What is being “at peace”? A series of gentle-but-fleeting impressions or experiences that linger to make a lasting, more integrated, whole? Quietly sharing a special moment with family, wife, husband, partner, parent?  Being able to spend time doing what you wish in an environment that takes one back to one’s evolutionary roots? How and where to find “Peace” is, of course, a variable feast for all of us with a million-and-one possibilities but a luxury African holiday can provide this sought after, overlooked and (regrettably) often-ephemeral spiritual commodity.

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And, then, how to define luxury?!? To me, as I sit writing this, it would be luxury to just be in the bush; flycamping in Katavi or, perhaps, at Sosian knowing the camels are safely “done” for the night. Or to sit and watch Wild Dog for an hour that might stretch to several. Cantering down a sandy track in South Africa or (yes, I know, off subject on an African website but why not?) to be camped by a river in Canada with the call of the loon and wolf nearby are also, to me, simple, effervescent, life-enhancing luxuries. Thus, to myself (I hear my colleague, the wonderful Hashim, agreeing) the “luxury” is obtained from the experience per se rather than the accoutrements of where I stay. Again this is (and can only be) a highly personal opinion and I fully accept that, to many, “luxury” is Egyptian cotton sheets and towels in the middle of the bush or champagne for sundowners. Make no mistake about my own motives here, either, I’d say “Why not, indeed!” to such luxury and I certainly wouldn’t turn it down; we all have differing ideas and I have no axe to grind at all with whatever your own definition of “luxury” may be. But I do think that there is a peace that comes from being somewhere you really want to be, in an environment with which you connect, that gives you an inner feeling of luxurious satisfaction that is common to all these experiences.

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There’s a point to these musings and I’m not going to even elaborate here on excellent food, great guiding (crucial) or super-comfortable beds in huge en suite tents in the most extraordinarily lovely locations, let alone stunning wildlife. That’s for other blogs and my point is this: I often get asked – sometimes in roundabout ways – to create a “luxury” African holiday.

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But we know that luxury is different things to different people so, in order to do my duty to you, oh esteemed client, I need to know who you are! What makes you tick? What is it about Africa that entices you – perhaps for the second, third or fourth time? Can I empathise with your own feelings, desires and passions so that I can create exactly the right safari or holiday for you, with all the right nuances? For this, to me, is another luxury; in the process of creating exactly the right balance within a holiday I have the privilege of conversing with (and, sometimes, getting to know rather well) a wide range of very special, often talented, individuals. Most have skills I can only dream of and all are totally different yet have a single unifying desire: to go to Africa. What a luxury…….

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This is a big subject but, on balance, if one had to choose one’s best African safari it would probably be to the south of Tanzania which is, in effect, one vast eco system.

This broad swathe of Africa encompasses the huge Selous Game Reserve which, at some 55,000 sq. kms., is the size of Ireland and one the largest reserves in Africa. The Selous’ eastern border lies on Tanzania’s Indian Ocean coastline but the whole ecosystem then runs westards to include Katavi NP and then the tiny Mahale which lies on Tanzania’s western boundary on lake Tanganyika. This whole area remains virtually unvisited due to distance (and therefore cost) but is, essentially, a superb area for a safari as it is the absolute essence of the bush condensed into a luxury Tanzanian safari.

I would start in the Selous which is, simply,  primaeval.  Mainly a riverine environment surrounding the Rufiji River and its environs and not “game rich” like, say, the Serengeti the Selous offers a glimpse into an area that is  unspoiled wilderness whilst having adequate and exciting game viewing opportunities> Ther are also a range of activities such as game drives, river safaris, walking and flycamping and some really great camps.

Sand Rivers Selous - Best African Safari With African Explorations.com

After at least four days in the Selous our finest African safari would fly westward to Katavi NP.  Katavi is heaven! Here is wilderness that excited the first explorers and, situated in the mid south west of Tanzania, it is (and feels) utterly remote. Another sub-ecosystem that is based on a river – the Ruaha – which runs through the Park, the walking is superb as is the mix of eastern and southern African species. Katavi’s pristine wilderness is home to spectacular pods of hippo and huge herds of buffalo. Add to this mix a genuine, remote, yet excellent bushcamp with the best guiding possible makes Katavi a “must”!

Chada Katavi tent exterior - Best African Safari With African Explorations.com

Finally, only a short light aircraft flight from Katavi, we’d end our “best safari” with an eclectic, lovely, camp set right on the shores of Lake Tanganyika – the second deepest lake in the world. With the verdant Mahale Mountains as backdrop, Mahale is a wonderful, remote (again! Perfect!), “bush and beach” location to end a safari. Mahale is a tiny park by African standards and yet this is one of the few places for genuine viewing of habituated chimpanzees, one of man’s closest relatives.

Mahale - Greystoke Camp - Best African Safari With AfricanExplorations.com

Mahale - Chimps and Beach - Best African Safari With AfricanExplorations.com

It’s a long 4 hour flight from here back to “civilisation” but, surely, this must be a serious contender for the title “best African safari”!

