Africa's Best Kept Secrets - Insider's Guide

Ethiopia

Ethiopia has a warm and friendly population. Well organized and extremely rich in history, culture and landscapes. Ethiopia’s Omo Valley offers encounters with diverse ethnic groups that traditions are largely untouched by modern times.

Lalibela is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is a 12th century rock-hewn church. King Lalibela sought to build a “New Jerusalem” after visiting the Holy Land

Danakil Depression is an otherworldly adventure into one of the lowest and most volcanically active places on Earth. Visit the neon-colored hydrothermal fields and Erta Ale Volcano, one of the world’s few continuously active volcanoes with its bubbling lava lake.

Kenya - Lamu & Malindi

Quiet Indian Ocean beach locations. A 14th century Swahili town with Italian influence. Lamu cultural rewarding. Malindi has beautiful beaches and good small hotels. Watamu Marine National Park is known for its white-sand beaches and vibrant coral reefs. Located a short flight from Nairobi, both Lamu and Malindi are excellent ending after a Kenya safari. There is snorkeling, diving, a turtle conservation project. Beach hotels are 4 star or Silver level.

Madagascar – Wildlife found nowhere else on Earth.

African safaris on the island nation present an entirely different African wildlife experience. This isolation has produced unique species found nowhere else on Earth. Ring-tailed lemurs and indri represent the island's remarkable primate diversity, while the secretive fossa occupies the apex predator niche.

The combination of rainforest, dry forest, and mangrove ecosystems supports specialized wildlife communities. The presence of numerous endemic species, including the enigmatic aye-aye and various tortoise species, creates wildlife viewing opportunities distinct from mainland Africa.

Mozambique – Barefoot Beach Destination.

Mozambique borders six countries in the north Tanzania, in the west Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe and to the south, South Africa. From Johannesburg and Greater Kruger there are direct 1 hour 15-minute flights into the country making easy access and great airfares. If you are looking for a beach location after a safari in Southern Africa, Mozambique is the prime destination.

Hotels are top-tier, driving is world-class in the Bazaruto and Quirimbas Archipelagos. Bazaruto’ s marine park is superb for snorkeling due to its healthy, shallow coral reefs. As a protected national park, it is teeming with thousands of colorful fish species, turtles, dolphins and the rare ‘sea cow’s dugong.

South Africa - Tswalu Kalahari Reserve Private Wilderness

Tswalu's 270,000 acres exemplify private conservation done right. It is located in what is called the “Green Kalahari,” characterized by sand dunes, savannah and rocky mountains. It is located near the Botswana border approximately 350 miles west of Johannesburg. As South Africa's largest private reserve, it maintains strict guest limits while supporting vital conservation initiatives.

Your wildlife encounters can include big cats like the Kalahari black-maned lions moving through the grasslands, leopards navigating the dunes at dusk, and cheetahs hunting across open plains. The reserve excels in tracking nocturnal species - aardvark sightings here are among the most dependable in Africa. Meerkats have become habituated to vehicles, allowing for intimate observation of their complex social behaviors. Access comes via private airstrips generally via Johannesburg. Activities include game drives, walking safaris, or horseback excursions.

Tanzania - Selous and Ruaha, Tanzania's Untamed South

These vast protected areas represent African wilderness at its most authentic. The landscape's rugged beauty serves as a backdrop for some of East Africa's most dramatic wildlife encounters. Walking safaris here rank among Africa's finest, with skilled trackers leading you through territories frequented by elephant herds and lion prides.

The open vehicle system maximizes photographic opportunities, particularly when tracking leopards through the dense riverine zones. African wild dogs inhabit the parks, making this one of the continent's most reliable locations for observing these sophisticated hunters. The hippo pods along the waterways create natural gathering points for diverse wildlife, especially during the dry season.

Tanzania - Mahale Mountains, Chimpanzee Territory

This remote corner of Tanzania houses over 1,000 chimpanzees within its forested slopes. Greystoke lodge pictured. The M-group of habituated chimps forms the centerpiece of any visit, though the challenging terrain demands reasonable fitness levels. Access requires both air and water transport, ensuring minimal human presence in this pristine environment.

Beyond the celebrated chimpanzees, the forest harbors yellow baboons, blue duikers, and forest giant squirrels. Lions occasionally venture into the periphery, creating unique predator-prey dynamics rarely observed elsewhere in Africa. The combination of lakeside location and mountain terrain generates distinct microclimates supporting diverse wildlife populations.

Zambia - Kafue National Park

At 8,648 square miles, Kafue represents traditional safari country on a grand scale. As one of the best national parks, the varied habitats, from savanna to wetland, support exceptional predator populations. Leopards thrive in the woodlands, while cheetahs patrol the open plains - a rare combination in modern Africa.

The elephant herds here move freely through ancient migration corridors, and hippo concentrations in the waterways remain largely undisturbed by tourism. The park's size and limited infrastructure ensure genuine wilderness experiences, particularly in the remote northern sector.

Zimbabwe – Matusadona & Mana Pools Big Five

Positioned along Lake Kariba's southern shore, Matusadona maintains significant populations of all Big Five species. The interaction between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems creates diverse wildlife viewing opportunities. Lion prides and leopards thrive in the mixed woodland, while buffalo herds graze the shoreline grasslands. The presence of endangered species like both black rhinos and white rhinos makes this one of the few places where comprehensive Big Five viewing remains dependable. The lake shore attracts diverse wildlife, particularly during the dry season.

Mana Pools National Park is located in a remote area of northern Zimbabwe along the Zambezi River. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is one of the finest areas in Africa for walking and canoeing safaris with high concentrations of wildlife from late May to October.