# Hidden Africa: African safaris designed to be different

> Luxury African Safari packages and tours in Africa's must see and hidden places, tailor made by local Africa Travel experts\.

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## Pages
- [Penguins](https://hiddenafrica.com/penguins/)
- [Enquire Now](https://hiddenafrica.com/enquire-now-2/)
- [African safaris](https://hiddenafrica.com/)
- [Blog](https://hiddenafrica.com/blog/)
- [Home Dev](https://hiddenafrica.com/home-dev/)

## Posts
- [Hidden in Africa's Wildest Corner](https://hiddenafrica.com/blog/hidden-in-africas-wildest-corner/): Best African Safari Offer: EcoTraining in the Selinda Reserve – a luxury learning safari experience in Africa's Wildest Hidden corner\.
- [Botswana vs Tanzania](https://hiddenafrica.com/blog/botswana-vs-tanzania/): From Africa's Eden and thriving wildlife, to landscapes unchanged for millennia \- Southern Africa offers the best African safari\.
- [What to Pack for Your Botswana Safari: Clothing Tips and Tricks](https://hiddenafrica.com/blog/what-to-pack-for-your-botswana-safari/): What to pack for your Botswana safari\. This is your practical, honest, and slightly cheeky guide to essentials and how to navigate the seasons\.

