• Explore Africa by safari from the continent's islands.Tanzania, Pemba, Swahili, Wildlife, Safari, Scuba, Secenery image by GeorgeT from Fotolia.com
  
  Many of the most wild and unspoiled safari opportunities in Africa are located in the east-central portion of the country, Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia, bordered by the Indian Ocean and its islands. On an African island safari, travelers explore the continent's marine habitats as well as its forests, plains, and marshes, with chances to see elephants, birds, big cats, gazelle and hippo.
  
  

Luangwa River Islands

• Take an African boating safari through the lagoons and small islands scattered throughout the Luangwa River, from Nkwali and Nsefu. The week-long safari through the flood plain river system is one of the River Journey tours offered by Robin Pope Safaris in South Luangwa, Zambia.
  
  This safari operates from mid-January through the end of March, annually, during the river's "Emerald Season." The Luangwa River flows over into "brimming lagoons," and the safari involves driving, walking and boating. Most of the wild game in the area is there year round, which makes for excellent wildlife viewing. Visitors may glimpse hippos, giraffes, lions and zebra. The package, which includes accommodations and all safari expenses, such as transportation costs and national park fees, starts at $469 per person, per night, as of November, 2010.
  
  

Sindabezi Island

• Safari through the islands skirting Victoria Falls in southern Africa's Zambezi River, between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The falls are some of the largest on earth, and are one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, according to Tongabezi Lodge. The falls are flanked by several large islands, including Livingstone, Cataract and Princess Victoria islands.
  
  Tongabezi Lodge, based in Zambia, offers safari packages with luxury accommodations on Sindabezi, the company's private island upstream to the falls. Packages include a stay in a house or cottage with a safari through the Mosi-oa-Tunya Game Park, fishing expeditions from the island shores, and guided walking tours around the falls and its gorges. Hippos enjoy the river from the shores of Sindabezi, according to Tongabezi. Safari packages start at $415 per person, per night, as of November, 2010.
  
  

Mnemba Island

• And Beyond Africa offers African Island safari packages with luxury accommodations on the island of Mnemba, and exploration through the wildlife preserves of neighboring Zanzibar Island, the largest in a collection of African islands known generally as Zanzibar, now a part of the United Republic of Tanzania. The islands are in the Indian Ocean, twenty miles from the mainland across the Dar es Salaam Bay.
  
  Mnemba Island is a small, private island in the Zanzibar grouping of islands, and part of its charm includes white coral sand beaches and traditional fishing villages and spice plantations.
  
  The Jozani Forest in Zanzibar's South Region features ground water forests, coral rag forests and salt marshes. It is also home to the rare red colobus monkey and Sykes' monkey. The safari packages at And Beyond Africa start at $1100, and include luxury thatched cottages, as well as fishing, boating, swimming and diving.