Whether you thrive on adventure, crave cultural stimulation, find pure bliss on remote beaches, or consider yourself a romantic at heart, southern and eastern Africa are celebrated for their massive diversity and ability to cater to various travel styles. So, if you are considering a trip to Africa, but are unsure of what you’d like to do and see, refer to this guide for a quick insight into what each region is celebrated for:

South Africa

Cape Winelands

Shark Diving

• Embark on a horseback wine tasting tour in Cape Winelands.
• Watch for whales at False Bay as you delight in fresh seafood.
• Swim with the renowned African penguins at Boulder Beach.
• Explore Cape Town’s bustling art & culinary scenes.
• Discover the Xhosa people’s unique customs on a cultural tour.
• Face a predator on a great white shark diving tour.
• Explore Table Mountain as you ascend the slopes in a rotating cable car.
• Taste the aphrodisiacs of South Africa, including fresh oysters.
• Travel through the aromatic Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
• Test your cooking skills in a Cape Malay cooking class.
• Spot the Big Five on an adventurous game drive in Kruger.

Botswana

Okavango Delta

• Snuggle with the meerkats of the Okavango Delta.
• Fly above the Okavango Delta on an adventurous airborne safari.
• Embark on a sunset Chobe River cruise, sundowner cocktail in hand.
• Experience a day in the life of the Sans Bushmen on a bush walk.
• Stargaze next to a crackling fire as you reminisce about the day.
• Relax at the prehistoric beaches of the Makgadikgadi Pans.
• Explore the renowned Linyanti Wildlife Reserve on a walking safari.
• Discover vibrant, indigenous birds on a birding safari.
• Meet the colorful elephants of the Kalahari Desert.
• Spot hippos & crocs on a traditional mokoro safari down the Chobe

Zimbabwe

Canoe safari

• Explore Hwange National Park on a private guided safari adventure.
• Canoe the mighty Zambezi River as you spot residential wildlife.
• Soar over one of the seven natural wonders of the world, Victoria Falls.
• Delight in 5-star cuisine beneath a star-studded sky.
• Embark on a trekking expedition to track the elusive white rhino.
• Discover the history of Victoria Falls on a Monde Village tour.
• Explore Lake Kariba on game drives, fishing safaris, and canoe safaris.
• Partake in the journey of lifetime through the heart of the Mana Pools.
• Capture the soul of Africa on a specialized photography safari.
• Observe hundreds of species of birds—many of which are endemic to Zimbabwe.

Zambia

Walking Safari

Game Drive Safari

• Embark on an enriching historical tour of Victoria Falls.
• Board an evening Zambezi river cruise to watch the African sunset.
• Witness wildlife up close on a walking safari in Luangwa National Park.
• Step back in time, on a Livingstone city tour.
• Experience the exhilaration of white water rafting on the Zambezi.
• Witness the elusive pangolin and aardvark in Kafue National Park.
• Embark on a horseback safari on the exclusive Sindabezi Island.
• Tower over the treetops on a elephant-back safari.
• Explore your wild side—bungee jump off Victoria Falls.
• Walk with the king of all wild game—the lion.

Mozambique

The beaches of Mozambique

Horseback riding

• Uncover Africa’s “Lost Eden” in Gorongosa National Park.
• Kayak through the enchanting mangroves of Ibo Island.
• Enjoy a charming beach picnic with fresh seafood on Benguerra Island.
• Witness colorful sea life while scuba diving at Two Mile Reef.
• Island hop on a sunset Dhow cruise through the Bazaruto Archipelago.
• Search for the elusive dugong—sea mammals once mistaken for mermaids.
• Delight in Mozambique’s world-famous, fresh prawns on a beach picnic.
• Test your surfing abilities on the waves at Tofinho.
• Enjoy sensational bush walks in Niassa National Reserve.
• Scuba dive through ancient shipwrecks.

Stay tuned for Part II of this guide, publishing this Friday! Also, we invite you to contact one of our safari specialists if you have any questions or want to start crafting your next trip to Africa.

Whether it’s your husband or wife’s 50^th birthday or your 40^th wedding anniversary, saying “surprise!” in Africa is by far one of the most unique and exciting ways to celebrate. Just ask one of our recent clients, Catherine Thomson from Malta, Europe:

“This is just a quick note to say thank you to you and the Hills of Africa team for all the preparation and planning that went into Stuart’s surprise trip to Zambia on the Hills of Africa trip. You pulled off an amazing feat for his 50th birthday present by reuniting him with two of his best friends whom he hasn’t seen in over 10 years in the most amazing location. It was so difficult to keep it as a surprise for so many months but so worth it—he had a truly fantastic time at the crocodile farm, on the river, and, finally, at the Lafupa safari camp.

I really can’t thank you enough, Sandy, and would wholeheartedly recommend you and the Hills of Africa team to anyone wishing to travel to Africa, especially for a special occasion.”

–Catherine Thomson, Malta, Europe

So if you have an upcoming special occasion that you’d love to celebrate, why not do it in Africa?

The key to the ultimate surprise getaway is catering the trip’s activities to the individual you want to surprise! To do so, begin by compiling a list of the individual’s favorite past times and hobbies. Whether he or she loves golfing, fishing, horseback riding, wine tasting, adventure activities, hiking, or birding, there are tons of niche activities to take part in while on a surprise trip to Africa.

Below are some regions that you should be sure to include on your safari itinerary if the individual loves . . .

Horseback Riding: For the ultimate horseback riding experience, visit the Kalahari. One of our favorite horseback safari providers is actually an accommodation, Tswalu Kalahari. At Tswalu, the horses are well-mannered, gentle, and provide an enjoyable ride for visitors.

