East Africa vs Southern African Safaris: What is the Difference?

Many African countries contain beautiful african safari destinations that offer unforgettable experiences. So, it’s easy to get confused about where to visit when you have limited time. Nevertheless, you can make your decision much faster by grouping your safari options by region, noting their differences, and deciding which is best for you. 

In this article, we’ll help you compare the safaris in the Eastern and Southern Africa regions, so you know which area to focus on. Having traveled to all the safari destinations, we are well-equipped to inform you about the striking differences between safaris in the two African regions.

Let’s dive in. 

East vs South African Safaris at a Glance

This section gives you a quick overview on how East African safaris and South African safaris differ from each other.

	East African Safaris	Southern African Safaris
Location	Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zanzibar Island	Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia
Top Safari Destinations	Masai Mara, Serengeti, Volcanoes National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.	Victoria Falls, Kruger National Park, Chobe National Park, Okavango Delta, Hwange National Park
Best Time to Visit	January – December	April – December
Common Safari Activities	Gorilla trekking, hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro, guided game-viewing, Wildebeest migration, hot-air ballooning, and cultural tours.	Victoria Falls, Big Five viewing, walking safaris, water-based safaris, desert safaris, guided game viewing
Safari Vehicles	Usually closed 4×4 trucks with three-row seats	Usually open-sided 4×4 trucks with tier seats
Accommodation	Mostly tented camps and budget-friendly lodges	Mostly luxury lodges

Differences Between East and South African Safaris 

1. Location

East African safaris are located in the Eastern region of Africa, and are found in countries like Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Some East African islands like Zanzibar and Seychelles also offer safari experiences. 

South African safaris refer to game-viewing tours based in the southern region of Africa. The best locations for South African safaris are Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi, South Africa and Botswana. 

2. Landscape

Due to the impact of the tectonic plates that produced the Great East African Rift, the overarching terrains in East Africa are wide and open plains. This makes the parks suitable for viewing wild animals across different seasons. 

East African parks also boast a high density of wildlife, beautiful scenery, and prestigious landmarks. The two tallest mountains in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Mount Kenya, are located in this region. Lake Victoria, the second freshwater lake in the world, is also in East Africa. 

Unlike East Africa, the landscape in Southern African safari destinations is diverse. Some game viewing parks are forests and grasslands, while others have a desert-like appearance. You’ll also find mountainous regions, coastal areas, and savannahs in South Africa. 

3. Climate

You would expect that the dominant climate in East Africa is humid, just like the rest of the continent. But contrary to popular belief, East Africa often stays cool and dry for most of the year. 

We attribute this low temperature to the Great East African Rift valleys. Most areas near mountains experience heavy rainfall frequently, resulting in prevalent cool weather throughout the year. 

Owing to the diverse landscape structures in Southern Africa, there are varying climatic conditions across different safari parks in the region.

 The weather in the western part of South Africa is fairly cool. However, the temperature rises as you move towards the north. 

Determine which area you want to visit and pack your luggage accordingly. 

4. Best Time of the Year to Visit

First, here’s a table stating the best time to visit African safaris for common safari activities:

	East African Safaris	South African Safaris
Wildebeest Migration	December – July (Serengeti)August – November (Masai Mara)	N/A
Gorilla Trekking	June-Sept, Dec – Feb	N/A
Victoria Falls	N/A	March – July (High-water season)September – January (Low-water season)
Peak safari season	June – October, Dec – Feb	May – September
Low safari season	March – May	January – March

Best Time for East African Safari

East Africa offers superb game-viewing throughout the year. 

But of all the seasons in the year, the safaris held during the short rains (November to December) are the most enjoyable. The rains only last for short periods, and they cool down the environment, making it more comfortable for Western tourists.

 The short-rain season also provides other benefits. These include:

• It promotes the growth of grass, providing sufficient cover for animals hiding from their predators. This encourages them to come out in the open. 
• It clears the air of dust. 
• The rains fill nearby rivers, drawing different thirsty animals to the riverfront. 

Best Time for South African Safaris

The best time to visit South African safaris is in the dry season, which, for this region, falls between May to October. Wildlife is easier to track around this time because they often stick to rivers and lakes to maintain their water supply. In addition, few people get malaria in the dry season.

