The 6 kinds of African safari

There are so many fantastic and world-class parks and reserves across Africa. In fact, many of them set the bar for what it actually means to be 'world-class'!

The wildlife and landscapes contained in these parks are as varied as you could wish. We’re talking the Big Five, other fan favourites like giraffes, hippos and cheetahs, and the Great Wildlife Migration. We're also talking rivers hiding sneaky crocs and hippos, bird-choked wetlands, and animal-dotted salt pans. And we're also talking fantastical formations like giant anthills dotted with bee-eaters' nests, lazy river channels teeming with waterbirds, and riverbanks crowded with thirsty antelopes and elephants. 

But how best to see and appreciate all this gorgeous wildlife? Let's look at the different forms of African safari, starting with the classic game drive and then venturing into more rarified terrain.

There are many wildlife-rich landscapes in Africa where traditional game drives simply won't cut it!

Game drives allow you to cover a vast area and see much wildlife in a safe manner. They're a fantastic adventure, and one that (when done responsibly) helps to support wildlife conservation.

Game drives in Ngorongoro Crater are unique – you descend into a massive crater that's chockfull of animals

It's pretty impossible to whittle down the parks of Africa to just a handful, as there are so many, each with its own fabulous selling points. That said, here are just a handful of the parks teeming with varied wildlife that we consider to be stellar destinations for game drives:

Thirsty animals congregate at a waterhole in Namibia's Etosha salt pan

While there's no replacing the game drive, there are other fantastic types of safari as well. So let's now look at these other, often overlooked, forms of safari that we think you would enjoy.

Walking safaris are not permitted in many parks and reserves. So when a walking safari is on offer, you should always lap up the opportunity!

A walking safari gets you so much closer to the sights, smells and sounds of African wildlife

What's also especially interesting on a walking safari is learning from the ranger how he or she tracks the animals by looking at things like spoors (animal footprints), droppings, broken branches and nests.

Not only can you do a walking safari in the usual settings like savannah, bush and grasslands, but you can also walk in more rugged, forested terrain. Most notable among these sorts of walking safaris are gorilla and chimp treks, where you go on a guided hike to see the primates in their natural habitat.

If you're keen to see birds, like these two bee-eaters, a walking safari is ideal as you can move about quietly

Some of the best national parks for walking safaris are:

A gorilla trek is a unique and highly coveted type of walking safari

Cycling safaris in Africa range from easy flat rides through savannah and grassland to challenging rides in the hills or mountains. To view classic African game, like elephants, giraffes, zebras and antelopes, you want to opt for the lowland parks. But if you'd like to see lots of primates, you generally want to head towards more hilly terrain.

You can cycle in certain game parks across Africa | Image by GocheGanas

Again, we can't begin to mention all of the many wonderful cycling safaris on offer around Africa. So instead here's just a few of those we really like that you can do at national parks:

A view of Mt Kilimanjaro from Amboseli National Park in Kenya

Horse-riding safaris – or horseback safaris if you're American – are another fantastic way of seeing the wildlife in some of the African game parks. Obviously it's not offered in many parks, but be sure to inquire after it if this option interests you. Your chances of such a safari are higher on a private reserve than at a national park.

The higher vantage point and easy mobility that you enjoy on horseback is wonderful for game viewing. And if you're someone who loves horses, then you get to combine animal spotting with spending time with a horse – yay!

Horse-riding safaris are, of course, guided affairs – you ride with a ranger

Some great examples of horse-riding safaris are:

To follow the herds of the Great Migration on horseback is a real privilege

We love boat safaris. It doesn't matter the type of boat, but getting onto the water and seeing the animals from a different viewpoint is a special treat. You also get to often come closer to certain creatures, like hippos, crocs and elephants (who love a good splash).

You need to go on a boat safari to see the animals and beauty of the Okavango Delta

Boat safaris can involve larger boats and snacks and drinks, or smaller vessels like canoes where you or your guide put some muscle into it

There are boat safaris on offer in many of the wetlands, deltas, channels and rivers of Africa. Some great examples are:

A bush elephant wades into the Zambezi River

Hot air balloons are a fantastic – albeit expensive – way to go on safari. While you won't get close to the animals, the expansive bird's-eye view you enjoy is truly breathtaking. You get to appreciate the landscape as well as the wildlife and their numbers and patterns of movement on a whole other level.

With the Great Wildlife Migration, for instance, a hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti is a sublime way to see the immense herds of wildebeests, zebras and antelopes stretched for miles across the landscape.

Hot air balloons at Little Governors' Camp in Kenya get ready to take visitors for an early morning safari over the plains of the Serengeti

Two very special sites for balloon safaris include:

A balloon safari over the Serengeti showing some of the million or so wildebeests that migrate across the plains every year

So what do you think? Which of the above safari types excites you the most? We'd love to hear from you! 🙂