Top 5 Safari Destinations to Pair with Your City Break

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of a safari. The golden grasslands stretching into the horizon, the call of a fish eagle over the river, and the heart-racing moment when a lion emerges from the bush — these are experiences that stay with you forever.

What many travelers don’t realize is just how accessible Africa’s great wilderness areas can be. From buzzing hubs like Johannesburg, Nairobi, Arusha, or Lusaka, you’re only a short flight away from some of the world’s most iconic safari destinations. That makes it entirely possible to pair a few days in the city with a journey into the wild.

Here are five of the best safari destinations to add to your next city break:

1. Kruger National Park, South Africa

South Africa’s flagship park, Kruger National Park, is vast, varied, and teeming with wildlife. Covering almost 20,000 square kilometers, it offers the Big Five — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino — alongside cheetahs, wild dogs, giraffes, and over 500 bird species.

What sets Kruger apart is its accessibility. You can choose to self-drive along well-maintained roads, making it one of the most flexible safari destinations, or opt for luxury lodges in private concessions with exclusive guided drives. Its landscapes range from open savannahs to riverine forests, meaning every game drive feels fresh and new.

Our Travel Tip: Plan your visit between May and September. The dry season concentrates animals at waterholes, making sightings easier and more frequent.

Perfect Pairing: Combine your safari with Cape Town’s wine, food, and culture, or with Johannesburg for an easy gateway to Kruger’s southern entrance.

2. Okavango Delta, Botswana

If you’re after a safari with a touch of magic, the Okavango Delta delivers. Each year, floodwaters from Angola transform this inland delta into a labyrinth of lagoons, channels, and islands that support one of Africa’s richest concentrations of wildlife.

Here, elephants splash through waterways, hippos grunt in shaded pools, and lions stalk the floodplains. Unlike many parks, the Okavango offers safaris not just by vehicle but also on water. Glide silently through the reeds in a traditional mokoro (dugout canoe), take a guided walking safari, or see it all from above on a scenic helicopter flight.

With most camps accessible only by light aircraft, the Delta feels wonderfully remote. It’s not about mass tourism, but about exclusivity, tranquility, and connection with nature.

Our Travel Tip: Pack versatile clothing. Days are warm, but nights can be chilly, especially in winter. A light jacket will keep you cozy on early morning game drives.

Perfect Pairing: Start in Maun, the gateway to the Delta, or pair with Victoria Falls in nearby Zambia/Zimbabwe for an unforgettable twin adventure.

3. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

The Serengeti is perhaps Africa’s most famous safari destination, known worldwide for the Great Migration. Every year, over two million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles move across the plains in search of fresh grazing, pursued by predators in one of nature’s most dramatic spectacles.

Yet the Serengeti is more than the migration. Its sweeping savannahs, golden grasslands, and rocky outcrops are alive year-round with wildlife, from resident lion prides to elegant giraffes and elusive leopards. A dawn hot-air balloon ride over the plains is a highlight, offering unforgettable views of this vast wilderness.

Our Travel Tip: Time your trip with the migration’s calendar. River crossings on the Mara often peak between July and October, while calving season in February brings new life—and plenty of predator action.

Perfect Pairing: Begin in Arusha, Tanzania’s safari capital, then combine the Serengeti with Ngorongoro Crater or round off your trip with a beach escape in Zanzibar.

4. Kenya: Masai Mara and Beyond

Kenya is the birthplace of the safari tradition, and it continues to deliver world-class experiences. The Masai Mara, an extension of the Serengeti ecosystem, is famous for its predator sightings and the Mara River crossings during the Great Migration. Watching wildebeest plunge into crocodile-filled waters while lions wait on the banks is a raw, unforgettable drama.

But Kenya’s safari circuit is much broader. Amboseli offers huge elephant herds with the snowy peak of Mount Kilimanjaro as a backdrop, Samburu showcases rare species like Grevy’s zebra and reticulated giraffe, and the Rift Valley lakes attract flamingos and countless bird species.

Cultural experiences add another layer, with opportunities to meet Maasai or Samburu communities whose traditions are deeply tied to the land.

Our Travel Tip: Allow time to explore more than just the Mara. A multi-park itinerary reveals Kenya’s incredible diversity of landscapes and wildlife.

Perfect Pairing: Nairobi makes an ideal base—mix cosmopolitan dining and museums with a few days in the Mara, then consider extending to Amboseli or Samburu.

5. Zambia: South Luangwa & Beyond

For those who want a safari that feels raw and untamed, Zambia is a hidden treasure. South Luangwa National Park is renowned as the birthplace of the walking safari. Here, you’ll trade the vehicle for your own two feet, following expert guides as you track wildlife in the bush. Spotting an elephant or lion on foot is a thrilling, unforgettable experience.

Zambia also excels at night drives, giving you the chance to spot leopards, hyenas, and other nocturnal creatures. In Lower Zambezi National Park, river safaris add variety — you can canoe past hippos or drift silently while elephants drink from the banks.

With fewer crowds and a focus on authentic, immersive experiences, Zambia is a destination for true adventurers.

Our Travel Tip: Book a walking safari in advance. It’s the most rewarding way to connect with the wilderness.

Perfect Pairing: Lusaka is the gateway, but many travelers link South Luangwa with Victoria Falls for a mix of wildlife and one of the world’s greatest natural wonders.

Final Thoughts

Africa’s safari destinations each have their own magic, but all promise moments that take your breath away. From Kruger’s accessibility to the Okavango’s watery wonderland, the Serengeti’s drama, Kenya’s diversity, and Zambia’s adventurous spirit, these parks are the perfect complement to a city break.

Some ready-made combination recommendations:

Cape Town + Kruger: wine, food, and Big Five game drives.
Nairobi + Masai Mara: culture and markets before classic safari drama.
Arusha + Serengeti: Tanzania’s safari gateway with easy add-ons to Ngorongoro or Zanzibar.
Maun + Okavango Delta: the ultimate fly-in safari experience.
Lusaka + South Luangwa/Victoria Falls: wild bush paired with one of the world’s natural wonders.

Whether you’re a first-time safari-goer or a seasoned adventurer, these city-and-safari pairings make Africa more accessible than ever. One moment you’re sipping espresso in a city café, and the next you’re watching elephants at sunset—it’s the ultimate contrast, and the adventure of a lifetime.

If you are ready to embark on this adventure, contact us today. We will help plan and book an African safari experience like no other!