An East African safari offers an extraordinary opportunity to view wildlife in natural habitats. Its reputation as the quintessential safari destination is well deserved. The Greater Serengeti Ecosystem is one of the continent's most magnificent wildlife areas and the site of the annual Great Migration, the last of its kind on earth. This unique spectacle, which can be viewed by air from above or on the ground, occurs as huge herds of wildebeest and zebra follow the fresh grazing that sprouts in the wake of the annual rains. In the Serengeti, or just across the border in Kenya's Masai Mara Game Reserve, the migration offers an unparalleled opportunity to see East African wildlife at its dramatic best. An African safari can reveal the “Big Five” – the elephant, leopard, lion, rhinoceros and buffalo – in their natural environment. It is wildlife viewing at its best. Tour the Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater at a dept of 2,000 feet. Venture to Lake Manyara in the Great Rift Valley and the Serengeti National Park.  Witness the grandeur of snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro from Amboseli National Park. Tour the Karen Blixen house in Nairobi.

A South Africa tour covers cosmopolitan cities to inspiring game drives in the “veldt”. Take in the awesome majesty of Victoria Fall, tour the beautiful wine country outside of Cape Town and spot some of Africa’s famous wildlife while in the private game reserve of Sabi Sabi.  Journey to the fascinating Cape of Good Hope and the magic Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.  Travel into Botswana, a landlocked country in the heart of Southern Africa, home to the lush wetlands of the Okavango Delta, Africa’s premier site for wildlife viewing.

Does going on safari mean sleeping in a tent? Not always. East and South African accommodations fall into four main categories: hotels, found primarily in major cities or in beach resorts; small, private "bush" lodges; mobile camps; and permanent tented camps. But don't confuse camping in Africa with the rough-and-ready experience you might have had as a scout. Here, tented accommodations often include surprisingly luxurious amenities such as en-suite facilities, spring beds with crisp linens and fine dining. And a safari isn't the only way to explore Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. This region also offers glorious beach resorts, mountain treks, desert dunescapes and exotic tropical islands. An Africa tour is a must for anyone seeking an active vacation that will be remembered for a lifetime.