An African Safari Q&A with Nico Heath

South Africa is often the easiest introduction. It’s diverse, easy to navigate, and there are malaria-free regions like the Eastern Cape and Madikwe, which make it ideal for families.

In South Africa, properties such as Kwandwe or Dulini offer a refined, well-run introduction with excellent guiding and reliable game viewing.

That said, I’d also encourage first-timers not to overlook Kenya. The Maasai Mara delivers that classic landscape people imagine when they think of safari – big skies, open plains, herds moving across the horizon. Camps like Kicheche and Offbeat Safaris are authentic, family-friendly and brilliantly run. 

It’s also important to understand that not all safaris are the same, especially in Kenya which is a very popular safari destination. If you stay in the main Maasai Mara Reserve, you’re bound by national park rules. You have to stick to designated tracks, and sightings may be shared with multiple vehicles.

In the private conservancies bordering the Mara, such as Mara North and Naboisho, the experience is very different. You have far fewer vehicles as numbers are regulated by the conservancies, guides can go off-road where appropriate, and activities extend beyond standard game drives. Walking safaris, night drives and cultural visits are possible, and in some areas even mountain biking.

The same applies further north in Laikipia, where Ol Pejeta and Borana operate as private conservancies. Because they’re not governed by national park regulations, there’s greater flexibility – horse riding, camel trekking, fly camping and fishing all become options. It’s a more immersive style of safari. Generally more expensive, but absolutely worth it for many travellers.

For families or multi-generational groups, private houses in Laikipia – Laragai or Lengishu – are superb. They are fully staffed houses with your own guides, offering complete flexibility. You stay in one place and move at your own pace depending on your individual requirements.

Top camp picks:

→ Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge  (Eastern Cape, South Africa) – malaria-free, conservation-led and beautifully positioned above the river valley

→   Londolozi  (Sabi Sands, South Africa) – classic Big Five viewing with outstanding guiding

→   Kicheche  (Masai Mara Conservancies, Kenya) – intimate, guiding-led and authentic

→   Offbeat Safaris  (Kenya) – relaxed, family-friendly camps in prime wildlife areas

Now we’re getting into serious safari territory. Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe offer more remote, off-grid experiences and exceptional guiding.

Top camp picks:

→  Zarafa Camp  (Botswana): In the Selinda Reserve, intimate and wildlife-rich.

→  Camp Hwange (Zimbabwe): Superb guiding and wonderful atmosphere.

→  Tembo Plains  (Sapi Reserve, Zimbabwe): Polished but deeply wild, set on the Zambezi beside Mana Pools, one of my favourite destinations in Africa.

→  Old Mondoro (Lower Zambezi, Zambia): Rustic, characterful, outstanding for leopard sightings.

If you really want to go further, Kafue National Park in Zambia still feels like one of Africa’s last frontiers. It’s vast, seasonal and under the radar.

At this stage, safari becomes less about ticking off the Big Five and more about immersion, guiding and atmosphere.

It’s one of the most humbling wildlife encounters you can have. Rwanda offers seamless logistics and very high-end lodges, but it comes at a premium with permits priced around US$1,500 per person per trek.

Uganda’s permits are closer to US$700, making it a more accessible option. You can also combine gorilla trekking with exceptional chimpanzee tracking in Kibale or Kyambura.

In addition to the camps below, I’m keeping an eye on Azilia Erebero Hills, a new lodge opening soon in Uganda and very well positioned for treks into Bwindi.



Top camp picks:

→   One&Only Gorilla’s Nest  (Rwanda) – polished, luxurious and beautifully set at the foothills of the Virungas, with seamless logistics and strong guiding.

→   Bisate Lodge  (Rwanda) – dramatic architecture, strong sustainability focus, and sweeping views of the Virungas.

→  Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge  (Rwanda) – slightly more understated, but superbly located and guiding-led.

→  Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge (Uganda) – dramatic views, intimate atmosphere, and very well positioned for Nkuringo treks.

→    Mount Gahinga Lodge (Uganda) – characterful and well located for Mgahinga treks.

→   Bwindi Lodge  (Uganda) – relaxed, well-run and consistently good.

Private houses or exclusive-use camps are ideal for larger family groups, as they allow you to set your own pace and tailor activities to different ages and interests.

I often recommend:

→   Laragai or Lengishu (Laikipia) – exclusive houses in a malaria-free conservancy, offering riding, walking and excellent wildlife

→   Cottar’s Private Bush Villa (Kenya) – an exclusive villa in a Mara conservancy, with dedicated guides and vehicles 

With full staff and room to spread out, you still enjoy access to prime wildlife areas but without being tied to a fixed camp schedule.

Babies/Toddlers: Private houses. Stay in one place rather than bouncing between camps.

5–10 yrs: Kenya works brilliantly. Strong children programmes, Maasai cultural experiences, flexible guiding.

11–16 yrs: Zambia is excellent for an adventurous safari holiday. Some camps allow older teens to join walking safaris and older children tend to enjoy the conservation side more when they can relate it to what they are learning at school. 

→   Zambia: Walking safaris in South Luangwa

→   Botswana: Quad biking in the Makgadikgadi Pans

→   Namibia: Desert lions in the Skeleton Coast region

→   Zimbabwe: Mana Pools along the Zambezi

→   Kenya: Horse riding in Laikipia, rhino conservation experiences

→   Tanzania: Seeing the Migration in the Lamai Wedge

→   South Africa: Leopard tracking in the Sabi Sands

A great guide makes or breaks a safari. They understand animal behaviour, read the bush instinctively, and know when to sit quietly and when to move. The best guides read their guests as carefully as they read the landscape. They’re natural teachers and they elevate every sighting.

We’re very deliberate about who we work with. The operators in our portfolio invest heavily in guide training and conservation education, and many run respected guide academies and female guiding programmes. That depth of expertise makes a real difference to the guest experience.

We only work with camps that demonstrate genuine conservation and community impact – transparency, local employment, minimal environmental footprint. 

A safari and beach combination is hard to beat. After the early starts and dust in your boots, a few days of barefoot luxury by the ocean works perfectly.

Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago is incredibly beautiful and remote. Lamu and the Kenyan coast offer culture and character. Zanzibar combines history with clear water and a bit of spice island atmosphere. And in South Africa, finishing in Cape Town means great food, wine and beaches to round things off.

They all pair very well with safari.

Top beach picks:

→  Kisawa Sanctuary (Mozambique) – ultra-private, beautifully designed and genuinely remote

→    Zanzibar White Sand Villas  (Zanzibar) – refined but relaxed barefoot luxury

→   Alfajiri Villas  (Kenya Coast) – fully staffed private villas, excellent for families or multi-gen stays

→   Morukuru Beach Lodge  (South Africa) – immersive coastal setting within a protected reserve

→     Birkenhead House (South Africa) – polished, cliffside elegance with serious views