THE BEST ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS IN AFRICA

Africa is home to some of the wildest terrain and some of the most dangerous animals in the world, so it is no surprise that it is also home to some of the most thrilling animal encounters. After three trips to Africa, including a three-week stint getting up close and personal with as many animals as possible, I can tell you that there is steep competition.

However, there are a few excursions that stand out. Keep reading to discover the 5 best animal encounters in Africa:

6. TANNING WITH PENGUINS

It’s not every day that you get your tan on with some adorable African penguins, but if you’re in Cape Town, South Africa, it could be. At the Instagram-famous Boulder’s Beach, anyone can hobnob with these well-dressed cuties for a fairly affordable entrance fee. Beach goers can layout and swim next to a vast colony of penguins who don’t seem the least bit bothered by human presence.

A word to the wise – If you plan to visit, arrive by 8:30am at the latest to ensure entrance to the beach. Once they’ve reached max capacity at the first and second beach, they stop allowing people in. Also check the tides. The higher the tide, the smaller the beach, which also means fewer opportunities to get in.

5. CAGE DIVING WITH SHARKS

Swimming with sharks is the ultimate adrenaline experience and South Africa has some of the most accessible cage diving in the world. A mere two hours east of Cape Town lies Gansbaai, arguably the shark capital of the world. With dive sites like “Shark Alley,” shark sightings are pretty much guaranteed, even if they aren’t Great Whites.

While in South Africa, I went out in Gansbaai with Apex Shark Expeditions, operated by Great White Tours. Sadly, the Great White sharks had been chased away by orcas, which occasionally happens, but the lack of Great Whites allowed dozens of Copper Sharks to come to the surface and feed freely. I spent ample time watching them from inches away, utterly enthralled.

4. CRUISING HIPPO & CROC-INFESTED WATERS

If you’re looking to get friendly with some of the deadliest animals on earth, cruising down a hippo and crocodile-infested river might be just what you’re looking for. As cute as hippos may be, they are often considered the world’s deadliest land mammal and kill an estimated 500 people per year in Africa. Weighing in at up to 2,750 kg, you certainly don’t want to tangle with them one-on-one, but from the safety of a boat, it’s incredible to watch them surface and push their babies up for a breath of air.

Whether it’s cruising up the Nile River in Egypt or down the Zambezi, which separates Zambia and Zimbabwe, it is really an incredible experience. Enjoy a “sundowner” drink and take in the gorgeous scenery, while seeing these awe-inspiring creatures in their element.

3. GOING ON SAFARI

It may seem like a no-brainer that going on safari is one of the best animal encounters in Africa, but it makes every bucket list for a reason. Whether it’s a game drive in an off-roading jeep, a guided walking safari, or a boating safari in the Okavango Delta, it’s truly an unsurpassable experience. Going on safari is the best way to spot some of the most exotic animals in Africa.

If you’re looking for more info, read up on the best places to go on safari in Africa.

2. EATING BREAKFAST WITH GIRAFFES

Where can you enjoy avocado toast and your morning coffee with Rothschild’s Giraffes at a boutique property with décor that harkens back to 1930s safari days? Giraffe Manor, of course. You may have seen this incredible property on Instagram and wondered if it’s as amazing as it seems and the answer is – yes, one hundred times yes.

You need to spend two nights at The Safari Collection properties in order to enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but trust me when I say you will want two nights at Giraffe Manor alone. Each morning, the giraffes head into the property from the reserve and knock on the windows for food pellets before hanging around to eat breakfast off of plates on your table. Once they’ve had their fill, they depart, only to return for afternoon tea. If the tiny finger sandwiches weren’t enough to convince you that tea time is the best time, this certainly will.

Check out The Safari Collection to book this experience for yourself.

1. GORILLA TREKKING

With all of the incredible animal encounters out there, it was difficult to choose a favorite, but trekking for mountain gorillas in Rwanda had an immeasurable impact on me. Everything from the anticipation of the hike to the first moment that I laid eyes on the huge Silverback Gorilla was beyond my wildest dreams. Standing in such close proximity to creatures so inarguably human and yet, so different, made every slip and slide through ankle-deep mud worth it.

For those wondering just how gorilla trekking works, you check-in in the morning and receive your gorilla family. Simultaneously, the trackers who work for the park are out tracking each family and noting their position. Once they return and consult with your guide, your group of 2 to 8 people hikes up to the family’s last position and spends an hour watching these phenomenal animals.

Hikes can take from one hour to six hours and depend entirely on the location of the gorilla family that day, though the park does try to take into account if there are guests who cannot make the longer hikes and assigns the families accordingly.

And that’s a wrap on the best animal encounters in Africa! For more articles like this, click HERE.