Zambia

An intrepid soul whose pioneering feet (literally) paved the way, the first walking safaris started here, and she’s keeping it classic for a reason. With hippos, giraffes, elephants, and a whole orchestra of bird song, the list goes on with some of the best wildlife you can find in these parts.

Home to the beating heart of the Zambezi River that makes these banks so hip and happening, there’s no better way to view it all than from the boats and canoes themselves. Sightings of big cats, wild dogs, elephants, and many a reptile are suspected, but what makes it so great is floating in the midst of it all. 

A hidden gem that surprisingly earns the title of the biggest national park in Zambia, all it takes is one visit to quickly turn the tides. Out-of-the-ordinary experiences are the norm here, with walking, canoe, and classic safaris being the perfect way to view the game; topped off, of course, with some of the most magical pink sunrises to grace the skies.

Locally known as the ‘smoke that thunders’, her presence needs no introduction; but what makes this seventh wonder of the world so great, is the different ways you can approach it. With access provided from Zambia and Zimbabwe, the bonus in Zambia is the get-into-the-middle-of-it-all experiences, soaking in the Devil’s Pool and riskily peering over its bustling edge.

You’ve never felt as remote as in Botswana, with its placid lagoons, eco-diverse island game reserve and the lunar-like salt flats of Makadikadi Basin.

Bright red shukas, the savannah’s most notable characters, and a landscape of flat plains that billow into hills, Kenya is archetypal Africa.

Unspoilt and uncrowded, Madagascar is the land of the ‘blue safari’ – where snorkelling, diving and sailing in the warm turquoise waters is only paused for a bit of lemur spotting.

Arabia’s mystical allure and Africa’s vibrancy converge in Morocco, refusing to give in to Western ways and instead delivering a splendid culture contrast that’s sure to stay rooted in traveller’s minds forever.  

A country still with some growing to do, these lesser-trodden coastlines that often act as an add-on to a South African safari are a rare find of authenticity-meets-blissfully-beachy break.

Ethereal expanses of dunes merge into wild, coastal wilderness in this sun-baked land, casting the spooky spell of the sands that’s all too exciting and easy to succumb to.

Untamed and mysterious, the sulky rainforests of Rwanda are a wildlife wonderland, where golden monkeys peak out from behind dense leaves, bushbuck scarper at the slightest of sounds and gorillas take over the mountains.

The ‘Rainbow Nation’ that earnt her stripes in a cacophony of languages, three buzzing cities, and everything from safaris to Winelands in-between; it’s not just a colourful diversity, but the sheer joy for surprises that keeps familiar feet coming back for more.

Tanzania is a Great Migration, the volcanic peaks watching over herds as they cross vast plains and indented craters, eyed intensely by the climbing lions from their treetop perches; but this book holds more than just its front cover.

The archipelago of Zanzibar is somewhat of a wildcard, but with its bohemian vibe, mellow pace and decidedly quieter yet still sugar-white sands, it gives the Maldives a run for its money.

Bringing off-the-beaten-track safari experiences that’re just as active as its dramatic Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe is no stranger to a thrilling escapade.