If you’ve always had a safari at the top of your bucket list, we’re here to tell you that not all safaris were created equal. Safaris are usually costly, and when you’re going to spend a lot of money on your dream vacation, you’ll want to seek out the best spot to see the most diverse wildlife possible. To help you find the best of the best, we’ve compiled this guide of some of the greatest safari destinations.

Kruger National Park in South Africa

As one of the largest national parks in Africa, Kruger reserve does not disappoint. Home to the “big five,” you can find yourself up close and personal with elephants, lions, leopard, rhinoceros, and Cape buffalo, not to mention the bevy of magnificent birds and other species.

Serengeti National Park in Tanzania

Witnessing a wildebeest or zebra migration is once-in-a-lifetime and a very moving experience. Even if you don’t have the good fortune of seeing a migration, you’ll still see lions sauntering across the plains, birds taking dips in waterholes and a myriad of beautiful flora.

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in Zambia

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is the trifecta of amazing lifetime experiences: It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it encompasses Victoria Falls (which is crowned as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world), and the wildlife viewing is unparalleled. You can encounter giraffes, warthogs, zebras, buffaloes, impalas, hippos, crocodiles, rhinos and maybe even elephants as they cross the mighty Zambezi River.

Okavango Delta in Botswana

If your ideal safari encompasses a large and diverse variety of animals, the Okavango Delta may be the most epic spot for you. This delta is situated among the otherwise dry landscape, and it attracts animals by the thousands as they stop for a drink or a bath. Catch sightings of rare animals like hyenas, lions, giraffes, leopards, hippos, crocodiles, rhinos and elephants!

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

What this area lacks in the larger African animals like hippos and lions, it makes up for in its primate viewing. This is one of the few places on Earth where you can watch gorillas in their natural habitat, feeding on roots and playing with their young in peace.

Ranthambore National Park, India

While India doesn’t usually come to mind when thinking of safaris, you may want to reconsider. If you’re a lover of felines and big cats, there’s nothing better than seeing an elusive and gorgeous tiger frolicking in the wild of Ranthambore National Park.

South Luangwa in Zambia

Thanks to the sheer density of animals in South Luangwa, it’s impossible to visit without seeing anything of interest. Bird-watching is incredible, animals like elephants, hippos, and buffaloes saunter by as impalas, pukus, and leopards bound through the tall grassland.

Yala Park in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s most famous park holds a special place in people’s hearts for a multitude of reasons. Its stunning location right along the Indian ocean allows for abundant wildlife viewing. Here you’ll find a fascinating variety of animals from leopards and elephants to monkeys and crocodiles to match the location’s diversity of sprawling grasslands, lush forests, and wetlands.