## Properties
- [Giraffe Manor](https://hiddenafrica.com/accommodation/giraffe-manor/): One of the most iconic hotels in the world, stately Giraffe Manor is tucked into a leafy indigenous forest in the Langata suburb of Nairobi\. The nearly 100\-year\-old property shares its grounds with a herd of Nubian giraffes, who regularly appear at breakfast, poking their big heads through the windows to start their day with a hearty serving of grass pellets \(your menu is more exciting\)\. Beyond giraffe hangouts, you can spend your first days in Kenya luxuriating in the infinity pool, munching lunch in the courtyard, and sipping sundowners on the terrace\.
Nesting arrangements
The 12 country\-house\-style bedrooms \(think four\-poster beds and floral fabrics\) are split evenly between the original 1932 Historic Manor and the replica Garden Manor – the former is typically reserved for guests on a circuit of Safari Collection properties, such as Sala’s Camp and Sasaab\.
The rooms are all decorated individually, with views across the forested sanctuary, and are often frequented by those leggy neighbours\. Families have a choice of two\-bedroom units, such as the Finch Hatton Suite in the Garden Manor, which is above the breakfast room – in the morning, you can feed the giraffes from your bedroom balcony\.
Food philosophy
Giraffe Manor rates include all meals and most drinks\. When the weather’s good, you can dine outside in the courtyard, and on chillier evenings, dinner will be served inside \(both manors have dining rooms\)\. If you’re staying for two nights, your second evening may feature a private candlelit dinner in the orchid house or in the wine cellar\.
Afternoon tea is a late arvo ritual where a spread of sweet and savoury treats is laid out – something that doesn’t escape the notice of the resident giants\. And don’t miss sundowners at the Historic Manor’s bar – we recommend Kelly’s Kick, a zesty vodka cocktail named after a particularly feisty giraffe\.
Secret sauce
No surprises here – Giraffe Manor’s USP is in the name\. A herd of critically endangered Nubian \(also known as Rothschild’s\) giraffes live in the sanctuary on which the hotel is based – and they have a habit of popping up throughout your stay\.
These supermodels of the bush are regular guests at breakfast – if you’re not a morning person, you must make an exception here\. Hold out a handful of their dried grass pellets and try not to be alarmed by their 20\-inch, purple\-blue tongues\. If you’re staying above the breakfast room, you might wake up to a nosy, long\-lashed face peering into your window\. There is really nowhere else like this\. Lean into the surrealness and make sure you soak up the experience without getting too distracted by the photo ops\.
Want to learn more about your neck\-cellent neighbours? Head on over to the Giraffe Centre, a short stroll away, where you can read about the conservation\-based breeding programme\.
One more thing…
The Retreat is Giraffe Manor’s new wellness centre – an absolute must\-visit for tired travellers and a handy place to hang out if you have a late flight \(booking ahead is essential\)\. Swim laps in the 21\-metre infinity pool or loosen your muscles with a hot tub dip\. Book a massage or a facial in the spa\. Blow off steam in the gym or spend a while reading in the rooftop garden\. Day rooms are available if you need somewhere to relax or nap before an evening flight, and you can have lunch at Daisy’s Café, too\.
- [Olakira Migration Camp](https://hiddenafrica.com/accommodation/olakira-migration-camp/): A typical day at Olakira Migration Camp could start with a full cooked breakfast served in the bush and end with you falling asleep on your own personal stargazing deck\. The camp has two seasonal locations, following the wildebeest migration herds – plus the gazelles and zebras that tag along and the predators that skirt the edges – on their everlasting journey around the Serengeti\. And if you’re the type of traveler that comes armed with camera lenses that can make out life in the next galaxy, be sure to book Olakira’s fully decked\-out photographic vehicle\.
Nesting arrangements 
Olakira might be a semi\-permanent camp, but the tents are far from fly camping vibes, with big beds, earthy\-toned fabrics, ensuite bathrooms, solar\-heated water, Wi\-Fi, and battery charging facilities\. The northern site has ten tents and two family units, while the southern site has nine tents and one family unit \(kids over five are welcome\)\.
The tent decks have mesh coverings, because they’re ground level and any old animal could stroll through camp\. And here’s something positively stellar: you can request a bed to be set up on the deck, so you can sleep beneath the stars\.
Food philosophy
Because game drives tend to depart early, you might just have something simple like a bowl of porridge by the fire before you head out\. Second breakfast, however, will be a hearty sit\-down picnic in the bush with eggs cooked just the way you like them and fresh bread baked in a Dutch oven\.
