Since 1910, when Teddy Roosevelt made chasing wild herds across the African plains de rigueur for the not-so-idle rich, the idea of safaris has loomed large in the psyche of American men.
Though the tradition has evolved—no modern traveler would brag about, much less admit to bagging 17 lions, 11 elephants, and 20 rhinos—a trip to the savanna, the desert, or the jungle is still fundamentally about getting back to basics and back to Earth. Nowadays, those basics often involve polished silverware, but luxuries are only ornamental on the best trips. Nothing could outshine the landscape.
New safaris are venturing into untrammeled areas as formerly war-torn countries stabilize and create sustainable tourism programs. Safaris may be Africa’s past, but they are the future as well. Here’s where to go (also check out 10 trips every man should take before 50).
