Safari Parks In Africa, The Hidden Gems You Will Want to Visit
Looking for an amazing outdoor adventure? what are the best Safari Parks in Africa is one of the best ways to see beautiful exotic animals in their natural habitat. A safari park is the perfect destination and Africa has some of the best in the world. They offer visitors a chance to view lions, elephants, giraffes, rhinos and cheetahs. There’s sure to be a safari park that meets your needs.
Each park has its own personality and offers a unique experience for tourist. Wander through forests and plains filled with lions, elephants, giraffes, and countless other animals. So if you’re looking to add some excitement to your African vacation, be sure to check out one of these top safaris.
What You Need to Know About The Parks in Africa
Africa the land of natural beauty. From the infinite plains of the Serengeti to lush forests and spectacular mountain ranges. There are 54 countries offering amazing safaris for tourist looking to explore every corner of this vast continent.
First, be an armchair traveler, chat with the professionals, review websites. While it’s not possible to visit every park in one trip, there are many amazing safaris throughout African that make for an incredible journey.
Africa is a continent of enchantment and adventure.
Best Parks for a Safari In Africa
We believe the top wildlife Safari Parks In Africa are located in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana and Namibia. National parks in these countries offer superb wildlife sightings with the chance to spot a variety of animals like elephants, rhinos and lions. Africa’s National Parks have been rated as one of the most popular safari destinations by travelers looking for unforgettable animal encounters.
Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
The Maasai Mara National Reserve is the best safari destination in Africa. The reserve is home to 570 species of birds and 95 species of mammals, including lions, Cape buffalo, leopards and rhinos. It’s open year-round so you can visit all year long.
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Kruger National Park, South Africa is a national park that has a reputation for being one of the most highly-rated safari parks in Africa. It is home to a wide range of animals including elephants, rhinos, and lions. There are approximately over 100 different species of game animals roaming in the park. The Kruger National Park was founded as a game reserve in 1883 and was declared a national park in 1924. It was established to meet the needs of the European settlers who were forced out of their land by the British during the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa between 1899 and 1902. The national park covers an area of 4,045 square kilometers and is located within South Africa’s Limpopo Province. It is known for its rich wildlife, which includes Big Five (Eland, Zebra, Lion, Buffalo and Leopards)
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
The Serengeti is one of the more popular parks in Africa and has become synonymous with wildlife because of the wildebeest migration. This Tanzanian national park offers top-class wildlife viewing/photographing all year long. Though it’s best from June to October when the millions of wildebeests migrate. If you are there at the right time, you will see the herds of wildebeest and zebras stretching as far as your eyes can see.
The best wildlife photo experience awaits travellers who visit this amazing destination. The National Park offers wildlife viewing like no other. You should be easily able to photograph the big 5.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is the second largest protected area in Africa. It also holds 60% of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, and a census shows that there are 1063 left. The safaris take you through thick rainforest where you have a chance to see these endangered primates up close and personal. There is a healthy population of chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkey, red-tailed monkey and colobus. Let not forget about the forest elephants. Bwindi is home to about 350 bird species, and at least 14 are found nowhere else in Uganda.
Bwindi is a 32,000-hectare park in southwestern Uganda at the junction of plain and mountain forests. It’s known for its exceptional biodiversity with over 160 tree species and over 100 types of ferns.
Etosha National Park, Namibia
Etosha National Park, in Namibia, has been called “the most beautiful national park in Africa”. It was established in 1907, and is 8,600 square miles. A wide range of wildlife can be seen here, including lion, leopard, elephant, rhinos.
The grasslands are home to hundreds of birds, including the Kori Bustard, ostriches and several other species that use it as a resting ground during migration season. The park is easily accessible, which makes it very popular with tourists.
It is one of the best options for self-drive safaris or first timers.
Ngorongoro National Reserve, Tanzania
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area spans vast stretches of highland plains, savanna, and forests. Established in 1959 as a multiple land use area with wildlife coexisting with semi-nomadic Maasai pastoralists practicing traditional livestock grazing. It also encompasses the Ngorongoro Crater, which is one of world’s largest caldera.
The presence of globally threatened species and extensive archaeological research has made it an internationally valued conservation area for biodiversity protection because of its dense population of animals that migrate into northern plains yearly and early hominid footprints dating back 3.6 million years old on site.
Okavango Delta, Botswana
The Okavango Delta is a large low gradient alluvial fan or ‘Inland Delta’ in the north-west of Botswana. The area includes permanent swamps, which cover approximately 600,000ha along with up to 1.2m ha of seasonally flooded grassland. This site has one unique characteristic: flooding from the River Okavango occurs during dry seasons and this impacts on native plants and animals who have synchronized their biological cycles with seasonal rain/flooding patterns here at this exceptional example for how climate forces interact with hydrological processes that impact biological communities. Animal species such as cheetahs, rhino, African wild dogs and lions are among those found in abundance within its borders.
