When people think of the classic safari holiday, they probably conjure up thoughts of wide, open deserts, grassy savannah and wild animals, but what are the possibilities when going on a safari holiday?

Firstly, people most expect to see the big five wild animals when they go on safari: lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras and buffalo. These animals can be found across Africa, so most reserves should be able to show you these beasts in their natural habitat.

There is a lot more to see when heading to Africa – birds are fascinating as there are so many varied habitats. There are specialist guides who can show the most avid twitcher an exciting array of birds across the continent.

Meerkats are another species that are much loved by people on safari. These can be found in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. They tend to favour hot, arid desert terrain and are an adorable animal to see in their own habitats.