Travel Attractions – Best National Parks in Africa
The top African safari countries have the best national parks. This list features the top 12 African national parks, sorted by country. It will help you choose where to go on your African wildlife safari. East and Southern Africa are home to all the most prestigious national parks in Africa, as well as the top safari destinations.
Each one of these African safari country (and its most famous national park) has something special, but they all are known for their extraordinary wildlife safaris. A safari to Africa is a must-see for all avid travelers. An African safari is a must-see for wildlife lovers and nature enthusiasts alike. This jungle safari is a once in a lifetime experience.
Africa is known for its lion, African elephants, Cape buffaloes, leopards, rhinoceros, and other ‘Big Five’ animals. It’s amazing to see them all in one place. Let’s take a look at some of Africa’s most stunning and beautiful national parks and reserve.
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1.Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Serengeti National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most visited national parks in Tanzania. Serengeti is considered the best national park of Africa by many. This classic African safari destination is home of some of the largest mammal populations worldwide. It is known for its annual Great Migration, also known as Wildebeest Migration.
From December through July, huge numbers of hoofed animals move across the Serengeti Ecosystem every year. They travel between Masai Mara, Kenya, and the larger Serengeti Park. This occurs every year when more than a million wildebeests and more than 200,000 zebras cross the Masai Mari to reach the Serengeti in search of survival. You might even see a kill during this period.
Many of these animals are healthy and large. There are many lions and the Big 5 of Africa can be found here. Serengeti Park is home to Africa’s largest lion population. Here are more than 500 bird species, including many raptors.
You will have an unforgettable African safari experience thanks to the vast plains, silence and wide open spaces of Serengeti Park. Because of its vastness, there will be fewer tourists in this area than other national parks.
2.Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Masai Mara National Reserve, the ultimate African safari destination, is home to endless savannah plains and wild animals. Even experienced safari-goers will be struck by Masai Mara’s wildness and beauty. This park is a home to over 95 species of mammals as well as 570 species birds. In the Masai Mara’s wilds, you can easily spot lions and cheetahs.
The Great Migration is one of the highlights of this famous 1800-km2 East African game reserve. From July to October, millions of gazelle, wildebeest and zebra are seen stumbling across the plains looking for greener grass.
Another highlight of Masai Mara National Reserve is meeting the Maasai tribespeople in bright red robes. These traditional people, proud and strikingly-looking, live in the Masai Mara and coexist with its wildlife.
3.Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park is located in northern Rwanda and contains five of the eight Virunga Mountain volcanoes. It is one of three places where Mountain Gorillas can be seen in their natural habitat.
Volcanoes National park is a popular spot for wildlife lovers to see wild gorillas. This mountain gorilla is one of the rarest and most beautiful apes. Half of the mountain gorillas remaining in the wild are found within Volcanoes National Park. According to reports, only around a thousand of these magnificent creatures are left in the wild.
You can go on a guided safari to track these magnificent creatures. A total of 80 trekkers can visit 10 Mountain Gorilla families each day. You can hike to see these amazing creatures and also visit the tomb and caverns. You should take a cultural tour to the Gorilla Guardians Village nearby, which employs former poachers.
4.Amboseli National Park, Kenya
Amboseli National Park, set against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa’s highest peak is an unspoiled paradise of open plains and breathtaking natural beauty. The park is close to the Tanzanian border and offers some of the most amazing wildlife safaris in Kenya. Because of its small size and guaranteed sightings, it’s an excellent choice for first-timers.
Amboseli National Park is home to one of Kenya’s best safaris. You can see the “Big 5” African mammals, Wildebeests and Zebras all year. The park is also home to an impressive number of Elephants. This gave it its nickname “the Land of Giants”.
More than 400 species are found in the park, as well as 47 species of raptors. Amboseli National Park has been ranked among the top places to spot rare birds and animals. Here you will see elephants strutting in front of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Visitors love to visit Observation Hill because it gives them a great view of the park. It also includes the swamps where elephants, buffalos, and hippos splash about.
5.Chobe National Park, Botswana
Chobe National Park is well-known for its game viewing boat cruises on the Chobe River. This attracts many animals and birds. The Savuti Marsh is located in the southwest of Chobe. It hosts some of Africa’s largest year-round concentrations wildlife, including predators and bulls.
Chobe Park, 12000km2, covers a variety of ecosystems. It includes dry plains and channels, fertile grasslands and dense woods, as well as watery swamps. The diverse habitats of the Chobe Park support a high number and variety wild animals and birds.
This includes the enormous elephant herds, which numbers over 40000. One of the most important concentrations of African game is found in Chobe National Park, northern Botswana. Chobe has the largest population of elephants in Africa.
Chobe National Park is located in the northern Botswana, just outside Kasane. It is also less than two hours away from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. This makes it one of Africa’s most accessible national parks. For more information on Chobe Safaris in Botswana, or to see the Okavango Delta first hand, check out our tours departing starting from Maun.
6.Etosha National Park – Namibia
Etosha National Park in Namibia is Namibia’s most popular game park and widely considered one of the top national parks in Africa.
This national park is located in northern Namibia. It covers 22270 km2 wilderness and is centred around Etosha Pan, a stark volcanic rock with dancing mirages and vast horizons. Given the desert landscape, Etosha’s striking setting is perfect for wildlife viewing at watering holes.
Etosha National Park houses some unusual and rare wild animals. It also hosts the Big 5 of Africa, which includes the largest elephants in Africa. This cracked-clay land becomes lush green with blue-green algae and thick forests. It attracts a lot of birds and game, including thousands upon thousands of flamingos.
