Walking for hours under the intense heat of the sun, drenched in sweat, and being disconnected from the internet for extended periods may not seem like ideal conditions—but it’s not necessarily a negative experience. Just ask anyone who’s had the privilege of exploring the jungles of Africa, and they’ll tell you why they’d happily do it all over again.
African safaris, popularized by Ernest Hemingway, have been attracting travelers to the continent for decades. Vast herds of elephants, lions that climb trees, millions of wild animals, rare bird species, and breathtaking landscapes await visitors in many of Africa’s national parks. However, some parks go beyond the ordinary, offering a blend of adventure, romance, and luxurious accommodations that elevate the safari experience. Today, Bookmundi introduces you to the top national parks in Africa—destinations so stunning that they make you wonder why humans ever left the embrace of nature in the first place.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Reserve, Uganda (above image)
Famous For: Mountain Gorillas
Your guide asks you not to stare at the mountain gorilla, but you can’t help it—you don’t mean to be disrespectful, yet you’re captivated and unable to look away. After all, why would anyone want to take away such an extraordinary experience? These majestic creatures are known for their deep, soulful eyes that can hold your gaze and leave you mesmerized. You never expect animals to judge you based on first impressions, right? If the idea of getting up close to a mountain gorilla excites you, then Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the place to be. Home to over half of the world’s mountain gorilla population, this park’s stunning volcanic terrain provides the perfect setting to encounter these gentle giants and immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring beauty of nature.
Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Famous For: Great Migration
Spectacular natural beauty, breathtaking wildlife, game drives and rolling grasslands are iconic images that can be found in most national parks of Africa. So what is it that sets the Mara apart? This was the place which gave birth to the concept of safaris, and despite Kenya’s troubles in the past, this is one destination that never lost out on its visitors. What makes Maasai Mara so unique is that it is one of the only two national parks on the planet which host the Great Migration, a natural phenomenon which sees millions of zebras, buffalos and wildebeests make their annual pilgrimage in search of greener pastures, knowing that they must cross crocodile infested rivers and expose themselves to all sorts of predators in the process. The months of July to October host this phenomenon, and this is the best time to visit the Mara. Other highlights include Big Five sightings, cultural experiences with the Maasai tribe and luxurious accommodation.
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Famous For: Combining modern-day comforts with the African bush
The Kruger National Park is one of the oldest national parks in Africa. This beautifully maintained park is visited by thousands of visitors each year as it presents everything you would want to see in an African safari and also lets you choose from award-winning lodges that easily beat many 5 star hotels in terms of their comforts and amenities. As one of the finest game reserves in the continent, Kruger is high on game animals and you can also see the Big Five in a single day at the Kruger. If you’re planning to go on a safari with a loved one, there’s no place you’d rather be.
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Famous For: The Great Migration
If it’s not the Mara, it has to be the Serengeti. As the only other park hosting the Great Migration, Serengeti was always popular, but it could never keep up with the Mara’s celebrity status. However, like most celebs, the Mara soon became a victim of its own stardom, as its game drives began to feel crowded and lost out on their authentic bush vibe. This is where the Serengeti stepped in. While it’s more popular cousin was forced to host more and more visitors, the Serengeti treated its guests to unspoiled pastures and a sense of individuality that had certainly gone missing at the Mara. Apart from the 250000 odd wildebeest and zebra that migrate through the national park, you can also feast your eyes on the largest Nile crocodiles on the planet and some 3000 lions which can be seen lazing in those kopje outcrops. The Wildebeest Migration, is one of the “Seven New Wonders of the World” and also known as The World Cup of Wildlife.
