The Best National Park in Africa for Safari Lovers
The national parks of Africa are home to some of the world’s most spectacular creatures, and they make an excellent destination for anyone planning a safari. While the natural beauty of these wildlife preserves is reason enough to include them in your African travel plans, it’s important to choose the right park to ensure you have the best experience possible. Here’s an overview of the continent’s top national parks and their pros and cons, as well as some examples of national parks you should consider adding to your itinerary if you’re heading out on safari in Africa this year.
kruger national park
Kruger has more than nine million acres of wilderness, and you can explore it from a range of environments. The park is known for its diverse wildlife population. You’ll find animals ranging from lions and elephants to hippos, leopards, rhinoceros and baboons here. The Kruger Park is also home to almost 700 bird species—and more than 200 reptile, amphibian and fish species as well. Visitors can explore Kruger by foot or by car, hiking or canoeing through one of three separate areas: Eastern, Northern and Southern. Cars can be used only on certain designated roads within these zones; visitors must take safari tours to explore other areas via vehicle or foot.
Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti is known as one of Tanzania’s most popular national parks, renowned for its abundant wildlife, large expanses and abundant vegetation. The park has a number of different animal species that tourists can look forward to spotting while on safari such as lions, cheetahs, giraffes and zebras. Serengeti national park is an excellent destination for anyone looking to enjoy some great game-viewing in Africa. To get more information about spending time at Serengeti national park, simply follow these simple steps
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
If you’re a die-hard safari fan, you need to visit Ngorongoro Crater and neighboring Serengeti National Park. The two reserves are located just north of Tanzania’s Olduvai Gorge, but they boast scenery that’s even more impressive. With its abundance of wildlife and vast expanses of wilderness, Ngorongoro is one of the world’s most iconic parks. It has also earned UNESCO World Heritage Site status thanks to its natural beauty and rich cultural history—which makes it ideal for both nature lovers and historians alike.
Tsavo West
One of Kenya’s largest parks, Tsavo West is located near Mt. Kilimanjaro and offers safari adventures year-round. In fact, most safaris in Tanzania leave from Nairobi and head to Tsavo West because of its proximity to tourist sites. The park is known as a great place to see elephants, especially herds of male elephants that are easily spotted during musth season (between July and October). Nearby Nairobi has plenty of things to keep you busy while you wait for your tour or check out local tourist attractions like Karen Blixen Museum or Giraffe Centre.
Etosha National Park
Known as the great white place or the sea of trees, Etosha is one of Africa’s premier wildlife parks. At over 20,000 square miles, it is easily Namibia’s most popular tourist destination and attracts almost half a million visitors each year. Although primarily visited for its excellent game viewing opportunities, Etosha has many other attractions too that make it such a popular national park. For example, there are several old German buildings that are preserved within its boundaries and which give an insight into colonial times. Several water holes attract animals from far and wide throughout much of the year because they’re permanent or very reliable sources of water in otherwise dry areas.
Amboseli National Park
This park is a three-hour drive from Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi. It is here that visitors will find big, open grasslands populated by white rhinos, giraffes, elephants and zebras. Most people choose to stay at luxury tented camps here. The real draw of Amboseli National Park is its proximity to Mount Kilimanjaro—Kenya’s highest peak and one of Africa’s most impressive sights. Visible from every part of Amboseli (and especially beautiful at sunset), Mt.
Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya
One of Kenya’s national parks, Lake Nakuru is home to hundreds of thousands of flamingos. While there are also many other animals and plants living at Lake Nakuru, including hippos, baboons, ibises, vultures and more, you should visit between July and October to see these vibrant birds. This area is known as one of Kenya’s main safari destinations because it is both close to Nairobi and offers plenty to do within its borders. If you’re visiting between January and April or June through August, you’ll be able to enjoy an active holiday with a game drive happening every day and night. In other months expect game drives only once per week due to low water levels in nearby rivers.
Mana Pools National Park Zimbabwe
Scattered across southern Africa is a collection of some of the most iconic national parks on Earth. These national parks are home to some of our planet’s most diverse wildlife and awe-inspiring landscapes—and each is perfect for tourists wanting to experience a slice of authentic African wilderness. One such park is Mana Pools National Park, situated on Zimbabwe’s northern border with Zambia. This pocket-sized reserve offers everything from elephant safaris to hiking trips along moonlit trails, providing visitors with an array of unique experiences that can be combined together into an unforgettable trip. But what exactly sets Mana Pools apart? Let’s take a look at why it’s one of my favorite places on Earth…
Okavango Delta Botswana
Botswana is often overlooked as a travel destination, and it’s easy to see why. Traveling through Botswana means crossing into one of nature’s most biodiverse regions, which also happens to have some of Africa’s least developed communities. For those looking for African safaris without big-game hunting or expensive resorts, Botswana offers exceptional wildlife viewing and a stunning landscape in equal measure. The best place to start is at Moremi Game Reserve, which borders Chobe National Park in neighboring Namibia. Home to an estimated 400 lions—the highest density of lions per square mile anywhere on earth—and boasting breathtaking landscapes, Moremi is one of northern Botswana’s most popular destinations and one we can see why.
Masai Mara National Reserve
Located within Narok County of Kenya, Masai Mara National Reserve is a stunning national park that covers 628km2 and was established in 1961. The reserve is famous for its annual migration of wildebeest and zebra between March and May with numbers estimated to be over a million animals. Over 350 species of bird have been recorded here as well as 14 types of antelope, 8 species of fish and 15 mammal species including lion, leopard, giraffe, cheetah and hyena. Kenya’s most notable safari lodges are located here or nearby including Mara Serena Safari Lodge or Ongava Tented Camp.
