Travel expert at CamperDays recommends exciting and low-effort safari itineraries across the world.
[Image credit: Hu Chen]
If you’ve been inspired by Moo Deng, resident baby pygmy hippo of Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand, or Pesto, king penguin chick of Sea Life Aquarium Melbourne, to go on your own wild adventure, then a safari is likely the perfect choice of holiday for you. Here Max Schmidt, head of global camper tour operator CamperDays, shares his favourite safari road trips for everyone from touring beginners to those that like to live life on the wild side.
Max says: “With our social feeds being filled with the daily hijinks of all kinds of creatures from across the globe, the urge to pack up and experience the wonders of the natural world is hard to ignore.
“For those already planning 2025 holidays – particularly those keen on travelling to far flung destinations or wanting to explore the natural world – expense is likely top of mind. In fact, hiring a motorhome or campervan is a much more financially viable option than many realise with prices for off-road safari vehicles starting from £80, and is a far more common way to get out into the wild and experience nature.”
Below Max recommends five safari road trip ideas whether you’re keen to spot the big 5 or wanting to experience wildlife closer to home.
South Africa
The go-to for safari holidays with countless locations where you can spot South African wildlife, including the famous Kruger National Park. The Garden Route is a famous trail that offers the opportunity to see ostriches and explore elephant parks, while Cape Whale Coast provides the best views for whale and bird watching.
Luckily, there are plenty of malaria-free areas of South Africa such as the Madikwe Game Reserve and Pilanesberg National Park. Arguably the best part of a South African safari is the proximity to vibrant Cape Town and excellent regional wines.
Namibia
Namibia’s wintertime (June – October) is one of the best times for safaris due to the temperate climate, cloudless skies, and cool nights. A road trip to the Etosha National Park is a great opportunity to meet four of the Big Five: lions, elephants, leopards, and endangered black rhinos.
Alternatively, a road trip along Namibia’s spookily-named Skeleton Coast will take you to Cape Cross, home to one of the largest settlements of Cape fur seals. Travel anytime between December and June to witness the birth of seal pups.
Chile
As of October 2024, it’s now possible with CamperDays to pick up vehicles from stations in Santiago de Chile, Arica, El Loa, El Tepual, and Punta Arenas.
Near Santiago de Chile is the Torres del Paine National Park, home to the king of Patagonia, the puma. In addition to that, the guanaco, the largest wild mammal in Chile, can be found throughout the country, as well as Culpeo foxes, the largest predator in the Atacama region.
With some of the world’s most diverse landscapes boasting deserts, mountains, forests, islands and more, you’re bound to see all manner of wildlife on the road.
Iceland
The land of fire and ice, while famous for its spectacular landscapes, also has its fair share of wildlife spotting opportunities. Top spots to see furry and feathered friends include the West Fjords where puffins nest in the summer, the Hornstrandir nature reserve where many Arctic foxes live and play, and Húsavík, where you can take whale watching trips.
In your very own off-road jeep, you’ll be able to take the reins and design your own itinerary, with the chance to see other animals like reindeer, Icelandic horses, or maybe the gyrfalcon, Iceland’s national bird.
Ashdown Forest
Famously the inspiration behind A. A. Milne’s Hundred Acre Wood, home to Winnie The Pooh and his friends, Ashdown Forest in East Sussex is definitely an alternative way to define a safari. But with no shortage of sheep, cattle and Exmoor ponies grazing in the forest, you’re sure to get your wildlife fix here.
If you’re lucky, you may spot foxes as well as rabbits, badgers, bats, and weasels. For twitchers, look out for the native Dartford warbler and, for a taste of the African safari, the nightjars arrive to the forest in May from their habitat in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
While you’re unlikely to meet Winnie and Tigger, there are plenty of themed tourist attractions in the forest such as Pooh Sticks Bridge, the Winnie The Pooh House, and a memorial to Milne himself.
CamperDays facilitates access to over 35,500 vehicles worldwide, including off-road safari vehicles in Windhoek, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Santiago and Reykjavík. For more information or to book your own safari experience whether at home or abroad, visit: www.camperdays.co.uk
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Notes to editors:
Head of CamperDays and Chief Adventurer, Max Schmidt, is available for interview or comment upon request.
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Will Challis | Olivia Hazelden-Kingdon | Elsa Findlay
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About CamperDays:
Launched in Germany in 2013, CamperDays is Europe’s leading camper tour operator, working with 150 partners in over 700 locations globally.
CamperDays facilitates access to over 35,500 vehicles available for rent worldwide, including in the UK, Europe, Australia, USA, Canada, South Africa and Chile. The platform allows customers to choose from a selection of trusted providers globally via an easy three step booking process, with rentals available from just £70 per day.
Since it was launched, CamperDays customers have booked over 1,000,000 nights in vehicles rented through the site. CamperDays provides access to a broad selection of campervans and motorhomes catering to every type of traveller, with transparent pricing and no hidden costs. All vehicles come with insurance, with excess, as standard, to allow renters a truly carefree holiday.
For more information or to make a booking, visit the website: www.camperdays.co.uk.
