Best Luxury African Safari Vacations For You

Looking out across the plains you watch the zebra, hundreds ambling past. Deep in a forest you track elephants bulldozing new paths, such ferocity, such beauty. At a waterhole you see lions prowl, buffalo looking uncomfortable nearby. The best luxury African safari is not defined by lavish riches and opulence. Instead, it offers authentic and intimate experiences with the wildest wildlife on the planet.

Luxury is the wildlife experience. Getting closer, seeing more, feeling the rhythm of the wild, tuning all five senses into the animals’ world – it is this pleasure that defines the best luxury African safari. You can have decadent accommodation anywhere in the world, but there are only a handful of wildernesses where you come face to face with the true majesty of nature. Unfiltered, untamed, unbelievable to behold, unforgettable on so many levels.

elephants walking across a river on a Botswana luxury safari — Journeys on land and water

a beautiful Botswana safari lodge — Find your place of serenity

The Best Luxury African Safari

Lionesses creep through the dawn mist. You hear them, you smell them, you see them. Now they are barely five meters away. Goosebumps rise along your arms. Serenity rushes through your soul. It’s not just the lions – anyone can look at a photo or go to the zoo – it’s the sense of privilege, being witness to great predators roaming their pwn lands. A lionesses looks up at you, curious. Time seems to stand still. So much has happened yet only a few seconds have passed. Then the lions disappear into the grass and you move on, onto another of the hundreds, thousands, of raw wildlife scenes you will encounter today.

Many people define luxury safaris by where you stay. Plunge pools, honeymoon suites, elegant décor, splendor and a spa. We prefer to think of luxury as where you go and what you get to experience. It’s not everyday you go on safari and it’s not everywhere you enjoy such authentic wildlife encounters. At Heritage Africa we believe that planning the best luxury African safari means planning the best experiences with wildlife. We want to show you animals that are truly, wild on lands that have always been wild.

11 LUXURY AFRICAN SAFARIS THAT STIR THE SOUL

Traveling silently through Okavango Delta channels in a traditional mokoro canoe, a local gondolier keeping you a safe distance from the hippos.
A mobile camping safari on the Serengeti grasslands, grazing herds extending to the horizon in all directions.
Following leopards at night in the Greater Kruger, such elegance to the rosette-patterned hunter.
Being completely surrounded by elephants in the Chobe, babies swinging their trunks with abandon as mothers proudly look on.
Explore the smaller, lesser-known stories of the savannah, such as jackals stealing scraps from gluttonous lions.
Looking over a waterhole and admiring the procession of nomads, who gets to drink next decided by size and power.
Walking across the Samburu with Samburu warriors, giant mammals all around yet a sense of tranquility and security.
Comparing white and black rhinos in the same concession, not just their size but their distinctive characteristics and behaviors.
Being immersed in a dramatic battle between predator and prey, wanting the hunt to be successful but moved by the fear of the hunted.
Drifting to sleep only to be woken by lions roaring from a distance and elephants blowing their trumpets.
Drifting over the Masai Mara on a Kenya balloon safari, then touching down to a champagne breakfast picnic.

Where to Go for the Best Luxury African Safari

The larger the wilderness the greater the free movement of wildlife. That’s a good place to start when you’re planning the best luxury African safari. More space often means more animals as well, although the great wildernesses are seasonal so you won’t see wildlife everywhere in the national parks. There are hundreds of potential destinations, most of them promising a luxury African safari. But there’s an enormous difference between a 10 square kilometer fenced reserve and a wilderness stretching for 20,000 square kilometers or more. Some of the best safari wildernesses are bigger than countries. And you really do get lost in them without a good guide.

Habitat is the next consideration when planning where to go. All mammals are different. Some can only survive in certain habitats, while others have mastered survival in contrasting ecosystems. Elephants mostly feed from trees but they’ve adapted to harsh conditions. You can encounter them all across Africa but it’s only in and around woodland where you experience the great elephant populations. Then again, spend all your time in marula woodland or mopane forest and you may be surrounded by elephants and giraffe, but will miss out on all the animals of the savannah.

I like animals. I like natural history. The travel bit is not the important bit. The travel bit is what you have to do in order to go look at animals.

