Wildlife safari is a dream for many travellers, as it offers them a chance to witness some of the planet’s most iconic and majestic animals in their natural habitats. Among the most sought-after experiences is spotting the Big Five – the African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard, and rhinoceros. The thrill of spotting the ‘Big Five’ is an experience at the top of many travellers’ must-do list. These animals are renowned for their size, strength, and the thrill they evoke when encountered on safari. If you are also in for this, here’s a guide to the world’s wildest safari destinations where you can spot the Big Five and create lasting memories.

1. Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

The Maasai Mara National Reserve is synonymous with the Great Migration, where millions of wildebeest, zebras, and other herbivores cross the Mara River in search of greener pastures. This dramatic event attracts predators like lions and crocodiles, offering unparalleled opportunities to witness the Big Five in action against the backdrop of vast savannahs and acacia-dotted plains. Game drives in Maasai Mara often lead to sightings of lions lazing under the sun or elephants roaming gracefully in herds.

2. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Next in line is Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, famous for its role in the Great Migration and its rich wildlife. The Serengeti has a high concentration of lions, often seen prowling the plains or resting under shady trees. Elephants roam freely, and leopards can be spotted lounging in the branches of acacia trees. Game drives and hot air balloon safaris provide breathtaking views of the park’s expansive landscapes and diverse inhabitants.

3. Kruger National Park, South Africa

Kruger National Park in South Africa is one of the largest game reserves in Africa, spanning nearly 20,000 sq km of diverse habitats. It is home to a significant population of all the Big Five species, including the endangered rhinoceros. Visitors to Kruger can embark on guided game drives or self-drive safaris, exploring the park’s varied ecosystems from savannahs and woodlands to rivers and rocky outcrops. Sunset drives and bush walks provide intimate encounters with Africa’s wildlife, making Kruger a must-visit destination for safari enthusiasts.

4. Chobe National Park, Botswana

Located in northern Botswana, Chobe National Park is renowned for its large herds of elephants, often seen congregating along the Chobe River. This pristine wilderness also supports thriving populations of lions, leopards, and buffaloes, completing the Big Five ensemble. Boat safaris along the river offer a unique perspective, allowing visitors to observe wildlife from a different vantage point while enjoying the tranquil beauty of the African bush.

5. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, located in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, is celebrated for its conservation initiatives. The park hosts all members of the Big Five and provides both guided safaris and self-drive opportunities. Visitors can traverse ancient acacia woodlands and rolling hills, seeking sightings of lions, elephants, and elusive leopards against the backdrop of picturesque landscapes.

6. Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Amboseli National Park, at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya, offers a stunning backdrop for wildlife viewing. The park is famous for its large herds of elephants, often framed against the majestic snow-capped peak of Africa’s highest mountain. Lions, leopards, and buffaloes also roam the park’s plains, offering visitors a chance to witness the Big Five while enjoying views of Kilimanjaro and the park’s marshes and savannahs.

7. Sibuya Game Reserve, South Africa

Sibuya Game Reserve, accessible exclusively by riverboat, stands out as a distinctive safari destination in South Africa. It offers diverse wildlife viewing opportunities ranging from elephants to otters, and of course, the renowned ‘Big Five.’ Bird enthusiasts are drawn to the reserve’s impressive array of nearly 400 bird species, providing an exceptional bird watching experience.

The pandemic highlighted the risk that air travel carries for the spread of infectious diseases, and that risk remains even though the health emergency has passed.

“Airplanes have many touch points that are perfect for the transfer of bacteria or viruses,” said Dr. Mike Ren, an assistant professor of family and community medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. “You don’t want to get sick while on vacation and prevent your chance for relaxation or come back with a cold or something worse.”

The risk of catching a cold or flu starts even before a person boards their flight, Ren said.

Ride-sharing services transport hundreds of strangers each day, and thousands pass through airports on their way to and from their terminal.

