Go to where the wild things are with a safari holiday
A true bucket-list holiday adventure, safaris allow you to explore some of the most breath-taking landscapes in the world while seeing the splendour of nature.Simon Calder and Annabel Grossman guide you through how to see lions, rhino, elephants and much more besides across Africa and beyond on a safari holiday. Whether it's the Masai Mara in Kenya or following the great migration in the Serengeti in Tanzania, Travel Smart shows you what you can expect and how to have a environmentally-sustainable and memorable adventure holiday.Watch Travel Smart on Independent TV, available across desktop, mobile and connected TV.
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00:00Welcome to Travel Smart Weekly, the insider's travel guide from Independent TV.
00:05This is the series where we share our take on the best destinations to visit across the globe.
00:10This episode is all about safaris, the bucket list holidays that allow you to explore some of the most breathtaking landscapes around the world.
00:30Safaris range from luxury lodges with swimming pools and multiple restaurants, to more basic tented accommodation, or even day trips which you can take as part of a longer holiday.
00:45Most holidaymakers will be looking to see the big five on their trip, so called as they were once considered the most difficult and dangerous to hunt.
00:57But now they're considered the most impressive to spot in the wild, and they can take some spotting.
01:04These are the elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard and rhino.
01:09Although depending where you go on safari, you'll likely also see a variety of other impressive wildlife.
01:16From meerkats and giraffes on the plains, to hippos and crocodiles in the waters.
01:24We're starting out in Kenya, one of the most popular safari destinations and our personal favourite.
01:30Among other game parks and reserves, all of which are worth a visit, Kenya is home to the Maasai Mara, where you'll find sprawling savannas, wide open plains and large flowing rivers, making it ideal for spotting animals.
01:44It's also the end point of the Great Migration, in which nearly 2 million wildebeests and zebra trek from the southern Serengeti in Tanzania, a truly spectacular sight.
01:57Our top tip for safari in 2024 is Namibia, largely due to the sheer range of landscapes you can experience here.
02:05From the arid shores and vast rolling red sand dunes of the Namib desert, to the sprawling savannas of Atosha National Park.
02:14The word Atosha means the great white place, referring to the huge salt pan with its distinctive cracked white surface and shallow salty lakes.
02:25When it rains, hundreds of thousands of flamingos flock here, which is an incredible sight.
02:32Across the border in Botswana, the Okavango Delta offers a very different safari experience, with wetlands that form the largest oasis in Africa.
02:43The area includes permanent marshlands, as well as seasonally flooded grassland that brings a diverse array of wildlife, including the endangered African wild dog, the white rhino and the black rhino.
02:58It's also unparalleled for bird watching.
03:01Safaris here take the form of game drives, walking, horse riding and canoes that glide through the waterways.
03:10A safari doesn't just have to feature the big five.
03:13In Uganda, Rwanda and the Congo, travellers hike into the mountains for a once in a lifetime chance to see gorillas.
03:20And in Borneo, safaris take you into the jungle for the chance to see orangutans, pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys and Malayan sun bears.
03:29There are many more options for safari than just the destinations we've covered here.
03:34But wherever you decide to go, make sure you're fully prepared.
03:38Many regions that are popular with safaris are high risk for malaria and require certain vaccinations, such as yellow fever, typhoid and hepatitis A and B.
03:48So make sure you check with your doctor or a travel clinic in good time before you set off on your trip.
03:54It's also a good idea to adapt your wardrobe to the landscape.
03:57This usually means wearing colours like green, brown and beige and avoiding black, white or bright colours.
04:06That's it for this week's episode of Travel Smart Weekly.
04:09Be sure to check in for the next episode, which you can watch online on the Independence mobile app or on your smart TV.
04:16And for the latest travel news, reviews and advice, be sure to check out independent.co.uk forward slash travel and listen to Simon Calder's daily podcast.