The Duba, Botswana
Famous For: Lions that hunt during the day
When you see those mysterious and alluring images on NatGeo and dream of African safaris, you’re usually seeing the Duba in all its glory. NatGeo explorers Beverly and Dereck spent an entire decade at the national park filming the fight between lions and buffalos and their work has transformed Duba into one of the most coveted national parks of Africa. The Duba plains are believed to host the biggest lions of Africa. While that is not entirely true, the Tsaro and Skimmer lions found here are as big as they get. Both species were actually controlled by two male lions popularly known as the Duba Boys until their death. You could find lions in most national parks of Africa, but lions that hunt during the day is one of the most unusual sights you’ll ever see. The Duba lion doesn’t care about the sunlight though. It loves to show off its moves to the gasping travelers who are lucky enough to witness a kill.
Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana
Famous For: Desert Safaris
When you think of the Great Kalahari, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Is it the vast barren earth and desert dust, or is it those golden hues, beautiful acacia trees and all kinds of animals. Thousands of travelers prefer the desert adventure of the Kalahari over those lush green jungles for the simple reason that the scant water makes it easier to spot the area’s wildlife. Simply find your way to one of the few waterholes in the desert, and you’re sure to see all kinds of animals come by for a sip. Raptors and goshawks are some of the most obvious sightings here, but also watch out for the African hare, the jackal, the ostrich, the gemsbok and the springbok. There are a few intimate lodges to choose from and each trip is free of the crowds that usually spoil the top safaris in Africa. If you’re looking for a safari that takes you to the next level, all you gotta do is visit ‘the plains where courage fails’.
Ngorongoro Crater Conversation Area, Tanzania
Famous For: Black Rhino, Big Five
Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most compact wildlife destinations on earth. It’s huge crater walls prevented man from interacting with the area’s wildlife for a very long time and this allowed nature to run free here. Many of the animals found here didn’t have to suffer near extinction due to uncontrolled poaching, and as a result, you still get to see the black rhino as well as guaranteed sightings of the Big Five at the Ngorongoro. If you’re new to the concept of safaris, this ‘lost world’ has to be a must-visit destination in your itineraries.
Perinet Reserve, Madagascar
Famous For: 9 species of lemurs
The fact that the Perinet Reserve is located in Madagascar is enough to make you want to visit. Madagascar is one of the most exotic wildlife destinations on the planet and many of the animals found here cannot be seen anywhere else. The ‘island of the moon’, a stunning landscape which has an uncanny resemblance to the surface of the moon, hosts roughly 80% of the area’s wildlife and this is where you see species such as giant lemurs and the giant indri and close to 100 species of birds, many of which have already been termed as endemic. Some of the most coveted bird sightings include the Madagascar long-eared owl, the Madagascar falcon and the Madagascar wagtail.
Bale Mountains, Ethiopia
Famous For: Wolves
The Ethiopian wolf is among the rarest animals on earth, and more than 50% of the world’s population can be seen in the Bale Mountains. The rugged landscape makes it a haven for hikers and the area’s beautiful wildlife attracts safari junkies from all over the planet. Exploring the Harenna cloud forest also puts you closer to lions, spotted hyenas, hippos, mountain nyalas and leopards.
Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya
Famous For: Pink Flamingos
Its spectacular beauty, saltwater lake, concentrated game drives and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities makes Lake Nakuru different from most. Lake Nakuru National Park (Kenya) and Lake Natron National Park (Tanzania) are quite similar in terms of the experience they have to offer due to the simple reason that a saltwater lake covers two-thirds of the park, making it easy for you to spot the area’s wildlife, and also because of the millions of flamingos that visit both lakes. Some of the most common birds and animal sightings at Lake Nakuru include pearl-white pelicans, pink flamingos, baboons, colobus monkeys, rhinos, leopards and Rothschild giraffes.
Whether you’re more of a bird lover, an adrenaline junkie, a desert enthusiast, or a Big Five fan, we highly recommend to visit one or more of the above best national parks in Africa.
As an ending note, Bookmundi highly recommends you to check out our Africa theme to take a glance on the Africa of your dreams. It is incredible, magical, indescribable and all you can say is WOW!