Best safaris by far - by individual, animal or activity

Wild about Africa, safari specialist, known for its expertise – highlights the pick of its trips to suit a variety of situations, fascinations and aspirations.

Best for families

Safaris suitable for young children are hard to come by, but the Travel Tanzania Lodge Safari has no minimum-age limit (although Wild about Africa recommends it only for those aged 5+). Over eight days, families travel across northern Tanzania seeing plains game grazing and lions at rest in the Serengeti; ‘big tusker’ elephants roaming Ngorongoro Crater; and possibly rarer species such as gerenuk and fringe-eared oryx in little-visited Tarangire park. Stay in international-style hotels and lodges with buzzing restaurants.

Prices start from £2,322 pp (two sharing) including flights (London via Nairobi); transfers and transport; accommodation; guiding; park fees; and usually three meals a day. It’s easy to add on beach time in Zanzibar, post-safari.

Best for sociable solo travellers

Small-group safaris are a great way to meet like-minded travellers – especially ones with no single supplement. And since this is camping with pretty much everything done for you, you can just relax and make friends. The 14-day, fairly adventurous Namibia Highlights Camping Safari introduces you to cheetah conservation at Africat; wildlife action well after dark at flood-lit waterholes; Himba villagers; a colony of Cape fur seals on the Skeleton Coast; and the world’s tallest dunes, deep in the desert.

Prices start from £2,078 pp (two sharing) including flights (London via Johannesburg); transfers and transport; guiding; assisted camping including easy-to-erect dome tents and sleeping bags; and usually three meals a day.

Best for remote wilderness

Botswana is where to go for exclusivity: its private wildlife reserves only allow a limited number of visitors on any given day. The 12-day, comfortable camping-based Botswana & Victoria Falls Adventure explores the ever-changing Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park; visitors see herds of elephant come to drink at the Linyanti River; travel by mokoro canoe along tranquil channels and across lily-covered pools in the Moremi Game Reserve; and admire the Victoria Falls in Zambia.

Prices start from £3,980 pp (two sharing) including flights (London via Johannesburg); transfers and transport; accommodation in a lodge or tented camp in Zambia and comfortable mobile safari camps in Botswana; park fees; and usually three meals a day.

Best for the big five

Tick them off one by one in a trip that takes in all four of northern Tanzania’s top wildlife parks. The ten-day Four Parks Tanzania Camping Safari explores the lesser-visited, yet captivating, Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks, undertakes game drives through the game-rich depths of the Ngorongoro Crater and travels across the open plains of the world famous Serengeti National Park.

Prices start from £3,143 pp (two sharing) including flights (London via Nairobi); transfers and transport; accommodation in spacious, en-suite canvas dome tents; guiding; park fees; and usually three meals a day.

Best for on foot safaris

Led by one of the most professional guides in the business, the 13-day Robin Pope Walking Safari gives adventurous travellers five days exploring remote corners of the wildlife-prolific South Luangwa on foot, offering an intimate nature experience. The very comfortable, walking-only safari camp is set up in areas with few or no roads. Other nights are spent at excellent safari lodges offering game viewing by vehicle.

Prices start from £5,146 pp (two sharing) including flights (London); transfers and transport; accommodation in a lodge or safari camp, and in comfortable mobile safari camps during the walking safari in South Luangwa National Park; park fees; and usually three meals a day.

Best for photography

For sheer diversity of experience, including landscapes, wildlife, pretty towns and local cultures, the 16-day Namibia Discovery Safari is hard to beat. It combines classic Namibia highlights with seldom-seen areas and is the ideal comfortable camping safari for both novice and professional photographers. Discover the spectacular scenery of the Namib-Naukluft National Park, the abundant wildlife of Etosha National Park, the remote and remarkable Epupa Falls, desolate desert landscapes and the fascinating Himba people.

Prices start from £2,104 pp (two sharing) including flights (London via Johannesburg); transfers and transport; accommodation in guesthouses or fully serviced mobile camps; campsite fees; guiding; park and attraction entrance fees; and usually three meals a day.

Best for meeting the locals

If you want to get to grips with Namibia’s least visited wilderness and its fascinating indigenous people, the 11-day Wild Namibia Adventure takes you to a region of Namibia that few ever visit. It also gives a true insight into community-based conservation thanks to exceptional, top-notch guides closely connected to the semi-nomadic Himba people who you’ll meet. On safari, you’ll track rhino and other desert-adapted wildlife along the Hoanib River valley and marvel at the mysterious fairy circles on the Giribis Plains. Travellers stay in comfortable mobile camps, small guesthouses, and the first-ever Himba lodge.

Prices start from £3,430 pp including flights (London via Johannesburg); transfers and transport; pre and post-safari accommodation in Swakopmund; camping equipment; activities; guiding; and usually three meals a day.

Visit wildaboutafrica.com for further information.