–Sir David Attenborough

The best luxury African safari celebrates diversity and avoids the crowds. By combining large wildernesses you explore a multitude of habitats, each with its nuance and inimitable beauty. Rather than seeing one of each animal in the same place (like in a zoo) you come to understand the behavior and characteristics of great animal populations: how the antelope are always on the move, how leopards protect their range, how hyenas have complex social relationships with their rivals.

We individualize every safari itinerary, combining unfenced private concessions with the best areas within national parks, often sprinkling in one of the unheralded gems we’ve been enjoying for over a quarter century. Private concessions and national parks offer a very different experience, even if they are the same habitat – this article tells you more. And where are these great safari places? We don’t like to prescribe itineraries, preferring to understand a little more about you and your aspirations first. To get started we direct you to our insider guides to the four best African safari countries – South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania and Kenya.

9 IDEAS FOR THE BEST LUXURY SAFARI SOUTH AFRICA

Celebrate the diverse wonder of an African safari with a multi-day stay in Phinda.
Slip into a private plunge pool and watch elephants rumble past – Londolozi just one place where this is possible.
Spend the evening on a game drive, looking for leopards beneath the cloud of moonlight.
Escape to a private concession within Kruger National Park, Singita Lebombo and Singita Sweni two of South Africa’s most iconic properties.
Start your safari in the Sabi Sands, Mala Mala a premium destination for first-time experiences on the African savannah.
Live out a South Africa and Botswana safari, the destinations easily connected but the wildernesses completely different.
Luxury is the intimate wildlife encounters and we love bush walks in the Kruger, chance to get really close to zebra, giraffe, buffalo and other wildlife.
Continue a luxury safari South Africa with a few days in Cape Town, beneath the shadow of Table Mountain.
Relax – South Africa knows how to make everyone unwind.

Boy do we know how much you spoiled us…Did this glorious trip really happen? We can not ever thank you enough.

-Luci Johnson, daughter of the 36th US President

THE BEST BOTSWANA LUXURY SAFARIS – 9 SOURCES OF INSPIRATION

We really had the trip of a lifetime and I can’t thank you enough for making it all happen.

-Michele and Steve Klausner, New York

11 TANZANIA LUXURY SAFARI IDEAS

Escape the world and immerse yourself in the wildlife of Ruaha National Park.
Gaze over world-famous grasslands in Singita Grumeti Reserve, then surround yourself with a 20,000-strong zebra herd.
Lake Manyara and Tarangire always reveal themselves to be ideal places for starting a Tanzania luxury safari adventure.
Drift off to the sound of distant lions then wake up to herds of Thomson’s gazelle grazing around your canvas suite.
In Selous Game Reserve you can combine a range of safari activities, building a very rounded impression of a rare wildlife realm.
A balloon safari – shake your head at the scale of Tanzania’s wilderness then touch down to a champagne breakfast.
Make it a luxury Tanzania and Kenya safari by combining Ngorongoro and Serengeti with the Masai Mara and beyond.
Wildebeest, wildebeest, wildebeest – over a million of them carpet the Serengeti and that’s an experience you can’t imagine before the safari.
Descend into the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, where six ecosystems and 30,000 diverse mammals play out a scene of Eden in Ngorongoro.
Explore the vibrant, perpetual battles between predators and prey, Tanzania being so good for finding big cats on the prowl.
Combine big-game safari with another East African legend, gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

One of my most wonderful trips…unforgettable time, friends, hosts, memories and a wealth of beautiful people

-A. Kostapapas, Mansfield, Connecticut

PLAN A KENYA LUXURY SAFARI – 9 PLACES TO GO

The Masai Mara – look beyond the Mara River to private Mara Concessions, where wildlife experiences are far more personal.
Amboseli – oh elephants, how do you look so majestic beneath Mount Kilimanjaro?
Walking safaris feel all the more special when you’re walking with Samburu warrior guides.
Black rhinos and white rhinos share the same landscape in the wonderfully redolent Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
Road journeys are arduous but internal flights are a delight, helping to maximize your time on safari.
Cheetahs and lions thrive in destinations across Kenya, luxury found in the authenticity of these big cat encounters.
Hot air balloon above the Mara – the definitive activity on a Kenya luxury safari.
Make it a Kenya and Tanzania safari by crossing from the Masai Mara to the Serengeti, following the route of the great wildebeest migration.
Luxury emanates from the Laikipea Plateau conservancies – outstanding service, contemporary elegance and so much wildlife all around.

Thank you for your excellent service in planning our trip. We had a wonderful time. You did everything perfectly. We would highly recommend you.