Another great time to explore safaris in Southern Africa is between November and April. The clear daytime weather usually lasts long enough for game viewing, before short thunderstorms begin exploding at noon. Birds also flock to the park around this time, making it an excellent time for birdwatching.

Best African Safari Destinations in East vs South Africa

East Africa

African Safari Destinations in Tanzania

1. Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti National Park contains the Big Five predators in large numbers: 1000 leopards, 4000 lions, and 7000 elephants —to name a few. The majority of the Wildebeest Migration also occurs in this park. You can either watch the animals by walking along the Serengeti plains or get a bird’s eye view of the area from a hot air balloon. 

2. Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater was created when a volcano erupted about 3 million years ago. Today, it is the largest volcanic caldera in the world. 

Although the Ngorongoro Crater is often praised for its diverse landscape of lakes, a forest, and a savannah, what makes the area a perfect safari destination are its resident 25,000 animals. The crater is also one of the most reliable locations to view the Big Five throughout the year. 

3. Lake Manyara National Park

Despite its small size, Lake Manyara National Park offers a varied distribution of animals, with birds being the most common inhabitants in the park. The nearby Lake Manyara attracts different types of aquatic birds, who often fly to the park after drinking from the lake. This park is also one of the few places in the world where you can spot tree-climbing lions located Arusha Tanzania. 

4. Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park is a beautiful park located on the northern safari route. It boasts spectacular trees and large herds of elephants. These elephants often hang out at the Tarangire River, which covers the majority of the northern side of the park. 

The south of the park is filled with wetlands and swamps that serve as the habitat of other wild animals like giraffes and impalas. 

5. Ruaha National Park

Ruaha National Park is one of the few safari destinations located in the southern part of Tanzania. It has an enormous area with a varied landscape consisting of mountains, a savannah, and a river that attracts thousands of wild animals.

 Thanks to this river, you’ll be able to spot rare animals like wild dogs, kudus, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, and Boho reedbucks.

6. Nyerere National Park

The Nyerere National Park, formerly Selous Game Reserve, is Africa’s largest national park. The majority of the wilderness in the park is dominated by the Big 5 and their prey.

 The most famous structure in Nyerere National Park is the mighty Rufiji River, which flows into the Indian Ocean and boasts large herds of rhinos and hippos. 

African Safari Destinations in Kenya

1. Masai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara National Reserve is a haven for the Big 5 — Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo, Rhinoceros— and other animals like cheetahs, hyenas, and giraffes. The best time to visit this park is between July and November, when the Wildebeest Migration occurs in the area. 

Staying close to Masai Mara will also help you access additional activities like night game drives, bush walks, and off-road game viewing.

2. Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park is a series of perennial wetlands located beneath the mighty Mount Kilimanjaro. This park is renowned for its massive herds of elephants and beautiful backdrops. Imagine taking a picture of rare wildlife against Mount Kili… wouldn’t that be such a gorgeous image?

3. Samburu National Reserve

Samburu National Reserve is a rocky desert park located in the northern area of Kenya. Having existed as the traditional residence of the Samburu people for over 600 years, this reserve is a permanent sanctuary for endangered animals like the Beisa oryx and the Somali ostrich. You can watch these wild animals while riding a camelback.

4. Laikipia Wilderness

One of the less crowded safaris on this list is Laikipia Wilderness. Despite being touted as the center for wildlife conservation in Kenya, this county has surprisingly low visitor numbers. The good news is that you can always book a safari at the park, even on late notice. 

The common animals at Laikipia Wilderness are the black and white rhinoceros, hippo, antelope, warthog, and Grevy’s zebra. Visit the wilderness with your family to explore the available camps and lodges to the fullest. 

African Safari Destinations in Rwanda

1. Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is home to the rare mountain gorilla, the golden monkey, and 200 bird species. We recommend booking the gorilla trekking tour, where you will walk through the bamboo-covered slopes to meet the family of mountain gorillas in the park. You can also try special activities like biking, hiking, and canoeing. 

African Safari Destinations in Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a beautiful forest known for housing nearly half of the mountain gorilla population in the world. It also boasts the largest variation of tree species in the world. Due to the diverse flora population in the forest, the park often attracts many distinct types of butterflies. 

