Top Culture Trips for Safari Adventures

From the savannahs of Kenya to the cloud forests of Costa Rica, the world’s animal kingdom is yours to explore
From the savannahs of Kenya to the cloud forests of Costa Rica, the world’s animal kingdom is yours to explore | © Nimit Virdi / Getty Images
Nick Dauk

Senior Travel Writer

Animal instinct tops the agenda of these wildlife-themed Culture Trip adventures across Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Whatever your favourite animal was as a child, there’s a chance you’ll get up close and personal with it on a safari trip. From the savannahs of Kenya to the cloud forests of Costa Rica, the world’s animal kingdom is yours to explore with the help of expert guides. Intimate talks with locals and the chance to sample regional cuisine further elevate these insider-led itineraries beyond the ordinary. Ready for a really wild expedition? Let these Culture Trips show you fantastic beasts and where to find them.

Wildebeest crossing the great mara river

Immersive Kenya

Fill your animal-loving boots to the brim on a safari in Kenya. On this eight-day tour, you’ll explore Kenya’s portion of the Great Rift Valley, which stretches all the way down from Lebanon through East Africa to Mozambique. Next, it’s into the Maasai Mara, home to the Big Five and preferred superhighway for the annual wildebeest migration. Aberdare National Park and Lake Nakuru are ready to dazzle you with Cape buffaloes, African elephants and more. Game drives will make up the bulk of your expedition, while unique cultural experiences – including a day spent with a Maasai tribe – add an extra dimension to this immersive escape to the savannah.

From US$2959

Next available from 10th Mar 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Nairobi, Kenya

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ENDS AT

Nairobi, Kenya

DURATION

8

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

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STYLE

Discovery

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Safari guide in jeep with calming sign looking at rhinos in the wild

Splendid South Africa

Our 11-day South Africa trip is not short of incredible wildlife encounters and unique natural landscapes. We’ll start in Cape Town, ascending Table Mountain by cable car and kayaking with penguins in nearby Simons Town. Then it’s onto the gorgeous wine region of Stellenbosch and the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn. The best is saved for last, however, as we spend two nights at a luxury lodge in Gondwana Game Reserve. You’ll get to go on up to four game drives in search for the Big Five – keep an eye out for rare breeds of antelope and zebra, too – during our stay, which also includes plenty of free time to make use of the reserve’s many activities. Keep it active with fynbos walks and mountain bike excursions, or wind down with a treatment at the Bush Spa, or an afternoon spent chilling by the infinity pool – stay here long enough and you might be visited by a herd of local elephants.

From US$2899

Next available from 3rd Feb 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Cape Town, South Africa

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ENDS AT

Cape Town, South Africa

DURATION

11

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

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STYLE

Discovery

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Elephant spotted on a safari in Sri Lanka

Secrets of Sri Lanka by Train

They say an elephant never forgets, so be sure to greet them with a smiling face when you come face to face in Sri Lanka. These majestic beasts are waiting to welcome you to Udawalawe National Park. But don’t forget their friends: monkeys, crocodiles, leopards and other animals are hanging around these parts, too. This 10-day Rail Trip around the island is an excellent safari experience, mixed with ancient fortresses, tea plantations and scenic train trips, for good measure.

From US$1679

Next available from 9th Mar 2024

Secure your spot with a low deposit

Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Colombo, Sri Lanka

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ENDS AT

Colombo, Sri Lanka

DURATION

10

GROUP SIZE

12

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

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STYLE

Discovery

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Three-toed Sloth (Bradypus variegatus) hangs in a tree in the Costa Rica rainforest

The Real Costa Rica

A jungle safari through Costa Rica is one of those trips that have wildlife watchers and would-be Attenborough’s rushing for the “book” button. In between coffee tastings and surf lessons in Tamarindo on this eight-day tour, you’ll assail the Monteverde cloud forest in search of sloth bears on a moon-lit excursion. Salute the Pura Vida lifestyle with a sunrise yoga session or evening hot-spring soak. But don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for capuchins around the cone of Arenal.

From US$2199

Next available from 6th Apr 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

San Jose, Costa Rica

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ENDS AT

Tamarindo, Provincia De Guanacaste

DURATION

8

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

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STYLE

Discovery

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Additional words by Gethin Morgan.

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Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

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