There are places that delight the soul. They make you want to stand tall, spread your arms wide, breathe deep and shout for joy. Tanzania has an abundance of such places. You feel that gigantic geological forces are still at work everywhere you turn. A landscape torn apart to form a rift valley sprinkled with lakes. Volcanoes thrown up, some conical, others which exploded long ago.

As lockdown restrictions are eased throughout Europe and the USA, many people are asking when they will be able to take that long-awaited safari holiday to Africa. We are in continual contact with clients who have already booked safaris to travel later in 2020, and with others who are wondering whether it is wise to plan a holiday to Africa for this winter. At time of writing in mid-May, here is our advice:

A safari in the wilds of Africa allows you space to pause and wonder – to gaze and reflect. Epic landscapes, the balanced beauty of creation, the absence of hurry. You would imagine that the day’s adventures end with the setting sun. But as one star disappears and the heavens turn indigo to black, millions more appear, filling the unpolluted skies. We’ve chosen a few of our favourite spots for safari stargazing.

Each African country offers its own unique safari experience. In Namibia it’s the spectacular deserts, in Zambia it’s the great rivers. In South Africa the essence is seeing an amazing variety of wildlife in ultimate comfort. It’s as though architects and entrepreneurs have decided to prove that being in the wilds is no obstacle to providing the best food, the most spectacular interiors, the most attentive service and outdoor decks and pools which have you suspended above the wildest of worlds. What better way to see the Big Five!

As we navigate this pandemic we’re all realising afresh the value of expertise. The same will be true when you get round to planning that oh-so-eagerly awaited next holiday!

Africa Exclusive started 30 years ago and when it comes to Africa, we’ve been there and done it! More than that though, we care about Africa – and we care about you. We care that, when the planning and creative process is done, you will embark on a safari that is absolutely perfect for you.

For the traveller, Zambia is defined by her great rivers. Greatest of all - the Zambezi - metamorphoses between a tranquil expanse, cascading falls and haunting lakes on its journey to the ocean, all the while an artery of life to countless animals. In contrast, the Luangwa wends lazily past great elephant herds, lion and giraffe in looping twists and turns.

From April to November, you can disappear into a sequence of delightfully unpretentious camps and lodges, each in a handpicked patch of paradise. Walk, ride, canoe, fly or cycle in privacy on an expertly guided safari of a lifetime.

A safari is a family holiday that your children will cherish forever. Over the last 30 years we have received hundreds of questions from both parents and children alike. We have answered some of the most frequently asked below.

We have been exploring Africa’s wild places for 30 years, yet we still find ourselves gazing in wonder at every opportunity to get up close to our planet’s awesome creatures. That many of them are endangered makes the privilege that much greater and when it comes to an exceptional wildlife safari, conservation is intrinsically connected.

A land of contrasts, Botswana has long captured the hearts of countless travellers with its seasonal ebbs and flows. Each year, the flooding channels of the Okavango Delta beckon wildlife from near and far; rains transform the stark Makgadikgadi and Nxai salt pans into a blanket of green; and dusty footprints trace paths to the vast elephant herds that gather in Chobe National Park. Comparing the verdant patchwork of green in the north to the lunar Kalahari landscapes further south is a feast for the senses, a feast which makes for an unforgettable geographical study in the span of a single trip. Discover Africa’s most exclusive safari destination from the comfort of your home on this Sensory Safari.

When The Beatles recorded the opening line of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds for their Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album, they could well have been describing the journey as you cruise along the Zambezi River, an evening river safari flanked by hippos in Malawi’s Majete Wildlife Reserve, or a glass of something cold and sparkling as you enjoy a sundowner in the sublime Okavango Delta. In fact, it could apply to any number of the dusk-time boat journeys along Africa’s peaceful waterways, where the vivid orange of the sunset gives way with surprising speed to a canopy of diamond-like stars, twinkling in the inky blackness of the night.

As the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to develop on a daily basis, our primary concern is for the safety and well-being of our clients, partners and team members. Every holiday we arrange is uniquely designed to appreciate our clients’ individuality and we are approaching the current situation in the same way.

Close your eyes and picture a scene of Africa. What is it that you see? Is it the wide, open plains and the migrations of thousands of gazelle? Is it the pyramids at Giza, rising out of the desert like mountains? Or is it the rolling vineyards of Stellenbosch, glistening in the sunshine? Whatever your vision, it is unlikely that it is an island, for although there are hundreds, if not thousands, of such enclaves dotted in and around the continent, they are amongst Africa’s best kept secrets.