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.
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
TL;DR – 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
TL;DR – 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
TL;DR – 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
TL;DR – 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
TL;DR – 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.