Zimbabwe

Pronounced Wang-ee, this largest national park in Zimbabwe is the (rightful) home to one of the world’s largest populations of ‘gentle giants’. With a sheer mix of family structures and herds stomping around, there’s a great chance of seeing a calf following in their matriarch’s shadow. And in being fair to the furry things in life, sightings of lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and wild dogs are never too far away.

Literally meaning ‘four pools’ in Shona, the middle of the Zambezi River is the perfect attraction for wildlife, and an even better one for aquaphiles. With everything from canoe safaris to adrenaline-filled rafting courses (with several rapids along the way) there’s always more fun waiting just around the river bend.

Bringing all the best bits of a safari bush experience within a manageable park boundary, this quieter, stripped-back land is an ideal access point to Victoria Falls; so when all your favourite snapshots have been stored away (we’re talking cameras, too), you can head straight back into the heart of it all.

Locally known as the ‘smoke that thunders’, the falls 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 Zimbabwe and Zambia, the bonus in Zimbabwe is the better visibility of the falls, for the ultimate photographer’s dream shot.   

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.

There may be no need for the classic beige suit, but the boots are essential in this home of the iconic walking safari that encapsulates the memory of 70s treks gone by.

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.