The annual Great Migration of wildebeest and other grazing herbivores across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem
Headlines have underscored the pressures that can come with Africa's most famous wildlife experiences. A viral video showing safari vehicles disrupting the Great Migration in Tanzania's Serengeti prompted renewed questions about overcrowding and the wider impact of wildlife tourism.
While seeing the Big 5 or the Great Migration may still be the focus of an African vacation, travelers are increasingly looking beyond them. Go2Africa's latest State of Safari report points to a growing interest in active and immersive experiences.
"Most people think an African holiday means sitting in a vehicle looking for wildlife," says Justin Chapman, Africa safari expert at Go2Africa, in an email interview.
"The most interesting shift we're seeing isn't travelers moving away from safari," says Chapman. "It's that they're building much broader African journeys around it. Safari remains the anchor, but people are looking for more ways to experience the continent beyond the vehicle."
I interviewed several travel experts to find out how to do Africa differently.
A group of Wthiopian marabouts on the edge of a lake.
Ethiopia has recorded more than 860 bird species; 20 of them are endemics, found nowhere else in the world.
The country's varied landscapes, from the Ethiopian Highlands to Rift Valley lakes and semi-arid savannahs, allow travelers to encounter an unusually broad range of birdlife within a relatively compact area.
"Top birding destinations include Bale Mountains National Park, Awash National Park, the Rift Valley lakes, Debre Libanos and Nech Sar National Park," says Molla Miheretu, founder of Anbessa Travel, which specializes in tailor-made trips to the Horn of Africa, in an email interview.
Hippos and pelicans at Lake Chamo, Ethiopia
While birding is possible year-round, Miheretu recommends October through February as a particularly rewarding time to visit Ethiopia. During this time, dry weather coincides with the arrival of several migratory species from Europe and Asia.
Running is emerging as another way travelers can experience African landscapes beyond a traditional game drive.
At Kenya's Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the Run the Wild experience takes guests on a 3-4 mile run alongside conservation rangers, while Emboo Camp in the Masai Mara has even created a dedicated Strava route for guests who want to keep training.
A more ambitious option is Botswana's Okavango to Tsodilo Ultra-Trail, which links two UNESCO World Heritage Sites over 60 miles of wilderness in a four-night-long expedition.
