What Animals Will I See on an African Safari?

Quite simply, Africa offers the best animalnature and wildlife parks.
sightings on safari in the world. Its sheer size and'Safari' means journey in Swahili and one of the
variety is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Southbest ways to view some of the finest and most
Africa alone, for example, has more than 300impressive animals on earth on safari is to keep
game reserves and national parks that togethermoving, just like the animals. As well as travelling
provide an enormous patchwork of landscapes, allby jeep, this could also be by boat and on foot,
filled with animals. Other key areas are Botswanabut also in light aircraft or even on a hot air
and the national parks found along the famousballoon. Altogether they provide sightings you will
Zambezi River in Zambia.never forget.
Animals on safari in Africa can be seen wild inThe annual wildebeest migration has, with
their natural habitat, whether open grassland orjustification, been called the greatest show on
dense forest, or surrounded by smoulderingearth. Every year over a million wildebeest, along
volcanoes, Acacia trees, or beautiful great lakes.with as many as 200,000 zebras and the same
The 'Big Five', as they are called, are what it is allnumber of gazelles travel for more than 1,800
about. This is short hand for five types ofmiles in an act of survival, looking for greener
animals; namely, leopards, rhinos, elephants, lionspastures and fresh water, gathering around
and giraffes, all of which you can expect to see.watering holes. Plenty of other mammals and
Other animals to be seen on safari include rhinosbirds can be seen along the way. Of course this is
and cheetahs.a natural phenomena so dates cannot be
But that's not all; in addition, if you are lucky andguaranteed, but this phenomena occurs sometime
depending on your destination, you may also getbetween the months of January and March in the
to see chimpanzees, birds, gorillas and evenconservation areas of Africa's Serengeti and
whales. Get up close to these mighty creaturesNgorongoro (both in Tanzania) and between the
to capture impressive photographs and to createmonths of July and September in a region known
memories to last a lifetime.as the Mara in Kenya.
Those in the know book an African safari holidayThe journey for these animals is not without its
between the months of April and October. Duringdangers of course; predators and potential death
this time, native animals come out of hiding to findare never far away. These animals may
water, offering wonderful viewing opportunities.encounter speeding cheetahs, ravenous roaring
Wildlife spotting is facilitated by specially madelions and snapping, vicious crocodiles, creating a
open topped jeeps, which allow for maximumdramatic natural scenario for you to witness.
viewing possibilities. Highly trained guides can takeThere are plenty of superlative experiences on an
visitors to the best spots and inform them fullyAfrican safari, including unique luxury
about the animals before their eyes. Landscapesaccommodation and romantic dinners under the
vary from spectacular savannah and tranquil lakesstars, but the animal sightings are the thing.
to open plains and beautiful mountains, as well as