1. Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania
Often overlooked during the headlong dash to the Serengeti, this place is a little gem. I once spent ten days here and never got bored, despite not seeing any of the famous tree-climbing lions. Manyara’s elephants are some of the biggest and friendliest I have ever met, and considering the countless encounters I’ve had over the years, that is saying something. Nearby is the friendly, bustling village of Mto wa Mbu, which has more ethnic diversity than anywhere else I know. Manyara definitely merits a longer and closer look.

2. The Caprivi Strip, Namibia
Namibia is a country that invites superlatives, so let’s skip the coast, the dunes, desert rhino and even Etosha and head for the panhandle of Caprivi. This is where the Okavango River flows before it meets the swamps in Botswana. On the way here you’ll see road signs around Windhoek showing warthogs, while further on they mark the presence of kudu. In the Caprivi, the signs warn of elephants – and they mean it! This area is a lush contrast to the usual pictures of Namibia, a landscape where big-leaved trees shade the riverbanks and where elephant and buffalo come to drink. Mudumu National Park, on the Kwando River, and Mahango National Park, flanking the Okavango River, both host abundant wildlife and hold more bird species than any other park in Namibia.

3. Luangwa Valley, Zambia
It was love at first sight, and I just have to keep going back. Whether in the green season or in the dusty, dry winter, there is always a surprise waiting to be discovered. Justly famous for its friendly leopards and happy elephants, the valley supports a thriving wild dog population, as well as the endemic Thornicroft’s giraffe. The valley caters for all tastes – there are night drives, walking opportunities and wild camping, plus several very worthy community-run ventures.

4. Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda
Murchison Falls is a very special place. Here, you can board a launch to see the Nile being squeezed into a narrow cleft before it takes an awesome
drop. Or if you cruise downstream along the river teeming with wildlife, you’ll pass through the delta and into Lake Albert. If crocs are your thing, this is their ancestral home. The park has its fair share of lion and elephant, and is one of the few Ugandan parks where giraffe occur. Buffalo herds are bouncing back, some up to 1000 strong. You cannot leave Uganda without mentioning the prolific birds – I’ve even seen an enigmatic shoebill from a lodge bar!

5. Widnaba, Upper East region of Ghana
Situated in the remote Red Volta Valley, this is Africa’s Sahel at its best. It’s also a total contrast to the tourist traps of the Cape Coast. Although I spent two weeks up here fruitlessly looking for migrating elephants, I was so enchanted by the Kusaasi people’s welcome that I hardly noticed the lack of pachyderms. Widnaba is a friendly place with a fascinating culture that certainly repays the effort of getting there.