Kenya's Maasai Mara National Reserve has earned itself a reputation as one of Africa's most rewarding safari destinations, and for good reason.

Regardless of the time of year, wildlife sightings are both plentiful and diverse. It's possible to see the Big Five in a single day, and during the July-November dry season, the plains are filled with the vast herds of the annual wildebeest migration.

In particular, watching the herds crossing the Mara River in their thousands is a spectacle few will ever forget. Cultural visits to traditional Maasai villages are another highlight of this spectacular East African reserve.

Draped in mist and full of lush vegetation, Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park nestles deep within the Virunga Mountains.

As Africa's oldest national park, it is one of the best places in the world to encounter the critically endangered mountain gorilla.

A subspecies of the wider-ranging eastern gorilla, there are only around 800 of these amazing animals left. To share a moment with them in their natural environment is an intensely moving experience.

The park provides a home for several other rare species, including 29 endemic species of bird.

The highlight of this Rift Valley park is the eponymous Lake Nakuru, a soda lake famous for its incredible flamingo population.

The density of the flamingo flock depends on the time of year. During the dry season, water levels fall and the lake becomes more alkaline, generating more algae for the birds to feed on.

At this time, numbers of lesser and greater flamingo can swell to as many as two million birds, creating a rose-hued haze across the lake's surface. The park itself is home to a host of other animals, including lions, rhino and approximately 450 species of bird.

Zanzibar is renowned for its fascinating history and its incredible beaches. Located off the coast of Tanzania and surrounded by the azure waters of the Indian Ocean, Zanzibar was once a key stop on the spice route.

Here, the island's Arab rulers would trade slaves for spices; and today, Zanzibar's exotic past is evident in its elaborate architecture.

Stone Town is one of the island's biggest attractions, boasting ornate houses, narrow alleyways, a Sultan's palace, and many mosques. Zanzibar's white-sand beaches are postcard-perfect, and its reefs are ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving.

Those in search of the ultimate safari experience should consider combining a trip to the Maasai Mara with a visit to Serengeti National Park in neighboring Tanzania.

Here, breathtaking open plains are dotted with acacia trees and grazing game. It's a great place to spot predators like lion and cheetah in action; especially during the January-March rainy season.

At this time, wildebeest descend upon the southern Serengeti to give birth, and the newborn calves make easy prey for hungry cats. In April, the herds start their migration to the Maasai Mara, but the game-viewing remains exceptional all year round.