10 Types of African Safaris: Different Ways to Experience a Safari

While the type of safari sets the scene, the luxury is in how the experience is curated for you. It’s the difference between merely observing Africa and being truly immersed in it, with every detail handled, every comfort considered, and every moment maximized.

• Guided Game Drives: True luxury is the exclusivity of a private vehicle and guide. This translates to a safari on your terms. You can linger for an hour waiting for a leopard to descend a tree or spend the morning focusing solely on bird photography. There’s no fixed schedule or competing interests; the pace, focus, and duration of each drive are entirely up to you.
• Walking Safaris: A luxury walking safari elevates the experience from a simple bush walk to an exclusive expedition. You are led by elite, armed professional guides into remote, private concessions where you won’t see another soul. At the end of a thrilling day on foot, a fully supported camp with a dedicated chef and staff awaits, ensuring comfort and relaxation in the heart of the wild.
• Aerial Safaris: The luxury of a hot-air balloon safari is the serene, silent perspective at sunrise, witnessing the world awaken from above. This experience could be capped with an elegant champagne breakfast served in the middle of the bush. For light aircraft safaris, luxury lies in the seamless, time-saving transfers that provide breathtaking scenic flights and exclusive access to remote, otherwise unreachable lodges.
• Water Safaris: Luxury on the water means intimacy and exclusivity. It’s a private mokoro gliding silently through the Okavango Delta with your own personal poler or a private boat on the Chobe River that allows you to escape the crowded vessels. This privacy allows you to tailor the excursion, whether you’re tracking a specific bird or simply absorbing the tranquility.
• Primate Safaris: The luxury component of this physically demanding adventure is the flawless logistical management. It involves securing the highly limited permits, handling all transfers, and ensuring your stay is in a premium lodge conveniently located near the park headquarters for maximum comfort and ease.
• Mobile Safaris: A luxury mobile safari shatters any notion of "roughing it." It is a private, fully-serviced camp that moves with you. This includes a dedicated chef preparing gourmet meals, a full support staff, and comfortable amenities like en-suite bathrooms with hot showers. The camp is set up in prime, exclusive-use locations, following the wildlife away from all crowds for an utterly private immersion.

Addressing these key questions early will help you choose the right safari experiences and ensure a seamless, enjoyable journey for everyone in your party.

• Physical Fitness and Mobility: Transparency about physical requirements is key. Walking, mountain biking, and primate safaris require a good level of fitness. Guided game drives are less strenuous, but the ride can be bumpy. If you have back issues, the luxury of a private vehicle is a significant advantage, as your guide can choose smoother routes and maintain a slower pace to ensure your comfort.
• Age Restrictions: Family safari planning hinges on understanding age limits, which are in place for safety and the enjoyment of all guests. Primate trekking carries a strict minimum age of 15 years. Walking safaris often require participants to be a minimum of 16 years of age, though some lodges may permit children as young as 12. Many mobile camps and safari lodges do not allow children under the age of 12. For hot-air balloon safaris, the typical minimum age is seven or eight, with minimum height requirements and adult accompaniment for children under the age of 12.
• Value of Add-On Activities: Activities like ballooning, walking, or horseback riding are specialized add-ons that provide exceptional value by offering a completely different perspective of the bush, a deeper, more immersive connection to the environment, or a thrilling adventure that complements the classic vehicle-based experience.

Guided game drives are the most popular way to explore Africa’s vast wilderness, providing an exceptional platform for wildlife viewing and photography. In a private reserve or conservancy, this experience is elevated further with off-road game viewing for better photographic angles, night drives to see nocturnal animals, and strict vehicle limits at sightings for an uncrowded experience. The adventure extends beyond daylight, navigating under a brilliant canopy of stars to the exhilarating sounds of the bush after dark.

Why Go on a Guided Game Drive?

This classic safari experience offers the perfect mix of comfort, range, and exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities.

• Vast landscapes are easily covered, allowing you to experience diverse habitats and ecosystems in a single outing.
• Optimal viewing is guaranteed from raised, open-sided vehicles, providing clear sightlines for photography.
• Expert guidance from a professional guide and tracker helps you find animals and understand their behavior.
• Nocturnal encounters on night drives offer a rare chance to spot elusive creatures like leopards, civets, and aardvarks.
• Safe proximity to large game, including lions and elephants, allows for breathtakingly close and secure encounters.

