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Where to go on safari in August

Some great suggestions where to have the best safari experiences in August

Alex
Alex
Operations & Marketing Development
Published on
30 Sept 2020
Updated on
29 Jan 2021
Jorge Tung 1P Zjq Qlgps Y Unsplash

August is the heart of the dry season with the best game viewing opportunities throughout the continent. The Great Migration is moving towards Kenya for the famed Mara River crossings, which is considered to be one of the finest wildlife spectacles on the planet. But don’t forget about Botswana’s Okavango Delta, Zambia’s Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa National Parks and in Zimbabwe, Hwange and Mana Pools all of which are simply superb during these months.

Sao Tome and Principe

August is a magnificent time of year to visit Sao Tome and Principe - whale watching is superb, with numerous species such as humpback, orca and many dolphins being spotted along the north eastern shores. The good weather means some great opportunities to explore these wonderous little islands but for something a little bit different and cultural: A genuine epic street theatre, the Auto de Floripes or Feast of St Lawrence. This is the number one cultural attraction in Principe and it involves the entire population of the island in the re-enactment of the battle between Christians and Moors. It happens one day a year and goes on all day.

South Africa

Not your usual safari-destination but driving through South Africa’s Fynbos along South Africa’s famed Garden Route between late August through to mid-October is remarkable. It is awash, painted with brightly coloured flowers. Fluorescent oranges, pinks, purples, yellows and white stretching as far as the eye can see – it’s a vivid display of colour and signifies the arrival of Spring in the area.

There are over 4,000 species of flowers in the area – no wonder it’s been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And if you get to the Hopefield Fynbos Show, make sure you try ‘waterblommetjiebredie’ which is a dish usually consisting of a meat and the waterblommetjie flowers found in the marshy areas in the Western Cape.

Zimbabwe

August is regarded as peak safari season across much of Africa, with visitors heading from all over the world flocking to enjoy the amazing game viewing that the cooler temperatures and dry conditions allow for. In many destinations these factors also mean large crowds, high prices and challenges finding space, even when booking months in advance. Zimbabwe's re-birth as a top African safari destination has added another dimension to where you can go, so experience this amazing destination now, before the crowds return and prices are pushed up to equal their neighbouring countries.

Hwange and Mana Pools are just an example of the marvellous wildlife destinations in Zimbabwe, with the latter now becoming more accessible in August due to falling water levels and being filled with immense herds of game and the predators which follow.

And of course, don’t forget about the wonderous Victoria Falls which Zimbabwe shares with Zambia.

Cao Grande In Sao Tome Copy
Cao Grande - Sao Tome
Garden Route In Flower
The famed Garden route, south africa in full bloom
Mana Pools Elephant
elephant sightings are special in Mana pools, zimbabwe

Zambia

Kafue National Park is Zambia’s hidden gem even though it is the largest in the country. This magnificent wildlife area of Busanga Plains is inaccessible outside of June to October due to high water levels. Traveling at this time of year can be richly rewarding with intense wildlife sightings and interactions between predator and prey. Balloon safaris are also possible here what more could you possibly ask for…

Kenya and Tanzania

The height of the Great Migration river crossing in northern Serengeti, Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya. One of the greatest wildlife shows on earth is in full swing and if this is high on your bucket-list then you will need to book early as it’s a very popular time of year in both Kenya and Tanzania.

You will be taken on an emotional rollercoaster during the river crossings; as the suspense builds you can almost feel the trepidation until one wildebeest has the courage to make a dash for the other side. There’s no doubt that you will be filled with excitement, heartache, adrenaline and joy as you witness mass herds of wildebeest and zebra frantically plunging through crocodile infested river waters, with the survivors still needing to outwit and outpace the large number of predators who lie in wait on the other side.

Southern Tanzania offers something a little different. If you’re wishing to avoid the crowds the vastness of Selous and Ruaha offer a remote and wild safari experience. These often overlooked destinations have spectacular wildlife and offer a true sense of being in the heart of the African wilderness.

Take a look at our Wildebeest Migration guide.

