Africa is a continent rich in culture and history. It's also known for its diverse landscape, with lots of game parks, rainforests, and savannas. Whether you're looking to relax on the beach or hike to a waterfall, there are many options across this beautiful continent. Africa is also well-known as being home to some of the largest and most diverse wildlife habitats in the world. The continent is home to over 1,500 mammal species, including giraffes, elephants, rhinos, and lions. It also houses 571 types of reptiles and 462 different fish species.

While luxury safari trips are available throughout Africa, there are few places where luxury African safari tours will really stand out from all others. Africa is a continent full of adventure and mystery, with a diverse range of destinations to choose from. From the exciting safari lodges in southern Africa to the bustling cosmopolitan cities in North Africa, there are many options for your next trip. Here are some of the top destinations you must try on your next safari vacation.

South Africa

South Africa is a beautiful country located on the southern tip of Africa. It is also one of the most multicultural countries in the world and has eleven official languages. Johannesburg is the largest city in the country. Around 80% of South Africans are of Black African origin, and they are separated into ethnic groups who speak a variety of African languages. Africa's greatest groups of European, Asian, and multiracial origins make up the remaining population.

As Africa's most developed nation, this country offers luxury African safari vacations tailored for those who want to explore the country's famous natural splendor, which has been described as the world's greatest single park. Apart from the well-known Kruger and Kgalagadi (Kalahari) Transfrontier Parks, South Africa is home to some of the most opulent private game reserves and lodges in the world. Wildlife enthusiasts travel from all over the world to see the "Big Five": lion, buffalo, leopard, rhinoceros, and elephant, and they frequently find them, as well as much more.

Other attractions include coral reefs, dragon-backed mountain ranges, white-water rafting, and beautiful beaches lapped by famed surf breakers. You can learn about the country's turbulent history by traveling around the vast country and touring the vibrant cities—in Cape Town, one of the world's most beautiful cities; in Durban, a melting pot of cultures and cuisines; in Johannesburg's poignant museums and galleries; and in Soweto, the birthplace of Nelson Mandela, who helped to establish democracy here. With this list of the top tourist attractions in South Africa, you can learn about the greatest spots to visit in this diverse country.

Botswana

Botswana is a landlocked country in Southern Africa that is home to about 2 million people. It is also a country that covers only 2% of the Earth's total landmass but holds an extraordinary amount of natural beauty. The Kalahari Desert spans most parts, bordered on three sides by difficult terrain and enemies across Africa—the South African south/southeast border to its west and north; Namibia north eastwardly along their shared border with Zimbabwe; and also hosting a 30-mile long bridge over the Zambezi River, connecting it directly eastwards toward Zambia’s capital city, Lusaka.

It’s known for its vast wildlife, including lions, leopards, and elephants. Botswana has the world’s highest density of leopards in the wild. The country is also home to the massive Okavango Delta, the largest inland delta in the world. The delta covers more than 12,000 square kilometers (about 4,600 square miles) and is home to 1 million birds and 400 species of fish. Other attractions include Chobe National Park, Moremi Wildlife Reserve, the Kalahari, and the Makgadikgadi Pans.

Kenya

Kenya is a country in East Africa with the most populous population at 47.6 million people, though its capital and largest city, Nairobi, also ranks as one of Kenya's biggest metropolises alongside other coastal towns like Mombasa or tourist hotspots such as Mount Kilimanjaro. The Kenyan Highlands extend eastward from the coastal regions where lush green scenery can be found along the rift valley fringes, while the highlands are bisected by the Great Rift Valley, which forms some distance between them, making it an ideal location for agriculture production, especially rice paddies, due to north-west monsoon rains that bring much-needed moisture into this dry landscape.

Kenya offers a great number of animal habitats, notably the Masai Mara, where blue wildebeest and other bovids migrate in enormous numbers every year. The migration across the Mara River involves around a million wildebeest and 200,000 zebras. Other wild creatures, such as reptiles and birds, can be found in large numbers in the country's national parks and wildlife reserves. Millions of animals participate in the annual animal migration between June and September, attracting valuable foreign tourism. Two million wildebeests migrate in a clockwise direction from Tanzania's Serengeti to Kenya's Masai Mara, covering a distance of 2,900 kilometers in search of food and water. The wildebeest migration in the Serengeti is one of Africa's seven natural wonders.

Tanzania

This is an East African country that is located in the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast, and Mozambique, with an Indian Ocean coastline on its east side as well as southward down into Malawi and Zambia, all wrapped around this mountainous terrain before it reaches Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is mostly found westwards toward Mount Kilimanjaro.

Tanzania has 21 national parks, including the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Gombe Stream National Park, which is the site of Jane Goodall's ongoing study of chimpanzee behavior, which began in 1960. It also has reserves, one conservation area, and three marine parks that cover over 42,000 square kilometers and shape around 38 percent of Africa's enormous warm-blooded animal population. Tanzania is home to around 275 reptile and 130 amphibian species, many of which are completely endemic and listed on the Red Lists of countries maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Make the most of it.

The safari industry is booming, and it’s not hard to see why. There are many different types of animals to spot in the wild, as well as some incredible landscapes that will take your breath away. You can go on a walking safari or an open-vehicle safari; the choice is yours! Whichever type you choose, make sure you pack plenty of water and sunscreen, wear comfortable shoes for trekking through forests and grasslands alike, and whatever else suits your needs for this adventure.