Golfing: South Africa is known for having some of the best award-winning golf courses in the world—coming highly acclaimed by the golf industry. So if you want to surprise your loved one with a golf safari vacation, or just a few rounds of golf, South Africa is the place to go.

Birding: Celebrated for its concentration of more than 740 bird species, many of which are endemic to the area, Zambia offers visitors a birding extravaganza! Guided bushwalks are offered throughout Zambia to bring you up close to incredibly colorful creatures.

Wine Tasting: Satisfy your loved one’s passion for wine on a wine tasting tour through the beautiful Cape Winelands, South Africa. Here, you’ll be able to explore century-old wine estates and delectable award-winning wines.

To start planning your surprise party trip to Africa, click here to download our PDF on Your Unique Guide to Southern and Eastern Africa.

Botswana. An exotic locale where reality takes a back seat to unimaginable visions and experiences. It’s a place where wildlife spills from winding rivers, vast deserts, and lush forests. From the minuscule dragonflies to the boisterous lions, there is something magical in every element of Botswana’s intricate wildlife.

Home to the celebrated Okavango Delta, a pulsing oasis nestled within the sprawling Kalahari Desert, a vast array of travelers can enjoy mokoro safaris through the crystal blue lagoons, observe elephant from a river’s edge, or search for endemic bird species. Whatever you fancy, Botswana will never fail to impress.

Things you don’t want to miss:

• The flamingos that fill the Makagadikgadi pans with rich, rosey hues.
• Walking safaris with the Sans Bushmen—a unique and legendary tribe.
• A helicopter safari over the intricate Okavango Delta where you’ll witness plump baobab trees, giraffe, elephant, and lion from a birds-eye-view.
• A visit to the world-renowned Tsodilo Hills, where 20,000-year-old rock paintings grace the rocky outcrops.
• A mokoro safari down one of the many lagoons of the Okavango Delta to witness vast species of bird, insects, and reptiles, as well as big game such as hippo, zebra, giraffe, and crocodile.

See below for a visual glimpse into the beauty of Botswana:

View more videos on our YouTube channel.

Considered one of the most rewarding safari experiences, a birding safari takes travelers through enchanting wooded areas, lagoons, and waterholes for a rare look into some of the world’s most vibrant and awe-inspiring birds. If you’re not an avid birder before your trip to Africa, you will be by the end of it. We have many clients return from their first trip to Africa who are ready to plan their next trip—but this time, incorporating a birding safari into the mix.

Image taken by one of our clients, Gary Harwyn

From half-day to week-long excursions, you may experience any length of birding safari you wish. Some of the best ways to experience a birding safari is with a safari itinerary completely customized to focus on your particular interests.

For keen birders, we suggest incorporating some of Africa’s most bird-plentiful regions into your itinerary. Some of these bird-dense regions include East Africa’s Rift Valley Lakes, which is home to hundreds of flamingos; the Zambezi River, which offers premier breeding grounds for colonies of gorgeous carmine bee-eaters and hornbills; and Tanzania, which is home to a variety of endemic bird species including the Pemba Scops-owl and the Rufous-winged sunbird.

Image taken by one of our clients, Gary Harwyn

Image taken by one of our clients, Gary Harwyn

Although birding in Africa can be experienced year-round, the best time to visit for a birding safari is between November and March. During this time of year, residential birds are breeding and are vocal with colorful plumage, and millions of migratory birds flock from Europe and Asia.

When planning your birding safari, make sure you incorporate a variety of diverse habitats into your itinerary, including wetlands, mopane forests, and riverine woodlands. You’ll also want to be sure to have a good mix of types of safaris that you’ll be partaking in, including walking safaris, game drives, and mokoro safaris (canoe safaris).
Game drives are a great way to sit back and relax while you venture out into the bush in search of birds and larger creatures such as elephant, leopard, lion, and giraffe. Walking safaris and mokoro safaris, on the other hand, enable you to completely connect with nature while carefully listening for birding calls and observing your surroundings without the sound of a vehicle engine.

If you have one particular bird in mind that you have been craving to witness in the wild, you can plan an entire week around viewing that particular species. In fact, Robin Pope Safaris offers a Shoebill Safari that focuses primarily on the shoebill stork.

On their 6-day safari you’ll venture into some of Zambia’s most game-rich regions while on the search for the fascinating shoebill stork.

Image above of the shoebill stork taken from the Robin Pope Safaris website.

Home to one of the highest concentrations of shoebill storks, the Bangweulu wetlands is a thriving haven for bird lovers to visit and observe the shoebill stork in its natural habitat. But the stunning shoebill isn’t the only bird you’ll witness on this special interest safari. The Bangweulu wetlands are celebrated for more than 400 species of bird, as well as black lechwe, antelope, and other large game.

Are you an avid birder? What is your favorite bird to witness in the wild?

The Yellow Billed Hornbill is always a delight on an African safari tour. They are comical, endearing, and fascinating. 

Favoring dry savanna and mopane, they spend much of their time foraging on the ground. Their large, powerful bill allows them to feed on a wide range of food where they forage for seeds, small insects, spiders, and scorpions. 

Breeding occurs between September and March. The hornbill family’s approach to nesting is novel and a masterly defense to predators such as snakes, mammals, and other birds. A breeding pair locates a natural hole in a tree, which is then lined with dry grass and leaves. The female enters the nest, sheds her feathers and seals herself inside with mixtures of mud, snails, old feathers, and seeds, leaving a vertical slit from which the male feeds her for the next 6 weeks. After this she breaks out and the nest is resealed by the now 3 week-old chicks, where they live for the next 3 weeks before they too break out.

 Below are photos of the yellow billed hornbill from our recent trip to Africa.