From Attenborough’s distinctive narration to sweeping cinematic landscapes, Africa’s greatest wildlife documentaries have offered unforgettable glimpses of the continent’s most remarkable creatures.
With Expert Africa’s in-depth knowledge, you can step beyond the screen and into the wild. From Tsavo’s elephants to the gorillas of Rwanda, explore ten safari camps featured in Africa’s most iconic wildlife documentaries, and experience the real places, people and animals that inspired them.
Track the Painted Wolves of Dynasties – Vundu Camp, Zimbabwe
The Dynasties ‘Painted Wolf’ (African wild dog) episode followed the unforgettable packs of Mana Pools: their teamwork, loyalty and fierce rivalries.
At Vundu Camp, you’ll track their descendants on foot along the Zambezi floodplain, guided by the same experts who worked with David Attenborough and the BBC film crew on this dramatic series. This is immersive safari at its finest: wild dogs coursing through mopane woodland, lions lounging in the shade, elephants wading through the Zambezi shallows just metres away.
Shadow the lions of The Last Lions – Duba Plains, Botswana
The Last Lions told the powerful story of Ma di Tau, a lone lioness fighting to protect her cubs amid the watery wilderness of Duba.
Today, Duba Plains Camp remains one of Africa’s best places to see lions hunting. With only five luxury tents and superbly-guided, day-and-night game drives, you can witness the same thrilling encounters that inspired filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert.
Meet the Leopards of Eye of the Leopard – Selinda Camp, Botswana
Following the life of Legadema from playful cub to skilled hunter, Eye of the Leopard became a classic of the genre.
Today, beautiful Selinda Camp sits within the same pristine wilderness where the film was made, offering luxurious tented suites overlooking the spillway. With expert guiding and plentiful big-cat sightings, it captures the enduring spirit of the film and its wild setting.
Discover the Desert Lions of Vanishing Kings – Hoanib Skeleton Coast, Namibia
This extraordinary film revealed how a handful of lions survive in Namibia’s seemingly lifeless desert.
Guests at Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp explore that same stark beauty: rolling dunes, dry riverbeds and the haunting Hoanib Valley. Track desert-adapted lions, elephants and giraffe by vehicle or aircraft, then return to one of Namibia’s most stylish wilderness camps.
Encounter the Lions of BBC’s Big Cats – Ikuka Safari Camp, Tanzania
The BBC’s Big Cats series showcased Ruaha’s powerful lion prides and wide-open wilderness.
Ikuka’s hilltop setting gives panoramic views across the park, while its owner-run warmth and exceptional guiding bring you close to lions, leopards and other predators in a truly wild corner of Tanzania – where few travellers venture.
Explore the Delta of Into the Okavango – Shinde Camp, Botswana
This acclaimed National Geographic documentary follows scientists tracing the Delta’s waters from source to floodplain.
At Shinde Camp, poised on an island amid the waterways, you’ll feel that same sense of discovery: gliding silently in a mokoro between papyrus reeds, spotting kingfishers and fish-eagles hunt, watching predators and antelope quench their thirst, and falling asleep to the chorus of frogs and hippos.
Walk in the Footsteps of Gorillas in the Mist – Bisate Lodge, Rwanda
Dian Fossey’s pioneering work with Rwanda’s mountain gorillas remains one of conservation’s great legacies.
At Bisate Lodge, nestled in reforested hills near Volcanoes National Park, guests trek to see these gentle giants just as Fossey once did. With luxury villas and community-focused sustainability, it’s both indulgent and deeply meaningful.
Meet the Meerkats of BBC’s Africa – Jack’s Camp, Botswana
Attenborough’s Africa series introduced viewers to the endearingly charismatic meerkats of the Kalahari.
At Jack’s Camp, on the edge of the vast salt pans, guests can spend mornings with habituated meerkat families – watching them forage, play and stand sentinel against the dawn. This is one of Botswana’s most iconic camps, combining desert adventure with vintage safari style.
Follow the Zebra Migration of Nature’s Epic Journeys – Nxai Pan, Botswana
This BBC Earth series tracked Africa’s greatest migrations, including the dazzling zebra trek across Botswana’s Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans.
Stay at Nxai Pan Camp to see the spectacle firsthand as thousands of zebra cross the shimmering flats after the rains, followed by lion and cheetah on the hunt. one of Africa’s most astonishing yet least-known spectacles.
Follow the Elephants of The Elephant Queen – Tangulia Mara, Kenya
Athena’s epic journey in The Elephant Queen captured hearts worldwide as she led her family through drought and danger in Tsavo’s parched landscapes.
At Tangulia Mara, on the edge of the Maasai Mara, you’ll see a different side of elephant society: large family groups moving between the river, the escarpment and the open plains. As the first Maasai-owned and run camp in the Mara, guided by experts including Jackson Looseyia of Big Cat Diary fame, Tangulia offers great low-impact game viewing. Watch elephants browsing below camp or encounter them on uncrowded drives across the Mara’s vast grasslands: a real-world experience that echoes the insight of the film.
To talk to us about your tailor-made African safari, including these and other offbeat experiences, call us on 0203 405 6666.
