The best time to go to Africa depends on the type of wildlife you want to see on safari, the tourist attractions you want to visit and the activities you’d like to enjoy. For instance, if you want to follow the wildebeest migration on safari in either Tanzania or Kenya, May to October are popular, but you can actually witness it in different places at different times of year. The mass zebra migration in Botswana actually happens twice, once during the rainy season that is less popular with tourists, meaning you’d likely get better rates. If you are looking to combine your African safari tour with a beach vacation, the winter in Southern Africa coincides with the northern hemisphere’s summer and often has the best game viewing, but you might want to visit an African country closer to the equator for your beach holiday for warmer temperatures. Peak seasons for safari tend to be popular due to concentrations of game and ease of viewing due to vegetation density, but if you travel in off-peak or shoulder season you’ll pay less, and this is often a better time for birds on safari, and you will get to see the baby animals born in spring.

Wondering where to go in Africa? East Africa and Southern Africa are the most popular vacation spots in Africa due to their developed travel industries, safety and infrastructure. The best African countries to visit in these regions are Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Mozambique. We send travelers who want to see gorillas and chimpanzees to Uganda and Rwanda. The Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius, the Seychelles and Zanzibar are also popular choices as they make it easy to combine a beach holiday with an African safari tour. Less popular but potentially more affordable spots worth visiting are Malawi and Zimbabwe. The most popular tourist attractions in Africa are the game reserves, with the most popular being Kruger National Park in South Africa, the Masai Mara National Park in Kenya, the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Chobe National Park in Botswana, Kafue National Park in Zambia and Etosha National Park in Namibia. Each of these countries also offer many more national parks worth visiting that might offer a more exclusive private African safari experience. One of the most popular tourist routes is the iconic triangle of Cape Town, Kruger National Park and Victoria Falls, which you can visit from either the Zimbabwe or Zambia sides. Cape Town in South Africa offers indulgent experiences for food and wine lovers, with excellent restaurants and wine tours. It is even possible to view whales at certain times of year, and come face to face with adorable penguins at Boulders Beach not far from Cape Town. The Okavango Delta in Botswana provides opportunities for viewing African animals on safari from a mokoro – an African canoe. Another popular African tourist destination is Mount Kilimanjaro which attracts droves of active travelers, although those wanting a more pristine mountain experience might prefer the less crowded slopes of Mount Kenya.

Not only can you bring your children with you to Africa, but you should! Ask anyone who went on an African safari with their family as a child and they'll tell you that it was a core memory moment for them and in many cases they'll tell you it instilled a lifelong love of animals and nature in them. The age of your children will impact where we recommend you travel though. Some resorts cater to adults only, with a minimum age of 12 or even 14. Others accept children of all ages, but don't have any specific activities aimed at children. In many cases, there will be a minimum age of children allowed on game-drive vehicles unless you take a private vehicle. Other resorts are so family-focused that they have "little explorer" type activities where trained minders will entertain and educate your little ones, leaving the adults free to kick back and enjoy some time alone for a little while while their children have the time of their lives. At New African Safaris, our agents know what it is like to travel in Africa with small children. Pierre took his two daughters, aged 4 and 7, on a weeks-long road trip through Namibia while their mom stayed at home in Cape Town for work, so he has some rigorous experience in this field!

As with many questions, the answer is "it depends". If you travel with us, then yes, it is safe to travel. As with anywhere else in the world, there are certain precautions to follow. This includes avoiding isolated areas, especially at night, observing water safety and resort/guide rules. While there are some African countries which are less safe, we send our travelers to the safest destinations in East and Southern Africa only. If we organise transfers and other domestic transport for you, you will automatically avoid dangerous areas as your drivers will know not to go through them. If you plan to self drive, we give recommendations on risks to avoid, if necessary.

This is the main reason why tourists visit Africa! Depending on the country and region, travellers will be able to view different types of large mammals, including zebra, wildebeest, cheetah, wild dogs, hippo, giraffe, dolphins, whales, crocodiles, birds and a variety of antelope. Africa is well-known for the Big 5 – lions, leopards, rhino, elephants and buffalo. This group is named the "big five" as early hunters from Europe found these the most dangerous to hunt. South Africa is a great place to go whale watching, depending on the time of year. Africa is an excellent destination for bird watchers, and we can organise specialised guides and itineraries if there are particular types of birds you would like to see.

We recommend travel insurance in any instance when you are traveling abroad. While many African travel agents require you to organise this separately, New African Safaris is proud to offer travel insurance options that can be included in your overall travel package price.

Depending on where you are travelling from, your nationality and how long your stay is, your passport and visa requirements may vary. People holding passports from countries that typically enjoy visa-less entry into many countries - e.g. the UK, Canada - may require visas to visit Africa. If your trip includes multiple African countries, you will likely need separate visas for each. New African Safaris can advise you of the requirements of your chosen destinations.

It’s important to check with your medical practitioner before travelling. You may require medications, boosters or vaccines for the following: Malaria, yellow fever, typhoid, cholera and diphtheria. We will never send you to an area with any acute health risks, such as ebola, and avoid sending people to these countries/regions entirely.

This depends on what you want to do on your trip! On safari, we recommend packing neutral coloured clothing (white, beige, green) if you are going on safari to avoid being easily sighted by wild animals, especially on walking safaris. Avoid wearing dark coloured camouflage or dark colours as these absorb more heat. The sun can be quite merciless, so we recommend sun hats and sunglasses to protect your head and eyes from the sun, and sunblock for your skin, especially for island and beach travels. If you are travelling during colder months (Jun-Aug), especially in South Africa, consider packing jackets, long pants and long tops as temperatures can be surprisingly cold and catch some guests off guard. If you are visiting Cape Town or any other African city, you might want to bring some smart-casual clothing if you want to take in some of the nightlife or high-end restaurants. Aside from clothing and sunscreen, we recommend binoculars (if you have any) and big enough suitcases and bags to take home your souvenir purchases!