Southern Africa vs. East Africa, which safari region is better?

First, let’s define the regions… In terms of wildlife safaris, Southern Africa includes South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia while East Africa is essentially Kenya and Tanzania. Meanwhile, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and The Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), all destinations popular for Gorilla tracking safaris, are generally considered Central Africa.  Malawi and Zambia are also sometimes classified as Central Africa.

Historically and up until the 1980’s, East Africa was the preferred destination for safari-goers and wildlife enthusiasts. Kenya and Tanzania offered superb wildlife viewing with a well-developed safari infrastructure of operators with both permanent camps and mobile safari circuits. In contrast, the countries in Southern Africa, while full of wildlife and beautiful wilderness areas, were either politically unstable or mostly undeveloped for safari tourism.

During the 1990’s things began to shift. South Africa’s apartheid came to an end and its monetary unit, the Rand, historically very strong, began to depreciate, making South Africa a very attractive travel destination. Intrepid safari guides in South Africa took advantage of the increase in tourism to open up Botswana and Zimbabwe to hunters and photographers. With the increase in tourist capital, the safari industry in Southern Africa grew and permanent camps and mobile safaris opened in its pristine wildlife areas.

In terms of landscapes and attractions, the regions are quite different. East Africa boasts Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti Plains / Maasai Mara ecosystem and the Ngorongoro Crater. Southern Africa includes Botswana’s Okavango Delta wetland, the Skeleton Coast and Namib desert of Namibia, the miles of coastline with diverse habitats and the Kruger National Park of South Africa, the semi-arid Kalahari Desert of Botswana and northern South Africa, and the lower Zambezi River basin including Victoria Falls along the borders of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The wildlife species found in the two areas are essentially the same; most of the predators and plains game can be seen in both regions and only some birds and a few mammals and reptiles are distinct between the regions. The major differentiation is in the numbers of certain species and the general experience a visitor will have when viewing them.

East Africa offers herds of zebras and wildebeests in the hundreds of thousands. The annual migration between the Maasai Mara in the north and Tanzania’s Serengeti in the south is a spectacle unequaled anywhere on earth today. However, Botswana and Zimbabwe are home to 80% of Southern Africa’s 300,000 elephants and huge herds are a common sight along their northern borders.

The weather also varies between the regions. In East Africa, October marks the beginning of the “short rains” while April brings “long rains.” Many of the safari camps close during the long rains due to difficult driving conditions. In Southern Africa, while each country varies, the rains generally fall between November and March with the rest of the year being mostly rain-free. Most of the camps stay open year-round. The rainy or “green” safari season in Southern Africa offers benefits such as herbivores having their babies, lush green landscapes and dramatic skies, all of which combine to create superb photographic opportunities. Temperatures are similar between the regions with May through August being the cooler months.

The major differences between East Africa and Southern Africa for safaris are the density of tourists, the safari accommodations and the safari vehicles. East Africa, in general, has earned a reputation for a high density of tourists staying in hotel-styled lodges. The most common safari vehicle in East Africa is the mini-van with its pop-up roof, whereby passengers stand up to take pictures while peering out of the roof or sit in the enclosed vans. Conversely, Southern Africa is known for its luxury tented safari camps and huge tracts of wilderness areas with very low tourist densities, making for a private safari experience. The safari vehicles used here are modified, open-air Land Rovers which also add to the intimacy of the experience.

That said, there are a growing number of luxury lodges cropping up in East Africa, particularly in Tanzania and these lodges offer a far more exclusive experience than the large safari lodges which may have typified Kenya and Tanzania.

For the most part, Southern Africa is dominated by huge land concessions, which are owned or leased by luxury safari camp operators, and these concessions are for the sole use of the individual camp and its guests. With an average camp size of only 10-16 guests and only one or two vehicles for the entire concession, one can drive all day and not encounter anything but wilderness and wildlife.

How to plan an African wildlife safari

FOR many travelers, an African wildlife safari is a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Making it happen takes planning; like the leopard, you must stalk your prey. But look before you pounce; it's a jungle out there.

