Wildlife is the headline, but Africa offers much more: mountains to climb, forests to walk in, ancient cities, reefs to dive and food to try. This guide covers the experiences travellers love most and how to choose between them. On TTO you can browse them all on our things to do page.
Do fewer things, betterDistances are long and days start early. Two or three main experiences, with time to rest between them, usually make a better trip than a packed list.
Wildlife experiences
Game drives
The classic safari. You travel in an open or pop-top vehicle with a driver-guide who tracks animals and explains what you see. Dawn and dusk are the best times, when animals are most active and the light is soft. A private vehicle gives you control over how long you stay at a sighting. Shared vehicles cost less.
Walking safaris
Led by an armed ranger in selected areas. You will not see as many big animals as from a vehicle, but you notice tracks, insects, plants and smells, and you feel the scale of the bush. Offered in places such as private conservancies and some national parks in Southern and East Africa.
Boat and canoe safaris
On lakes and rivers, for hippos, crocodiles, elephants at the water and water birds. In the Okavango Delta, traditional dugout canoes (mokoro) glide through reed channels.
Night drives
Allowed in private reserves and conservancies, and rarely in national parks. A spotlight reveals leopards, hyenas, bushbabies and other nocturnal animals.
Hot-air balloon rides
A sunrise flight over the plains, often followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush. It is expensive, and weather dependent, but a highlight for many.
Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking
In Uganda, Rwanda and a few other countries, small groups trek with guides and trackers to spend a regulated hour with wild mountain gorillas or chimpanzees. Permits are limited and priced high, treks can be steep and muddy, and visitors must stay a safe distance and be healthy. Book months ahead.
Birdwatching
Africa has well over 2,000 bird species. Migrants arrive from November to April, and the green season is the best time. Ask for a specialist guide.
Whale and marine encounters
Seasonal opportunities include whale watching off South Africa, and whale sharks and turtles along parts of the Indian Ocean coast. Choose operators who follow responsible viewing rules.
Mountains and walking
- Kilimanjaro: Africa’s highest mountain at 5,895 m. Several routes, each with a different scenery, pace and success rate. Longer routes give you more time to adjust to altitude.
- Mount Meru: a shorter, quieter climb with wildlife on the lower slopes, often used as preparation for Kilimanjaro.
- Mount Kenya: a jagged volcanic peak with several routes, from trekking to technical climbing.
- Other treks: the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda, the Simien Mountains in Ethiopia, the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and the Drakensberg in South Africa.
- Day hikes: in foothills, crater rims, waterfalls and forests, led by local guides.
See Mountain trekking on TTO, and read Climbing Kilimanjaro: which route is right for you? Choose operators who pay and equip their crews fairly.
Culture and people
- Village and community visits: a way to learn about farming, food, crafts and daily life. Choose visits run by, and paid to, the community, and ask how the money is shared.
- Visiting the Maasai and other pastoralist communities: go through a reputable operator, ask before taking photos of people and avoid staged performances that feel like a zoo.
- Cultural cities: Stone Town in Zanzibar, Cairo, Marrakech, Addis Ababa and Cape Town offer history, markets, music and food.
- History: the pyramids of Egypt, the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and sites linked to the slave trade and to independence.
- Cooking classes, spice tours and coffee farms are easy ways to meet people and taste local flavours.
Beaches, islands and water
- Beaches: a restful finish after a long safari, from Zanzibar’s white sand to Mauritius and the Seychelles.
- Snorkelling and diving: coral reefs along the Indian Ocean and Red Sea. Check your insurance covers diving.
- Dhow trips: sunset sails on traditional boats.
- Waterfalls and rivers: Victoria Falls, with activities from walking to white-water rafting.
Adventure
Rafting on the Zambezi, bungee jumping at Victoria Falls, quad biking in the dunes of Namibia, sandboarding, cycling safaris, horse-riding safaris and paragliding are available in various places. Check your insurance and the operator’s safety record first.
Photography tips
- Bring a lens with a long reach, or a camera with a good zoom, and a beanbag to steady it on the vehicle.
- Shoot at dawn and dusk for the best light.
- Carry spare batteries and memory cards, and protect gear from dust.
- Switch off flash. Never ask a driver to get too close to animals.
- Ask permission before photographing people.
Responsible wildlife tourism
- Keep a respectful distance, and never feed or touch wild animals.
- Stay on tracks, and keep to the speed limit in parks.
- Avoid places that offer cub petting, riding elephants or walking with captive lions. They are rarely good for the animals.
- Choose operators that follow park rules, employ local staff and pay them fairly.
- Take rubbish home, and avoid single-use plastic.
Choosing what to do
| If you like… | Try |
|---|---|
| Big animals and drama | Game drives in the Serengeti, Maasai Mara or Etosha |
| Quiet and detail | A walking safari in a private conservancy |
| A physical challenge | Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru or the Rwenzoris |
| Close encounters with primates | Gorilla or chimpanzee trekking in Uganda or Rwanda |
| Culture and food | Stone Town, Marrakech or Cape Town, and village visits |
| Relaxing | A beach stay on Zanzibar or an island |
| Birds and plants | A birding trip in the green season |
Every destination guide on TTO also has a things-to-do page with costs, durations and tips, and you can browse tour packages built around these experiences.