Otherwise, meals are served in the dining area at camp, under the shade of trees at lunch or under the stars for dinner\. Food is simple and local – mains might be beef with Swahili spices or grilled tilapia\. Meanwhile, the fire serves as the camp’s bar, a place to share stories with other guests or learn more from your guide\.
Secret sauce
Migration camps are a Serengeti specialty, and Olakira has two very lovely locations\. Stalking the herds like a painfully slow predator, the camp spends December to March in the southern Serengeti and pops up in the north between June and October\.
The season from December to March is when the wildebeest drop their young in the lush grasses of the southern Serengeti; Olakira is based in Ndutu, in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, just outside the national park\. This period is what we call the “secret season” – way quieter than June to October, but with so much to see\. Watch a baby wildebeest’s first wobbly steps – a captivating sight for prowling predators, too, but for very different reasons \(gulp\)\.
June to October is when the famous river crossings happen – this is in the northern Serengeti as the wildebeest travel into Kenya’s Maasai Mara, before returning at the end of the season\. Olakira sets up camp in the Bolongonja area for this peak period, near the Mara border\.
One more thing…
You can book the camp’s private photographic vehicle, decked out to make you feel like a pro – we’re talking swivel seats, sides that drop down so you can get on eye level with wildlife, beanbags and foam supports for your camera, charging ports…and a three\-person maximum so everyone has ample space\. Your guide will be an avid photographer, too – not only predicting the animal’s movements, but working with the light to maneuver your vehicle into award\-winning angles\.
- [Sala's Camp](https://hiddenafrica.com/accommodation/salas-camp/): Perched where the Mara merges into the Serengeti, Sala’s Camp is a seven\-tent haven with a five\-star location\. It’s amongst the first to greet the Great Migration wildebeest herds in July and the last to see them on their way back in September or October\. Beyond the herds, a typical game drive might find a leopard draped in a tree or a black rhino death\-staring out from its bushy hiding place\. And these epic encounters are balanced with lovely stuff like leisurely breakfasts in the bush, afternoons cooling off in your private plunge pool and massage sessions on the spa deck\.
Nesting arrangements
Dotted along the riverbank, with wooden decks, ensuite bathrooms and private plunge pools, the seven tented suites are either doubles or family tents with two bedrooms\. The décor is classic East African safari: Persian rugs, wicker\-back chairs, neutral tones with pops of red and brass basins\.
Spend your afternoons on the deck, maybe practicing yoga if it’s not too hot \(you’ll find a mat in your room\) or otherwise wallowing in the pool\. The sunken seating area makes for a perfect nook to curl up with a book, while the hammock is the ultimate siesta spot – just try to keep your eyes open\.
Food philosophy
One of the best ways to start the day is with an early game drive – hopefully catching an active pride of lions before they conk out – and wrapping it up with a full breakfast in the shade of an acacia tree\. Sala’s vehicles have built\-in stoves, so – how do you like your eggs?
Another feature of Sala’s custom\-built vehicles: a well\-stocked vintage bar cabinet that reveals itself at sunset\. There is simply nothing like a G\&T in the bush, but \(BBC voice\) other beverages are available\.
Dinner might be a candlelit affair with tables set up along the dry riverbed, with chefs preparing your food on a barbecue\. You can also dine privately on your deck, if you need a bit of…alone time\.
Secret sauce
On safari, it’s all about location\. And Sala’s Camp has a great one – not least because it’s relatively common to do a game drive without seeing another vehicle, which is gold dust in the Mara\.
If you’re visiting between July and October and hoping to see the Great Migration, you’re in the best place\. Sala’s Camp is in the southern Mara, where the wildebeest herds arrive on their journey from the Serengeti\. You can often see them around camp – on the plains or gathering on the riverbanks, preparing to take the plunge and cross the croc\-filled waters\.
At any other time of year, you’re still able to take advantage of the prime location on your twice\-daily game drives, watching elephants browsing, cheetahs scanning the plains, lions hunting – plus giraffes, rhinos, buffalos and hundreds of bird species\.
One more thing…
Maximise your afternoon downtime with a treatment or two, be that a deep tissue massage or a moisturising facial to combat the dry air of the bush\. The spa tent has two double rooms, which can be booked for an individual or a couple\. Both have private decks, where you might indulge in an al fresco aromatherapy massage to the sounds of bird song and leaves rustling in the breeze\.
