Where to Go for African History Safaris

Within the different countries of Africa, there are several historical destinations you can visit on your African safari journey. You get to enjoy the African landscape, African cultures, and the African wilderness.

You can embark on self-guided tours and move at your own pace and get the full gist of the history since the colonial era.

Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania

Is referred to as the cradle of mankind and it is one of the oldest historical sites in Africa. It was made famous by Louis and Mary Leakey who conducted numerous digs in the mid-20th century, and it holds the earliest evidence of the existence of our human ancestors.

The Olduvai Gorge is set between Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park and it is ideal for historical African safaris. A visit to this Gorge focuses on the museum which overlooks the gorge, and you have the opportunity to listen to short stories by a resident tour guide.

The Pyramids of Egypt

The pyramids are one of the greatest wonders of the world and up to now, scientists wonder how the local people built the amazing structures thousands of years ago. There are three pyramids which are tombs of the pharaohs, and they stand as a symbol for ancient Egypt.

On yourself guided tours, you can visit the pyramids and enjoy the history at your own pace as the tour guide gives you all the information (stories) that you require.

Great Zimbabwe Ruins, Zimbabwe

This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and great Zimbabwe is one of the continent’s hidden gems. It was built between the 11^th and 14^th centuries and the sprawling ruins at Great Zimbabwe are the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Great Zimbabwe is a great place of mystery and tourists can enjoy the history of the place when on the African safari journey for a better experience and combine it with game drives in the African wilderness which offers excitement.

The vast repository is home to more than 120,000 artifacts from ancient Egypt, including the treasures and gold burial mask of Tutankhamun giving great memories of an African safari.

Lalibela, Ethiopia

Visiting the Lalibela stone churches on your historical African safaris for the first time is memorable. They date back to the late 12^th and early 13^th centuries and are a place of tunnels which elaborate a good architecture.

They are within north-central Ethiopia, and the 11 ancient churches of Lalibela are important in the Ethiopian Christian tradition. The churches are still in use and many worshippers come here to worship.

When you visit the churches on your African safari, you will know the history of the churches and why they were built. When you visit the churches on your African safari history tour, you should remove your shoes before entering.

Women are required to cover their body and hair with a long dress and scarf before entering a church.

Beit Al-Ajaib, Zanzibar, Tanzania

This is also a house of wonders, and it is one of Zanzibar’s best-known historical landmarks. It is found in the waterfront area, and it is the largest and tallest building in Stone Town.

The Beit Al-Ajaib was built in 1883 for Sultan Barghash. It was the first building in Zanzibar to have an electric lift.

However, it was turned into a museum, and visiting the house wonders on African safaris is a window into local culture and the rich history of both the island and the semi-autonomous archipelago.

Kolmanskop, Namibia

Kolmanskop is found within the desert, 9 miles east of the harbor town of Luderitz. It became one of the richest towns in Africa during the diamond boom in 1910, but 40 years later, it had been abandoned and left to become a ghost in the desert.

It is a place of great history that you can enjoy on your courageous adventures on the African safari journey.

The Genocide Museum, Kigali, Rwanda

On your historical tours in East Africa, you shouldn’t miss visiting the Genocide Museum. During this visit, you will understand the painful and complicated past where ethnic Tutsis fought with the Hutu and many lost their lives.

This memorial site is arguably the most important in Kigali City and when you come on African safaris to this site, you will enjoy the full history of the Genocide Museum.

Robben Island, South Africa

This is a small island just off the coast of South Africa’s Cape Town. The place was used as a place of imprisonment and banishment for about four centuries but it is best remembered for housing South Africa’s anti-apartheid stalwarts including Nelson Mandela.

Courageous adventures on an African safari can tour Robben Island for an amazing history behind the island.

After visiting Robben Island, you can then visit Kruger National Park for an epic African safari where you can see several species of African wildlife including the native wildlife of the Big Five.

Karen Blixen Museum

The Karen Blixen Museum is situated in the suburbs of Nairobi and it has gained an international reputation after the release of the film “Out of Africa” which was based on the autobiography of Karen.

This museum is a shop of handicrafts, posters, postcards, books, and other souvenirs of Kenya that you can get on your African safari.

Other places to visit for historical tours in Africa include;

1. Volubilis’ Roman ruins found in Morocco
2. Luxor Temple – Luxor in Egypt
3. Leptis Magna in Libya
4. Khami Ruins in Zimbabwe
5. Kilwa Kisiwani in Tanzania
6. Laas Geel in Somalia
7. Ruins of Aksum in Ethiopia
8. Valley of the Kings in Egypt
9. Gedi Ruins in Kenya
10. Laetoli in Tanzania
11. Meroe in Sudan
12. Sterkfontein Caves, in South Africa
13. Blombos Cave in South Africa
14. Uganda Museum

A History of the Modern Day African Safari & its Role in Sustainable Development

An African safari is one of the most exciting adventure trips of a lifetime that offers new experiences and plays an important role in Africa’s economic development, conservation, and sustainability.

