People often ask, when planning a safari to Africa, what are the differences between the 2 regions. East Africa is basically Kenya and Tanzania whilst Southern Africa includes South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Mozambique.
Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia do form part of Southern Africa, but due to political instability (Zimbabwe) and lack of infrastructure in Zambia (except for the Livingstone-Victoria Falls area) and Malawi, these countries are not
recommended for first time visitors.
The wildlife species found in the two areas are very much the same. Most of the predators and plains game can be seen in both regions and only some birds and a few mammals and reptiles are distinct between the regions.
The main differences lie in the landscapes, weather and the experiences.
Landscapes
The landscapes and attractions differ substantially between the 2 regions with the landscapes of Southern Africa being more diverse. East Africa boasts Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti Plains, Maasai Mara ecosystem and the Ngorongoro Crater.
Southern Africa includes the Okavango Delta and St Lucia wetlands, the Skeleton Coast and Namib desert of Namibia, miles of coastline, diverse wilderness habitats such as the Kruger National Park, the semi-arid Kalahari Desert and the lower Zambezi River basin including Victoria Falls.
Weather
In East Africa, October marks the beginning of the “short rains” while April brings “long rains.” Many of the safari camps close during the long rains due to difficult driving conditions.
In Southern Africa, while each country varies, the rains generally fall between November and March with the rest of the year being mostly rain-free. Most of the camps stay open year-round. The rainy or “green” safari season in Southern Africa offers benefits such as herbivores having their babies and lush green landscapes.
Temperatures are similar between the regions with May through to August being the cooler months.
Safari Experience
Kenya and Tanzania offered superb wildlife viewing with a well-developed safari infrastructure of operators with both permanent camps and mobile safari circuits. East Africa offers herds of zebras and wildebeests in the hundreds of thousands. The annual migration between the Maasai Mara in the north and Tanzania’s Serengeti in the south is a spectacle unequaled anywhere on earth today.
The most common safari vehicle in East Africa is the mini-van with its pop-up roof, whereby passengers stand up to take pictures while peering out of the roof or sit in the enclosed vans. The the density of tourists is fairly high during high season.
In Southern Africa you’ll generally find higher concentration of animals in smaller areas. Botswana is home to 80% of Southern Africa’s 300,000 elephants and huge herds are a common sight along the northern borders. The Addo Elephant Park in South Africa’s Eastern Cape boasts the the highest number of elephants in a single park.
The Umfolozi Game Park in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa is home to the highest number of black and white rhino you’ll find on the continent.
Southern Africa is known for its luxury private tented safari camps and tracts of wilderness areas with very low tourist densities, making for a private safari experience. The safari vehicles used here are modified, open-air Land Rovers which also add to the intimacy of the experience. Private game reserves have an average camp size of only 10-16 guests and only two or three vehicles for the entire concession. You can drive all day and not encounter anything but wilderness and wildlife.
However, the National Parks (public parks) in Southern Africa, similar to East Africa, also have a high density of tourists. Most of the parks allow for self drive safaris with accommodation offered in rest camps within the parks. This is the most economical way of doing a safari and a major advantage for specifically families, but one has to cope with relative large number of tourists.
Whether you visit Southern or East Africa, there are no major differences. Choose a safari that fits your budget and appeals to you. This is a life-time experience and the destination not crucial.
For more info, view our Safari Planning Guide.
