There are a great deal of methods to compare safaris in Southern and East Africa, and you’ll likely get a somewhat various answer from every specialist you talk with. When I talk to my customers about the differences, I normally simplify into three primary areas:
- Cultural Experiences
- Possible Safari Journey Extensions
- Lodging Style & Facilities
These are basic standards, and there are certainly exceptions, but concentrating on these three areas is a helpful starting point for anyone attempting to choose which region they wish to go to for their safari.
For the functions of this comparison, when referencing safari in East Africa, I usually am describing Kenya and Tanzania. In Southern Africa, I usually am describing South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Cultural Experiences
When it pertains to cultural experiences, I frequently explain East Africa as feeling more culturally forward compared to Southern Africa.
In countries like Kenya and Tanzania, it prevails to see individuals wearing standard Maasai clothes, including the red shuka cloths, beaded lockets, and decorative headpieces. Conventional clothes and beads are typically brilliantly colored and culturally substantial. Travelers often find themselves naturally coming across these traditions and have the chance to ask concerns and discover regional customs that may feel very various from what they’re used to.
In rural parts of East Africa, many individuals still live in conventional huts made from mud, grass, sticks, and animal dung. These circular, thatched-roof homes are the very same kinds you might have seen in pictures, and they are still extensively used outside of significant cities. Some communities also live semi-nomadic lifestyles, moving with their animals to discover much better grazing locations. It’s not uncommon for a guide or camp employee to count their wealth by the number of livestock they have instead of dollars in a bank account.
Southern Africa offers a various experience. It’s less common to see conventional clothes used in daily life. Individuals tend to wear more modern-day clothing, and safari staff are frequently worn what we passionately call “safari khaki” or their camp uniforms. If you do see conventional attire, it’s generally part of a presentation or cultural activity created for visitors. The region’s long history of colonization, particularly in places like Cape Town, has actually resulted in a greater degree of westernization that’s formed both cultural and societal standards.
Every nation you go to will offer something different, however the method you encounter those cultural components can vary a lot depending on where you are.
Possible Safari Trip Extensions
In my experience, trips to East Africa tend to focus mostly on safari, with maybe a night or two in Nairobi at the start. For travelers who have a bit more time, there are some excellent add-ons to think about, consisting of:
- A beach escape to Zanzibar, the Seychelles, or the Kenyan Coast
- A culturally focused stay that uses time in a regional neighborhood, such as attending a ceremony, beading with local females, joining in traditional song and dance, or going to a town
- A primate experience like gorilla or chimp walking
In Southern Africa, it’s much more typical to consist of a minimum of one experience that isn’t centered around wildlife. Some popular additions consist of:
- A couple of days in Cape Town or the Cape Winelands, with a concentrate on food, red wine, history, or active experience
- A desert-focused extension to Namibia, which might easily be its own trip!
- A beach add-on such as Mozambique
- A check out to Victoria Falls, where the main attraction is the falls themselves, although there are a lot of animals to see around the Zambezi River
General, Southern Africa tends to provide a broader range of non-safari extensions, while East Africa is often more singularly concentrated on the safari and wildlife part.
Accommodation Style & Facilities
In both Southern and East Africa, you’ll find a wide variety of lodgings, consisting of tented camps, lodges, thatched-roof spaces, mobile camps, and ultra-luxury residential or commercial properties. As a broad generalization, lodgings in Southern Africa, particularly in South Africa, tend to be more irreversible and robust than those in East Africa. There are plenty of exceptions, however for somebody going on safari for the very first time, Southern Africa can in some cases feel more familiar. The structures typically look like accommodations that you may see elsewhere worldwide, and less like a camping tent.
Features like private decks, plunge pools, cooling, hair dryers, and even camp health clubs are typically simpler to come by in Southern Africa. These conveniences are offered in East Africa too, but they might be less typical depending on where you’re remaining.
Ultimately, both regions provide a full range of choices from rustic to luxurious. For numerous travelers, the most significant distinction boils down to the understanding of convenience instead of the real availability of amenities.