Common wildlife sightings include rhinos (giraffes), elephants, leopards, lions and a variety of other antelopes. Winter is the best time to visit Etosha Park. The vegetation is sparse, and animals congregate around the watering holes.
7.Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most famous national park is home to some of the best habitats and species in the country. It is known for its chimpanzees and tree-climbing Lions. Also, it has one of the largest populations of hippo in Africa. This national park in Uganda is also a hot spot for birding, with more than 610 species recorded there.
Queen Elizabeth Park can often be combined with Uganda Safaris gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park. This unique combination allows you to see endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Park as well as endangered chimpanzees at the Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Uganda is one of Africa’s most popular Primate Safari destinations.
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda, is a safari destination that’s open all year. The dry season is the best time to view game, between January and March and June through August. Bwindi National Park, which is often visited together with Queen Elizabeth Park, is however more seasonal. Bwindi Park’s best season for gorilla trekking is typically from December to March, and June to September, excluding the wet seasons.
8.South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
South Luangwa is a renowned wildlife sanctuary. It is known for its unspoiled wilderness, which guarantees an unforgettable wildlife adventure. The Luangwa River is a feature that makes the park so beautiful. Here you can see the wild leopards and wild dogs.
Many safari enthusiasts love South Luangwa National Park, Zambia’s flagship wildlife park. It is known for its wild and unspoiled wilderness and incredible concentration of wildlife.
The enormous Kafue National Park is also twice as big and draws safari enthusiasts with its incredible lion and leopard sightings, and amazing diversity of antelope species. The Big Five, with the exception of rhinoceros, are fairly common sights here. You can spot leopards, cheetah and lions on the Busanga Plains.
Along with Zimbabwe, Zambia is well-known for having some of the most skilled guides in the industry. Walking safaris and night drives can be enjoyed here as an alternative to national parks.
9.Kruger National Park, South Africa
Kruger National Park in South Africa is a top-rated national park and top destination for tourists. It has been ranked as one of the best game parks in the world. It is well-known for its ‘Big Five’ population. This national park was established in 1898. Wildlife lovers should visit it as they can spot rhinos and lions in their natural habitat. You can also opt for an elephant back safari if you wish.
Kruger Park covers approximately 4895 km2 of unmanaged bush in northern South Africa. It is home to an unparalleled diversity of wildlife. Kruger Park is home to 145 mammal species and nearly 500 bird species. It is a protected wildlife sanctuary that is easily accessible and well-maintained. It is also a leader in conservation efforts.
10.Hawange National Park
Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest natural preserve, is home to a stunning mix of savannah grasslands as well as woodlands. They are home to some of Africa’s most diverse biodiversity. The park is home to many African animals, including the Big 5, Cheetahs and the endangered Cape Wild Dog.
If you are interested in seeing these incredible animals, the best time to visit is during the dry winter months of July through October. They gather around man-made waterholes. It is easy to get a great view of the amazing wildlife because it is easily accessible and there are few people.
Hwangwe offers guided and self-driving game drives, as well as walking safaris and horseback safaris. These can be short or long-term trips.
11.Liwonde National Park, Malawi
Liwonde, Malawi’s most well-known national park, is also the most visited wildlife safari spot in the country. This small park is beautiful and has many baobab trees and tall palms.
The outstanding boat-based game viewing in Malawi’s Liwonde National Park has earned it a reputation. The Shire River, which runs through Liwonde National Park, offers exceptional opportunities to see elephants, crocodiles and hippos on boat safaris. This is the ideal spot for Big 5 safaris in Malawi and a great place to birdwatch.
Liwonde, an African conservation success story has made a comeback over the past few years. It is home to the largest population of elephants in Malawi, as well as endangered rhinos, lions and cheetahs. Floodplains, woods, and lagoons provide habitats for many wildlife species, including buffalos as well as antelopes like sable and roan and eland and hartebeest and waterbuck.
12.Kalahari Desert, Botswana
Kalahari Desert, formerly known to San Bushmen as Kgalagadi or The Great Thirstland is Africa’s most wild and brutal region. The 52,800-square-kilometer-long Central Kalahari Game Reserve is a challenge to access and, because of the aridity, wildlife tends to be more spread out than in the other great parks in the region.
It is a land of pure adventure. You will encounter majestic gemsbok in the sparkling mirages of Deception Valley, or camp amid the guttural roaring of the local lion pride near Tau Pan, meaning Lion Pan. You will need to hire a tour operator who is experienced in leading 4×4 convoys in order to access the reserve.
The adventure of a life time is always worth the logistical challenges.
Conclusion:
This list of the Best National Parks In Africa (in the Top African Safari Countries), provides an overview of African wildlife safaris. It is also a great starting point to plan your budget safari to Africa. Each national park offers a unique wildlife safari experience, with its own strengths and making it one of Africa’s best game reserves. You can also make the most out of your African safari trip by visiting multiple national parks in one (long) overland Africa tour.
FAQs About The National Parks in Africa
What is the most visited national park in Africa?
Masai Mara National Reserve – Kenya. The Masai Mara National Reserve, widely considered to be the best game reserve in the world, is widely regarded as such. It is Africa’s most popular safari destination and the most visited national park in Kenya.
What are the rules to be followed when visiting a national park in Africa?
Visitors must remain in their cars unless they are in a designated area, such as a park or playground. Picnic spot, lookout point At all times, vehicles must stay on designated tourist roads. The Park’s speed limit is 40 km/h. The Park is not permitted to be driven around before or after sunrise.