The ‘Big Five’ and the other lesser known – but just as important! – ‘Little Five’ are words synonymous with a safari to Africa. The Big Five are Buffalo, Lion, Elephant, Leopard and Rhino and can be found together in many national parks, game reserves and privately owned conservancies in Southern and Eastern Africa. In South Africa the best known park is, of course, the Kruger National Park. Nearly two million hectares in extent, the Kruger was gazetted in 1898 to protect the South African lowveld wildlife. A plethora of environmental techniques and policies makes the region an ongoing conservation success. There are also privately owned reserves contiguous with the Kruger which feature beautiful and often luxurious safari lodges and camps. Such areas include the well known Sabi Sands where seeing a huge variety of animals is almost guaranteed on an African Big Five Safari.

Elephants on the Chobe - African Big Five Safari With AfricanExplorations.com

Many of these properties accommodate children and offer specialist children’s programs, so an African Big Five Safari is not just for adults! Children’s guides keep children happy and enthralled, including trying to find the ‘Little Five’: buffalo weaver, elephant shrew, leopard tortoise, ant lion and rhino beetle as well as tracking and identifying animals, birds, and insects. Children are kept occupied for hours with short bush walks and spotting “creepy crawlies”, whilst other staff might teach them how to bake animal-themed cookies in the camp’s bush oven (for everyone’s afternoon tea!) whilst adults are busy on a game drive.

For those who like ‘lists’, how about the ‘Birding Six’? These include Ground Hornbill, Kori Bustard, Lappet-faced Vulture, Martial Eagle, Pel’s fishing Owl and Saddle-bill Stork. And then there are the “Little Six Antelope”: Grey Duiker, Sharpe’s Grysbok, Steenbok, Klipspringer, Livingstone Suni and Oribi.

The Rare Pels Fishing Owl - African Big Five Safari With AfricanExplorations.com

An African Big Five Safari is, surely, only possible on land? Not so! For those with a love of the sea and who visit South Africa’s gorgeous coastline there is also the ‘Marine Big Five’ which includes the Southern Right Whale, Cape Fur Seal, common Dolphin, Great White Shark and African Penguin. The best time for whale watching in South Africa is between July and November; several places on the Garden Route feature marine activities although the Walker Bay/Hermanus region is especially well known for easy access to marine wildlife with excellent guiding.

Cape Fur Seal - African Big Five Safari With AfricanExplorations.com

Funnily enough, Botswana is no longer a country that one associates with walking safaris. There used to be an amazing walking safari offered over 3 days  about twenty years ago, but for whatever the reason, the market decided it preferred to get around in vehicles!

Botswana Walking Safari with AfricanExplorations.com

However – I am happy to say that a friend of mine offers a combination of walking and/or riding safaris in a truly lovely area of Botswana – and it has what I would term as ‘gentle’  wildlife – mainly plains game etc, but when one is on the back of a horse or indeed on foot, sometimes its quite a nice thought that nothing is going to eat you!For those hardier types, there is now the possibility to have a walking safari again in the Okavango Delta on the border of Moremi – which is all about sensational game viewing. You are accompanied by some of Botswana’s finest guides, though  and the experience is nothing short of thrilling!

Botswana Walking safari with African Explorations.com

I far prefer to view game on foot – one’s senses are more accute and one learns so much more too! Everything is taken in at a gentler, slower pace and there is no noise or pollution.

For a Botswana Walking Safari, do contact us as we are walking specialists for Africa!

An African Trekking Safari would otherwise be known as a walking safari. These in my opinion are some of the finest ways of being on safari! On foot – one’s senses are heightened and one learns so much more – such as the medicinal properties of trees and plants, how to read the prints (or spoormarks) in the sand, which animals they are, which direction they are heading (pretty important!), as well as learning to walk downwind whilst keeping pace with an elephant herd!

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One also learns all about the insects and butterflies and the ecological role of the dung beetle – so many things and all so fascinating and vital to the continuation of this extraordinary continent!

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We offer walking safaris on the outskirts of the Masai Mara and in the Laikipia region of Kenya, in southern, western and Northern Tanzania, in Namibia and South Africa.  There is also walking on Mount Kenya. We have the most comprehensive range of walking safaris in Africa – contact us for specialist knowledge!

One of the best ways in my opinion of going on safari, is by foot. Not only does one learn so much, such as the medicinal purposes of plants and trees, but one can also spend time viewing birdlife, learning about the ecology of the environment, how intricate and fragile it all is, and how inter-dependant all species are – especially insects! Entymology is fascinating – and if one travels at the right time of year when the insects and butterflies are hatching, then it is so rewarding! However – one still does see big game on foot and there is nothing quite like walking downwind of a herd of elephant – it is such a privileged experience!

Kenya Walking Safari with AfricanExplorations.com

One can walk at most camps and lodges as part of a safari experience – but a true Kenya Walking Safari really can take place in the Loita Hills on the borders of the Masai Mara and also on Mount Kenya where one can walk for seven days around the circumference of the mountain.

Kenya Walking Safaris with AfricanExplorations.com

Either way, it is a completely quiet and exhilarating way of being on safari, in complete privacy with just yourself and/or your party and your guide and crew – and a wonderful way to see wildlife, learn about the flora and to glean knowledge!

We also offer camel assisted walking safaris in the Laikipia plateau and the Matthews range from three days to two weeks!

Contact us now for the very best walking safaris in Kenya!