When it comes to the best holiday experience, nothing beats the thrill of a safari adventure. Viewing stunning landscapes, watching exotic birds, and spotting wildlife in their natural habitat is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that’ll stay with you forever. Safari holidays also offer you the chance to get to know various indigenous tribes and learn more about their culture, traditions, and rituals. Plus, you get to visit many heritage sites and you can participate in a host of activities such as game drives, trekking, camping, balloon safari, among others. If you want to plan a safari trip, then here are a few best safaris in the world that you should consider.
Top Safaris in World for All Travellers
Chitwan National Park, Nepal
Known for its biodiversity, Chitwan National Park is the first national park in Nepal and home to the rare one-horned rhinos and Royal Bengal tigers. This magical jungle safari will take you through the dense forests to view enchanting vistas that shelters varied mammals such as elephant, leopard, wild boar, deer, monkeys and sloth bear. It is also a birdwatcher’s paradise with a recorded 634 birds species, the famous among them being the endangered Bengal florican and great pied hornbill. On a jungle safari, you can ride an elephant, go for a canoe ride as well as visits local villages. October to early March is the perfect time to visit this destination as the climate is relatively cooler.
Read: Reasons to visit Nepal
Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Masai Mara is a top-ranking safari destination in the world and one of the greatest African safaris. This national park in Kenya offers breathtaking views of endless plains and abundant wildlife. Some of the animals that you can spot here include the Big Five (African lion, African elephant, leopard, rhino and Cape buffalo), giraffe, wildebeest, zebra and cheetah. It is home to over 450 bird species and the centre of the Great Wildebeest Migration, which is the most spectacular event on earth.
Meeting with the Masai tribe should also be a part of your itinerary along with nature walks, balloon safaris and other nearby sightseeing options. Maasai Mara National Reserve is an all-year-round destination, but the best time to visit this place is July to October.
Jim Corbett National Park, India
This is India’s oldest national park that is well-known for its abundant Tiger population. Jim Corbett National Park is a naturalist’s paradise, which makes it an excellent safari destination. Apart from the Royal Bengal Tiger, other animals that you can see here are sambar deer, Asiatic black bear, sloth bear, crocodiles, etc. Rare birds that you can spot here include hornbill and white-backed vulture. Being an ecologically diverse park, you’ll find around 600 species of distinct plants in this area, and the activities include camping, river rafting, river crossing, elephant safari, and many more.
The best time to visit Jim Corbett is during the winter season (November to February) as all the 5 zones are open to visitors, which makes sighting wildlife easier.
Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Teeming with plentiful marine wildlife, the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador is an archipelago consisting of 19 islands and other islets. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a notable national park that is known for its exotic wildlife, serene beaches and active volcanoes. Giant Tortoise, penguins, sea lions, sharks, marine iguanas, albatross are some of the wildlife that you can spot at this destination. The Galápagos Islands also offer a variety of water sports activities that will keep you and kids engaged such as snorkelling, kayaking, diving and surfing. You can hike to Sierra Negra – the world’s second-largest crater or visit Mount Azul – the highest point of the Galapagos Islands.
An incredible destination for aquatic enthusiasts, this safari destination is beautiful year-round. However, the ideal time to visit is from December to May.
Slovak Paradise National Park, Slovakia
One of Slovakia’s nine national parks, the Slovak Paradise is an offbeat safari destination that is ideal for adventure-seekers. It has numerous hiking trails, wherein you can spend days hiking through gorges and waterfalls. These gorges are equipped with ladders, chains, plank walkways, and bridges, which makes it an awe-inspiring experience. You can visit the Dobinska Ice Cave – a UNESCO World Heritage site – known for its formation of blue and clear ice. This cave is also one of the largest ice caves in Europe. On your trip here, you can also hike to the highest peak in Slovak Paradise – Havrania Skala or visit the Zavojavy Waterfall to view nature’s bounty.
Conclusion
There is much more to a safari destination than just animals and birds. These are just a few of the best safari destinations that are popular amongst visitors worldwide. Each of these safari destinations has something special to offer you and the memories from these trips will stay with you long after your holiday ends. So, make the best of this list and plan a safari trip today!