Best Places For a Guided Game Drive

Many of Africa's most iconic parks and private reserves are perfectly suited for classic vehicle-based safaris.

• South Africa offers the famed Kruger National Park and the exclusive Sabi Sands Game Reserve for leopard sightings.
• East Africa is home to the legendary plains of the Serengeti and Maasai Mara, the stage for the Great Migration.
• Botswana's wilderness includes the elephant-rich Chobe National Park and the unique waterways of the Okavango Delta.
• Zambian hotspots like South Luangwa National Park are renowned for incredible predator density and excellent night drives.
• Private concessions throughout the continent provide the exclusive benefit of off-road driving for more intimate wildlife viewing.

Experience the quintessential African adventure on our Serengeti Great Migration Safari: Nature’s Greatest Spectacle.

A walking safari connects you to the African wilderness on an extremely intimate level. Led by a highly trained and armed professional guide, you will leave the vehicle behind for a typical walk of two to four hours, focusing on the "small wonders" of the bush like tracks, plants, and insects. It's essential to wear neutral-colored clothing and comfortable, broken-in walking shoes. This is a chance to learn about the minute details of the ecosystem and understand your place within the environment.

Why Go on a Walking Safari?

This immersive approach offers a sensory-rich and deeply personal connection to the African bush.

• Sensory engagement awakens your senses to the sounds, smells, and textures of the wilderness around you.
• An intimate perspective allows you to appreciate the smaller wonders of the ecosystem, from beetles to birds.
• Expert knowledge is shared by your guide, who teaches you about tracking, botany, and animal behavior.
• Active exploration provides a thrilling and satisfying way to experience the landscape on your own two feet.
• A deeper connection fosters an appreciation for the complexity and fragility of the natural world.

Best Places For a Walking Safari

Certain regions in Africa are legendary for offering some of the continent's most authentic and thrilling walking experiences.

• Zambia's Luangwa Valley is widely considered the birthplace of the walking safari, giving you an unparalleled and immersive experience.
• Botswana's Delta features guided walks on remote islands like Chief’s Island, surrounded by pristine waterways.
• South Africa’s Kruger and its surrounding private reserves offer incredible opportunities to track big game on foot.
• Tanzania's Reserves, such as Nyerere National Park and Serengeti, provide vast, remote areas to explore.
• Kenya's Conservancies in regions like Amboseli allow for walks with stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Diverse Kruger: Walking Safaris and Game Drives has further information to assist you in making your decision.

On an aerial safari, you will have a breathtaking god's-eye view of dramatically beautiful Africa. Whether soaring silently in a hot-air balloon at sunrise, taking a thrilling helicopter flip, or hopping between remote lodges in a light aircraft, this perspective reveals the sheer scale and grandeur of the wilderness. Witness the epic spectacle of migrating herds, trace the network of hippo channels in a delta, and appreciate the patterns of the wild in a way that is impossible from the ground.

Why Go on an Aerial Safari?

This unique perspective offers a spectacular overview of the landscape and the epic movements of wildlife.

• Stunning panoramas provide unforgettable views and incredible photographic opportunities of Africa’s vastness.
• This unique perspective reveals the patterns of animal migrations and the intricate geography of the landscape.
• Exclusive access allows you to reach remote and inaccessible areas, such as the heart of the Okavango Delta.
• Romantic experiences like a hot-air balloon ride offers a serene and glorious way to start the day.
• Efficient travel via small charter planes turns long transfers into scenic flights that become a highlight of the journey.

Best Places For an Aerial Safari

From vast plains to inaccessible wetlands, some destinations are best appreciated from the sky.

• Tanzania’s Serengeti offers classic hot-air balloon safaris over the endless plains during the Great Migration.
• Kenya’s Maasai Mara provides a similar iconic ballooning experience with spectacular views of savannas and rivers.
• Botswana's Okavango Delta is best understood from a light aircraft or helicopter, revealing its labyrinthine waterways.
• Rwanda’s Volcanoes can be viewed on helicopter flights, showcasing the dramatic volcanic peaks.
• Zambia's Kafue and its vast Busanga Plains are incredible to see from the air during the flood season.

Read about the magic of a sunrise journey in our Personalized Kenya Safari: Maasai Mara and More.

If you are an active and adventurous traveler, a mountain bike safari offers a thrilling way to get up close and personal with the African bush. Guided by a qualified professional, you will traverse diverse terrains, from open savanna trails to rugged pathways. This is an invigorating and eco-friendly way to travel, allowing for a quiet approach to wildlife while covering more ground than a walking safari. The experience is an exhilarating blend of physical activity and wildlife viewing, connecting you to the landscape in a deeply satisfying way.

