So, you think you’re an African safari connoisseur and have seen it all? Well, you’d be surprised! Our continent always has another trick up her sleeve with experiences you could not even have conjured in your wildest dreams. So, let’s get a little extra adventurous!
Africa always surprises, even if you’re an African safari connoisseur
A World of Exclusivity
Africa is huge. So, as you can imagine, there’s a lot to see and do! However, most guests usually tick off those big items on their bucket list first, like going on a game drive to see the Big 5 in Kruger National Park and perhaps stopping in Cape Town to spend time with penguins at Boulders Beach.
However, even if you consider yourself quite the African safari connoisseur, there are those premier activities we like to recommend to our most venturesome guests. Here’s a taste of some of our favourites…
1. Run Through East Africa with a Kenyan
Can you imagine running freely through the savannah with a local as your guide? Kenya is renowned for having some of the fastest runners, so will you keep up?
But even if you prefer trotting to pacing, you’ll love that liberating feeling of moving through Africa’s wild landscapes and spotting its many wildlife residents.
Run wild and free in the wilderness with your local guide, Image Credit: Angama Mara
2. Go on a Walking Safari in Zambia
Running not really your speed? Well, let’s slow things down with a walking safari in Zambia, the birthplace of this exciting activity. What is a walking safari? Well, it’s effectively a game drive on your own two feet!
What we love about walking safaris is that you really notice the little intricacies of nature. Your guide will often point out flora and fauna and share historical and cultural tales of what these species mean to the area.
Lace up your hiking boots for the original up-close-and-personal safari experience, Image Credit: Chiawa Safari
3. Enjoy Breakfast in the Oldest Desert in the World
Visiting the Namib Desert is already an unbelievable experience. However, sipping a coffee in the dunes while you watch the sunrise? That’s out of this world! Pair exhilaration with feeling like you’ve escaped to a different planet and you’ve got a desert breakfast in Sossusvlei, Namibia!
But it’s not all sand, either. The Namib is home to diverse species of desert-adapted wildlife for you to admire.
Watch the sun rising over the Namib Desert
4. Swim in Nature’s Infinity Pool in Zambia
Imagine swimming up to the side of a natural pool and getting to the edge, only to see Victoria Falls gushing in all its magnificence below. That’s what you can do in Zambia! Devil’s Pool is for daredevils who want to see the Falls and get their adrenaline surging.
Please note that this is a seasonal activity, so make sure you plan with our Travel Experts, who can guide you on when’s the best time to visit Zambia.
A daring dip on the edge of Victoria Falls, Image Credit: Livingstone Island
5. Fly over Victoria Falls in a Helicopter
While you’re in the Victoria Falls area, why not experience the “Smoke that Thunders” from a different angle? A thrilling helicopter flight allows you to capture the breathtaking scenery from above. We can already feel butterflies in our stomach just thinking about it!
See the Victoria Falls from a bird’s-eye view, Image Credit: Thorntree River Lodge
6. Go Fly Camping in Tanzania
If you love adventure and an intimate experience with nature, you’ll adore fly camping in Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous National Park) in Tanzania.
Fly camping is all about stripping back the safari experience to get as close as possible to nature by spending the night in a tent along the river’s edge.
Fly camping is one of the best ways to experience Africa
7. Embark on a Luxury Train Trip Through South Africa
All aboard! Travel back in time on a luxurious train like Rovos Rail, fitted with all the bells and whistles, to make your trip a grand affair. With multiple destinations on your rail journey, you can enjoy your fair share of safari stop-overs, but simply watching Africa’s landscapes from the large windows will be one of your favourite ways to spend the day.
We also love that dinners require you to dress in your very best attire, adding to the luxurious feeling of this experience. So, sit back and enjoy the scenery pass by as everything else is taken care of for you.
Excitement builds even before you board the train, Image Credit: Rovos Rail
8. Gallop on Horseback Through Tswalu Private Game Reserve
Tswalu Kalahari Game Reserve is the biggest private game reserve in South Africa, and, boy, it’s packed with fascinating and rare species. With a very distinctive ecosystem and landscapes ranging from red desert, savannah and the Korannaberg mountains, it’s a mesmerising setting.
