South Africa

The game viewing in South Africa is more about quality than quantity.  It is rare to see more than a few animals together at a time (other than the ubiquitous antelopes), but the variety of species you can see is extensive.

The landscape where many of the safari lodges are is wooded, so you generally don't get the vistas you get in East Africa.  That said, there are parts of the country with gorgeous views, such as the Kalahari. 

The top safari lodges in South Africa are known as some of the best properties in the world, with top-notch service, food and accommodations.  You can't believe that there's this type of luxury in the bush (i.e. in the middle of nowhere).

No visit to South Africa is complete without a visit to Cape Town; a stunning city on the coast.  It doesn't feel like a city because of the topography and because of the number of outdoor pursuits on offer.  In addition to an active lifestyle, Cape Town boasts great hotels, restaurants, beaches, gorgeous vineyards that rival Napa Valley and proximity to the Cape of Good Hope.  In contrast, there's not an equivalent city to visit in East Africa.

East Africa - Kenya & Tanzania

East Africa is characterized by vast plains, beautiful vistas and large herds of animals.  You can see the great migration of wildabeest, zebra, gazelle and the predators that follow them.  However, there are great quantities of animals year-round.  We were not there during the migration and we still saw herds of animals and a great variety of species.

There are many opportunities to interact with the local tribes, the most famous being the Masaai (pictured here).

The high-end lodges in Kenya and Tanzania are generally not as luxe as the ones in South Africa and accordingly, the prices are a bit lower.  There are a few exceptions to this, namely Singita Grumeti in Tanzania.