- [Saseka Tented Camp](https://hiddenafrica.com/accommodation/saseka-tented-camp/): Setting the Scene
Sitting proudly on the edge of the Monwana River, you’ll find Saseka\. Lounging beneath the lush canopies of the seasonal riverbed, Saseka’s definitely got the best seat in the house\. So good, you could spot just about any of the Big 5 from your outrageously plush bed\. You’re in the Greater Kruger, after all, the birthplace of luxury safari, and Saseka fits in effortlessly\.  
Wildly Stylish Sleeping Arrangements 
Saseka is the only tented camp in this little area of the Greater Kruger, known as Thornybush\. And, she owns it\. Saseka’s your friend who shows up in neutrals but still manages to outdress everyone\. Stylishly understated and effortlessly cool\. Just step inside one of nine canvas suites and you’ll see exactly what we mean\. Soaring circus\-top ceilings, earthy accents, and botanical prints that bloom across the tent walls \(who even thinks of that?\)\. Add a private riverside deck, plunge pool, and outdoor shower \(you know, the basics\), and you’ve got something close to magic\. Not to mention the most perfect bath\. 
Food Philosophy
All this excitement is bound to work up an appetite\. Don’t worry, hunger is a short\-lived emotion at Saseka\. Like a culinary conveyor belt with impeccable taste, meals appear just when you think, “I could nibble” \(I mean, when in Rome\)\. From bush snacks and high\-teas to fire\-lit feasts, the good stuff keeps coming\. Expect to leave full, happy, and vaguely suspicious that your trousers have shrunk\. If one thing’s for sure, it’s that breakfast at Saseka is most certainly the most important meal of the day \(especially if it’s got anything to do with their bush breakfasts\)\. We’ll leave it at that\. And where to even start with dinner? The Monwana’s bone\-dry riverbed practically begs for a glass of wine and a lantern\-lit dinner under the stars\.
Wild Origins
Days at Saseka are as thrilling or lazy as you please\. If you’re anything like us, they start with an Amarula coffee and a rusk \(or two\) before heading into the sunrise for a game drive\. You’re deep in leopard country here, so keep your eyes peeled\. And, if you’re lucky, you might just spot a pack of wild dogs on the move, or lions before their mid\-day slumber\. Birders, bring the binoculars — the skies are alive\! Come late afternoon, it’s all about golden light and good company\. Trade stories with your guide and tracker whilst enjoying the ritual of a bush sundowner, as the bush comes alive around you\. 
Also…
Who would’ve thought — a quick infrared sauna session and cold plunge to break up your safari fun? Saseka has everything wellness\-related you could possibly need in the bush, and then some\. Think massages that melt every muscle, scrubs, wraps and facials that leave you glowing, manis, pedis, and yes… even waxing\. Because who says the bush can’t pamper you, too?
- [Wilderness Mara](https://hiddenafrica.com/accommodation/wilderness-mara/): Wilderness Mara, known for decades as Governors’ Camp, is the original permanent tented camp in the Masai Mara National Reserve\. Hammering its first stakes into the ground back in 1972, it’s here where luxury safaris began\. This area was once reserved for Kenya’s British governors but thankfully the dress code has relaxed since then \(“white” is not required, but a little “mischief” is still encouraged\)\.  It’s still considered one of the best locations for viewing wildlife in the Mara\. 
Its 12 khaki\-clad tented suites are generously spread out above the chocka\-a\-croc Mara River\. Each en\-suite has its own veranda for post\-lunch downtime – whether that involves a nap or popping open a bottle of bubbly \(followed by…a nap\)\. 
A safari at Wilderness Mara is about the game drives—cranky lions prowling and the growls of lazy leopard lounging\. Big cats abound\. For those keen to get even higher up the food chain, hot air ballooning offers breathtaking views while drifting slowly over the Mara at sunrise\. Maasai village visits, meanwhile, are a fascinating way to learn just how wildly unqualified you’d be to survive in the wild\.
Visit the spa tent and spend the afternoon being kneaded and pummelled \(in a good way\)\. Or grab a chilly beverage at the bar tent, which overlooks the river\. If you’re visiting between August and October, you might even see the migration herds crossing right in front of camp – talk about front\-row seats\.
As with most safaris, you’ll not be left wanting on the food front – from a full English brekkie to a three\-course lunch on the lawn and a buffet dinner, feeling even vaguely peckish will be a distant memory by the time you check out\.
Come back from your afternoon game drive for sundowners and a round of enthusiastic \(if wildly inaccurate\) wildlife impressions around the campfire\. Then it’s dinner, followed by a cheeky nightcap in the lounge—assuming you can resist the gravitational pull of your warm, pillowy bed\. Safaris do tend to enforce the bedtime routine of a seven\-year\-old, and honestly, we’re not complaining\.

