its diversity of wildlife, scenery and culture as well as its pristine tropical beaches. The country is blessed with it all. If you are looking for a perfect wildlife experience you can visit the national parks in the ‘Northern circuit’ such as Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area. Adventure seekers can climb the tallest free-standing mountain in Africa: Kilimanjaro.
For the traveller looking for the destinations away from the popular tourist routes we recommend looking at southern Tanzania. Visitors can explore the 50,000 sq km of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Selous Game Reserve. Some 30,000 sq km of this reserve has recently been designated as Nyerere National Park making it the largest, relatively undisturbed park in Tanzania.
It is possible to fly or drive into the park from Dar Es Salaam and have the opportunity to see the ‘Big Five’. Wild dogs are often seen roaming the plains of Nyerere National Park. Guests also have the opportunity to experience boat safaris on the Rufiji River where large pods of Hippo congregate as well as the Nile Crocodiles. Guests can enjoy game drives, walking safaris and fly camping activities. There are various accommodation options within and on the border of the national park catering for different budgets.
Mikumi National Park, covering 3,230 sq km, offers great sightings of Plains game, buffalo, elephants and big cats. The landscape of Mikumi is similar to Serengeti National Park with acacia, baobab and tamarind trees dotting the savannah. Guests can stay outside or inside the park in luxury tented camps or lodges. Mikumi is a birders paradise as it boasts more than 400 species.
If you are looking for a bush and beach experience why not look at the remote Saadani National Park? Located on the north Coast, roughly 100 km from Dar es Salaam, guests can access Saadani by road and light aircraft. Visitors can see large herds of elephants, lion, leopard, reed buck, hartebeests, wildebeest, crocodile and hippos within the park. It is the only park where bush meets beach so guests can be sunbathing while watching lions or elephant strolling past to a waterhole. Visitors can enjoy walking or boat safaris, visits to fishing villages and swimming in the ocean.
Ruaha National Park offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Tanzania. The park not only has exceptional game but also the diverse scenery. Sunsets in Ruaha are simply breath taking. Guests have the opportunity to see regular sightings of the greater and lesser kudu, cliff springers, large herds of elephants, buffalo and large prides of lion, leopard and cheetah. Wild dogs are often seen running their prey down. Antelopes also roam on the plains as well as zebra, eland, impalas, giraffe and gazelles. Ruaha is a haven for butterfly lovers, with opportunities to see the Venise Sword Tail, Common Grass Yellow and Hypolycaena Antifaunus to mention a few.
The short (November to February) or long rainy (March to April) seasons are the best time to see birds and butterflies. Remember, however, some camps are not open and road access can be challenging.
For an ‘off the beaten track’ safari vacation then the ideal location is Katavi National Park. The park, situated in south western Tanzania, has dramatic scenery, flood plains, dense waterways with an abundance of buffalo, elephant and hippo populations. Access to the park is by road, albeit a long drive from Mbeya of some 550 km or Kigoma is around 390 km in the dry season. Light aircraft also fly from Dar Es Salaam or Arusha.
Safaris can be combined with a beach holiday Zanzibar. The island mixes fabulous culture with pristine beaches.
KENYA
This popular destination has so much to offer travelers who are looking for culture, scenery, mountain climbing, wildlife and beach getaways. Kenyans are very hospitable and are always willing to go the ‘extra mile’ to ensure you have an amazing visit. In the capital of Nairobi visitors can visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, one of the leading conservation organisations who work to rescue then rehabilitate orphan rhino and elephants before releasing them back to the wild.
To avoid popular safari destinations, we recommend visiting the private conservancies bordering the Masai Mara which offer a unique game viewing experiences and outstanding service. Livestock and humans co-exist with wildlife in these remarkable areas. Visitors can enjoy horse riding, cycling and walking in the wilderness. There are also opportunities to meet locals and visit villages. Revenue from tourism helps to build schools, medical facilities and village development.
The Masai Mara offers incredible game viewing with accommodation catering for different budgets. From July to November guests may see the famous annual wildlife migration that crosses into the Serengeti National Park inside Tanzania.
For the adventure traveler, hiking is a wonderful way exploring Kenya. Hikers can visit the Ngong Hills, the Karura Forest, or Longonot (strato-volcano) located southeast of Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya. The Ol Njorowa Gorge has a 24 km trail.
The Chyulu Hills, between Amboseli and Tsavo West National Parks, offer a trek on one of the worlds longest lava tubes. Mount Kenya is a five day trek. Hikers may encounter elephants and buffaloes along with monkeys on the climb.
Kenya also has pristine beaches with Mombasa offering resorts for all various budgets. Malindi and Watamu, in the northern part of Mombasa, offers great opportunities for diving to see marine wildlife such as turtles. Diani beach is renowned for its coral reefs and underwater sand bars.
SOUTH AFRICA
This country has everything for travelers to Africa! From amazing national parks to luxury train rides, South Africa has it all. It is a malaria-free zone perfect for families, honeymooners, single travelers and couples of all ages. The diversity of culture and its friendly people make South Africa make this one of our top destinations. There are so many outstanding visitor experiences in this diverse, fascinating and great value country.
Cape Town continues to rank as one of the world’s most popular city destinations with the V and A Waterfront’s bars and attractions offering a great starting point for the visitor. The summit of Table Mountain, easily accessed by cable car, offers the most stunning, panoramic views of the city and surrounding ocean. Don’t forget that the entire region has amazing attractions – plus great wine! The cuisine in South Africa is some of the best in the world. It also caters for varied dietary needs, including Halal, Kosher, vegan and vegetarian. Accommodation options are vast, competitively-priced and wherever you stay you are always guaranteed to enjoy great customer service.
Cheetah Plains Private Reserve in Sabi Sands Game Reserve is our top pick for South Africa. It very much represents the truly world-class traveler experience offered so many destinations in the country – and which can compete with anywhere in Africa or beyond. The reserve offers prime game viewing of the Big Five with guests being assured an unbelievable encounter with wildlife thanks to a team of outstanding guides. It is situated in the Greater Sabi Sand area bordering Kruger National Park. Game drives are in electric, state-of-the-art, customised Land cruisers. The ‘eco-lux’ safari experience offers private houses, each with their own hospitality team consisting of a private chef, spa therapist, professional tracker and guide. Sustainability is central to Cheetah Plains and the reserve is committed to conservation and anti-poaching initiatives. The private reserve can be reached by charter aircraft from the Arathusa Airstrip or via a daily flight from Johannesburg to Nelspriut then a road transfer. If you fly into Hoedspruit Airport or Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport a road transfer can also be arranged.
The best time to visit South Africa’s parks is from May to September. This is the Dry Season when animals can easily be sighted congregating around waterholes and rivers. As this is the country’s winter the mornings and nights are cold. May and September are wonderful because it is less cold while September is an especially good month to view wildlife on safari.”
For tailor-made itineraries to Africa contact info@ubonsafari.com
All images © Umang Gossain, Ubon Safari