But a few common practices can help protect you from catching something, Ren said:

• Use sanitizing wipes to clean the most-touched places on a plane — seats, tray tables, seat back pockets, arm rests, flight attendant call buttons, air vents and lavatory door handles
• Apply hand sanitizer or wash your hands regularly, particularly prior to eating a snack or after touching check-in kiosks, handling boarding passes or using the airplane or airport bathroom
• Keep boarding passes and other documents on your smartphone, to reduce the number of times you touch surfaces in the airport and on the plane
• Wear a mask through the airport and during flights to prevent airborne illnesses

“Flight crews have their own pre-boarding cleaning checklists, but since there is short turnover time between flights, they might miss something. Being prepared will give you peace of mind that comes from a clean flight,” Ren said in a Baylor news release.

Also, airplanes typically cycle air in and out of the cabin every three to four minutes, which in turn should rid the air of viruses, Ren said. However, masks provide more reliable protection.

People should keep their shoes on while flying, Ren added. The floors might not be cleaned as often as other parts of the plane.

On the other hand, changing out of your clothes after arriving at your destination might provide peace of mind, but isn’t essential to reducing infection risk, Ren said.

Finally, if you’re sick, you should think twice before traveling, Ren concluded.

“If you are sick, especially if you have a fever higher than 100 degrees, consider rescheduling your travel to keep others around you healthy,” Ren said. “If you must travel, use these tips to keep everyone healthy and prevent yourself from getting worse as your immune system is already weakened.”

A lost or stolen phone can be a nightmare. It’s especially disastrous when this occurs while traveling. Unfortunately, it happens a lot, especially if you’re visiting a country known for having issues with pickpocketing, like Italy or France.

Whether you’re heading to Paris to watch Simone Biles or Sha’Carri Richardson compete in the 2024 Olympics or squeezing in a last-minute vacation before school starts, check out these tips to give you some peace of mind in case your smartphone takes an unauthorized adventure during your trip.

Travel tips

Tip #1: Back up your device before you go.

Backing up your device to a cloud service or computer can save you from the agony of losing everything on your smartphone. This digital copy will restore everything from your pre-trip iPhone or Android to the new device.

If your device backs up onto iCloud or Google Drive, most phones will automatically back up daily when connected to WiFi and not in use.

Tip #2: Log out of apps.

Log out of important apps. In this case, this refers to banking apps, payment apps, like Venmo, and shopping apps, like Amazon.

Think of it like this: if you can spend or send money in the app, log out of it.

Consider also signing out of apps with access to personal information or professional platforms, like email and social media accounts.

Tip #3: Enable your device’s Find My or Find My Device.

Before your trip, enable your device’s location tracking. Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find My Device allow you to track the current or last known location of your phone from another device or computer.

The phone needs to be turned on for the tracking to show the most accurate location data. Otherwise, it may only show the phone’s last known location or display that the phone can’t be located.

Tip #4: Take a different device.

Smartphones can be expensive, so consider taking an older model, purchasing a secondhand device or buying a flip phone. This secondary device doesn’t need all the data, apps or pictures you have on your everyday device, so avoid putting any apps or information that aren’t necessary for your trip.

Tip # 5: Go analog!

Bring printed copies of anything important, like booking confirmations, addresses and phone numbers.

Bring a map of the area and mark important places, such as your hotel, popular landmarks, train station or restaurants you want to visit so you have it in case you need it.

These are the best times to visit the Maldives for great weather, fun activities, and more.

A tropical paradise in the northern Indian Ocean, the Maldives offers soft, white sands, bright blue waters, and a perfect place to unplug and truly relax in a luxurious setting. The archipelago gets more popular every year, so if you want to snag one of its famous overwater bungalows for yourself, you’ll want to have an idea of the best and worst times to go. As a general rule of thumb, remember that the islands’ high season runs from November to April, while low season lasts from May to October.

Whether you’re looking for ideal weather, fewer crowds, or the perfect diving conditions, here are the very best times to visit the Maldives.

Best Times to Visit the Maldives for Smaller Crowds

Since the Maldives consists of nearly 1,200 islands spread across 35,000 square miles, you can usually expect desert-island solitude here no matter when you visit. Popular resorts and dive sites can fill up in the high season, but outside the bustling capital city of Malé, truly large crowds are fairly rare.

That said, if you want the best chance of having an island (almost) to yourself, you might want to visit between May and October. This touristic low period coincides with the island’s rainy season — so, while a trip at this time might mean less-than-perfect weather, it also means maximum seclusion. This is especially true in May and June, which typically see fewer visitors than any other months.