However, most tourists don’t know how a modern safari came to be.

Where Does the Word Safari Come From?

The word safari is in Swahili meaning a journey. However, originally, the word safari originated from an Arabic verb known as “safar” meaning to take a journey.

The journeys mostly were for coming to Africa and included commodity and slave trade but today it is used to describe a holiday to Africa to enjoy African wildlife and the African wilderness.

Many missionaries, explorers, and adventurers reported on their movements through Africa with a greater awareness of the richness of the African continent.

This brought up the colonization of most parts of Africa and this opened up doors to the world like never before and the legend of the great white hunters and explorers on courageous adventures. This is part of the history that has been preserved by Hollywood.

The modern African safari journey that was born in East Africa is a far cry from the elaborate safaris of the past where several porters carried every conceivable luxury across the African landscape.

The first tourist safaris primarily focused on hunting tours where hunters paid a lot of money to spend a long time in Africa and were portered and cared for by the local people.

Although hunting was still the prime objective of most tourists the photographic safari was taking root ever so slowly within the African landscape.

Trade Routes – Beginning of the first Safaris

The earliest safaris recorded were focusing on trade routes. The Arabic and African cultures are closely connected in early human history, on the trade routes, there would be large caravans of traders traveling across vast landscapes to bring their commodities and other prized items from one city to another.

In the colonial era, European safari caravans required a huge crew along with supplies and weapons since they were large scale operations. The European safari caravans (large caravans) of Europe could accommodate most people who went hunting for adventure.

Safaris Evolve Into Adventure and Exploration

The good thing is that the safari that involved the slave trade ended before the turn of the 20^th century, and this changed the purpose of the safaris from business focus and primarily focused on adventure and exploration.

Adventurers in Africa during this time marked the discovery of new several species of African wildlife, especially animals, birds, and plants.

Most of these discoveries were named after the person who had found them, and the expeditions were thrilling as you discovered inspiring vast landscapes.

Hunting Safaris

With the long time that had past, the courageous adventures became related to hunting and this primarily focused on conquering the big game and coming back from the hunting adventures with trophies and prized items unlike the business focus related part.

The great renown were hunters like William Cornwallis Harris who not only hunted big game but also documented hunts during hunting to show his courageous adventures in the African wilderness.

William Cornwallis Harris brought rise to the familiar imagery we relate with the word safari in the present times. The hunting East African safaris became a stylish quest among members of the advantaged classes in Europe and America and this was because of William Cornwallis Harris the great renown.

The Firsts of the Kruger National Park

The word safari arose in Kruger National Park of South Africa in the 1920s which showed off the first tourists in private vehicles within the park. By then the great renown Pretoriuskop Rest Camp was opened to the public and visitors would stay there for overnight in the African wilderness and hunt big game.

The African safari since then in Kruger National Park has been in constant transformation and got a fascinating new look in the 1980s when the concept of the luxury safari was born in South Africa.

The private reserves near Kruger National Park undertook to offer luxury accommodations with the big game experience. From there, this expensive safari form developed in Kruger National Park slowly and surely became the norm and today most people recognize luxury lodge safaris as the essence of the African safari.

Throughout the African continent, the luxury safari is now the standard of the African safari journey and tourists can enjoy a photographic safari when in Kruger National Park the neighboring private reserves.

The Birth of the Modern Safari & Sustainable Tourism

Conservation movement helps to save these pillaged areas of Africa and the native wildlife, allowing them to continue to exist unspoiled for future generations. As of today, the modern safari is far from where it began as most people hunted big game and it is now business focus.

During the conservation movement, tourists now engage in African wildlife viewing of the African savanna, forests, and rivers, shooting them with cameras and giving prized items.

A modern safari offers many jobs for African people and allows them to support their families and communities through the strength of ecotourism for future generations.

The national parks, private reserves, and local communities of Africa need a steady stream of visitors to do their amazing work, so in a very real sense, you will be making a difference simply by going on a modern safari.

When Is the Best Time to Go for Africa Historical Tours?

Tourists can come on historical African safaris at any time of the year though the most ideal time is during the dry season which is mostly from June to September. This corresponds with the main modern safari countries on the African continent though there can be regional variations.

You will get a thrilling personal experience as there is good lighting for a photographic safari and you get to take endless photos. Also, reaching the historical sites the great renown is not stressful as they are easily accessible.