Mayukuyuku Camp Aerial View
Mayukuyuku Camp, Kafue - Zambia
Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration
the famous river crossing of the mara river, kenya
Explore Bush Fire  Micky Hoyle Copy
lose yourself in the remoteness of the northern serengeti, tanzania

For more inspiration, take a look at our 26 favourite safari holidays, our best African honeymoon ideas or our top family safari holidays.

Planning a safari holiday? Give our friendly experts a call on 01768 603 715 or fill in our enquiry form.

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George W

This was our 2nd trip organised via Far & Wild from Australia - previously Africa and now Sri Lanka. Nia and the rest of the team were great - excellent itinerary, happy to modify the trip based on my suggestions and research, and they handled some last minute changes caused by a health issue without any problems at all. They were very quick to reply to all messages - and the trip went really smoothly. If you want an up-market holiday, this is a great organisation to organise that sort of trip!

December, 2025
Shirley Newman

What can I say….my son and myself had the most wonderful time in Kenya thanks to the first-class itinerary that Ben and Louise put together for us. We spoke with Ben many times to ensure he ‘got it right’. This was our 2nd visit to Kenya, and it certainly lived up to our expectations and memories. Nothing was too much trouble for all the staff; we cannot have been looked after any better. I would highly recommend Far and Wild; they are so knowledgeable and have personally visited the lodges and areas. We are already planning another visit, and we cannot wait.

August, 2025
Nick and Carly

Thank you to Nia and Far & Wild. My wife and I wanted to go to Vietnam and capture a real taste of the country from top to bottom but didn't have a clue where to start. We weren’t even sure if it was possible. Through speaking to Nia, sharing ideas and asking questions we were able to book what looked to be an extremely exciting trip - we could not wait to go. The reality of the trip more than matched our expectations. We had unforgettable experiences that we would never have been able to organise ourselves. The true value in this trip was that someone who knew what they were doing could give us the experience we truly craved. Well done Nia, it was a holiday we will never forget and we can’t wait for the next one. Thank you!

November, 2026
Kamal

Had an absolutely amazing 3 weeks in Chile and Argentina! We were a group of 8 friends - 4 couples. The vans used for our private excursions were very good and spacious. All the ground arrangements were as planned … the guides were very good - their English and knowledge was amazing. They made sure we had a good time. The picnic lunches were served in great locations with fabulous views and setup with tables and table cloths! Highly recommend Far & Wild! Looking to book another trip with them next year!

December, 2025
Lucinda F

Seamlessly organised! Brilliant suggestions of where to go which really gave us a 360 view of Kenya and hit our families need for adventure and mine for a bit of luxury.

November, 2025
Richard S

Alistair took time to understand what we were after and came up with an unforgettable Kenyan safari and beach holiday which we will all remember for a very long time. Real memory making trip with our 10 and 12 year old boys. Exactly what we hoped for and more!

November, 2025
Sue S

Otti organised a superb holiday to Kenya and Seychelles for my husband and I and our 2 adult daughters. It was our first safari and we only had a vague idea about where to start. Otti made the process so simple for us, suggesting an itinerary which she tweaked following discussions about the camps and hotels, and was really quick responding to my many queries; she was friendly, helpful and gave me complete confidence we were in excellent hands throughout. Far and Wild clearly have knowledge about the places they are recommending and work as team to provide the best service - definitely a 10 out of 10 for customer service and organising an amazing holiday for us.

September, 2025
Anonymous client

We can't thank the Far and Wild team enough for the most incredible trip we just had in Kenya. Otti really took into account what we were after and delivered an experience that exceeded all expectations. It was the trip of a lifetime! We had the most beautiful and unique time while on safari at the Instinct of the Mara. We really wanted to visit a camp that took ethical and sustainable practices seriously without compromising on the experience... and wow, it was truly wonderful and special! We'll definitely be returning. Our time at Diani beach was also lovely and very relaxing. Every step of the trip was seamless and we didn't have to worry about a thing. We had 4 domestic flights and a handful of car rides to take and everything was extremely organized and ran smoothly. We can't wait to book our next big trip!! Very grateful.

