Frequently Asked Questions

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Why go on an African safari?

For most travelers, Africa remains the last frontier in terms of culture, history, adventure and of course the continent's unique wildlife. From Botswana's tranquil Okavango Delta filled with big game and birdsong to the raging Zambezi River as it crashes untamed over Victoria Falls; from the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem teeming with herds of millions of wildebeest and zebra to the pristine beauty of the Ngorongoro Crater, to the flamingo-filled soda lakes of the Great Rift Valley in Kenya and Tanzania; from the endless seas of red dunes in Sossussvlei to the uniqueness and vastness of the Skeleton Coast in Namibia; and from the Mahale mountains in Tanzania, home to one of the few remaining strongholds of wild chimpanzees in the world to the tropical rainforests of Rwanda and Uganda where one can sit face to face with highly-endangered mountain gorillas – this ancient place they call the cradle of mankind and its people offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Africa provides guests with a high-quality wildlife and wilderness experience in a land that is friendly, safe and clean.

Southern Africa is home to a tremendous wealth of wildlife including Africa's Big 5 (buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard, and rhino – both black and white). Botswana and Zimbabwe are home to Africa's largest elephant herds (over 120,000 elephants in Botswana's Linyanti-Chobe area!) and the highest density of lions in the world and the South Luangwa Valley in Zambia stands out as having the highest concentration of leopards in the world!

East Africa, on the other hand, harbours the largest mass concentration of savannah animals on the planet with up to three million herbivores and the full suite of predators in the Serengeti-Maasai Mara ecosystem at certain times of the year. Northern Kenya is also home to a host of endemic mammals such as Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and other species unique to the region. Further afield in Uganda, Rwanda and western Tanzania - primate safaris, including mountain gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, continue to be great wilderness attractions.

Guests can enjoy wildlife viewing drives from open safari vehicles - excellent for photography. Night-time wildlife viewing drives are also possible from most camps and lodges in private reserves or conservancies. This gives you the opportunity to view nocturnal wildlife species such as leopard, genet, aardvark, aardwolf, porcupine and pangolin. Wildlife may also be viewed by boat and canoe where you may encounter hippo, crocodile, and other semi-aquatic species as they come to drink and bathe.