Although they offer plenty of activities, one of our must-dos includes a horseback safari to get to the level of the wildlife and see everything from their perspective.
Horseback riding safari adventure at Tswalu, Image Credit: Tswalu
9. Sleep in a Tree House in Sabi Sand
Lion Sands offers a “view with a room experience” in a tree house set in the beautiful Sabi Sand. Built off the ground, your home for the night keeps you at a safe distance while having a fully immersive wildlife experience.
Drift away to the sounds of the African nightlife lullaby with a canopy of stars above you. It doesn’t get much more romantic than this!
Can you imagine a more romantic setting? Image Credit: Lion Sands
10. Enjoy a Wine Safari in the Cape Winelands
Who says “safaris” are only for spotting wildlife? Located in the Cape Winelands, you can visit the Waterford Wine Estate in Stellenbosch for a wine safari. Spend a few hours driving through the vineyards on a safari vehicle, tasting their award-winning estate wines right where they originated. You’ll also learn about how each wine is made and what makes it unique to Waterford.
Think you have a refined palette? Why not try your hand at wine blending at Riverhouse at Spier? Here, you’ll learn the art of different cultivars and how they come together to create the perfect medleys.
A different kind of safari, Image Credit: Waterford Wines
11. Quad Bike Across Salt Pans
As the largest collection of salt flats in the world, Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana feels like a different planet! And quad biking through the eerily beautiful landscape is something truly special.
Plus, you can end the night right where you stop, sleeping out in the open under the stars. You haven’t seen a starry night sky until you’ve been here!
Exhilaration in what seems like the middle of nowhere, Image Credit: Jack’s Camp
12. Track Rhinos in KwaZulu-Natal
Seeing a rhino in real life is one thing. But actively playing a part in protecting the species for generations to come? That’s something seriously moving. At Phinda Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, they offer various activities like tracking rhinos on foot, learning more about their anti-poaching efforts at the reserve, as well as lending a hand with their conservation efforts.
And it’s not all about the rhino either – the rare pangolin could grace you with its presence if you’re very lucky.
Tracking rhinos on foot is perfect for the African safari connoisseur, Image Credit: Phinda Private Game Reserve
13. Dine with Giraffes in Kenya
In Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, you’ll find the world-famous Giraffe Manor. A brick-face boutique hotel with a resident tower of endangered Rothschild’s giraffes roaming in the gardens, it’s reminiscent of a fairytale. As you dine by the large windows, enjoy the company of giraffes popping in their heads to see what’s on the menu.
But make sure you book well in advance as this is a hot ticket in Africa, so availability fills up quickly.
Safari connoisseurs will appreciate this, Image Credit: Giraffe Manor
14. Dive with Whale Sharks in Mozambique
Perhaps you’ve already basked on the sun-soaked beaches of Mauritius, Seychelles, and all the other big island names. However, Mozambique is an underrated gem. And not only for catching a tan! Tofo Beach in Mozambique is known for its resident population of whale sharks, and you can swim with them!
Before you start trembling with fear, don’t worry – they’re entirely harmless! You can also see turtles, manta rays, dolphins, the endangered dugong, and many colourful fish.
Dive with whale sharks in Mozambique
15. Live Like a Maasai for a Day
Safaris are not just about appreciating Africa’s vast landscapes and wondrous wildlife. It’s also about connecting with its rich cultures. And if you visit Kenya, you have the opportunity to learn more about how the Maasai communities live.
On this kind of cultural excursion, you’ll be invited into their village, meet families in their hut homes, witness some of their ceremonies, and you can visit their local schools and clinics. It’s an eye-opening way to appreciate the rich cultures that make our continent so special.
The Maasai are known for their bright clothing and jumping dances
Get Your Exclusive VIP Pass to Africa
As you can tell, we know (and love) Africa inside out! If you have our Travel Experts as your guide to Africa, you can rest assured that their first-hand experience and connections will get you into the most exclusive places for top-tier experiences.
Reach out today, and let’s start tailor-making your one-of-a-kind African journey to suit your African safari connoisseur dreams!
