The Safari Journal
With over 20 years of experience in the wild, we share our expert tips and insights for your once-in-a-lifetime journey.
The Samburu Special 5: North of the Equator
TL;DR – The Samburu Special 5 are five endemic animals found in northern Kenya that you simply cannot see in the Masai Mara or anywhere else in the country. If you’ve done the classic Kenya safari and want something different – or if you want to build a trip that covers ground nobody else is covering – Samburu is the answer.
Chief’s Island: The Predator Capital
TL;DR – Chief’s Island is the largest island in the Okavango Delta and holds the highest concentration of predators in Botswana. If lions, leopards, wild dogs, and cheetahs on the same game drive is what you’re after, this is where you go. Here’s why it works and how to plan it right.
Gorongosa National Park: The Comeback Story
TL;DR – Gorongosa was once one of Africa’s greatest wildlife parks. Civil war nearly erased it. Today, it’s in the middle of one of the most ambitious conservation recoveries on the continent – and visiting right now means witnessing something most safari destinations can’t offer: a park coming back to life in real time.
Beyond Gorillas: Golden Monkey Trekking
TL;DR – Most people fly to Rwanda, spend one hour with gorillas, and leave. That’s a mistake. The golden monkey trek in Volcanoes National Park is faster, cheaper, and in some ways more exciting. If you’re already there, this one deserves a full morning of your itinerary.
Victoria Falls: Swimming in Devil’s Pool
TL;DR – There’s a natural rock pool at the very lip of Victoria Falls where you can swim and peer over the edge into a 100-meter drop. It’s only accessible during the dry season, it’s guided, and it’s one of the most surreal experiences in Africa. Here’s everything you need to know before you go.
The Shoebill Stork: Searching Mabamba Swamp
TL;DR – The shoebill stork is one of the strangest, most ancient-looking birds on earth. Uganda is one of the best places to find one, and Mabamba Swamp – just outside Entebbe – is where most sightings happen. A half-day canoe trip is all it takes. Here’s exactly what to expect.
Sossusvlei & Deadvlei: Climbing “Big Daddy”
TL;DR – The Namib Desert holds some of the tallest dunes on Earth, but nothing beats the view from the top of “Big Daddy.” Climbing this 325-meter dune gives you a bird’s-eye view of Deadvlei – a white clay pan filled with 900-year-old skeletons of trees. It is a quiet, visual reset that feels like walking through a surrealist painting.
Sabi Sand Game Reserve: The Leopard Capital of Africa
TL;DR – Seeing a leopard in the wild is usually a matter of rare luck, but Sabi Sand changes the game. This reserve has the highest leopard density in the world and animals that are calm around vehicles. By choosing a private lodge here, you trade the frustration of crowded public roads for intimate, world-class wildlife sightings.
Ngorongoro Crater: Beating the Traffic
TL;DR – The Ngorongoro Crater is a natural wonder, but its popularity means heavy vehicle traffic. To experience this “Garden of Eden” without the crowds, you must reach the gate by dawn. Staying at a lodge on the rim gives you a head start, allowing you to enjoy the crater floor before the day-trippers arrive.
Mokoro vs. Motorboat: The Delta Explained
TL;DR – Gliding through the Okavango Delta is the ultimate safari reset, but the experience depends on your choice of craft. While motorboats cover distance and find big game, the mokoro offers a silent, eye-level connection with nature. Understanding the seasonal water levels is the key to choosing the right camp for your journey.
Mana Pools: The “Blue Forest” & Standing Elephants
TL;DR – Mana Pools is one of the last truly wild places in Africa. It is famous for its “Blue Forest” light and elephants that stand on their hind legs to reach high branches. A walking safari here removes the barriers between you and nature, providing a raw, quiet escape from the noise of the modern world.
Conservancies vs. National Reserve: Avoiding the Crowds
TL;DR – The Masai Mara National Reserve is world-famous, but during peak season, it can feel like a crowded parking lot. Private conservancies offer the same incredible wildlife with none of the crowds. By staying in a conservancy, you gain exclusive access to off-road driving, night safaris, and walking tours—experiences that are forbidden in the main reserve.
Kibale Forest: The Primate Capital
TL;DR – While gorillas get most of the attention in Uganda, Kibale Forest holds a different kind of magic. With 1,500 chimpanzees, it offers the highest primate density in the world. The “Habituation Experience” allows you to spend a full day following a troop through the canopy, providing a loud, high-energy contrast to the quiet of a gorilla trek.
The Green Season Secret: Why Nov-Mar is the Best Value
TL;DR – Most travelers think the dry winter is the only time for a safari, but the “Green Season” (November to March) is Botswana’s hidden gem. You get fewer crowds, lower prices, and a front-row seat to wildlife births and vibrant landscapes. It is the ultimate way to disconnect and reset without the peak-season rush.
Cape Town Guide: 48 Hours in the Mother City
TL;DR – Cape Town is the ultimate “soft landing” for your African journey. In just 48 hours, you can stand on top of Table Mountain, dine at world-ranked restaurants, and drive one of the most beautiful coastlines on earth. We handle the private drivers and hard-to-get bookings, so you can enjoy the city without the stress of navigating it.
The Skeleton Coast: Flying Over Shipwrecks
TL;DR – The Skeleton Coast is where the Atlantic Ocean swallows the Namib Desert, leaving behind a graveyard of rusted ships and whale bones. A flying safari is the only way to truly see this landscape, taking you from the fog of Swakopmund to the remote Hoanib Valley. It is the ultimate escape for those who want to feel completely disconnected from civilization.
The Birthplace of Walking Safaris: South Luangwa
Walking through the African bush is the ultimate way to slow down and sharpen your senses. South Luangwa is where the walking safari was born, offering a raw connection to nature that you simply can’t get from a vehicle. With expert guides and remote bush camps, it is the most immersive way to reset your mind and body.
The Guides of Zimbabwe: The Hardest License to Get
A safari guide can make or break your entire experience. In Zimbabwe, becoming a professional guide takes up to seven years of intense study and field exams. This rigorous process ensures that your guide isn’t just a driver, but a master of tracking, botany, and safety, giving you the most reaching and secure connection to the wild.
Bazaruto Archipelago: The Pearl of the Indian Ocean in Mozambique
If you want to finish your African journey with total stillness, the Bazaruto Archipelago is the answer. This chain of islands offers towering sand dunes, rare marine life, and a level of privacy that makes the Maldives feel crowded. It is the ultimate “blue reset” where the only schedule is the rise and fall of the tide.
Gorilla Trekking Logistics: Permits, Fitness & Reality
Seeing mountain gorillas is a life-changing event, but where you go matters. Rwanda offers a premium, accessible experience for $1,500, while Uganda provides a more rugged, strenuous trek for $800. Success depends on securing your spot months in advance and choosing the country that matches your physical ability.
The Calving Season: Witnessing 8,000 Births a Day
While river crossings get the headlines, the calving season in February is the Serengeti’s most powerful spectacle. Every single day, about 8,000 wildebeest are born on the southern plains, attracting the world’s top predators. It is a raw, high-energy event that offers a front-row seat to the circle of life in its most vivid form.