Why Go on a Mountain Bike Safari?

This active adventure combines the thrill of cycling with the wonder of a traditional safari.

• Active adventure provides a fantastic workout and an exciting way to engage with your surroundings.
• Silent approach allows you to get closer to plains game like zebra and giraffe without the sound of an engine.
• Eco-friendly travel leaves a minimal footprint on the environment, promoting sustainable tourism.
• Unique terrain can be accessed, taking you on trails and paths that are off-limits to safari vehicles.
• The thrilling experience of cycling through big-game country provides an unparalleled adrenaline rush.

Best Places For a Mountain Bike Safari

Select reserves and conservancies offer expertly guided cycling excursions in safe yet wild environments.

• Botswana's Tuli Reserve is famous for its incredible landscapes and dedicated mountain biking trails.
• South Africa's Bushmans Kloof offers cycling through a World Heritage Site known for its rock art and scenery.
• Kenya's Laikipia Plateau provides numerous private conservancies with excellent guided bike safaris.
• Zambia's Lower Zambezi allows for cycling excursions in the beautiful woodland areas outside the park.
• Zimbabwe's Malilangwe offers opportunities to explore its stunning and diverse terrain on two wheels.

For more information on South African safaris in places like Bushmans Kloof and Kruger, see our South Africa travel guide.

In many of Africa’s greatest wilderness areas, water is life, and exploring by boat offers a tranquil and unique safari perspective. Gliding along rivers, channels, and lakes brings you eye-level with the action as predators and prey gather at the water’s edge. A water safari can range from a tranquil journey in a traditional dugout canoe to a scenic cruise on a larger boat. This slow-paced exploration unveils a different side of the ecosystem, from hippos and crocodiles in the water to elephants drinking on the banks and a dazzling array of birdlife.

Why Go on a Water Safari?

Exploring by boat provides a peaceful, unique vantage point for observing wildlife and landscapes.

• Unique erspective offers an intimate, water-level view of animals as they come to drink and bathe.
• Tranquil pace allows for a relaxing and immersive experience, letting the scenery unfold around you.
• Abundant wildlife is often concentrated along rivers and lakes, making for excellent viewing opportunities.
• Birding paradise is found on the water, with countless species of waders, kingfishers, and eagles.
• Silent approach in a canoe allows you to get incredibly close to wildlife without disturbing it.

Best Places For a Water Safari

Africa’s great rivers and lakes provide the perfect setting for a memorable water-based safari.

• Botswana's Okavango Delta is the ultimate water safari destination, best explored by mokoro and motorboat.
• Botswana’s Chobe River is renowned for its boat cruises, which offer spectacular sightings of elephant herds.
• Tanzania’s Nyerere National Park features boat safaris on the magnificent Rufiji River.
• Kenya’s Lake Nakuru is renowned for its incredible birdlife, including flocks of flamingos and pelicans.
• Namibia’s Etosha Pan fills with water seasonally, attracting wildlife and offering unique viewing from its edges.

Glide through pristine waterways on our Luxury Botswana Classic: Waterways and Landscapes.

A horseback safari is a truly fabulous and inspiring way to become part of the wilderness. This experience is generally for intermediate to experienced riders, as routes are carefully chosen in areas with less dangerous game for safety. You can approach wildlife quietly and blend in with the landscape in a way that is impossible in a vehicle. Following ancient animal trails, it’s an exhilarating feeling to canter alongside a herd of zebra or come face-to-face with a towering giraffe from the saddle.

Why go on a Horseback Safari?

This unique safari style offers an intimate connection with nature from a different vantage point.

• Close encounters are common, as plains game are less spooked by horses than by vehicles or people on foot.
• Remote access allows you to explore areas of the bush that are inaccessible to safari vehicles.
• The thrilling adventure of riding through the African wilderness creates an unforgettable sense of freedom.
• The natural pace of the horse allows you to connect with the environment in a relaxed and authentic way.
• The unique bond between rider and horse adds a special dimension to the safari experience.

Best Places For a Horseback Safari

A number of private reserves and conservancies across Africa specialize in providing world-class equestrian safaris.