## Itineraries
- [Meet the Gorillas: A 7\-Night Rainforest Adventure in the Congo](https://hiddenafrica.com/safari-tour-ideas/meet-the-gorillas-a-rainforest-adenture-in-the-congo/): This Odzala\-Kokoua National Park itinerary is for the wild at heart and adventurous of souls\. Seven nights in the so\-called green heart of Africa – the Congo rainforest – gives you time to move between three lodges and explore the environments that make up this biodiverse swathe of jungle in the Republic of the Congo\.
The headline activity is an encounter with the western lowland gorillas that dwell in this park\. From the lovely Ngaga Lodge, you can trek directly into the forest to find the troops\. The camp’s also a centre of research, so you might be joined by primatologists or meet them for a fireside chat over a G\&T\. 
But that’s just the start\. You’ll kayak down rivers, wade through waterways, spot forest elephants and buffalo, and tick dozens of bird species off your checklist\. Even your sleeping arrangements come with new views: Ngaga Lodge is tucked into the jungle, Lango Lodge is on the edge of a waterlogged forest clearing, and Mboko Lodge is sandwiched between a river and savannah\. And while there’s always an action\-packed adventure waiting, you can equally just spend a morning or afternoon hanging out on your deck, soaking it all in\. 
- [10\-Night Mozambique Safari: Gorongosa \& Benguerra Island](https://hiddenafrica.com/safari-tour-ideas/10-night-mozambique-safari-gorongosa-benguerra-island/): Combining two Southern African highlights, this 10\-night adventure is equal parts adventure and relaxation\. Like a fine wine, good trips need time to breathe – which is why we’ve dedicated five whole nights to each destination\. 
First up is a safari at the iconic Gorongosa National Park, where 20\-odd years of restoration efforts have helped the park and its people bounce back from the effects of a long civil war\. It’s one of the most gobsmackingly interesting safari destinations on the continent – yes, the wildlife and landscapes are incredible, but investments in education, farming, health and science add different dimensions to the experience\. Holistic conservation for the win\.
In part two, we’re heading to the beach for a solid dose of downtime\. Surrounded by white sands and sparkly sea, Benguerra Island is just off the coast of Mozambique\. We keep the itinerary loose here – you can cram in every available activity, from seahorse snorkelling to coastal kayaking, or just use these days to kick back in your beach villa, slurp some cocktails and read your book\.
- [An Antarctic Expedition: the South Pole \& Emperor Penguins](https://hiddenafrica.com/safari-tour-ideas/an-antarctic-expedition-the-south-pole-emperor-penguins/): When you make it to the South Pole, you join a tiny club of fewer than 500 people who visit the world’s most southerly point every year\. That’s the undoubted highlight of this epic seven\-night adventure to Antarctica\. But you also get to see emperor penguins in the wild, hike cliffside trails with views across the frigid landscape, and wake up on the Antarctic ice – real privileges that very few others get to experience\.
Your trip starts in Cape Town, South Africa\. From here, you’ll hop on a logistics flight heading to Antarctic research stations and make the 5\.5\-hour journey to East Antarctica\. Three ridiculously comfy camps \(especially given the location\) allow you to stay on land, rather than peering in from aboard a cruise ship\. Getting to the South Pole involves an overnight side\-trip, staying in an even more remote camp\. When you get back to the main base, a Champagne celebration awaits\.
As with all Antarctic trips, weather makes the plans – so flexibility is key\. Here’s a sample day\-to\-day itinerary of how your South Pole adventure might look\.
- [The Ultimate Penguin Tour: Africa to Antarctica](https://hiddenafrica.com/safari-tour-ideas/ultimate-penguin-tour-africa-to-antarctica/): This trip combines two of the world’s most beautiful places and two of the world’s most fabulous penguins\. Split between South Africa, where you’ll find critically endangered African penguins, and Antarctica, home to the famous emperor penguins, this itinerary is real once\-in\-a\-lifetime stuff\.
For the South African portion, you’ll spend three nights a couple of hours outside Cape Town at one of our favourite hotels, Coot Club\. In between oodles of downtime, there are optional outings to see African penguins in the ocean, on the beach or at a rescue centre in Gansbaai\. Because these little guys are critically endangered, we may not have much more time to see them in the wild\. 
After a restful stay at Coot Club, we’re heading south\. A flight from buzzy Cape Town takes you straight into the wilderness of East Antarctica\. A collection of tiny, low\-impact camps allows visitors to stay on the ice instead of cruising through – and act as a base from which to journey to the remote Atka Bay thousands\-strong emperor penguin colony\. Unlike the pocket\-sized African penguins, these guys stand over a metre in height, burly enough to survive the brutal Antarctic winters\. As this trip is a November departure, you’ll get to see their little ‘uns, too – grey and fluffy and just getting used to waddling on their own two feet\.
As with all trips to Antarctica, weather is the master planner – so the below is a sample itinerary that might be tweaked for safety\.
- [Antarctica: The Ultimate Day Trip](https://hiddenafrica.com/safari-tour-ideas/the-ultimate-antarctica-day-trip/): Maybe you don’t fancy a long trip, perhaps you’re short on time\. You might want to book for a very special occasion – or just because\. A day trip to Antarctica not only allows you to set foot on Antarctic ice \(an amazing thing in itself\), but you also get three hours to explore the White Continent before heading home\.
For your Cape Town base, you’ll be checking in at The Silo hotel, one of the fanciest and artiest places to stay\. From here, you’ll be driven to the airport for the 5\.5\-hour flight southwards\. Say a brief goodbye to the Cape’s summer – layers are key for this transition\.
A note on sustainability\. The day trips fit into existing operations – the planes are already flying supplies in and out for Antarctic research bases, with spare seats for visitors on each flight\. Day trips can be booked throughout the whole Antarctic season \(November to February\) – but they’re really popular, so book early\.

