How to Find Africa's Hidden Gems

Many of us prefer the hidden gems where wildlife reigns, people are few, and the experience feels real. The quest for these hidden gems is now more important than ever because we want to avoid the overtourism debacles that are marring travel hotspots such as Amsterdam, Athens, and Bali.

Thankfully, Africa is avoiding the worst of overtourism. Even so, we have seen recent incidents of overcrowding around wildlife sightings. Not only is this detrimental to the animals and the habitat, but it also undermines the quality of one’s experience. Nobody goes on a wildlife safari to be cramped in a clamor of humans. Fortunately, Africa is vast, and there are ways to experience an African adventure without too much company becoming a crowd.  For example, you can travel off-season, explore undiscovered spaces, visit lesser- known countries, and explore private reserves with limited visitor numbers.  If you are looking for a more natural, more exclusive style of safari, we can design the trip of a lifetime just for you.

Travel Off-Season

Most people plan safaris for mid-June through August, a time that can lead to overcrowding and higher expenses. What most don’t know is that November through February can be an even better time for a safari. You can escape the bitter cold at home with a leisurely trip to the balmy tropics of Africa. Not only is Africa less crowded then, but prices are also lower. It’s a win-win: a richer experience at a better price.

An excellent example of a winter escape is the calving migration in the Serengeti, which runs from December through March. This is the foaling season for wildebeest and zebras, so it's a great time to see baby animals. With millions of grazers on the plains, the grass is trimmed like a lawn, making it easy to see cheetahs, lions, and even more elusive creatures like honey badgers and jackals. Off-Season in the Serengeti means fewer people, making your enjoyment of nature all the more relaxing and authentic.

 Discover New Wonders

It's hard to grasp just how big Africa is. Its landmass could easily swallow North America, Europe, Australia, and Antarctica with room to spare. With so much space, there are many wonders yet to be found. There are even wilderness areas with abundant wildlife and scenic beauty that rival famous places like the Serengeti and Kruger.

Our newly discovered gem is Mkomazi National Park in Tanzania. Here you can find  including the famous "big five" lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and buffalo.   The scenery is stunning, with green hills,  exotic baobab trees and browsing giraffes aplenty. What you will not see are many tourists. It’s one of the least visited parks in East Africa, likely because the word isn’t out yet. Best of all it's the only national park where you have a near 100% chance of finding the critically endangered black rhino up close and in the wild. Mkomazi's super secure black rhino sanctuary is a conservation miracle. They gathered poorly treated black rhino's from distressed zoos across the world and rewilded them in the heart of this beautiful Wilderness. You can visit the sanctuary with  rangers who guard these rhinos night and day--so they always no where to find them.

Lesser-Known Countries

Some countries that offer outstanding safari attractions and world-class accommodation but experience low numbers of visitors. Often, this is because they suffered social or economic upheavals in the past, have now recovered, but the news hasn't spread.  If you want a luxury safari without all the crowding this is the way to go. Zimbabwe is a good example.

In the past, Zimbabwe was a go-to destination for wildlife enthusiasts and celebrities. It had some of the best wildlife parks in Africa, and Hollywood often filmed there. Then, an economic and social collapse in the 1990s left the country all but abandoned. Admirably, Zimbabweans protected their wildlife through both good and bad times. And now Zimbabwe is back.

Peace  and stability have returned, Zimbabwe has reasserted itself as a premier wildlife viewing destination with some of the continent’s best safari guide and many posh luxury camps and lodges. While its famous Victoria Falls is again a must-see for travelers, Zimbabwe’s amazing game parks are still less traveled. For a true taste of a wild and classic safari, uncrowded Zimbabwe can’t be beat.

Explore Private Reserves

A wonderful innovation for preserving Africa’s wildness is the private reserve. This is land set aside and entrusted to local caretakers who protect the area and its wildlife from threats like poaching, overgrazing, and habitat loss. These areas are open to visitors, but only in limited numbers, so you will never feel crowded. A private reserve can be booked in any of the safari countries. Here is where you can experience the luxury safari at its finest, but also go wild and camp in the bush if you are more attuned to the rugged outdoors.

A prime example of the private reserve experience is Lion Sands in South Africa, which is across the the river from the well-known Kruger National Park. Unlike Kruger, which can be crowded, Lion Sands is a quiet wilderness area with limited access.  While it's a luxury safari  glamping-only experience, visitors are few and you can have the all-to-yourself wilderness experience.  Lion Sands is an enclave within the greater Sabi Sands Wilderness, a wild area of 250 sq. miles where humans are few and wild animals are many.

Lion Sands offers it all: guided game drives in open vehicles and tracking safaris on foot for the more adventurous. There are river tours, evening stargazing, and educational opportunities. The camps are so small and intimate that at night you can safely hear lions roaring in the distance. It's the perfect place for a luxury safari away from it all.

The hidden gems are there to be found. There are more than just the four listed here.  The world is big so lets get out there. For a Deeper look, here is more on Mkomazi our showcase wild place.