Unlike before when Africa was popular for big adventure trips – mostly the game hunting safaris. Today this magical continent features as the best escape for travelers on looking for long safaris. If you are looking to a true safari experience, a visit to southern and East Africa is a must.
Africa has several national parks and game reserves where tourists enjoy safari holidays. The most famous safari destinations included mainly South Africa, Namibia, Kenya and Tanzania and remarkably, they still feature on top list of popular travel destinations with many others that have emerged. Currently, there are many national parks that have been set up and conserved to promote tourism in different parts of Africa. The top destinations for you to experience a memorable safari in Africa include among others;
Kruger National Park
Kruger needs no introduction. Located in North Eastern South Africa, this is the most famous safari destination in Africa. It attracts millions of visitors every year. It is one of the oldest and exceptional parks in Africa with diverse wildlife.
The 2 million hectares of Kruger National Park also features a wide range of flora and fauna. It is the easiest site for one to catch a glimpse at the big five African game while on safari. While in Kruger National Park, don’t miss to see wildlife species such as buffaloes, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, elephants and many others.
Etosha National Park
Etosha is one of Africa’s greatest wildlife viewing destinations. The word “Etosha” means ‘Great White Place’ in the Oshindonga language and indeed this is a large conservation area in southern Africa.
For visitors on safari to Africa, a visit to Etosha National Park in Northern Namibia is a must if you are looking to unrivalled game viewing. While here, you have the best of off beaten beauty; explore its rugged coastlines, breathtaking landscapes among others.
Covering 20,000 square kilometres, Etosha National Park offers refuge to a large variety of big mammals including the tallest elephants, endangered black rhinos, as well as cats that include cheetahs, lions and perennial springs with big cats. It is ideal for guided safaris, self drive tours and others. Etosha is a must visit for tourists visiting Southern Africa.
Chobe National Park
Pay a visit to Northern Botswana and consider exploring the natural wonders of Chobe National Park a must visit and you won’t regret in life. Also known as ‘The Land of The Giants’, Chobe National Park is a great home to Africa’s wildlife including largest elephant population. It covers more than 10,000km2 that comprise of rich ecosystems, diverse landscapes and a great abundance of wildlife and birdlife. This protected area is a renowned destination with dense game concentration which confine around its peacock blue river making it a leading wildlife safari destination. Most of its wildlife is centred around the stunning Chobe River offering great opportunities for game viewing.
It is located within the Okavango Delta and boasts of hosting unique wild animals that safari goers look for in Africa. This include cheetahs, brown hyenas, wild dogs a mention but a few.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
While on safari in Africa, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is that one spectacular park not to miss out in your travel plan. The word “Bwindi” is a local word that means “impenetrable” and indeed these UNESCO recognized forests are impenetrable!
This large forested park lies suitably in southwestern Uganda and it is a popular destination for visitors looking to gorilla trekking. Hosting nearly half of the world’s total population of the mountain gorillas, Bwindi is an ideal place for you to strike your eyes with the massive giant apes in their natural habitat. Given that there is no single mountain gorilla in captivity, Bwindi is a must visit for primates lovers! Besides, there are also chimpanzees, a variety of monkeys plus other primates and mammal species.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is ideal for different adventurous activities that include gorilla trekking, bird watching, hiking and nature walks, Batwa Cultural Experience to mention but a few. There are several offers for tourists looking to gorilla watching and Bwindi features on most Uganda safaris packaged by tour operators. For those interested in birds, there are over 350 bird species including the rare African green broadbill.
Masai Mara National Park
Discover the magic behind Kenya’s beauty only by embarking on a safari to its spectacular Masai Mara National Reserve.
Stretching over 1510 sq kms, Masai Mara is a must visit for those looking to explore East Africa. The nature reserve boasts of its powerful wildebeest migration-one of the most dramatic wildlife experience. To get the best of the annual wildebeest migration experience consider visiting this reserve around July to October. The park is ideal for you to catch a glimpse at several big game and many savanna grassland wildlife species. This nature reserve inhabits about 400 bird species, 95 mammal species, several amphibian species and others. Most tourists on Kenya safari to this nature reserve come to see its big game-elephants, buffaloes, leopards, elephants, rhinos, lions and many other savanna grassland dwellers.
Hwange National Park
Get the best of Africa’s beauty only in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park. This protected is the largest national park in Zimbabwe covering over 16,000 square kilometres. Hwange National Park lies within low lying semi desert to lush highlands strewn with scenic Lakes and forests.
It is situated in the northwestern side of Zimbabwe. The park hosts over 100 species of mammals and over 400 bird species have been recorded in the park. Some of the animals not to miss in Uganda include elephants, giraffes, wildebeests, buffaloes, black and white rhinos etc. Besides wildlife, you can as well have the best views over the scenic Victoria Falls, Africa’s most beautiful waterfall.
Serengeti National Park
This is undeniably one of Africa’s most stunning parks with varied wildlife species. Each year, millions of wildebeests wind through this park with several zebras. Besides the gigantic wildebeest migration experience, you also have opportunity to encounter several lions plus other big game and not to forget many wildlife species. For those of you, who may wish to catch a glimpse at crocodiles, pay a visit to Grumeti River where some huge number of Nile Crocodiles can be spotted.
In conclusion, to get the best of Africa’s exceptional nature, a visit to any of the above parks is worth it. Each of the above parks rewards visitors with distinct experiences.