It is also the best time for other tours in Africa like exploring the native wildlife, exploring the vast landscapes, and understanding the African cultures with a huge contingent on tourism.

What to Pack for Historical Safaris in Africa?

An African safari for history is not a hunting tour, though there are some things you need to pack for these tours. However, you can pack a few items for your historical safaris though don’t forget to travel light.

Below are some of the essential items that you can carry for your safari;

• A camera with extra batteries
• Binoculars
• A day backpack
• Insect Repellents
• Sunscreen
• Personal first aid kit
• Personal medical prescription

What to Wear for Historical Safaris in Africa?

Going for a historical safari requires specific wear and you can put on clothes that can make you comfortable and can blend in easily with the environment.

Below is what to wear on a historical safari in Africa;

• Long-sleeved shirts and trousers (mostly neutral colors)
• Comfortable shoes
• A cap or hat
• Sunglasses
• Sweaters
• Poncho or rain jacket

FAQS

What Is a Historical Tour?

A historical tour will have you visit places to understand their past events. It involves traveling with the primary purpose of exploring the history and heritage of a place or local people.

A historical tour on an African safari also involves sightseeing of renowned historical architecture, and visiting local museums that document the past through artifacts.

You can explore one city of African descent way to know the black history and culture and also other tours concerning wildlife.

What City Has the Most Black History? | Which State Has the Most Black History?

Chicago has the blackest history as many black people have shaped the history of Chicago since the 1800s. This city has many black Americans filled with a huge contingent of culture and you can enjoy a black history tour when here.

When Did African Safaris Begin? | When Did Safaris Start in Africa?

Throughout the 20^th century, the safari was only popular in film and literature through the tales of adventure.

The word safari originated from the word “safar” an Arabic verb meaning to take a journey. From there, there is the noun safariya which is in Swahili a synonym of the Arabic word.

The earliest safaris recorded were primarily focused around the trade routes when the Arabic and African cultures closely connected and there would be large caravans of traders traveling across vast landscapes to bring prized items from one city to another not concerning wildlife.

Traders traveling in the vast landscapes had a successful business though local people were sold and used for barter. In the colonial era, European safari caravans involved a huge contingent as they had a huge crew with supplies and weapons to take them through during the wildlife safari in the wild.

These European safari caravans (large caravans) were running on large scale operations.

The good thing, the Arabic verb (safari) that was related to the slave trade ended before the turn of the 20^th century and changed the purpose of safaris from a successful business to adventure.

That marked the beginning of African safaris with sightings of a huge contingent of native wildlife.

What Is the History of the Safari Style?

The safari style originated from British officers and the jackets worn during their campaigns in Africa. This included khaki clothing, belted bush jackets, pith helmets or slouch hats, and animal skin patterns.

The Pith helmet was worn by the British military in the tropics and was adopted as streetwear between 1870 and 1950. They used to put on this attire during their large scale operations on an African safari which closely connected with the surrounding environment.

Which African Country Is Known for its Safaris?

Tanzania is one of the most famous safari destinations on the African continent and in the whole world. This African descent country boasts of the most rewarding national parks and private reserves, especially for those who want to witness the Big Five and wildlife.

It is rich in wildlife because of its conservation movement and this has resulted in a successful business. Visiting Tanzania will give you life adventure journeys on your African safari with sightings of the native wildlife.

Why are African Safaris Important?

A modern safari is a sightseeing trip to an African national park. The main purpose is to see wildlife and also a safari journey allows you to support the conservation movement.

The earliest safaris recorded the objective of hunting for large animals and other native wildlife.

Where Did Safaris Originate?

Safaris originated in East Africa and Kenya is specifically known as the land of the original safari. As of today, it is one of the few countries in Africa offering an authentic safari experience, so you can know how it was in the past years.

What is the Most Famous Safari Park in Africa?

Masai Mara National Reserve is the most famous safari park in Africa. It is a wonder to behold, it hosts the Wildebeest annual migration which is one of the natural wonders of the world.

Masai Mara is a great place to be for your African safari as you will enjoy game drives, hot air balloon safaris, birding, and walking adventure trips so that you see amazing wildlife.

In summary, a historical African safari will give the best past events and moments that you need to know about a place and local people.

However, it can also be combined with an African wildlife tour to give amazing experiences as you get to watch several species of animals like the big game and bird species in Kruger National Park.

Forget the history of Europe, African history is uncensored as it will take you through how the slave trade ended and it will exist unspoiled for future generations. You get to know when the word safari originated and how the earliest safaris used to be and other tours.

Reach out to us so that we help you enjoy the best Historical African safaris.