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Four ways to meet Africa's wildlife: gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda, red-dune deserts and Etosha game drives in Namibia, and the penguins and whales of South Africa's Cape.
Trek to a mountain gorilla family in the Virunga volcanoes of Volcanoes National Park.
Trek twice to Bwindi's gorillas, then add Queen Elizabeth Park's tree-climbing lions and the Nile at Murchison.
Climb the Sossusvlei dunes and watch wildlife gather at Etosha's dry-season waterholes.
Meet Boulders Beach penguins, Hermanus whales and Table Mountain on a Cape and Garden Route trip.
Look for elephant, lion and rhino on game drives across East and Southern Africa's parks.
Carry a long lens for silverbacks, big cats and desert light most travellers only see in films.
Gorillas: Rwanda or Uganda
The great-ape trips split between Rwanda and Uganda. Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park is quicker to reach from Kigali and better for a short, focused trek. Uganda's Bwindi is a longer, wilder walk, often done as two treks, and it pairs with a Queen Elizabeth Park safari as an add-on.
Desert and big game: Namibia
Namibia is the one for landscape. The Sossusvlei dunes and the dead trees of Deadvlei are among the most photographed sights in Africa, and Etosha adds elephant, rhino and lion around its waterholes. It suits travellers happy with long, scenic drives.
Coast and first-timers: South Africa
South Africa's Cape is the gentle introduction, with penguins, whales, wine and city life close together, and the option to add a Big Five reserve. It works well for families and for a first trip to the continent.
When to travel
Across most of these countries the dry season, roughly May to October, brings the best wildlife viewing. Gorilla trekking runs all year, while Namibia's desert and South Africa's Cape reward a visit in almost any month.
Tell us which animals and countries you have in mind, and we'll match you to the right trip and handle permits, flights and lodges.
Both Rwanda and Uganda offer excellent trekking. Rwanda is faster to reach and better for a short trip, while Uganda is cheaper for permits and lets you add chimpanzees and a savanna safari. We can help you weigh up the two.
For most of these destinations the dry season, roughly May to October, gives the strongest wildlife viewing as animals gather at water. Gorilla trekking works year-round, and South Africa's Cape is pleasant through the southern summer too.
South Africa's Cape is the easiest start, with wildlife, wine and cities close together and short travel times. If you have your heart set on gorillas or the Namib dunes, those work as a first trip too, with a little more travel involved.
Requirements vary by country, and some ask for a yellow fever certificate, so we brief you per trip. Indian passport holders need visas for all four, most available online or on arrival, and our team helps you prepare them.
Permits alone run from 600 to 1,500 US dollars per person depending on the country and season, before flights and lodges. Because permits are limited and sell out in peak months, we recommend booking several months ahead.
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