• Botswana's Tuli Reserve and Makgadikgadi Pans offer incredible landscapes for experienced riders.
• South Africa’s Reserves, like Makalali and Pakamisa, provide excellent riding in beautiful settings.
• Kenya’s Maasai Mara and surrounding conservancies offer the chance to ride alongside the Great Migration.
• Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park has private concessions that offer multi-day riding adventures.
• Namibia's Damaraland provides challenging and rewarding desert rides for experienced equestrians.

Saddle up for the ride of a lifetime on our Horse Riding Safari in Okavango: Galloping Through Africa’s Oasis.

A primate safari is a powerful and often life-changing journey deep into the lush jungles and volcanic mountains of East and Central Africa. These guided treks take you into the heart of dense forests in search of our closest living relatives. The primary focus is on tracking families of mountain gorillas or chimpanzees, culminating in an awe-inspiring hour spent observing their complex social interactions in their natural habitat. This is a bucket-list experience that delivers an emotional and unforgettable wildlife encounter.

Why Go on a Primate Safari?

This is a rare and profound opportunity to connect with some of the world's most endangered and intelligent creatures.

• Gorilla encounters in Rwanda and Uganda offer an emotional and awe-inspiring experience with gentle giants.
• Chimpanzee trekking provides a more active and dynamic tracking experience as you follow troops through the forest.
• Lush jungles and volcanic mountain scenery create a stunningly beautiful and atmospheric backdrop.
• Conservation impact from your visit directly supports the protection of these critically endangered species.
• Expert guides lead you safely through the forest and provide fascinating insights into primate behavior.

Best Places For a Primate Safari

The montane rainforests of Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania are the world's premier destinations for primate encounters.

• Uganda's Bwindi Forest is home to nearly half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas.
• Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park offers iconic gorilla treks on the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes.
• Uganda's Kibale Forest is arguably the best place in the world for chimpanzee trekking.
• Tanzania's Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains offer remote and beautiful settings for chimpanzee safaris.
• Rwanda's Nyungwe Forest National Park offers fantastic chimpanzee trekking and the chance to track large troops of colobus monkeys.

Come face-to-face with gentle giants on our gorilla-trekking safaris.

A mobile safari is a throwback to the original expeditions of the early explorers. This style of safari allows you to travel through a region, setting up a private camp in a new, secluded location every few days. It is the ultimate way to immerse yourself in the wilderness, as your camp follows the wildlife migrations or explores different areas of a large park. A luxury mobile camp ensures an authentic and exclusive experience under the stars.

Why Go on a Mobile Safari?

This adventurous style offers an exclusive and immersive way to explore vast and remote wilderness areas.

• An exclusive experience with a private camp and dedicated guide ensures a personalized and intimate safari.
• Remote locations in private campsites away from the crowds place you deep into the heart of the bush.
• Following wildlife allows your itinerary to be flexible and adapt to the seasonal movements of animals.
• Taking a digital detox in comfortable but simple camps encourages a complete disconnection from modern life.
• The authentic feel of a traditional expedition connects you to the history and romance of safari travel.

Best Places For a Mobile Safari

The vast, unfenced wilderness areas of Botswana, Tanzania, and Kenya are ideal for mobile camping expeditions.

• Botswana's parks, like Chobe, Moremi, and the Central Kalahari, offer incredible remote camping experiences.
• Tanzania’s Serengeti is the perfect location to follow the Great Migration with a mobile camp.
• Kenya’s Maasai Mara and its surrounding conservancies provide stunning backdrops for private mobile safaris.
• South Africa’s Sabi Sands offers luxurious mobile camping options in a premier Big Five area.
• Namibia's Kaokoland is a rugged and remote destination perfect for an exploratory mobile safari.

Experience the romance of a classic expedition on our Private North Luangwa Mobile Camping Safari.

A photographic safari is a specialized journey designed for shutterbugs of all levels. These trips are meticulously planned to maximize photographic opportunities, often using a specialized vehicle with camera mounts, beanbags, and charging points. Led by a guide who is also an expert photographer, you can spend hours at a single sighting, patiently waiting for the perfect moment. This is the ultimate way to capture the beauty of the African bush.

Why Go on a Photographic Safari?

This specialized safari is designed to help you improve your skills and return home with incredible images.

• Expert tuition from a professional photographic guide provides personalized instruction in the field.
• Modified vehicles with camera mounts, beanbags, and lowered sides are designed for optimal photography.
• A patient approach allows you to spend unlimited time at sightings, waiting for the perfect light and animal behavior.
• Creative focus on composition, lighting, and storytelling elevates your photography beyond simple snapshots.
• Like-minded company of fellow photographers creates a supportive and enjoyable group dynamic.