The Okavango Delta is a unique area of Botswana. It’s the best time to visit during the annual flood, when many animals are confined to islands created by the floodwaters. Highlights include great herds of elephant and antelope, hippos, crocodiles, lions and cheetah.
Which is the Best Safari Parks in Africa?
There are hundreds of great safari parks in Africa. Which is the best? Depends on what you are looking for.
How do African safari parks differ from their western counterparts? Most parks survive on their natural resources. If you have never been to a safari park in Africa, it is a wonderful experience. You will see an abundance of wildlife.
However, in a resent survey the World Famous Serengeti came out on top, with an overall rating of 4.92 out of 5! Mana Pools National Park and Mala Mala Game Reserve rounded out the top 3.
Which country in Africa has the largest national park?
It might surprise you as to which national park is the largest. Namibia’s Namib-Naukluft National Park, is nearly 20,000 square miles.
The Namibian Park includes a portion of the Namib Desert and deep canyons, but it is commonly known for colorful sand dunes near Sossusvlei and the Deadvlei clay pan.
What are the Big Five In Africa
The phrase became popular in the early 1900s, and is now used to describe five of Africa’s most iconic animals- lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffaloes. These five large African mammal species were known to be dangerous and it was considered a feat by trophy hunters to bring them home.
What part of Africa has the most lions?
No safari would be complete with breathtaking sights of wild lions, watch and listen as their loud roars echoing across the plains at night or in the morning.
Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Masai Mara is an affordable, year-round destination where tourists can watch and photograph wild lions with great visibility and easy access.
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
There are an estimated 3,000 lions who roam the Mara-Serengeti’s rolling plains and woodlands. Asilia’s Kimondo and Namiri Plains tents camps are the perfect place to stay from January to March. Best time is when the wildebeest and zebra gather in large herds across the plains or grasslands.
Okavango Delta, Botswana
The Okavango Delta is often described as the jewel of the Kalahari, an area with amazing landforms and winding waterways created by streams that eventually disappear into the sand. The mix of wet and dry climates makes it a much-different contrast than the wonders of Mara-Serengeti.
Big cats can be found here as well as groups of wild dogs. Look to use Mombo Camp or Chiefs Camp based on whether you are hoping to see lions hunting or looking for game safari tutoring.
Londolozi Private Game Reserve, South Africa
Londolozi is 150 sq. kilometers and lies at the western border of Kruger National Park. The Sabi Sands game reserve offers magnificent views of lions with leopards . The bush covers the Masai Mara much thicker than it’s found further south.
Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
The Crater is one of the many natural wonders in the world and the largest inactive, unfilled volcanic caldera. There was a period of time where the lion population was greatly reduced. In time the they recovered and now there are about 60 lions living here. The towering Crater wall and variety of wildlife makes the perfect photographic backdrop for lion ‘landscapes. Both Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge and Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge make an excellent base for spotting lions.
What Part of Africa Has The Most Leopards
The South African National Biodiversity Institute and the Endangered Wildlife Trust claims their systematic population estimate is from 2,813-11,632 Leopards, which would mean there are about 1,688-6,979 mature individuals left in the wild
South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
The Luangwa National Park is home to the densest forests in Africa and one leopard for every two square kilometers. South Luangwa has a great diversity of plant and animal life, including livestock. The park’s combination of endangered species, so-called signature wildlife corridors, and plentiful prey animals are ideal conditions for leopards. Night drives are allowed all year long, which increases your chances of photographing leopards and other big cats in action.
Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa
Sabi Sands Game Reserve is on the eastern edge of Kruger National Park, where it shares a border without fences. It’s considered to have among the best safari experiences in South Africa.
The rangers at Londolozi Lodge have been studying leopards for over four decades; they are able to recognize individual leopards and know the perfect spot to watch and photograph, while giving you a good chance of having an up-close encounter.
Londolozi Lakeside claim to have 20 named leopards including numerous visiting nomads. If you are lucky enough to spot a leopard, rangers are allowed to go off-road so it is easier to find and photography the big cats.
Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Many professional photographers agree the single best destination for leopards is Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana. Located on the eastern bank of the Khwai River in the Delta, it is home to a large population of leopards. With it thick woodland that enables leopards to sneak up on prey undetected.
Leopard sightings are so common, even during daylight hours. However, an evening drive is always recommended.
Maasai Mara, Kenya
Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve is commonly noted for its lion prides. There’s a reason that legendary documentary Big Cat Diaries also filmed leopards here. To have a better chance of photograph them, avoid the open grasslands where lion and cheetah reign and stick to the region’s wooded riverine areas.
