Which Safari Tour is Best for You?

An African safari ranks as one of the world's greatest travel adventures. In the bush, red-orange sunsets paint the sky, the horizon extends infinitely in all directions, and majestic wildlife roam freely in their natural habitats.

A mama lion and her cubs. Photo credit: Odysseys employee David S.

We know it better than most: there’s so much to see in Africa that it can be difficult to narrow down your ideal itinerary. With this in mind, we present our safari tour primer, where we break down each of our four safari journeys by duration, destinations, potential wildlife sightings, and more. 

While you scroll the information below, enjoy the photography showcasing some of the flora and fauna you can expect to encounter in these exciting locations.

A leopard prowls through the undergrowth. Photo credit: Odysseys employee David S.

Africa's Wildlife

Duration: 14 days

Price: From $8,384, air- and land-inclusive (click here for specific pricing info)

Countries Visited: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia

Days on Safari: 7

Wildlife Parks/Preserves/Refuges Visited: Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve, Chobe National Park, South Luangwa National Park

Potential Wildlife Sightings:

• Endangered black rhino near Victoria Falls
• Hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, zebras, lions, giraffes, the world's largest elephant population, and some of the 450 bird species in Chobe National Park
• Lions, elephants, Cape buffaloes, leopards, giraffes, zebras, hippos, wild dogs, antelopes, and almost 400 species of birds in South Luangwa National Park

Birds catch a ride on a hippo's back. Photo credit: Odysseys guest Jerry Pierce

Other Tour Highlights:

• Guided exploration of Johannesburg, including the Soweto district and Nelson Mandela's former home
• Three-night stay in Victoria Falls, with a guided visit to the falls, touring in the town, and time at leisure
• Visit to a local school and a community borehole project
• Excellent hotels and safari lodges, and free time during safari days to enjoy the amenities

Post-Tour Extension – “Cape Town, South Africa” (four days/four nights, from $1,695):

• Four nights in Cape Town
• Visit to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens
• Cable car ride to Table Mountain 
• Full-day excursions to the Cape Winelands region and the Cape Peninsula, including the Cape of Good Hope and Boulders Beach

The critically endangered black rhino. Photo credit: Odysseys guest Barry Rosenberg

Up close with a mother and baby elephant during a game drive. Photo credit: Odysseys guest Sheri Larsen

Classic Safari: Kenya & Tanzania

Duration: 16 days

Price: From $9,996, air- and land-inclusive (click here for specific pricing info)

Countries Visited: Kenya and Tanzania

Days on Safari: 10

Wildlife Parks/Preserves/Refuges Visited: Amboseli National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti National Park, Masai Mara

Potential Wildlife Sightings:

• Rothschild's giraffes at the Giraffe Center
• Elephants, wildebeests, zebras, impalas, giraffes, and 400 bird species in Amboseli National Park
• Baboons, monkeys, hippos, flamingos, and hundreds of other bird species in Lake Manyara National Park
• Africa in microcosm on the floor of Ngorongoro Crater, including Africa's "Big Five" (elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion, leopard)
• Lions, leopards, cheetahs, wildebeests, zebras, and many more in the Serengeti, which boasts the highest concentration of large animals on the planet
• Some 95 mammal species and nearly 500 bird species in the endless plain of the Masai Mara

We get up close and personal at the Giraffe Center. Photo credit: Odysseys guest Barry Rosenberg

Other Tour Highlights:

• Nairobi touring, including a visit to the house and museum of Karen Blixen (pen name Isak Dinesen), author of Out of Africa
• Visit to a Maasai village
• Visit to Olduvai Gorge, the "cradle of mankind," where in 1959 anthropologist Mary Leakey discovered the 1.8 million-year-old skull of Australopithecus boisei
• Excellent hotels and safari lodges, with time during safari days to enjoy the amenities

Post-Tour Extension – “Mount Kenya” (three days/two nights, from $1,395): 

• Two nights exploring the area near Mount Kenya, the country’s highest peak
• Tour of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, including a game drive and a visit to the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary
• Visit to the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy and Animal Orphanage located on the grounds of the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club
• Free afternoon at our luxurious hotel located in the foothills of breathtaking Mount Kenya

Zebras in Tarangire. Photo credit: Odysseys guest Hubert “Dusty” Jackson

Tanzania Adventure

Duration: 14 days

Price: From $7,897, air- and land-inclusive (click here for specific pricing info)

Countries Visited: Tanzania

Days on Safari: 8

Wildlife Parks/Preserves/Refuges Visited: Arusha National Park, Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti National Park

Potential Wildlife Sightings:

• Waterbucks, zebras, giraffes, flamingos, monkeys, and 400 bird species in Arusha National Park
• Elephants, wildebeests, zebras, Cape buffaloes, giraffes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and some 550 bird species in Tarangire National Park
•  Africa in microcosm on the floor of Ngorongoro Crater, including Africa's "Big Five" (elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion, leopard)
• Lions, leopards, cheetahs, wildebeests, zebras, and many more in the Serengeti, which boasts the highest concentration of large animals on the planet

Only in Africa! Photo credit: Odysseys guest Eric Gilbert

Other Tour Highlights:

• Visit to Olduvai Gorge, the "cradle of mankind," where in 1959 anthropologist Mary Leakey discovered the 1.8 million-year-old skull of Australopithecus boisei
• Two-night stay in tropical Zanzibar, Tanzania's semiautonomous Indian Ocean archipelago, including touring of ancient Stone Town and spice plantation tour
• Excellent hotels and safari lodges, with time during safari days to enjoy the amenities

Serene waterbucks pose for the camera. Photo credit: Odysseys employee Melissa H.

Southern Africa Odyssey

Duration: 18 days

Price: From $8,154, air- and land-inclusive (click here for specific pricing info)

Countries Visited: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana

Days on Safari: 2 (5 including extension)

Wildlife Parks/Preserves/Refuges visited: Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve, Chobe National Park, Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve (extension includes Kapama Private Game Reserve)

Potential Wildlife Sightings:

• Endangered black rhino near Victoria Falls
• Hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, zebras, lions, giraffes, the world's largest elephant population, and some of the 450 bird species in Chobe National Park
• Cape fur seals, pelicans, flamingos, and copious other seabirds during our cruise along Namibia's coastline

Elephants stop for a refreshing drink in Chobe. Photo credit: Odysseys guest Jerry Pierce

Other Tour Highlights:

• Guided exploration of Johannesburg, including the Soweto district and Nelson Mandela's former home
• Four-night stay in Victoria Falls, with a guided visit to the falls, touring in the town, a visit to a local school, and time at leisure
• World's largest crested dunes at Sossusvlei
• Namibian coast boat excursion
• Four-night stay in beautiful Cape Town where we explore the Winelands, the Cape of Good Hope, the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, and Table Mountain

Post-Tour Extension – “Kapama Private Game Reserve” (four days/three nights, from $2,195): Animal enthusiasts will find the extension to Kapama Private Game Reserve, adjacent to Kruger National Park, an absolute must. We take five game drives here across three days. Also, as we stay at a lodge in a private reserve, we are allowed longer game-viewing hours, off-road driving privileges, and the ability to explore on foot from our safari vehicles, none of which are allowed in Kruger.

African penguins spotted at Boulders Beach. Photo credit: Odysseys guest Shannon Foley

We hope this primer helps you find your ideal African safari. We’d be delighted to help make your travel dreams come true; just give us a call or submit an online reservation request to save your spot on one of these small group tours.