East or Southern Africa?

Many people ask Africa Easy what the main differences are between a safari in East Africa and one in Southern Africa. We usually highlight three points that easily summarize what we feel are the primary differences for a first-time safari-goer. Perhaps this will get you thinking about which sort of experiences you prefer and where you should visit on your first safari. Contact us today to start planning your East or Southern Africa safari!

1) The Migration. Kenya's Masai Mara and Tanzania's Serengeti eco-system is home to the largest land-based migration in the world. The herbivores - wildebeest, zebra and Thompson gazelle - migrate in a clock-wise movement through the Serengeti and the Masai Mara following the green grasses.  Generally speaking, the peak months for the migration in Tanzania are January-early June (with the long rains in May) and late June/early July-October in Kenya. There is not a comparable migration in Southern Africa (although there are several smaller migrations that happen in the Kalahari and areas of Linyanti/Savute and Chobe in Botswana. If it's herds of hundreds and sometimes thousands of animals you are keen to spot, Kenya or Tanzania is your best bet! Remember that not all species migrate and that we cannot time the migration of those who do! We'll give it our best shot to put you in the right camps for the right time of the year. Plan well in advance (at least one year in some cases) to ensure availability at our favorite camps and lodges.

2) Landscape. East Africa offers large, expansive plains - the image that travelers often think of as typical African scene. Most safaris are done by 4x4 vehicle with a mixture of driving and flying. Water activities are not as prevalent as in Botswana, Zambia or Zimbabwe. Walking is also not as common, but available in private reserves. In Southern Africa landscapes vary significantly, especially in Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe where a mixture or dry land, waterways, lakes and deserts make up the topography. A variety of landscapes also means a variety of activities - boating, canoe trips (mokoro), 4x4 game drives and walking. Many wilderness areas in Southern Africa are private reserves, while many wilderness areas in East Africa are national parks and game reserves. Rules and regulations for game activities and numbers of visitors vary within each.


3) Culture. East Africa tends to offer a more intact traditional/tribal cultural experience than most places in Southern Africa (there are, of course, exceptions such as the San people or Himba). Many Maasai, Samburu, Datoga and other tribes live traditional lifestyles in East Africa, wearing handcrafted beads, clothing in the style that their ancestors wore years ago and living in traditional homes. Many ethnic groups in Southern Africa (such as South Africa's Zulu) live a more contemporary lifestyle on a regular basis. Another primary difference is that in many places in East Africa the local populations, such as the Maasai, are allowed to be within the game areas and are not always far removed from wilderness areas as they are in Southern Africa.


Photos by Africa Easy. 

Excellent Sighting at Savute Safari Camp

We've received reports from our partners in Botswana at Savute Safari Lodge (view of lodge at sunset, photo left) that earlier this month camp guests were lucky enough to see two wild dog mixed in with a herd of buffalo, a determined leopard stalking the same herd from behind a termite mound, and, finally a separate leopard sighting with a fresh impala kill pulled up in a tree! An amazing day of game viewing, no doubt, but if anyone were to experience a day like this it would be in Botswana! You can visit Savute Safari Lodge on Africa Easy's Best of Botswana Safari or on a custom Botswana safari. We are eagerly awaiting Nadia's return to the office from her extensive trip to East and Southern Africa - we'll have her highlights up on the blog next week!


View pictures and read more about this exciting day of game viewing at Savute Safari Lodge here. Contact Africa Easy for more great safari suggestions or to plan your safari to Africa. 

How does the Okavango Delta Flood?

The Okavango Delta in Botswana is the world's largest inland delta...but, how does it flood? Where does all of that water come from? Each year the Okavango River empties into the Kalahari Desert and rather than the water continuing on to a sea or outlet, it is lost through either evaporation or transpiration. The Delta is produced by a seasonal flood cycle that begins thousands of miles away as rain falls in the Angolan highlands. The rainfall then travels in a surge 1,200 kilometers southeast to Botswana. The waters begin to spread into the Delta as early as March-May and the flood peaks during Botswana's dry winter months (and the peak travel season) of June - August. During the peak flood months, the Delta can grow to three times its permanent size and helps sustain a diverse and large wildlife population. 


Thanks to the Delta, Africa Easy is able to take travelers to one of the most unique topographic and natural regions in the world. The Okavango Delta offers a variety of both land and water camps that each feature activities including walking safaris, 4x4 vehicle game drives, catch and release fishing, mokoro (canoe) rides, boat rides and more. Our Best of Botswana safari highlights the wide variety of experiences and camps available in the Okavango Delta and beyond. Africa Easy also designs customized safari itineraries to suit you budget, travel goals and timeline - contact us today! 


Photo courtesy Desert & Delta. 

Fun Wildlife Trivia

Check your African wildlife knowledge with this fun trivia from our May newsletter:

1) A group of giraffe is called a tower or a journey.

2) A group of baboons is called a troop or a congress.


3) A group of lions is called a pride. 


4) A group of cheetah is called a coalition (but cheetah are normally solitary animals so this is a bit of a tricky question!).

5) A group of crocodiles is called a bask or a float. 


Watch this space for more fun wildlife facts from Africa Easy!