Top 10 African safari destinations drawing tourists in 2026

Africa welcomed about 74 million international tourists in 2024, a 12% increase from 2023 and above pre-pandemic levels, according to United Nations Tourism data. The momentum continued in 2025, with arrivals up 9% in the first quarter, making Africa the strongest-performing region in that period.

North Africa led much of the recovery, while sub-Saharan destinations rebuilt their visitor markets. Africa accounted for about 5.3% of global international tourist arrivals. Airlines, hotel companies and tourism operators are responding. Hilton and Marriott announced plans to expand their African hotel footprints as demand grows.

Tourism growth and fresh investment

The appeal of Africa goes beyond beach holidays and big-city tourism. The continent's strongest attractions remain tied to natural and cultural assets. For travellers planning a trip, the choice is less about finding a single African experience and more about deciding which one to have.

Here are destinations attracting attention from tourists, courtesy of SafariBookings, one of the largest online marketplaces for African safari tours.

The top destinations

Mahale Mountains National Park in Tanzania is one of East Africa's more remote wildlife destinations, set along the shores of Lake Tanganyika beneath forest-covered slopes. Its main attraction is a population of roughly 900 chimpanzees, habituated to human observers. Visitors can trek into the forest for close encounters.

Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe offers a more adventurous safari. The park allows guided and unguided walking in designated areas. Canoeing along the Zambezi River is another way to explore. Elephants, hippos, buffalo, crocodiles and waterbirds are common, while lions and leopards also live there.

South Luangwa National Park in Zambia is known for walking safaris and nighttime wildlife drives. Visitors explore on foot with experienced guides. Some operators offer multiday walking trips between temporary camps. The park is known for strong leopard-viewing opportunities.

Etosha National Park in Namibia is built around an enormous salt pan. In the dry season, wildlife gathers at permanent waterholes, making them productive places to see animals. Etosha is notable for its black rhino population and also supports lions, leopards and elephants. It is accessible for self-drive safaris.

The Okavango Delta in Botswana is one of Africa's most distinctive wilderness areas. The Okavango River spreads across the sands of the Kalahari, creating a vast inland wetland. Travelers explore the waterways in traditional mokoro dugout canoes, often encountering elephants, hippos and crocodiles.

Kruger National Park in South Africa is one of the continent's best-known safari destinations and a strong choice for self-drive visitors. The reserve supports the Big Five lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino, as well as cheetahs, hippos, giraffes and zebras. More than 500 bird species have been recorded.

Amboseli National Park in Kenya is famous for elephants moving across the plains with Mount Kilimanjaro rising in the background. It has hosted one of the world's longest-running elephant research projects. Its seasonal wetlands and dry acacia landscapes are important for birdwatchers.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda is one of Africa's most important destinations for seeing mountain gorillas. Guided trekking allows visitors to observe the animals in their mist-covered habitat. The experience can involve long hikes through dense vegetation, but the chance to encounter a gorilla family is the main draw.