Wildlife of a Lifetime
The Great Migration, the Big Five and islands where animals have never learned to fear people.
The African Safari
Nothing prepares you for the first morning game drive: the golden light, the calls of birds you’ve never heard, and then a pride of lions stretched out beside the track. A safari is also a trip where choices matter enormously — the country, the camp, the season and even the vehicle all shape what you see.
Kenya & Tanzania
The Maasai Mara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater: the classic plains safari and the Great Migration. Gateways: Maasai Mara, Serengeti and Arusha.
South Africa
Kruger National Park and neighboring private reserves for the Big Five, easy to pair with Cape Town and the Winelands. See Kruger area stays.
Botswana & Victoria Falls
The Okavango Delta and Chobe River by boat and on foot, plus the falls nearby. See Victoria Falls hotels.
Gorilla trekking
Rwanda and Uganda offer permitted treks to mountain gorilla families. Permits are limited and must be booked in advance.
Our African Safari Specialist and Africa Tour Specialists sites compare lodges, camps and itineraries across the continent.
The Galápagos Islands
Six hundred miles off Ecuador, the Galápagos are a living laboratory: giant tortoises, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies and sea lions that swim right up to your mask. Strict national-park rules keep visitor numbers low and require licensed naturalist guides on most sites.
The classic way to see the islands is on a small expedition ship or yacht that moves between islands overnight, with daily landings and snorkeling. Land-based trips from Santa Cruz or San Cristóbal cost less but reach fewer sites. Compare options at Galápagos Expedition Cruises, and check entry rules with the Galápagos government. Most trips connect through Quito or Guayaquil; see Galápagos hotels.
The Amazon
The world’s largest rainforest is best seen by river. Small expedition riverboats from Iquitos in Peru or from Manaus in Brazil follow tributaries into flooded forest to look for pink river dolphins, sloths, macaws and monkeys. Water levels change the experience: high-water months allow skiff trips deep into the flooded forest, while low-water months open jungle trails. Learn more at Amazon River Cruising.
Wildlife FAQ
When is the Great Migration?
The herds move in a year-round circle. Calving is in the southern Serengeti around January and February; the dramatic Mara River crossings usually happen from about July to October, in northern Tanzania and Kenya’s Maasai Mara. Timing shifts with the rains each year.
Which safari country is best for a first trip?
Kenya and Tanzania for the classic savanna and migration; South Africa for easy logistics, malaria-free reserves and the Big Five; Botswana for exclusive, water-based safaris in the Okavango Delta and along the Chobe River.
When should I visit the Galápagos?
Any time of year. December to May is warmer with calmer seas and green islands; June to November is cooler, with richer marine life. Visitors pay a national park entrance fee on arrival; check the official Galápagos government site for the current amount.
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