Authored by Drew Goldberg

It’s always been my dream to go on an African safari.  On my personal travel bucket-list, it’s up there with seeing the Pyramids in Egypt and scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef.

I’ve wanted to travel in Africa for a long time, but it’s such a huge continent, and there’s so much to do, that it has always been hard to pull the trigger.  I have been exploring nearly all of Europe, North America and Asia over the last half-decade, but now it’s time!

So, the following three steps is how I’m going to plan my epic African Travel Safari within the next few years.

Part I: The Mind-Blowing Wild Bush Safari

This is the obvious and most essential component of an African Safari vacation. It’s the single biggest draw on the continent, pulling in hundreds of thousands of tourists every year, to Africa’s numerous private game reserves and National Parks.

Safaris generally come in one of three kinds: “the family-friendly safari by Jeep” variety, the more adventurous walking/canoeing/horseback riding safari, or the big-game hunting variety.

Since I’m really not into the idea of shooting a beautiful, defenseless animal from hundreds of yards away with a totally unfair weapon advantage, I’ll go ahead and nix that last option right off the bat. Also, I don’t have kids, and I’m not super interested in doing the same safari that pretty much everyone else does, so I’d remove the family driving safari as well. That leaves me with walking/canoeing/horseback riding safaris.

I’m going for something mind-blowing, so I want to be as agile as possible and be able to get as close to the animals as I possibly can. So here it is, this is what I’d do:

A horseback riding safari, among the wildebeest, during their epic annual migration.

The Wildebeest Migration, called one of the “7 New Wonders of the World,” is the yearly migration of over 2 million African wildebeest from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.

It happens between July and October, and many people call it the “World Cup of Wildlife.” And with a well-timed and well-planned riding safari, you can be cruising cowboy-style right alongside these awesome beasts.

A trip like this could last a week, riding with the herd and camping under the stars at night, watching the life-or-death struggles of the wildebeest as they cross crocodile-infested rivers and evade other large carnivores.

With a good guide, a riding safari will use scenic detours to take you away from the immediate danger, only to regroup with the wildebeest herd in safer areas. There are packages for riders of all skill levels, so I definitely have to up my riding game before attempting this truly epic safari.

Part II: Super Awesome Relax at the Beach (Plus Sharks) Time

I can’t think of a better way to relax after a week of horseback safari-ing than chilling by the beach. Luckily, Africa has plenty of beaches to choose from!

My options range from classic resort-style beaches on the gorgeous island of Mauritius, to the placid serenity of the world-famous Seychelles. And the beaches on the continent itself aren’t anything to snuff at, either, and you get the choice of two oceans: The Indian Ocean on the east side of the continent, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

Here’s the thing: both Oceans hold a lot of merit in their own right. I really wouldn’t be able to pick one over the other, so I’d have to cheat a little and round out the beach segment of my dream African adventure with a multi-day visit to Mauritius first, then a flight over to Cape Town.

My research tells me that Mauritius is home to beautiful white-sand beaches, warm and calm waters, and tons of stuff to do. The island is a melting pot of cultures, combining and impressive range of French, Creole, African, and Hindu influences.

I’d start, of course, with a world-class resort: try Le Prince Maurice a gorgeous resort right on the beach featuring private bungalow rooms and ample luxury amenities. This hotel has been consistently rated the #1 resort hotel in Mauritius on Trip Advisor, and one of the best hotels in the world, period. I’d spend a day just kicking it by the ocean, sipping some tasty cocktails and absorbing some sun.

On day 2, I’d hit up all the snorkeling hotspots. Mauritius is home to some of the world’s greatest snorkeling, featuring tons of gorgeous fish, sea turtles, coral reefs, and much more.

So, where do the “sharks” I mentioned come in? Well, for that, I’d leave Mauritius and fly over to Cape Town! This would be the next destination on my list anyway, so why not fly out a day early to go do some cage diving with great white sharks!

Mossel Bay is one of the best places to see Great Whites, with a huge native population of the world’s most infamous sharks. Getting in a cage with these monsters is definitely my kind of adrenaline ride!

Part III: Grub and Club, Luxury Style

After I’m all sharked out, I’d want to spend some time partying and eating to my heart’s content in Cape Town, one of Africa’s most electric cities.

Cape Town is home to some of the best food in Africa, sampling the cuisine from countries around the world. This is where I’d finish off my Epic African Safari for sure. And the nightclub scene here, while admittedly a step below Johannesburg, is still pretty awesome.

The world-famous Long Street in Cape Town is known for its long stretch of clubs, pubs, bars, and other nightlife.  My friends gave me some recommendations for where to party when I am there.  Club Fiction is a laid back electro/trance/dubstep venue, perfect for getting my dance on, and The Purple Turtle features live music nightly if you’d rather sit down and listen.

For a more upmarket clubbing experience, I’d leave Long Street in favor of some of Cape Town’s finer offerings, like Nisha in Camps Bay or the Side Show, boasting some of the best international DJs with an emphasis on EDM and Psytrance music. Side Show also draws a younger, generally more energetic crowd than other clubs like The Dragon Room (which has an age minimum of 23).

So, that’s my dream African Safari in a nutshell. Hopefully I’ll make it there someday soon! And hopefully this has helped inspire you to dream big and think about all the amazing experiences this world has to offer.

Keep on dreaming, and if you have any ideas to add to my ideal Africa itinerary, let me know! I’d love to hear from you.

Drew is a recent college graduate who has visited 43 countries since the beginning of 2012. His favorite things about traveling are eating the local foods, meeting awesome people and experiencing the nightlife scene. Drew is currently teaching English in South Korea and he blogs about food, culture and nightlife at the Hungry Partier.

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