For many first-time visitors, the main attraction of an African holiday is the opportunity to go on safari. After all, where else in the world can you see iconic animals like elephants, rhinos and lions roaming free amidst vast savanna landscapes?
But there’s more to the continent than its magnificent game reserves and national parks. Many countries also have spectacularly beautiful coastlines, and a week or two at the beach can be the perfect addition to a safari. These five destinations that deliver the best of both worlds.
Kenya, East Africa
East Africa’s world-renowned safari destination, Kenya offers visitors a front-row seat to the drama of the Great Migration. Visit the Maasai Mara National Reserve from July to October to see the grassland plains transformed into a moving sea of wildebeest, zebra and other antelope. The Mara is also famous for its big cat sightings. Other uniquely Kenyan safari opportunities include watching tusker elephants roam against a Mount Kilimanjaro backdrop in Amboseli National Park and ticking off rare northern specialities like the Grévy’s zebra and the reticulated giraffe in arid Samburu National Reserve.
Kenya’s coast is just as rewarding. If you have a passion for history, head to Lamu Island where peaceful, uncrowded beaches are located a stone’s throw from Lamu Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is widely considered to be the oldest and best-preserved example of Swahili architecture in East Africa. With no motorised vehicles allowed on the whole island, it is a true barefoot paradise. Further south, the neighbouring towns of Malindi and Watamu offer upscale resorts and restaurants, and a slew of activities ranging from scuba diving to deep-sea fishing and seasonal whale watching.
Tanzania, East Africa
Along with Kenya, Tanzania is one of the twin jewels in East Africa’s safari crown. The most famous destination is undoubtedly the Serengeti, a vast wilderness synonymous with the annual Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra. Visit in January and February to catch calving season in the Southern Serengeti, or in June and July to watch the herds crossing the Grumeti and Mara Rivers. Other safari experiences include going in search of tree-climbing lions in Lake Manyara National Park, unforgettable Big Five sightings in the natural amphitheatre that is Ngorongoro Crater and encounters with huge herds of elephants in Tarangire National Park.
Just as there’s a safari experience for every kind of traveller in Tanzania, there’s a beach destination to match. For those who wish to pair pristine white sands with a lively restaurant and nightlife scene, there’s Nungwi Beach on Zanzibar Island’s northern tip. For the last word in exclusive luxury, book a stay in a Robinson Crusoe-style beach banda on private Mnemba Island; or combine your beach and safari experiences with a visit to coastal Saadani National Park. Here, a game-filled riverine forest (harbouring four of the Big Five) lies adjacent to beaches that serve as an important turtle nesting site.
South Africa, Southern Africa
At the southern end of the continent, South Africa offers 19 national parks and countless private game reserves for the avid safari-goer. Each one is special in its way, from the Kruger National Park with its near-guaranteed Big Five sightings to luxury reserves across the Eastern Cape, Welgevonden and Madikwe Game Reserves for white rhino encounters and conservation success stories. For those who like to take the road less travelled, frontier parks like Kgalagadi offer the chance to drive for hours without seeing another car. Expect Kalahari Desert landscapes, unbeatable predator sightings, 4×4 trails and wilderness campsites that capture the true essence of untamed Africa.
It’s hard to beat South Africa’s beaches, too. With two coasts and two oceans to explore, there’s something for everyone. In the far north, Sodwana Bay offers tropical beaches and teeming coral reefs, while Durban and Jeffreys Bay are known for their world-class surf breaks. In culture-rich Cape Town, you can discover resident penguin colonies and beaches with Table Mountain vistas; while the West Coast promises remote fishing communities and Atlantic shorelines just made for a leisurely road trip. With well-maintained roads and inexpensive fuel prices, South Africa is a country that welcomes independent exploration in a rental car.
Mozambique, East Coast
Mozambique may not be the first destination you think of for a safari holiday, but it has plenty to offer for those who like to get off the beaten track. The country’s premier wildlife destination is Gorongosa National Park, which has recovered so well since being decimated by poaching during the civil war that it is now hailed as one of Africa’s greatest wildlife restoration stories. Amidst an incredible variety of habitats, from flood plains to open savannah, you’ll find elephants, lions and African wild dogs. Maputo Special Reserve in the far south of Mozambique also offers a thriving elephant population.
It’s on the coast that Mozambique shines, however. Bazaruto Archipelago is probably one of the country’s best-loved beach destinations, comprising six idyllic islands that are protected as a national park. Picture-perfect beaches give way to accessible coral reefs, where snorkelling and scuba tours reveal whale sharks, manta rays and the very rare dugong. If you’re looking for a more vibrant beach experience, Ponto do Ouro on the South African border is a popular resort town, with buzzing restaurants and bars strung along the golden beach. Here you can go surfing, fishing, diving with sharks and swimming with wild dolphins.
Madagascar, Indian Ocean
Africa’s largest island is often referred to as the eighth continent on account of its incredible level of endemism – meaning that approximately 85% of its plant and animal species are found nowhere else on Earth. So, although Madagascar can’t provide the conventional Big Five safari experience you’ll find on the mainland, its diverse national parks offer the chance to come face-to-face with some truly weird and wonderful creatures. Go on a trek through the primordial forests of Andasibe-Mantadia National Park in search of 14 different types of lemur; or use aerial suspension bridges to navigate the otherworldly limestone spires of Tsingy de Bemaraha.
Many of Madagascar’s most beautiful beaches are located on a series of smaller islands off the northwest coast – specifically, on Nosy Be, Nosy Komba and Nosy Iranja. Imagine curving crescents of soft white sand lapped by gin-clear water with palm trees swaying gently in the background, and you’ll have a good idea of what awaits in this particular corner of paradise. You can take part in a safari of a different kind here, with many operators offering snorkelling, scuba diving and whale-watching tours. From September to December every year, you can even snorkel with whale sharks.
Read my article Island Hopping off Madagascar’s Nosy Be.
For assistance with planning your ‘Bush & Beach Safari’, please reach out to me at dawn@theincidentaltourist.com and I will happily assist, putting my two decades of working in the industry towards ensuring your African travel expectations are exceeded.
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