## Activities
- [Hot Air Balloon](https://hiddenafrica.com/activity/hot-air-balloon/)
- [Quad Biking](https://hiddenafrica.com/activity/quad-biking/)
- [Horse Riding](https://hiddenafrica.com/activity/horse-riding/)
- [Sunset Cruise](https://hiddenafrica.com/activity/sunset-cruise/)
- [Boat Safari](https://hiddenafrica.com/activity/boat-safari/)

## Archetypes
- [The Lazy Leopard](https://hiddenafrica.com/blog/archetype/the-lazy-leopard/)
- [The Cheeky Monkey](https://hiddenafrica.com/blog/archetype/the-cheeky-monkey/)
- [The Happy Hippo](https://hiddenafrica.com/blog/archetype/the-happy-hippo/)
- [The Passionate Penguins](https://hiddenafrica.com/blog/archetype/the-passionate-penguins/)
- [The Mighty Matriarch](https://hiddenafrica.com/blog/archetype/the-mighty-matriarch/)

## Habitats
- [Caves \& Basins– Tsingy, Madagascar](https://hiddenafrica.com/habitats/caves-tsingy-madagascar/)
- [Savannah – Tsingy, Madagascar](https://hiddenafrica.com/habitats/savannah-tsingy-madagascar/)
- [Dry Deciduous Forests – Tsingy, Madagascar](https://hiddenafrica.com/habitats/dry-deciduous-forests-madagascar/)
- [Tsingy Karst Plateaus – Madagascar](https://hiddenafrica.com/habitats/tsingy-karst-plateaus-madagascar/)
- [Savannah – Tanzania](https://hiddenafrica.com/habitats/savannah-tanzania/)

