Rebecca Mottram Travel Agent

There are so many places to experience an African safari, how do you know where the best place for an African safari would be? I’d say a lot of it really does come down to what it is exactly that you’re after, which animals (do you want to see the big five for example?), what type of lodge (tented or super high end luxury?) and park you want (are you wanting to stay within the park or outside?). And if you don’t know where to start, then read this about some popular African safari parks below.

Kruger, South Africa

Set in the northeast of South Africa, Kruger is a vast conservation area, the most popular safari destination on the continent, renowned for easy wildlife viewing and great predator photography. Leaving aside the busy national park, I can access several peaceful and very high-quality private reserves, with guest accommodation in around 150 lodges. Most are extremely comfortable and reliable, as well as covering an unusually wide range of price levels.

It’s so much easier and cheaper to operate safari camps in South Africa than in other countries further north. But if you know where to look, there is a handful of great value camps which are small, intimate and authentic.

Perhaps the first place to look is River Rock Camp, one of our great favourites for those on a budget, I would go as far as to say that this is probably the best value safari camp in Africa. At the other end of the spectrum, you might enjoy taking a look at Tengile River Lodge, which comes in around seven times the price!

Waterberg, South Africa

Set in the north of South Africa, the non-malarial Waterberg Mountains area contains several interesting wildlife reserves, with some superb scenery and relatively easy wildlife viewing, as well as options for horse-riding and even golf. Guest accommodation is in around 25 decent quality lodges, many of which are relatively well-priced.

The nice thing about the Waterberg is that it’s quite low key, attracting a fraction of the visitor numbers of Kruger. Because it’s lesser-known, lodges at all levels offer unusually good value. The area can also be reached by road from Johannesburg, which can be easier and cheaper than flying out to a remote reserve.

Hwenge, Zimbabwe

Set just 130 km south of Victoria Falls, Hwange is the most popular wildlife reserve in Zimbabwe, renowned for the quality of its safari guiding, rich and varied wildlife, authentic walking safari and superb hides, with guest accommodation in around 25 largely earthy and authentic lodges and camps.

This is a proper safari area, much more wild than the previous two locations and with that real sense of infinite untamed Africa.

A few of the camps here in Hwange, uniquely in Africa, manage to deliver the magical combination of being in a truly prime and remote wilderness area, offering serious safari guiding and hitting a great price point. Hwange Bush Camp is a particular favourite, one that has proved an enormous hit with clients.

Mudumu, Naminia

Set in the extreme northeast of Namibia, Mudumu and Mamili are two small wildlife reserves which are able to offer Botswana style safari at a fraction of the price. Guest accommodation is in a handful of decent lodges, offering a good range of wet and dry safari activities.

To really get this place, you need to first understand that the camps just across the river in Botswana are literally four times the price. If you are doing a self-drive in Namibia, this is a truly fantastic option and such a steal.

Saadani, Tanzania

Set on the mainland coast just north of Dar es Salaam, Saadani is the only reserve in East Africa to be able to properly offer safari and beach in the same location. The opening of a new lodge here in 2025 has breathed new life into this largely forgotten backwater.

Although Kasa Bay Lodge is not that low cost, the fact that you get beach and safari in the same location, coupled with the capacity to connect by road to the airport in Dar es Salaam, means that trips can be a fraction of the cost of the more common Serengeti and Zanzibar combinations.

If you like the idea of one of these safari destinations, then please just drop me a message, I’d love to chat all things wildlife with you and find you the best adventure yet!