Choices abound. Nearly a dozen countries, with scores of parks and private reserves. Top-tier lodges, spartan tents and encampments that rival luxury hotels. Minibuses, four-wheel-drives, walking and canoeing.

An African safari is a true adventure — a journey crafted in the tradition of wealthy 13th-century traders who first hunted the plains of Africa for wild game trophies to hang on their walls. Today, travelers hunt for photo opportunities instead of occasions to kill, but they encounter the same scenes that have fascinated explorers throughout history: thousands of zebras migrating across emerald grasslands, flocks of florescent flamingos creating a field of color across a shining soda lake, lions feasting on a hard-earned kill.

Many travelers trek to Africa in search of the "big five": buffalo, lions, leopards, elephants and rhinoceroses. The chance to get close to these animals in their natural habitats is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but your trip to the Africa is anything but a trip to the zoo. Safaris can be physically taxing and strenuous, and you may not see all the animals you expected. Since most safari destinations are in developing sub-Saharan nations, travelers must take certain safety and health precautions. If you're planning a safari (or just dreaming about it), be as prepared as possible. Get some good guidebooks, talk to friends who've been to Africa and research, research, research. We've outlined some important safari basics, from choosing a destination to getting vaccinated, to help you start planning a successful African adventure.

Types of safaris 

For the most part, safaris are a costly kind of vacation. But as with any other type of travel, you can tailor your safari to suit your personal budget. The length of your safari will affect its cost — although you may want to cut your trip short to save cash, the longer you stay, the less you will probably pay on a per-night basis. If you're looking for luxury digs on your safari (or even just hot water and a comfy bed), prepare to pay more. Budget-minded adventurers should seek self-drive or overland safaris (see below) as opposed to all-inclusive package tours — but be prepared to camp in tents or navigate a 4x4 through the African bush. If you're traveling alone, you will probably have to pay a single supplement, as most package pricing is based on double occupancy.

Luxury safaris 

A luxury safari offered by a well-known tour operator typically costs thousands of dollars per person, per week, with all-inclusive prices covering tours, food, drinks and excursions. Fully catered luxury packages offer travelers the comforts of home in wild Africa. Accommodations range from air-conditioned suites to stylish tents (you'll feel almost like you're camping — aside from the hot running water, rich linens and first-rate service). Ultra-luxurious safari lodges can cost over $1,000 a night.

Overland or mobile safaris 

Overland (also known as mobile) safaris are generally the cheapest type of organized tour safari. An overland safari will involve campsite accommodations, and you will most likely travel in a group with other travelers. Overland safaris are usually participatory — you may be expected to pitch in with chores such as cooking meals or setting up camp.

Diving in Zanzibar

Zanzibar is reputed to have some of the best diving in the world, and the coral reef structures that surround Unguja and Pemba ensure that the marine life is abundant. Good visibility (20 - 60 metres) and a year-round average water temperature of 27°c ensure that you enjoy your Zanzibar diving experience, and also present an ideal opportunity for learning to dive or upgrading your diving qualification.

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The endless plains of Serengeti

Tanzania's oldest and most popular national park, also a world heritage site and recently proclaimed a 7th world wide wonder, For more details visit here

"The Serengeti Of Flowers" - Kitulo National Park

Locals refer to the Kitulo Plateau as Bustani ya Mungu - The Garden of God – while botanists have dubbed it the Serengeti of Flowers, host to ‘one of the great floral spectacles of the world’. And Kitulo is indeed a rare botanical marvel, home to a full 350 species of vascular plants, including 45 varieties of terrestrial orchid, which erupt into a riotous wildflower display of breathtaking scale and diversity during the main rainy season of late November to April

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Fundu Lagoon - Pemba Island

Fundu is a remote and peaceful resort, only accessible by boat. Set on a beautiful beach in the south west of Pemba Island, it is privately owned and run with a love for the natural environment that surrounds it; the epitome of shabby chic - stylish, cosseting and totally relaxed.

