Somewhere above Africa I was gazing from the plane window half expecting to see a herd of wildebeest charging around below. “This is supposed to be Africa,” I lamented to the immigration official. “I thought you would have at least some lions on the runway.” This personal naivety wasn’t restricted to me; other passengers looked surprised that the first rhinos they encountered were on a billboard advertising HSBC.

Three years later, and my travels on the continent have brought me far closer to wildlife than any night in with David Attenborough’s Planet Earth. Every national park has a different environment, supporting a different ecosystem.

For example, it’s no good going on a seven-day Serengeti trip if you desperately want a recreation of Disney’s Dumbo. So to sift out the myths, and separate the authentic from the artificial, here is a guide to going on safari in Africa.

The private game reserve

This is your entry level safari. Private game reserves buy animals from the big national parks and keep them in their natural environment. Almost all will make sure they have the Big 5 – the main marketing tool for any safari operation.

Lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards and rhinos were originally the most sought-after hunting trophies, because it was these animals that would fight back and attack when shot at. In short they’re the most dangerous, and most physically impressive. Expect high-quality accommodation and food to accompany the safari experience. However, the private game reserve is only one step up from a zoo, and can usually only accommodate a small handful of each animal. Furthermore, while the predators are wild, they are fed by humans and don’t survive off their environment.

Best for: A quick and easy way to see all the animals in their natural environment, just don’t expect giant herds or hunting scenes. Choose this safari if you’re short on time and don’t want to leave Africa without coming face to face with a lion.

Best example: There are many in southern Africa offering very similar experiences. Aquila gets my vote, mainly because of its accessibility, being only two hours’ drive from Cape Town (www.aquilasafari.com).

The open grasslands

Picture the Lion King, and Simba perched on a rock admiring his land. The savannah stretches forever, and the sunsets suggest that the world is a lot closer to the sun than we all thought. These places do exist in Africa. Good grass attracts the grazers, and they, in turn, support huge numbers of predators: lions, cheetahs, leopards and other cats. Open plains also make animal spotting easy.

Just don’t get too close with big flash cameras – two Chinese tourists ended up in hospital recently after an elephant flipped their car

However, you can’t expect to find open grasslands anywhere near urban areas. These safaris require a multi-day commitment as it’s often a full day’s drive just to get there. Camping in the parks is an essential part of the experience; nothing like waking up to find leopard footprints 10 metres from your tent.

Best for: Excellent viewing of the predators and large herds of potential prey like zebras, wildebeest and antelopes. The open grasslands provide a genuine chance of seeing authentic hunting scenes.

Best example: In the local Swahili language simba means lion, safari translates as ‘long journey’ and the Serengeti means ‘endless plains’. How endless? The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania covers an area over 50 times larger than Malta.

Over two million animals migrate across it annually during the great wildebeest migration. The Serengeti becomes the Masai Mara National Park when it crosses into Kenya.

The thick jungle

“In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lions sleeps tonight...” In reality this is not the place for viewing lions; they are likely to be asleep under a tree and out of sight. The jungle is home to the browsers, the tree-eating animals that can uproot vegetation quicker than a corrupt Amazonian sawmill.

Roaming through their environment, constantly feeding, are elephants, giraffes, baboons and various monkey species. Big enough or quick enough to avoid the big cats, they aren’t shy about coming close to your safari vehicle. Large sections of uprooted trees are a telltale sign that they’re nearby.

Best for: Big herds of elephants, often with a number of cute babies, as well as cheeky primates. Winding roads produce anticipation and excitement, as you’re never sure what might be lurking around the corner. Just remember to keep your food out of reach; baboons will happily jump through windows for a packed lunch.

Best example: In the north of Botswana, Chobe National Park is home to a mind-boggling 120,000 elephants, and huge herds of giraffe. It’s almost impossible to go five minutes without coming across them. Hidden among the trees, its deserted camping spots provide a unique audio experience as animals make their cries in the night.

The all rounder

Some parks are able to serve up a feast – open grasslands, vegetation for the browsers and swamps for animals like hippos and crocodiles. The all rounder is a carefully balanced eco-system, supporting itself by ensuring no one species overly dominates. You could see everything, but huge herds are unlikely. While species generally stick to their habitat, all the animals must venture to the water hole, making game viewing relatively simple.

Best for: A bit of everything. Every game drive will be different, so multi-day safaris multiply your chance of spotting some of the more sought after species like leopards and cheetahs. Keep your expectations low; you don’t want to ruin the experience by lamenting missing one off your tick list.

Best example: The Kruger National Park in South Africa covers almost 20,000 square kilometres and is one of the oldest parks in the world. Different areas specialise in different things. It’s also home to around 80 per cent of the world’s white rhinos.

You can self-drive around Kruger, a good option for those wanting privacy. Just don’t get too close with big flash cameras – two Chinese tourists ended up in hospital recently after an elephant flipped their car. Also highly recommended is the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.