Predator sightings increase from July to November, when millions of wildebeest and zebra migrate northwards from the Serengeti and into the Mara Triangle. The young and sick make easy targets for the leopards. When choosing a lodge to stay at, consider Angama Mara which focuses on leopard encounters and conservation. Tourist help contribute to the lodge’s identification database, which increases leopard sightings and knowledge.
Okonjima Nature Reserve, Namibia
To see African leopards in their natural habitat, head to Okonjima Nature Reserve located in northern Namibia.
In the Rufiji River basin, Africa’s newest reserve is home to The AfriCat Foundation. This foundation rehabilitates injured wildlife and conducts research.
Leopards that have been rescued roam freely within the 200-square-kilometer reserve while wear satellite-tracked collars, thus becoming part of a conservation research project. It is a good way to photography the leopards while contributing to the conservation efforts.
Best Places to See Elephants in Africa
Elephants are one of the most revered animals in Africa. They are large, friendly, and majestic creatures that roam throughout the continent. These national parks and game reserves all offer a unique experience for visitors who want to see elephants without going on safari.
- The Okavango Delta in Botswana.
- Chobe National Park in Botswana.
- Addo Elephant Park in South Africa.
- Tarangire National Park in Tanzania.
- Etosha National Park in Namibia
- Erindi Private Game Reserve in Namibia
- Kruger National Park in South Africa
Best Places to See Rhinos in Africa
South Africa
The best parks in South Africa with the greatest herds of white rhinos are Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park and Kruger National Park.
Hluhluwe is a reserve in Zululand and home to the big five including a number of white rhinos. There are estimated to be about 7,000+ rhinos in the Kruger National Park, most of which can be found in the southern areas.
Namibia
The Darmaland region in the West Province of Namibia is home to the largest population of free-roaming black rhinos. Plamwag Reserve, which is headquarters for the Save the Rhino Trust, where conservationists works tirelessly in order to preserve rhinos who adapted to the desert habitat here. Black rhinos can also be seen at Etosha National Park in North West Namibia during the dry season when they come to drink from the watering holes.
Kenya
Kenya’s largest black rhino preserve, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia county, is East Africa’s only Black Rhino Sanctuary. Conserving black rhinos involves keeping them safe from poachers, who try to violently remove individual animals to illegally move them elsewhere, as well as hunting by private landowners and trophy hunters.
Tanzania
Selous Game Reserve is one of the largest in Africa and is part of the international UNESCO World Heritage site. Selous has an abundance of wildlife, including black rhinos.
Zimbabwe
Home to the largest population of endangered black rhinos after South Africa, Namibia, and Kenya, Zimbabwe also hosts vital populations in Hwange National Park, as well as on the edge of Lake Kariba in Mitsadona National Park.
Best places to see Wild Cape Buffalo in Africa
These giant beasts are seen mainly seen as crop pests and have a menacing, aggressive nature. Their size, powerful horns, and fearsome demeanor attract plenty of fear, They are often considered dangerous because of their wrecking-balling behavior. While they were once on the verge of extinction during the great rinderpest epidemicback in 1890.
Kruger National Park
A trip to Kruger National Park in South Africa can be an unforgettable experience for Photograph enthusiasts, and the highly aggressive bovine are often out and about in full force, roaming freely. You can view the cape buffalo in nearly all locations, but many are seen close to Satara and Orpen camps. Here, the grasslands are more open, making it easier to spot them from a distance. In saying that, savanna areas with more trees are often good habitats for these animals, as their conditions tend to be more ideal to support a herd.
The Okavango Delta
The Chobe National Park, in northern Botswana, is regarded as one of Africa’s best wildlife habitats. The region thrives with huge and plentiful grazing plains, which are perfect for viewing the caped variety of large oxen. The Okavango Delta provides visitors the opportunity to see these beasts.
The herds love to gather close to the waterways in the northern part of the country, even while grazing on more seasonal floodplains. It is essential that buffalo stay close to water, even as they are moving around. However, they can survive on grass that is lower in nutrition value.
Chobe National Park
This is near Chobe, Ngwezumba pans, and Savute Channel,all of which are in Linyanti Swamps. If you want to experience the best times of these areas, visit during the dry seasons between April and October. why? Animals become very thirsty as they find they have fewer places to replenish their water supplies as their regular water sources are depleted.
Cape buffalo are never too far from water. It’s safe to expect to see lots of buffalo. Although the peak time for viewing and photographing is during the sweltering summer months when water becomes scarce. Remember to be careful given the lack of shade.
Conclusion
Safari parks in Africa are a haven for animals who can be seen and photographed in their natural habitat. These parks offer visitors ample opportunities to photography the animals at their level. The best national parks provide opportunities for seeing more that one type of animal. Most have a variety of wildlife that keeps tourist coming back year after year.