Top 5 African safari experiences

An incredible shared family experience, a romantic encounter or simply an unforgettable adventure – whatever type of luxury safari holiday you wish to enjoy, time spent exploring the wilds of Africa is sure to be rewarding, absorbing and ultimately enriching. Explore remarkable malaria-free African reserves, where the Big Five roam free and you can spend a memorable trip that exceeds all of your long-held expectations – here are five of the top recommendations. Family safari Imagine the joy of spending a safari with your children and sharing their sense of wonder as they venture close to wildlife for the very first time. From tracking meerkats to watching a pride of lions resting in the midday sun, the precious memories you’ll create together on the African plains will surely stay with you the rest of your lives. The 100,000 hectare Tswalu Private Game Reserve in South Africa offers stylish suites, a cooling infinity pool and childrens’ activities to keep them entertained. Camp out in sophisticated style in one of the dozen luxury tents at family-friendly Mara Bushtops in Kenya. Or try the award-winning Shamwari Game Reserve on South Africa’s Eastern Cape, with its unique ‘Kids on Safari’ programme and spacious family rooms. South Africa safari A wealth of choice awaits you when it comes to planning a South African safari. From the mountain ranges and alluring beaches of the Western Cape to the self-drive appeal of the Winelands and Garden Route and the captivating scenery of the Kruger National Park, choose the combination that best suits your sense of adventure. Located on the Little Karoo wine route, the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, home to the only self-sustained prides of white lions in the world, comes highly recommended. For a true ‘back to nature’ experience, stay at Jaci’s Safari Lodge & Tree Lodge, where the rooms boast charming thatched roofs; romantics, on the other hand, will swoon over the French baths, private plunge pools and dramatic draped ceilings at the Savanna Private Game Reserve in Sabi Sand. Photography safari Whether you’re a beginner or a long-time photography enthusiast, there’s nothing quite like discovering the secret habits and hiding places of Africa’s wildlife through a camera lens.  Let an expert photographer guide you in capturing every breath-taking moment of your safari – and bring home truly unique mementos of your once-in-a-lifetime trip to proudly share with friends and family. Sir Richard Branson’s Ulusaba Private Game Reserve offers guests a four-day photography experience, where professional guides will lead you deep into natural habitat and direct you on the best way to forever preserve the awe-inspiring sights on film. And the exceptional Zarafa in Botswana and Mara Plains Camp in Kenya provide high-tech photography equipment to help you learn how to capture incredible images out in the wild. Kenya safari Follow in the exploratory footsteps of Ernest Hemmingway by setting out across the plains of Kenya, where you can intermingle with wildebeest and zebras on a thrilling game drive in the Masai Mara and then dine by moonlight against the most spectacular backdrop imaginable. Take a short river crossing to arrive at Little Governors’ Camp, made up of seventeen luxury en suite tents overlooking a scenic watering hole; as the name suggests, the exclusive Elephant Pepper Camp is the ideal base for those with a particular interest in getting up-close with the most majestic animal of them all. If you’re in search of an especially stylish retreat, the nine villas at Sasaab in the Samburu National Reserve combine distinctive Moroccan-influenced décor with expansive vistas. Safari and beach combinations What could be better than a holiday that brings together the absorbing thrill of a safari with the soothing qualities of the ultimate beach break? Spend the beginning of your holiday tracking game and your last few days sinking blissfully into the sand, snorkelling through the coral reefs or cooling off in fresh, clear waters. Plan a holiday that starts in the South African bush, before moving on to the sandy beaches of Mauritius via vibrant Cape Town – or even one of the many picturesque islands dotted along the Eastern coast. You may choose to split your time between Zambia – where you can take a walking safari across the plains of South Luangwa – and the welcoming shores of Lake Malawi. Maxine Roberts is Head of Marketing at Carrier. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.