-Teresa Riddle, Los Angeles

The Best Luxury African Safari Is Customized to You

Individualization doesn’t just involve where to go and where to stay. It’s about what you do. The best luxury African safari must reciprocate your interests and energy levels. It should respond to the wildlife and the encounters you are most interested in. It should help you follow passions, photography just one example, cheetahs and migratory herds two others. As the itinerary is customized you can satisfy a fascination for a certain scene, realizing that true luxury is a pleasure obtained only rarely.

Most of the best luxury African safaris involve a personal safari program, but the activities are shared with other guests at the camp or lodge. Usually that’s four to six people in a vehicle, and a similar amount on a walking safari. Cheaper safaris are in larger groups or have a less flexible program. This page compares the costs of different safari styles and what is included. It’s a good place for understanding how much of your dream safari is possible.

Upgrade to a Private Safari

Private safaris take the customization to a new level, giving you an exclusive guide and vehicle. Spotting a black rhino in the wild has been a dream for over a decade; the guide arranges the drive accordingly. Your husband has always been fascinated by different antelope; a tailored game walk brings intimate encounters. The last few days have been tiring; drive to a picnic above a waterhole. It’s the final day on safari and you’re desperate to see a hunt; trackers leave before dawn and radio in potential locations for the morning drive. That’s a private safari, luxury elevated.

5 LUXURY SAFARI ACTIVITIES TO EXCITE THE IMAGINATION

The wilderness changes after dark – so head out on a nighttime game drive.
Wildlife looks far bigger when you’re standing on ground level – so incorporate a walking safari into the itinerary.
Animals must always come to drink – tuck yourself away at a photography hide by a waterhole.
Antelope and zebra herds tend to run from vehicles – approach them on a riding safari, mountain bike and horseback both being options.
It’s a long way to a wilderness where wildlife thrives – swap the arduous overland journey for a micro flight, maximizing your time on the ground.

Diversifying Your Luxury Safari Experience

Picture the scene. You’re driving across the savannah, coming alongside a herd of female buffalo. There must be a hundred of them and you’re close enough to hear their breathing, above the noise of the vehicle. Now imagine such a scene if you’re on foot, looking up and across at these giants. Diversifying the safari doesn’t just concern where you go. It’s about what you do. And that’s part of the big jump in price between different safaris. Budget or mid-range options involve group tours sticking to daytime game drives and set programs. The best luxury African safari is one that is personalized to you. And that can be an entire world of possibility.

So many new activities become possible when you pay more. Why not game drive at midnight, in search of a caracal or a photo of elephants bathed in moonlight? Why rest at the lodge when there are rhinos to find and picnic spots on remote plateaus? Why not try a horse riding safari? And why should we spoil the surprise by telling you all the little extras that are possible on the best luxury African safari? Talk to us about specific interests or celebrations. Tell us about exactly what you’d like to do on safari. We know the destinations and lodges where it all becomes possible.

This Isn’t Just Any Vacation

We think that the best luxury African safari is beyond once in a lifetime. It’s not just a vacation. Gaze at a zebra herd and you first see black and white stripes; refocus and there are innumerable micro scenes taking place. You can be engrossed in yawning hippos, oblivious to hyenas roaming behind the vehicle. Every hunt can be watched through the eyes of predator or prey, elegance and patience and skill, versus fearful eyes and an emotional tension that’s felt as much as observed.

Even in the same place on the same day, the safari will be different for everyone. And this is what makes it the best luxury African safari for you. Nature’s theater is the setting and it’s always your safari, your individual experiences with the best of the wildlife in wild Africa. In Africa you are always discovering something raw and unscripted, something that can’t be repeated because it is always evolving.

On an authentic African safari you’ll learn how luxury is created by this unfiltered connection to the natural world. Most will say it’s the trip of a lifetime. But you can only say that after following your dreams and coming on safari in Africa.

Planning Your African Safari

We aim to provide detailed unbiased information all across our website. We have definitive country safari guides for Botswana, Tanzania, South Africa and Kenya. Our planning articles cover key considerations such as cost, when to go, what to do and where to go.

Ultimately, the best luxury African safari starts with you. Your interests, passions and dreams. Those ideas that stir your soul and make you think wistfully of the African savannah. By understanding you, we can start putting together a luxury safari that can feel like once in many a lifetime.