September, 2025
Claire L

Ben and Tamara at Far & Wild were exceptional in every respect. They offered thoughtful advice, excellent recommendations, and meticulous planning, weaving together their personal connections to help our family transform a collection of ideas into a magnificent six-week adventure. Every detail was handled with care - no transaction overlooked - which is all the more impressive given the complexity of moving three people across four regions of the country by every mode of transport imaginable. Their expertise gave us complete peace of mind and allowed us to simply enjoy the journey. I have already recommended Far & Wild to friends and would not hesitate to do so again.

August, 2025
Steven V

So great to be able to leave the details to the professionals at Far & Wild. Our two-week tour of Buenos Aires and southern Uruguay was pitch-perfect to our requests and goals. Amanda understood clearly what we were after, and crafted an idyllic itinerary with our style of hotels, guided tours, and transfers. Complementing Far & Wild's first-person knowledge of the territory were the excellent resources "on the ground" in Argentina and Uruguay to handle last-minute changes and requests. We've found our travel partner!

November, 2025
Elizabeth Spells

I have just returned from the most amazing trip to Tanzania, booked with Far & Wild. Everything went so smoothly from the first time I spoke with them. The planning was great, the itinerary was perfect for us, and the lodges were amazing. We spent 10 nights with an amazing guide, travelling through Northern Tanzania and even got to see the migration, which was a lifetime ambition of mine. This wasn't our first safari, so we were nervous as to how it would compare, but it was spot on. I will certainly be using them again to book our next trip....we're thinking of a relaxing beach stay next time to get over the excitement of safari!

July, 2024
Fiona C

It was a dreamy holiday on the Kenyan Coast - Far and Wild, their efficiency and professionalism allowed us to relax and be the happiest family alive !! We cannot fault them, their care and understanding of what we wanted from a holiday ensured we had the most memorable trip. We will be booking with them again for sure!

March, 2024
Orla Rhodes

Just back from another amazing F&W organised trip to Namibia with the family (8 adults). Having been there before, Alistair tailored our trip to include our favourite locations and added a new one for us, which we loved.The quality of accommodation and guiding, activities, food and drinks was exceptional throughout. It was good value for the level of luxury we had.

June, 2024
Arnhild Schia

We had a wonderful trip to São Tomé and Príncipe - a small island nation in the Gulf of Guinea with paradise (almost empty) beaches and jungle forest. It was all well organised by Far and Wild and we stayed at a great combination of different types of resorts/hotels. We really recommend this for those who want to experience a pristine destination with few other tourists and friendly and welcoming people. The islands also feel very safe. At Principe, there are no dangerous animals, snakes or whatever, and it was great to be able to hike in the jungle without being very conscious of where to put your hands and feet. Go before everyone else does!

July, 2024
Henri Papenfus

Back home again, basking in the joys of a superb safari. Every aspect you arranged for us, including linking up with Mack Air and Wild Horizons locally to transport us. The choice of camps was ideally situated, comfortable, in good surroundings, and with excellent wildlife on the doorstep and throughout the wider country. The service staff in each looked after us very well, catering was excellent, and the game guides were professional, knowledgeable and helpful. You made us happy, and we recommend you to similar safari enthusiasts with confidence.

June, 2024
AC

Far and Wild went above and beyond to make sure my trip to Zambia was special. I would definitely recommend them and their services to anyone wanting to travel to Africa.

May, 2024
Tiny

Lovely holiday at the amazing Almanara on Galu beach, a beach like no other. Far and Wild excelled themselves from beginning to end of our holiday in beautiful Kenya.... What a country!,

April, 2024
Stodge

Wow! These guys are amazing. Can’t recommend them highly enough. Friendly AND efficient! Sorted out our trip (last minute and lots of different family member needs, sorry!) in record time and everything worked like clockwork. Trip of a lifetime to the Masai Mara. Will be back (and use F&W again!)!

March, 2024