Southern African Safaris

Safari Destinations in Botswana

1. Chobe National Park

Chobe National Park is the largest elephant kingdom in Southern Africa. If you visit the Chobe park in the dry season (May to October), you’ll find multiple herds of elephants hanging around the Chobe Riverfront. Apart from the elephants, there are over 100,000 wild animals that hang around the park. 

2. Okavango Delta

Popularly believed to be the world’s largest inland delta, the Okavango Delta safaris are conducted on a mokoro, or dug-out canoe. In the inland delta, you’ll find an array of large mammals, such as cheetahs, lions, rhinos, and wild dogs. The diverse habitats in this park also contain 64 reptiles, 89 fish, 482 birds, and 106 plant species. 

3. Kalahari Desert

The Kalahari Desert is the homeland of the first African people in the world, the San. If you visit this desert, you should meet the San people and learn about their history. 

Another highlight of the Kalahari Desert is the zebra migration, which takes place between January and March. Ditch the usual walking safari and explore this scrubland on a quad bike. 

Safari Destinations in South Africa

1. Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park boasts the most diverse wildlife population in South Africa. It offers guaranteed encounters with the cheetah and endangered wild dog. To cap it all, the iconic Big Five predators (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo) are known to lounge frequently on the premises of the park. 

African Safari Destinations in Zimbabwe

1. Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is a must-see for anyone visiting the Southern African region. Apart from being the largest waterfall in the world, it is surrounded by massive gorges that are worth an up-close look. The appeal of Victoria Falls differs depending on the time you visit the site. 

If you tour the waterfall between March and July, you’ll be able to see the water flowing at its peak and rushing at breakneck speed. 

But if you visit Victoria Falls between August and December, the waterfall would have lost a lot of volume. This makes the area around the waterfall suitable for activities like white-water rafting, bungee jumping, and zip lining. You can also dive into the rushing Devil’s Pool for a thrilling swim. 

2. Hwange National Park

Hwange National Park measures about ten times the size of London and houses nearly 60,000 elephants. For this reason, the park is called the land of giants. 

Hwange delivers the best safari experience in the dry season, usually from May to October. Due to the absence of rain, many animals gather around the shallow water holes in the park to quench their thirst. 

3. Mana Pools

Mana Pools makes this list because of its alluring beauty and distinct combo of grasslands, forests, and rivers. The stunning look of this site won an appearance in Painted Wolves, a story in the famous BBC show Dynasties. The activities available at Mana Pools are nature walks, game drives, fishing, boating, and kayaking. 

African Safari Destinations in Namibia

1. Etosha National Park 

The Etosha National Park is said to be a paradise, thanks to its large plains, good roads, and the presence of Big 5 predators. This site is home to all but one of the Big 5, the Cape Buffalo. Other wild animals, like giraffes and cheetahs, also strut around the park. 

Namibia’s dry season (between May and October) is a great time to catch these animals, as they often gather in large numbers around the water holes in the Etosha Pan. 

2. Sossusvlei 

Sossusvlei is one of the most spectacular attractions in Namibia. The desert earns this title from the giant white and red sand dunes surrounding the environment. These dunes are said to be the highest in the world, and they always deliver beautiful backdrops from every angle. 

Don’t leave Sossusvlei without checking out Deadvlei, a dead marsh characterized by a white pan floor and pitch-black camel thorn trees. 

Capture the contrast between the contrast between the bleached-white floor and the black trees for a museum-worthy photo. Before you leave the desert, climb up Big Daddy or Dune 45, the tallest sand dunes, and experience the sunset from an astounding height. 

African Safari Destinations in Zambia

1. South Luangwa National Park

One of the surest ways to create a spectacular African safari is to visit South Luangwa National Park. South Luangwa National Park is the first walking safari in Africa. Despite having existed since 1938, the park is still in excellent condition. The lakes, rivers, and forest surrounding South Luangwa are highly dense, with big game like hippos, lions, and elephants. 

2. Lower Zambezi River

Lining the mighty Zambezi River, the Lower Zambezi National Park offers a beautiful mountain backdrop and riverside scenery. Large animals like buffalo, hippos, and elephants surround the floodplains, making for excellent game viewing.

Although you can walk the plains to view the wildlife, a more exciting idea is to book a canoe safari and watch them from the river. The vantage point of the canoe provides an up-close look at the big game in the area. 

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February 7, 2024