While some of the most exceptional safaris are shaped by Africa’s wild unpredictability, timing is still key to unlocking the continent’s diverse landscapes, wildlife, and the best of its active pursuits.
Arno Delport, Sales & Marketing Manager at Acacia Africa, said: "As a specialist in overland adventures for almost three decades, we’ve seen a growing appetite for safaris that go beyond the vehicle—think canoeing, sandboarding, scuba diving, and horse riding, these activities immersing travellers in Africa’s wild places in an even more personal way.
“It’s often the less obvious details that transform these trips: the clarity of the air for photography in Namibia’s spring, the stillness of Botswana’s floodplains in April, or the exposed gorges of the Zambezi in September as you prepare to take on its legendary rapids. Timing your adventure to match these moments is everything.”
September is a go-to for more adventurous holidays across East and Southern Africa, with ideal conditions for land- and water-based safaris. Smaller groups of wildebeest and zebra linger in central Serengeti, drawing predators, while Lake Malawi's mating cichlids beckon snorkelers to view their colourful mating dances and sand-inspired love shacks.
For an added adrenaline rush, travellers are looking at peak Grade 5 thrills on the Zambezi, the Adventure Camping tour beginning in Livingstone.
21-Day Victoria Falls to Serengeti from £2,675pp (no single supplement) + Adventure Pass £690pp, including all highlights, transport, accommodation (16 nights camping in 2-person dome tents, 4 nights twin share tourist class hotel), most meals, and the services of a tour leader and driver. Starts Livingstone - ends Nairobi. https://acacia-africa.com/tours/21day-victoria-falls-to-serengeti-camping-25EAE21
A June cycling safari in Eswatini will see you pedalling along the firm dirt tracks of Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary past grazing zebras and grunting hippos, these mighty "River Horses" lounging in the shallows of the nearby dam. Predator-free trails allow for more intimate exploration, with longer horseback riding safaris taking you across the plains and up Nyonyane Mountain to spend the night in a Bushman cave—your newfound rustic shelter tucked beneath a granite overhang with a fresh stream running through it. Spy impala, warthog, kudu, and possibly wildebeest en route, before gathering around the fire for a hearty potjiekos (stew) and drifting off to sleep to the distant calls of jackals, as Lobamba’s lights twinkle below. An optional swim at Manzane Spring caps off the experience.
The 7-day Kruger, Eswatini & Durban Adventure Camping tour also features a Swazi village tour, including a guided walk near the Royal Enclosure, along with further Big 5 safaris in the Kruger and a cruise on the St. Lucia estuary, a birder' paradise.
From £875pp (no single supplement) + Adventure Pass £74pp, including all highlights, transport, accommodation (6 nights camping in twin-share (2-person) dome tents), most meals, and the services of a tour leader and driver. Starts Pretoria - ends Durban.
https://acacia-africa.com/tours/7day-kruger-eswatini-and-durban-camping-25KSB7
July is a favourite time to travel on the 9-day Gorillas and Nile River Encounter Adventure Camping tour, the dry conditions (20-28°C) ideal for trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Clearer trails and less dense foliage make it easier to navigate the jungle terrain, and without heavy rain or mist, your photography will capture sharper, more vivid moments of the gorillas up close. At Lake Bunyonyi, Africa’s second-deepest lake, calm waters invite canoeing and kayaking among scenic islands, while the thinner foliage along its edges makes it easier to spot grey-crowned cranes, herons, and weavers. In contrast, Jinja, located where the Nile flows from Lake Victoria, is a hub for adrenaline-charged activities like white water rafting, the season offering up thrilling yet safe rapids. A truly wild escape, chimpanzee trekking and visits to picturesque villages also feature on the itinerary.
From £1,385pp (no single supplement) + Gorilla & Chimp Trekking Permit £820pp, including all highlights, transport, accommodation (8 nights camping in twin-share (2-person) dome tents), most meals, and the services of a tour leader and driver. Starts Kampala - ends Kampala. https://acacia-africa.com/tours/9day-gorillas-and-nile-river-encounter-camping-25TTG9
October brings some of the year’s most dramatic wildlife gatherings at Etosha National Park, with lions, leopards, rhinos, and giraffes crowding around shrinking waterholes before the rains arrive. Down in Swakopmund, Namibia’s adventure capital, mild, dry days are perfect for sandboarding, quad biking, or even skydiving above the rolling Namib dunes, while warm evenings invite strolls along the seafront and time to linger in local restaurants. For those looking to slow the pace, October also offers ideal conditions for canoe safaris on the Orange River, where calm waters carry you along flower-dusted banks, fish eagles call overhead, and wildlife pauses at the edge for a drink. A journey highlighting some of Southern Africa's most breathtaking landscapes, the 11-day Namibia to Cape Town Adventure Camping tour also includes an early morning dune climb and the opportunity to explore the rocky depths of Sesriem Canyon.
From £1,495pp (no single supplement), including all highlights, transport, accommodation (8 nights camping in 2-person dome tents, 2 nights dorm), most meals, and the services of a tour leader and driver. Starts Windhoek - ends Cape Town. https://acacia-africa.com/tours/11day-namibia-to-cape-town-camping-25SCDS11
For a refreshing twist on safari season, consider Botswana’s Okavango Delta in April. As the wet season draws to a close, the Delta transforms into a lush, water-filled world where channels spill over into floodplains, attracting hippos, crocodiles, and elephants. It’s the perfect time to glide silently in your eco-friendly fibreglass mokoro along its papyrus-lined waterways, spotting kingfishers flashing past reeds and fish eagles calling overhead. Back on terra firma, immersive walking safaris will take you across the delta's many small islands where zebra and red lechwe graze. At the tail end of the trip, soak up the Chobe River and Botswana’s green season at its most lively. Catch sight of elephants, buffalo, hippos, and possibly even the rare, marsh-dwelling sitatunga antelope congregating along the water’s edge, as vibrant sunsets reflect off swollen rivers.
8-day Okavango Delta & Chobe Express Adventure Camping tour from £1,185pp (no single supplement) + Adventure Pass from £288pp including all highlights, transport, camping accommodation (6 nights camping in 2-person dome tents, 1-night tented camp with en-suite facilities), most meals, and the services of a tour leader and driver. Starts in Windhoek - ends Livingstone. https://acacia-africa.com/tours/8day-okavango-delta-and-chobe-express-camping-25NOCE8
All prices exclude return flights. Year-round scheduled departures. Acacia Africa's Adventure Camping and Adventure Accommodated Tours are aimed at travellers aged 18+. Small Group Safaris from 8 years. Acacia offers pre- and post-accommodation and a wide selection of city breaks and short stays.