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Arusha "Geneva of Africa"

Tucked at the foot of Mount Meru, the town of Arusha is the first stop on the northern safari circuit and is the undisputed safari capital of East Africa.

The streets of this vibrant town are filled with 4x4 game viewing vehicles criss-crossing the potholed roads. Maasai warriors in full regalia walk around, mingling with tourists in crisp khaki, fresh off the plane from Europe or the United States.

If you're flying in on a pre-organized safari, you are unlikely to spend much time in Arusha, as your hosts will whisk you through on the way to one of the great game parks. This is a pity, because Arusha is the kind of place where you can get a real sense of what modern Africa is all about.

At the nearby International Conference Centre, some of the most important peace treaties and international agreements in modern African history have been signed. The Rwandan war crimes tribunals are currently taking place here, as have been several attempts to broker peace in the Great Lakes States.

Around town

The curio markets crammed between the Clock Tower and India Road are filled with high quality crafts, and are a great deal cheaper than the purpose-built curio shops outside of town to which most tour guides take you. A friendly warning - beware of pickpockets in the busy streets.

For independent travellers, the offices of the National Parks authority in the International Conference Centre is a good place to pick up literature and maps, and to find out details of entry to the parks. The coffee-growing town of Moshi is the nearest town to the trailheads onKilimanjaro, although most travellers do their outfitting and organising in Arusha.

For birders, anglers and primate lovers with a bit of time on their hands, Lake Duluti, on the Moshi road, is one of Africa's hidden gems. There's a campsite and small, rudimentary pub, and it is a classic place to while away a lazy afternoon.

Tanzania Tarangire National Park Set to Expand

Negotiations with several villages surrounding the Tanzania Tarangire National Park has resulted in at least three of the villages agreeing to re-demarcate the boundaries, relocate and give their land to the park in order to make it possible for  Tarangire to be enlarged.
Following the expansion process, the park will incorporate a major forest, which is expected to not only provide extra protection to the area, but also to act as a new feature that will attract future visitors to the park.

In general, the Tanzania tourism sector relies heavily on its wildlife, beaches and other natural attractions such as Mt. Kilimanjaro

According to a recently published report by Global Travel Industry News, the unique features of the park already help to attract visitors to the country who embark on a safari across the northern circuit.

“The park, while admittedly less popular with overseas visitors compared to Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, and the Serengeti, is nevertheless thought to be a must-see stop for all tourists embarking on their safari across the northern circuit due to its unique features,” read the report.

Currently, the Tarangire National Park is most widely known for the thousands of baobab trees that grow within its boundaries as well as for its general game population and large herds of elephant.
According to an announcement by government officials earlier this month, the arrival of tourists to Tanzania fell by 10.2 percent, from 641,951 in 2008 to 576,643 in 2009, for a period covering the first 10 months of each year.

Government officials went on to explain that this drop came as a result of the effects of the global economic crisis, with the most significant drop occurring in the first six months of the year, after which time the arrival rate began to improve.

Full-year figures for 2008 reported that the Tanzania tourism sector earned a total of USD 1.3 billion.

While awaiting the release of the 2009 full-year arrivals and earnings, which is scheduled to take place next month, some tour and safari operators have already requested that changes be made to the current system of paying for park entrance fees, which was introduced in 2007 by Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa) in the country’s northern circuit in an effort to respond to the fraudulent practices that had been reported at the various gates.

Based on the newly established Tanapa system, banks in the northern circuit that are participating in the scheme established both cash and card machines in order to accommodate cashless payments.

While the system was originally welcomed by tour and safari operators who were looking to avoid the loss of cash, issues soon began to surface concerning how the system works.

Global Travel Industry News reported that the majority of the complaints are currently concerned with the use of MasterCard.

“The complaints are apparently focused on the use of MasterCard payments,” read the report, “which operators claim often remain unpaid by the bank yet they (the operators) have provided services and made payments on behalf of their clients, who, by the time the dispute arises, have already returned home.”