Best Places For a Photographic Safari

Destinations with open landscapes, abundant wildlife, and dramatic light are best for photography.

• Botswana's Okavango Delta offers stunning landscapes and incredible opportunities for water-level shots.
• South Africa's Sabi Sands is unparalleled for close-up photos of leopards and other Big Five animals.
• Kenya’s Amboseli National Park provides iconic shots of elephants with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background.
• Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater is a self-contained ecosystem with dense wildlife and dramatic scenery.
• Namibia’s Etosha National Park features floodlit waterholes perfect for night photography.

Capture the perfect shot on a Kruger and Southern Africa Photo Safari By Private Plane.

Viewing wildlife from a hide offers a completely different and incredibly rewarding safari perspective. These strategically located structures, often near a waterhole or salt lick, allow you to observe animals undetected. Hides can range from simple ground-level blinds to elevated "treehouse" platforms or even luxurious underground bunkers. The experience is one of patience and quiet observation, as the natural drama of the bush unfolds before you.

Why Go on a Hideout Safari Experience?

This unique and patient approach allows for exceptionally close and natural wildlife encounters.

• Undisturbed behavior can be observed as animals are completely unaware of your presence.
• Intimate encounters are possible, with some hides placing you just feet away from drinking elephants.
• Photographic blinds are often designed to provide a low-angle, professional perspective for stunning images.
• Patient observation allows you to spend hours watching the subtle social interactions at a waterhole.
• Unique angles from sunken or elevated hides offer a completely different view of the animal kingdom.

Best Places For a Hide Safari Experience

Many lodges in Southern and East Africa have invested in incredible hides for their guests to enjoy.

• South Africa’s Reserves, like Kruger, Sabi Sands, and Madikwe, are famous for their sophisticated waterhole hides.
• Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park features numerous productive hides overlooking its busy waterholes.
• Namibia’s Etosha National Park has world-renowned public and private hides at its floodlit waterholes.
• Zambia’s South Luangwa offers a mix of hides, including some that provide incredible carmine bee-eater sightings.
• Botswana’s wilderness has many camps with well-positioned hides for observing game between safari activities.

Witness candid wildlife behavior in Namibia from the best seats in the house. Take a look at our 7 Best Places to Visit in Namibia on Safari for more information on this spectacular country.

With so many options, choosing the right experience can feel daunting. Here are some recommendations based on different traveler profiles to help you find your perfect African adventure.

• For First-Time Safari-Goers: We recommend classic guided game drives for a fantastic overview of the wildlife and landscape. Adding an aerial safari, like a hot-air balloon ride over the Maasai Mara or Serengeti, creates a spectacular and unforgettable highlight for a first trip.
• For Families: Guided game drives, especially in a private vehicle for flexibility with children, are an excellent choice. Water safaris, like a gentle boat cruise on the Chobe River, are low-impact and captivating for all ages. It is crucial to consider the age restrictions for more adventurous activities when planning.
• For Active and Adventurous Travelers: If you want a more physical and immersive experience, we recommend walking safaris, mountain bike safaris, and horseback safaris. These activities allow you to engage with the bush in a thrilling, hands-on way.
• For Honeymooners and Romantic Getaways: The glorious silence of an aerial safari by hot-air balloon is hard to beat. The intimacy of a water safari in a dugout canoe for two, the exclusivity of a mobile safari, or a lodge with a "star-bed" experience all create unforgettable romantic memories.
• For Seasoned Safari-Goers and Photographers: Experienced travelers looking for a new perspective should consider photographic safaris for dedicated time in the field, walking safaris for a ground-level view, and mobile safaris for exploring remote, untouched areas. A primate safari offers a powerful, bucket-list wildlife encounter unlike any other.

An African safari is a deeply personal adventure, and with such a rich variety of ways to explore, your journey can be as unique as you are. By combining different safari styles you can create a dynamic and multi-faceted experience. The true beauty of a modern safari lies in this ability to tailor the adventure to your passions, ensuring every moment connects you more deeply with the wilderness.

To discover a wealth of information and find more inspiration for crafting your perfect trip, visit our African safari travel guide and explore our diverse African safari tours and vacation packages. When you are ready to begin planning, our expert safari specialists will be on hand to assist you in designing a journey that brings your specific safari dreams to life.