Africa has so many amazing places just waiting to be explored. A lot of the reasons why these secret destinations have not been super popular with tourists is that they can be somewhat difficult to reach. However, with a private jet charter, you can visit all of these fantastic locations with comfort and ease. Because these destinations have not seen a lot of visitors from other countries, they remain untouched and provide you with an experience you will never forget.
Selous and the Mahale Mountains – Tanzania
Up first on this list are Selous and the Mahale mountains, home to one of the largest conservation areas in the world. This destination gets a tiny fraction of visitors compared to the well-known Serengeti National Park, a popular tourist site for those looking to get a glimpse of the great Wildebeest Migration.
Selous is a lot bigger than the Serengeti National Park and offers a breathtaking experience of Tanzanian wildlife and nature. There are only a handful of lodges to stay in, meaning that you won’t feel overcrowded with other tourists roaming about. It is pretty common to have large parts of the trip without meeting other visitors meaning that you get to experience all the fantastic things this place has to offer all by yourself.
The Mahale Mountains National Park is also located in Tanzania and has some of the most beautiful beaches surrounded by amazing tropical forests. This area is extremely remote, and you may find you have entire beaches to yourself.
Kafue and South Luangwa – Zambia
The Kafue National Park is located in central Zambia and is somewhere that few people visit due to the difficulty of getting there. However, those who make the journey to Kafue will be greeted with an untouched part of Africa with only a few places to stay for guests. Here you will be sure to catch a glimpse of some of Africa’s most interesting wildlife in their natural habitat and see some sights you will never forget.
South Luangwa is home to the first-ever walking safari, where visitors can explore the area on foot. If you are looking for a true adventure, you should definitely check out some of the safaris offered here, where you will be sure to learn a lot and get an authentic experience personalized to your interests.
The Luangwa Valley in Zambia is known for its diverse wildlife and is home to the Luangwa National Park. The area has a long history of human habitation and was first settled by the Bantu-speaking people around the 6th century AD. The valley was later settled by the Tonga people, who were hunters and gatherers, and who named the area “Luangwa,” meaning “the bend,” in reference to the meandering of the Luangwa River.
In the late 19th century, European explorers and hunters began to visit the valley, and in 1904, the area was designated a game reserve by the British colonial government. The reserve was later expanded and in 1938 it was officially designated as Luangwa National Park.
The park’s wildlife, including elephants, lions, leopards, and hippos, was heavily hunted during the colonial period, but conservation efforts in the post-colonial era have led to a significant recovery of the park’s wildlife populations. In the 1970s and 1980s, the park was also impacted by poaching, but since the 1990s, anti-poaching efforts have been successful in reducing the problem.
Today, the Luangwa National Park is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Zambia, known for its excellent game viewing and diverse wildlife, as well as its scenic beauty and rugged terrain. The park is also an important area for conservation and research, with several organizations working to protect and study the park’s wildlife and ecosystem.
Damaraland, Kaokoveld, and Skeleton Coast – Namibia
Damaraland is located in Namibia and is home to mesmerizing mountain ranges and rock art dating back almost 10,000 years. The famous desert lion is found in this region in Northern Palmwag. Other amazing animals you might spot on a trip to Damaraland include elephants that have adapted both behaviorally and physiologically over thousands of years to thrive in the hostile desert environment. Their legs are longer than the average elephant, allowing them to travel long distances and weigh less.
The Skeleton Coast and Kaokoveld are also located in Namibia; however, these regions are very different from Damaraland. The Skeleton Coast is a fantastic place to spot the amazing sea life this area has to offer, with everything from whales and seals to pods of dolphins that frequent this coast. The one thing these places all have in common is that they have very few residents, meaning that there are lots of places to explore that have been left untouched for a very long time.
Kalahari Desert and Okavango Delta – Botswana
The Kalahari Desert spans a vast area connecting several countries, including Botswana, South Africa, and Namibia via the Namib Desert. This desert sees very little rain throughout the year and has a unique landscape of red sands for as far as the eye can see.
In the Botswana region of the Kalahari Desert, you will find the iconic Kalahari lions with their striking black manes and other fantastic wildlife such as meerkats, the oryx, and the pangolin, which is an extremely rare species of animal. Because this area has almost zero light pollution, the night skies shine bright, giving you a wonderful view of the stars as you sleep. Other things to do and see in and around the Kalahari Desert include the zebra migration that happens annually, as well as safaris done on horseback and san rock art.
The Okavango Delta is located in Botswana and is a very popular place that people like to visit; however, some parts are still left untouched due to accessibility issues that can be overcome with a plane. Many of these isolated parts are surrounded by water, so many activities include canoe safaris and staying in lodges that require boats to access. A trip here will offer a very unique experience of the different types of wildlife that like to live around these large bodies of water.