## Safari Destinations
- [Kenya](https://hiddenafrica.com/safari-destination/kenya/): The very word ‘safari’ – Swahili for ‘journey’ – is rooted in Kenya\. Though much has changed since the first expeditions \(you can leave your pith helmet at home\), a typical day remains largely unchanged – from rising at dawn to sundowners and storytelling around the fire\.
The Maasai Mara, with its savannah expanses, pockets of thick bush and the crocodilicious Mara River, is one of Africa’s most renowned safari destinations\. Lions prowl the edge of the plains, hungrily eying herds of zebras and gazelles, as thousands of wildebeest navigate perilous river crossings\. Drink it in \(G\&T and all\) with game drives, bush walks, sunrise hot air balloon flights, or over an indulgent hilltop picnic à la Out of Africa\.
Beyond the Mara, there’s much more to explore – Amboseli’s big tusker elephants and killer Kilimanjaro views, Laikipia’s rolling plains and conservation strongholds, the pure white sands of the East African coast, and blissfully restful Lamu Island\. Travelling to Kenya doesn’t limit you to safaris\. There are mountains to climb, cities to explore, and beaches to lion \(get it?\)\.
- [Andasibe\-Mantadia National Park](https://hiddenafrica.com/safari-destination/madagascar/andasibe-mantadia-national-park/): Take a squizz at a map of Madagascar, and you’ll notice the eastern shoulder is basically one long, green blur\. That’s rainforest\. The dense, dripping, misty, “Are we lost?” kind\. Andasibe–Mantadia National Park lives right in the middle of that chaos, and it quietly hoards some of the most eyebrow\-raising wildlife on the island\.
Just 150km from Antananarivo, Madagascar’s most iconic rainforest safari is pretty accessible \(so long as you don’t mind a few bumps in the road\)\. You’ll know you’ve arrived at Andisibe\-Mantadia long before you’ve seen a thing\. A call that could only be mistaken for a helium foghorn rattles through the canopies like whale song\. If you weren’t awake, you are now\. The iconic Indri Indri \(Madagascar’s largest lemur\) rules the canopies here\. 
And how to describe the rest of the wildlife you’ll find here? Unfamiliar\. Miss\-assembled? Hard to believe\. “What on earth is that?”\. These rainforests are heaving with creatures that even the most creative of minds would struggle to conjure up \(but nothing that wants to eat you\)\. 14 lemur species, birdlife galore, chameleons in every size, golden frogs that gleam from the undergrowth, vanishing leaf\-tailed geckos, giant butterflies, and the particularly ridiculous giraffe weevil\.
Andisibe\-Mantadia is split into two different sections\. Analamazoatra and Mantadia\. Analamazoatra eases you in with familiar paths and habituated indri families \(that aren’t as quick to judge\)\. Head deeper into Mantadia, and things quickly change\. Trails get steeper\. Trees lean in\. Ferns take over\. At this point, you just nod and keep going – something good is bound to be around the corner\. We think you’ll be quick to agree that this is one of the strangest, richest corners of the natural world\.
- [Tsingy de Namoroka National Park](https://hiddenafrica.com/safari-destination/madagascar/tsingy-de-namoroka-national-park/): Somewhere on Madagascar’s northwestern bulge, you will find a national park that is home to one of the island’s most spectacular, strangest and least explored landscapes \(which, in Madagascar, is saying something\)\. Stepping into Tsingy de Namoroka National Park is like falling into the pages of Journey to the Centre of the Earth\. It’s a place of extraordinary contradictions, and the further you venture, the more the landscape transforms\.
Open savannahs stretch into rocky earth where limestone pinnacles break through the ground, forming Madagascar’s famous “Tsingy” rock formations\. Gnarled baobabs sit improbably atop tsingy cathedrals\. Tree roots and vines wind their way through every crack and crevice\. Barren rock shape\-shifts into caves and canyons that eventually spit you out to portal\-like pools\. Hallucinogenic blue\-green, these natural swimming pools could very well hold the secret to eternal youth, or, at the very least, an ancient city beneath the surface\.
And then there’s the wildlife\. Much like the rest of Madagascar, the wildlife here is just as crazy as the landscapes\. Around species of birds fill its canopy and cliffsides, reptiles lurk around every corner, and flying foxes and bats roost in the caves\. Among the more recent celebrity sightings is Brookesia bonsai, a chameleon species so tiny and elusive it was only rediscovered here after being feared lost to science – proof there’s still plenty this park hasn’t given up\. And how can we forget, the stars of the show – the lemurs\! Namoroka is home to ten species of lemur, including the elusive and highly endangered aye\-aye\. And how could we forget, hiding in the wings is the fossa\! Madagascar’s largest carnivorous mammal \(a lemur’s worst nightmare\)\.
- [Gorongosa National Park](https://hiddenafrica.com/safari-destination/mozambique/gorongosa-national-park/): Visiting Gorongosa National Park isn’t your typical safari trip – aside from extraordinary animal encounters, you’ll contribute to the recovery of wildlife, witness groundbreaking scientific research in action and support a plethora of community development initiatives\.
That said, the safari experience alone is truly special\. Wild dogs chase herds of antelopes across the plains, lions prowl the woodlands, and crocodiles cram the park’s waterways in chilling numbers\. Testy elephants trumpet at passing game vehicles, and pangolins crawl around the undergrowth, snacking on some of the 200 ant species that exist here\. From the wild giants to teeniest critters, Gorongosa National Park is thriving – but it’s been a journey\.
A brief history
Gorongosa National Park was once a celeb\-favoured destination, before Mozambique’s civil war put it out of action for years\. In 1992, the conflict ended, and the government began repairing and restocking the park, which had lost most of its wildlife\. These efforts were accelerated by the Gorongosa Restoration Project, established by philanthropist Greg Carr in 2004\. Today, the successes are evident: wildlife has returned, communities have more economic opportunities and social and health initiatives, and gorgeous new camps have been opened to boost tourism\. A real Mozambican success story\.
Beyond the game drive
Game drives aren’t just thrilling ways to see wildlife\. You’re also contributing to habituation efforts, especially amongst elephants who were once hunted \(you know they never forget\) – every game drive reinforces the fact that we aren’t here to hurt them\. There are umpteen other things to see and do, too\. Cruise around Lake Urema playing croc or log? Take a bush walk to notice the small stuff, like a dung beetle fighting for its life, trying to push its mucky ball up an incline\. Paddle a canoe along the Pungué River, pulling up on the bank for a stiff gin and tonic to toast the sunset\. You can travel to Mount Gorongosa’s stunning waterfalls for a dip \(and a photo op, who are we kidding?\), visit the pangolin rehab centre and drop by the park’s lab – eco\-geek heaven\.
- [Cape Town](https://hiddenafrica.com/safari-destination/south-africa/cape-town/): Dipping a toe into its rich heritage, trendy urban vibe, fine wining and dining, and staggering natural beauty is the perfect ending, or beginning, to the best African safari tour\.
Cape Town’s easy\-going climate and love of good food fuel its half\-joking claim to being Europe’s southernmost city\. Add Cape Malay flavours, world\-class new\-world wines, and an army of acclaimed chefs, and it becomes an African foodie paradise\. Heavy hitters like La Colombe book up months in advance, but an impromptu lamb bredie in the colourful Bo\-Kaap can knock your socks off just as easily\. Just 40 minutes away, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek’s restaurants and wineries offer lazy lunches, award\-winning tastings, and oak\-lined streets — pack a designated driver\.
A pivotal pitstop on old trade routes between Europe and the East, Cape Town’s history shows in its architecture\. From Constantia’s Dutch gabled wineries and Long Street’s Victorian verandas, to the ultra\-modern Zeitz MOCAA, carved from a 1920s grain silo at the V\&A Waterfront\. Beyond its shops and galleries, this district is also the gateway to Robben Island and Nelson Mandela’s former prison cell\.
Cape Town’s residents are known for their love of Table Mountain — climbing it, admiring it, wandering its fynbos\. At 600 million years old and 2 miles wide, it’s South Africa’s most recognised landmark\. The view from the top is worth the queue, though Lion’s Head offers an equally stunning hike\.
For post\-safari downtime, Cape Town’s blue flag beaches offer plenty of choice\. Clifton 4th, Sandy Bay, or the Camps Bay strip for a cocktail or three\. For something different, the iconic Blue Train offers luxury accommodation on rails that mirrors the coast’s magic\.

