African Wildlife Safari - Are African Wildlife Safaris Dead?

There is little doubt the main reason people head to African is the wildlife. An African wildlife safari is like nothing else on the vacation landscape and will leave long lasting memories.

Many believe now is the time to head to Africa to see some of the world's most recognizable animals in their natural habitats.

Why?

Well, development has taken a huge toll on the wildlife in many areas and while dedicated national wildlife parks now litter the landscape, the damage has already been done.

For example, the seemingly indestructible African lion, the king of all the beasts is in serious danger of vanishing from the face of the earth. It's numbers have dwindled alarmingly - believed to be between 30-40,000 which when you consider they once roamed in their hundreds of thousands, is a big concern.

With development encroaching on the lion's territory, there is going to be conflict and while the lion is considered one of the most dangerous animals on the planet, in the end, it's going to lose out.

The good news is there are already programs in place to halt this type of slide and for the tourist, the opportunity to see these animals in their natural habitat on an African wildlife safari is still very much alive.

The Best Safari Wildlife Spots

This is going to come down to personal taste but South Africa and Kenya still head the popularity stakes in African wildlife safari destinations.

South Africa's Kruger National Park is a safari in itself. It could quite easily be your one stop destination. An African safari isn't just about the wildlife but also the landscape and activities away "from the jungle." South Africa is pretty hard to beat in this area.

Kenya has some of the most fascinating places to view the animals of this mysterious continent. The accommodations in Kenya range from five star hotels to camps closer to the animals. An African wildlife safari will take the travelers to the preserves located throughout the country to view lions in their prides, hippos in the water and zebras eating on the plains.

Botswana is a fascinating country and offers some of the most beautiful landscape on earth including the Chobe and Okavango. Namibia, while not as known as the others is fast becoming a must see country with the Etosha National Park and Namib desert and Skeleton Coast; Tanzania's all round brilliance and magnificence with it's wildlife and flora offerings while Zimbabwe, Zambia and Zambezi are equally as impressive as some of the better known destinations and could easily become your favored destination.

An African wildlife safari may be out of the reach of many would-be safari enthusiasts but before you consider it's out of your reach, talk to your travel agent. In recent years, the affordability factor has grown considerably and you'll be surprised at what is available.

Remember, it may not be too long before an African wildlife safari could become a thing of the past.