Four of the best safari adventures

Cycling in Tanzania. Photo / Intrepid travel

1 BUDGET

While safaris have a reputation of being pricey, an African wildlife tour needn't break the bank. If you optfor Intrepid's "Basix" category, you'll get just that —a back-to-basics safari experience—but the animals are just as incredible. The company's nine-day Victoria Falls to Kruger trip gives you the perfect opportunity to spot the Big Five, with visits to Hwange and Kruger national parks, aswell as a stay with the Hananwa people at a small village in South Africa's Limpopo province. Money is saved on this trip by camping, rather than staying in lodges — so if you don't have a problem tenting it, this could be a great budget options. Prices start at $1530.

2 LUXURY

It doesn't get more luxurious than a private jet — and with Scenic Air Safaris, you can observe the endangered animals of Africa from the plush rotating leather seats of a 10-seater aircraft. The company's nine-day Endangered Species Flying Safari visits the Maasai Mara, the Great Rift Valley, Samburu, Laikipia and Lewa and includes exclusive meet ups with renowned specialist wildlife conservationists. When you're not in the air, you'll be staying at luxury safari camps, including the world-famous Elephant Watch Camp hosted by the Douglas-Hamilton family. If you can get a minimum of six friends together, costs start at $17,084pp.

3 ACTIVE

If you're a keen cyclist, a safari trip can also be the ultimate bike adventure. Intrepid offers a 13-day cycle tour of Tanzania, which includes visits to the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater — two of Africa's most spectacular wildlife arenas, where you may even spot the rare black rhino. The tour takes you to places where tourists rarely visit, across the remote, barely-charted plains of Lengai in the realm of misty volcanic peaks. You'll need to be confident on a bicycle — but if you need a break along the way, there'sasupport vehicle to jump into. Prices start at $4620.

4 OUT OF AFRICA

While safari adventures are generally synonymous with Africa, it's worth looking at other continents as well. Discover the colourful and varied wildlife of Brazil's Pantanal region with a four-night tour with World Journeys. The largest continuous wetland on the planet, the open marshes of the Pantanal make it ideal for observing wildlife. You can spot everything from jaguars to capybara to jabiru storks and even giant otters, while travelling by both road and boat. Accommodation is at the Araras Ecolodge, a selfsustainable property set on a 6820-acre private reserve. Prices start from $2235.