COMPARE. CHOOSE. MAKE IT YOURS.
Find your kind of safari.
Compare seven safari destinations by experience, pace and practical trade-offs. We start with your dates and priorities, then choose the camps and route.
Choose two or three
Tap to select. Your choices will travel with your enquiry.
0 selected
THE DETAILS
Explore every option
Opal’s editorial assessment, reviewed 18 September 2026. These are starting points, not ratings or guarantees. Individual properties, ships, camps, dates and rates determine the final experience.
Kenya
- The feel
- Classic open-country safari
- Best suited to
- A first safari, big landscapes and a bush-and-beach combination.
- Where it shines
- The Mara and its surrounding conservancies are a strong starting point; other regions can make a very different trip.
- What to check
- Reserve versus conservancy, game-drive rules and camp location matter. Migration movements and sightings are never guaranteed.
- Our take
- Choose the exact area for your dates, then compare camps and guiding.
Tanzania
- The feel
- Space and variety
- Best suited to
- Travellers drawn to the Serengeti, an extended wildlife circuit and time on the coast.
- Where it shines
- The Serengeti, Ngorongoro and other parks offer distinct experiences.
- What to check
- A busy multi-stop circuit can mean long transfers. Migration-focused camps need to match the season and region.
- Our take
- Spend more time in fewer places rather than collecting parks.
Botswana
- The feel
- Remote and immersive
- Best suited to
- Travellers who want wilderness and are comfortable with light-aircraft connections.
- Where it shines
- Okavango Delta and Linyanti, with contrasting dry-country regions.
- What to check
- Water activities depend on camp location and water levels. Flights, baggage allowances and private-concession access affect the plan.
- Our take
- Compare land and water experiences carefully; two beautiful camps can offer similar activities.
South Africa
- The feel
- Flexible safari and city combinations
- Best suited to
- A first safari or a trip combining wildlife with Cape Town and the Winelands.
- Where it shines
- Different reserves and regions suit different interests and budgets.
- What to check
- Choose the reserve, guide arrangements and transfer plan first. Family age limits and vehicle policies vary by lodge.
- Our take
- A practical starting point for a varied holiday with a shorter safari section.
Namibia
- The feel
- Landscape-led adventure
- Best suited to
- Travellers who value desert scenery, space and photography as much as conventional game drives.
- Where it shines
- Dunes, desert, coast and wildlife regions create a varied itinerary.
- What to check
- Distances are substantial. Decide early between flying and driving and avoid promising a dense wildlife experience everywhere.
- Our take
- Choose for the whole landscape, with wildlife as part of a broader journey.
Rwanda
- The feel
- A focused forest experience
- Best suited to
- Travellers for whom gorilla trekking is a central reason to travel.
- Where it shines
- Volcanoes National Park and combinations with other regional experiences.
- What to check
- Permits, trekking conditions, fitness and onward connections need individual planning. This is a different experience from a savannah safari.
- Our take
- Compare as a specific experience or an extension, rather than a like-for-like replacement for the Mara.
Zambia
- The feel
- Guiding and time in the bush
- Best suited to
- Travellers interested in a slower safari and walking opportunities where available.
- Where it shines
- Distinct river and wildlife regions, including South Luangwa and the Lower Zambezi.
- What to check
- Walking is subject to local conditions, age restrictions and guide arrangements. Seasonal camp access needs checking.
- Our take
- Ask about the guiding and daily activities before choosing by the room photographs.
Your next step
Let’s make it your trip.
Tell us what you have in mind. Nick or Angie will help you choose, explain the options and arrange the details.