Zimbabwe is famous for Victoria Falls and the variety of adrenaline activities on offer there, yet it is also a terrific safari destination. The 14,651 sq km Hwange National Park has over 100 species of animals, over 400 species of birds and high concentration of elephants, buffalo and predators especially so in the dry season between July and November when they congregate around water holes. Mana Pools on the Zambezi River (a UNESCO World Heritage site) is a glorious wilderness which can be explored with canoes, boats, 4x4s or on foot. Matusadona (Lake Kariba), Malilangwe and Gonarezhou are less well-known but offer beautiful landscapes and wild spaces with less visitors and are worth an extension of your trip. While not on the same luxury and exclusivity scale as Botswana, Zimbabwe still offers some fantastic camps and experiences in superb wildlife areas at more affordable prices than Botswana. The game in the dry season from June to November can be off the scale but the green season is excellent for birdlife with the added benefit of less visitors and lower prices and you will still see plenty of game.

Zambia is another fabulous wildlife destination renowned for thrilling multi-day walking safaris in scenic South and North Luangwa National Parks from June to October during the dry winter season when vegetation has thinned out. The walks are led by an armed ranger and a walking guide, with accommodation either in delightful bush camps or in netted tents under the stars. A vehicle accompanies the walkers.The Luangwa River Valley is renowned for large populations of leopards, lions, elephants and hippos. It combines well with the stunning Lower Zambezi National Park on the Zambezi River where you can view wildlife using canoes, boats, vehicles or on foot. And for off-the-beaten-path safaris, we recommend the vast Kafue NP, renowned for lions; Bengweulu wetlands for fabulous birding and Liuwa plains for large migrating herds of wildebeest. Zambia has a range of accommodation from rustic to luxurious bush camps offering some really unique wild experiences at great value.

Mysterious and enigmatic, Namibia possesses a unique beauty. With its staggering diverse landscapes, Namibia is one of the most amazing countries in Africa to visit. There is the harshly inhospitable Skeleton Coast with its shipwrecks; the photogenic red dunes of the Namib Desert and the remote northern mountainous regions of Damaraland/Serra Cafema, which are home to the Himba tribe, desert-adapted elephants and rhinos. In addition, there are the vast salt pans of Etosha sheltering all of the 'Big 5'. The best way to see Namibia is by air but it is also easy to hire a 4x4 and drive the length and breadth of the country, although it's an endurance test as distances are long, roads dusty and rough. The heat can be unyielding from October to March which is also the 'rainy' season although the rainfall is significantly lower in comparison to other southern African countries. Accommodation in Namibia tends to be rustic-luxury in style, but there are some new outstanding high-end stylish camps.

Mozambique's glorious and deserted beaches are a perfect complement to safaris in Southern Africa. Air links to Mozambique have improved considerably in recent years and getting to Bazaruto Archipelago is a breeze these days, with visas easily available on arrival for many nationalities at a small fee. The 143,000-hectare Bazaruto Archipelago National Park has a collection of upmarket resorts on 3 of its 5 islands, all with easy access to pristine beaches, dive sites and reefs which are rich in marine life with over 2000 species. Between July and September, humpbacked whales visit the warmer waters of the Mozambique Channel, while there is a year-round presence of whale sharks. Deep-sea fishing is popular in the channel with all-year access to giant trevally, yellow-fin tuna, wahoo, dorado, king mackerel, giant kingfish, barracuda, green jobfish, sailfish, etc.....Sadly, Mozambique's once renowned wildlife areas (Gorongosa and Niassa) suffered badly from poaching but there is now some conservation effort to replenish wildlife, although tourism there still remains underdeveloped and access remains difficult.

South Africa is renowned for its wonderful scenery, however few are prepared for a diversity of terrain that ranges from lush, verdant forests to misty mountain ranges, from glorious golden beaches to wildlife-rich bush veld, from arid desert to fertile winelands. The visitor can easily see why it is known as the 'world in one country'. Cape Town, sitting under its famous Table Mountain, is probably the most charming of South African cities with first-rate accommodation, a vibrant city life, excellent restaurants and cafes on the waterfront and beyond. There is plenty to do from visiting Robben Island and Kirstenbosch gardens to climbing Table Mt and sunbathing on fabulous beaches. It combines well with the stunning Garden Route, with its dazzling display of spring flowers and the chance to see whales from September onwards, and the glorious winelands. Sabi Sands, the Kruger NP, Madikwe, Phinda offer excellent 'Big 5' wildlife and world-class lodges and for something truly unique and luxurious Tswalu Kalahari is a real gem.

Tanzania is famous for being one of the best wildlife destinations in the world, yet it has much else to offer. Bounded on the east by the lovely shores of the Indian Ocean, its exotic islands of Zanzibar, Fanjove, Pemba and Mafia provide idyllic beaches. The western boundary is Lake Tanganyika, Africa's longest and deepest lake. Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, lies on the border with Kenya. Tanzania's unspoilt and little visited wilderness areas of Nyerere (Selous), Ruaha, Katavi and Mahale, match the thrills of the ever popular Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Manyara and Tarangire. Tanzania's wildlife is extraordinary, with the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti a major attraction throughout the year, starting in south eastern part of the Serengeti ecosystem from Nov to March, then moving to central and western Serengeti between April and June before migrating to northern Serengeti where the famous Mara river crossings take place between July and October. There are some amazing camps and lodges in which to stay.

Kenya is, without a doubt, a stunningly beautiful country and as a result has many repeat visitors. From the white sands of the eastern coast lapped by the warm aquamarine waters of the Indian Ocean to the primitive aridity of little-visited Turkana, Kenya offers a wonderful variety of landscape, a people that are utterly charming and friendly, a rich and fascinating culture and, of course, fabulous wildlife. Masai Mara, Amboseli and Samburu, Kenya's most popular game reserves offer fantastic all-year-round game viewing in this most African of landscapes. However, they can be busy with visitors during the migration season between July and September. Fortunately a few excellent conservancies adjacent to the main reserve offer a more secluded wilderness by limiting number of vehicles at every sighting. For exclusive safaris head for Laikipia, Northern Kenya or the Chyulu Hills, which have some outstanding lodges, including private houses, on conservancies at the forefront of wildlife conservation. Lamu, Watamu or Diani are the go-to places to combine your safari with the beach and to experience Swahili culture and history.

Rwanda is one of Africa's most remarkable countries. Its transition from the 1994 genocide has been nothing short of a miracle. Wherever you travel in Rwanda, you will see friendly and smiling faces ready to give you a warm welcome. Vibrant, verdant and photogenic, Rwanda not only offers fabulous gorilla and chimpanzee experiences, but surprisingly it also offers the 'Big 5' and over 500 species of birds in one of Africa's loveliest wildlife areas, Akagera National Park. Mountain Gorillas reside in Volcanoes National Park, part of the Virunga massif and conservation area which extends to Congo and Uganda and consists of 8 major volcanos, most of which are dormant except for Mount Nyiragongo and Mount Nyamuragira in the Congo. The park can be easily accessed from Kigali (2.5-hr drive or 45-min helicopter flight) and you can stay at some of the coolest lodges in East Africa. Combining your gorilla trek with a stay at Akagera NP (5-6 hr drive) and/or chimp trekking in Nyungwe Forest (one of Africa's oldest forests with 1,068 plant species, 140 orchids, over 320 bird species) makes for a wonderful safari.