Best Times to Visit the Maldives for Good Weather

The Maldives offers tropical warmth throughout the year, so it may seem hard to call any one season better than the others. To understand the climate here, though, remember that the usual four seasons — spring, summer, fall, and winter — aren’t as important as the archipelago’s big two: dry season and wet season.

The dry season, between November and April, offers Maldivian weather at its best. Temperatures are almost always in the 80s, perfect for days spent relaxing on a beach, and rainfall is scant, particularly from January through March. Humidity can be expected in this season (and throughout the year), but otherwise, conditions should be ideal for a sunny seaside trip. Just remember that this pleasant weather does make dry season the most popular — and, therefore, expensive — time of year.

The wet season, meanwhile, runs from May to October, and its name is no joke — some islands can experience up to nine inches of rain per month at this time of year. While short afternoon storms are very common during wet season, back-to-back days of pure sunshine aren’t unheard of. Because of this variability, rainy-season visitors should simply be flexible and ready to adjust plans on the fly in the event of inclement weather.

Most Affordable Times to Visit the Maldives

Yes, even a visit to the Maldives can be affordable if you know how to plan. Since most travelers visit during the dry season, the rainy season from May to October is the best time to save. At this time of year, airfare is less expensive, package deals are more common, and even those beloved bungalows (while still pricey) see significant markdowns in price. Booking in advance can also help reduce costs.

Even outside of the low season, though, some general tips can help you snag a Maldives vacation on a budget. When it comes to flights, try getting more creative than booking your local airline’s most straightforward route. Low-cost carriers in Asia and even Europe offer bargain prices on flights to the Maldives, so flying to an international hub first and then hopping on a budget flight to Malé can net big savings. To save money on accommodations, try staying at an Airbnb or a locally run guesthouse instead of a traditional high-end resort. You might miss out on some luxury touches, but you’ll still get to enjoy the islands’ gorgeous beaches and stunning sea life for a fraction of the cost.

Best Times to Visit the Maldives for Diving and Water Sports

In addition to wet and dry seasons, there are also seasons in the Maldives when different water sports are most popular. There’s no shortage of activities to enjoy here in or on the water, from surfing to boating to scuba diving, but the best time of year for one won’t necessarily be the best time for all.

If you’re interested in an action- and adventure-packed surfing trip, you’ll want to plan your visit for a time with choppier waters and bigger waves. The May-to-October wet season is best for this, but February through April can also see good swells if you’d rather travel without the risk of rain. For snorkeling and kayaking, the opposite rules apply. The best time for these slower activities is December and January, when waters are calm.

Diving, though, is the true king of Maldivian water sports. The archipelago is famous for its hundreds of dive sites, from colorful coral reefs to offshore shipwrecks. Whether you want to try a beginner-friendly spot like the UNESCO-recognized Baa Atoll or a more advanced environment like the shark-filled Fuvahmulah Atoll, you’ll want to schedule your trip for a time with good underwater visibility to make the most of the country’s world-renowned diving. For the best conditions, try visiting between January and April.

Best Times to Visit the Maldives for Bioluminescence

You can also see bioluminescent plankton while in the Maldives. These naturally glowing organisms make nighttime on the islands particularly magical when they light up the archipelago’s beautiful beaches. Bioluminescence is typically most common during the rainy season, since that’s when the most plankton are around — but this phenomenon is more tied to environmental factors like water temperature and salinity than to a particular time of year. (In 2022, for instance, holiday visitors got a special treat when the islands lit up with plankton around Christmas and New Year’s.) For the best views of bioluminescence, aim not for a time but for a place: Vaadhoo Island, home to the world-famous “glowing beach.”

Worst Times to Visit the Maldives

Some visitors attest that August is the worst time to visit since it’s smack-dab in the middle of the wet season. However, October is generally the rainiest month, so avoiding either of these times might be best for your trip. While those little bungalows can be luxurious, it would probably put a damper on your island vacation if you never got to leave the room.

If you’re on a budget, though, the popular dry season may be the worst time for you to visit. While a trip to the Maldives is almost always pricey, costs are highest in the peak months of November to April — making the rest of the year a better bet if you’re in search of good deals.