Where is the best place for a safari – East or Southern Africa?

Thousands upon thousands of hooves thunder across the open savannah plains as the wildebeest mega-herds search for greener pastures; a desert turns into a watery playground where elephants swim in lagoons and African wild dog packs hunt on grassy islands; dormant volcanoes covered in emerald-green forests are home to the world’s most endangered primate species. All of these completely different sights, sounds and scenes (and so many more) are found on just one spectacular continent – Africa.

Things seem to change before your eyes as you journey through Africa, becoming immersed in diverse landscapes and encountering fascinating wildlife and rich cultural heritage. The two main safari regions are East Africa and Southern Africa, and each holds its own unique natural and cultural treasures. Until you know what these key differences are, and which are most appealing to you, choosing where to go on safari is an almost impossible task.

These are the three most important comparisons that will get you started on thinking about which region is going to be the perfect safari match for you!

Landscape and climate

East Africa is made up of Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, although some people consider the latter three as Central Africa. The region has magnificent landscapes such as Kenya’s vast and biodiverse Maasai Mara ecosystem, snowcapped Mount Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti Plains in Tanzania, the montane rain forests of Uganda and Rwanda. Southern Africa encompasses South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique, with diverse landscapes scattered across them. Botswana’s Okavango Delta wetland lies alongside the semi-arid Kalahari Desert, Victoria Falls provides a natural border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, and Kruger is South Africa’s famous Big 5 national park.

Weather is another distinguishing factor and one that can have a significant impact on the safari experience. In East Africa, October is generally the beginning of the ‘short rains’ that can continue into December. They are short-lived showers that break in the late afternoon, whereas the ‘long rains’ in April and May are heavier downpours. In Southern Africa, the tropical storms bring the…