## Wildlife
- [Indri](https://hiddenafrica.com/wildlife/indiri/)
- [Black\-and\-White Ruffed Lemur](https://hiddenafrica.com/wildlife/black-and-white-ruffed-lemur/)
- [Parson's Chameleon](https://hiddenafrica.com/wildlife/parsons-chameleon/)
- [Von der Decken's Sifaka](https://hiddenafrica.com/wildlife/von-der-deckens-sifaka/)
- [Leopard](https://hiddenafrica.com/wildlife/leopard/)

## Popup Themes
- [Light Box](https://hiddenafrica.com/?post_type=popup_theme&p=6586)
- [Default Theme](https://hiddenafrica.com/?post_type=popup_theme&p=6585)
- [Enterprise Blue](https://hiddenafrica.com/?post_type=popup_theme&p=6587)
- [Hello Box](https://hiddenafrica.com/?post_type=popup_theme&p=6588)
- [Cutting Edge](https://hiddenafrica.com/?post_type=popup_theme&p=6589)

## Categories
- [South Africa](https://hiddenafrica.com/blog/south-africa/)
- [Botswana](https://hiddenafrica.com/blog/botswana/)
- [Namibia](https://hiddenafrica.com/blog/namibia/)
- [On safari](https://hiddenafrica.com/blog/hidden-africa-on-safari/)
- [Tanzania](https://hiddenafrica.com/blog/tanzania/)

## Property Style
- [Safari Camps](https://hiddenafrica.com/accommodation-type/safari-camps/)
- [Treehouses](https://hiddenafrica.com/accommodation-type/treehouses/)
- [Villas](https://hiddenafrica.com/accommodation-type/villas/)
- [Beach Hideaways](https://hiddenafrica.com/accommodation-type/beach-hideaways/)
- [Boutique Hotels](https://hiddenafrica.com/accommodation-type/boutique-hotels/)

## Seasons
- [Green Season](https://hiddenafrica.com/blog/season/green-season/)
- [Peak Season](https://hiddenafrica.com/blog/season/peak-season/)
- [Secret Season](https://hiddenafrica.com/blog/season/secret-season/)

## Optional
- [Sitemap index](https://hiddenafrica.com/sitemap_index.xml)