![]() ![]() ![]() Elsewhere, wildlife is pretty difficult to track down, but you could combine wildlife with other attractions – the shipwrecks and seal colonies along the Skeleton Coast, time spent with the Himba in the country’s north, and the sand dunes of Sossusvlei. For wildlife, Etosha National Park is simply wonderful and has excellent infrastructure, while the intimacy of wildlife-rich private reserves such as Okonjima and Erindi are ideal for first timers. Like South Africa, many prices are aimed at the domestic (and South African) market, which makes them good value. Often marketed as ‘Africa for Beginners’, Namibia is a fine choice for your first African journey. If you stick to South Africa’s parks and abundant private reserves, you’ll greatly reduce your risk of experiencing any problems. Most visitors never encounter any difficulties, but there’s no denying security can be an issue in South Africa, particularly in urban areas. The only reason why many first-time travellers might hesitate before flying into Johannesburg is the country’s reputation for crime. South Africa’s safari operators, car rental companies and other service providers also rank among the most professional on the continent. As for Kruger, so, too, for most of the rest of the country. The infrastructure is also excellent – the main roads are paved, there’s well-run accommodation across a range of budgets, and it’s very easy to get around. The Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) are present in large numbers as are all manner of different mammal species, plus brilliant birdlife. Kruger National Park is a terrific place to get acquainted with Africa’s wildlife. Many of the safari offerings are also priced for the domestic market, which makes them some of the best value options on the continent. South Africa can be a good introduction to the African safari, not least because it allows you to combine watching wildlife with more sedate pleasures, such as wineries and Cape Town urban cool. Kruger National Park is almost 20,000 sq km in size and offers incredible Big Five encounters © Michael Heffernan / Lonely Planet South Africa Flying from one park to the next makes better use of your time, although it does cost more. And spend as little time as possible on Kenya’s roads, both because the combination of distance and traffic means you can take forever to arrive, and to minimise your risk of accidents. Stay long enough to visit Nairobi National Park – an extraordinarily well-stocked park on the cusp of one of Africa’s largest cities – and then move on. Most travellers pass through without difficulty, but the city is a robust introduction to the continent with endless traffic snarls and questionable security in some quarters. Extend your stay by a week and you could even scale Mt Kenya, Africa’s second-highest peak. ![]() Any combination of these parks should ensure ample sightings of big cats, plenty of elephants, a few rhinos, and all of the plains game, such as buffaloes, giraffes, zebras and all manner of gazelle and antelope species. The main safari circuit takes in the Masai Mara, Amboseli and Lake Nakuru, with Tsavo West, Tsavo East and Samburu popular add-ons. Kenya’s wildlife offering is also outstanding. ![]() The annual wildebeest migration is a huge draw for visitors to the Serengeti and Masai Mara © David Lazar / Getty Images ![]()
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