Category: National Parks

It is not easy to enumerate all safari parks on the African continent. However if yo are looking for the best safari parks to enjoy game viewing, there are plenty of places that can be visited on the African continent. From national parks to wildlife sanctuaries, conservation areas and the likes it is not easy to come up with a complete list of places to enjoy a safari in Africa. So we have decided to focus our discussion on the top five African Safari parks destination. Let’s begin;

South Luangwa National Park of Zambia

Fairly unexplored, South Luangwa is a treasure that only needs to be discovered at its own time. The birthplace of walking safari and the haven of elusive leopards, this is the best place to seek isolation, away from the crowd that characterize other national parks.

Selinda Reserve of Botswana

A very highly rated safari park in all Africa, most seasoned travelers recommend a visit or two to this park to experience what truly is an African safari. Packed with dense population of wildlife, birds and plant species, this truly is a haven that is enjoyed both by the wild and the tamed. Naturalists’ most enjoy it here due to the diversity of species found in single locations.

Kruger National Park of South Africa

For the sheer enjoyment of seeing endless arrays of animal species, plants and birds, Kruger would be the best bet if you would like to see diversity. Since it scales more than the size of Wales, it is not unlikely that it harbors the largest concentration of species that is unequalled anywhere else. The rich tapestry of ecosystems is such that it would be hard to imagine how all things coexist in competition to live in a space so large.

This safari park was the pioneer of its kind since it has already existed since 1889, the year when the first realization of endangerment of animals is conceived. Primarily intended to protect wildlife in advance, Kruger now stands as the largest single place harboring excellent game reserves.

Masai Mara of Kenya

Being the most excellent wildlife safari park in the whole region, Masai Mara is duly recognized for supporting large herds of cat species. It is home to endless plains that are populated with grassland, thus ideal for game-viewing. See leopards, cheetahs and lions in action as they mercilessly follow after their kill during the exchange of life and death in the plains of Masai Mara.

Serengeti National Park of Tanzania

Oh the sound of the name alone brings memories of might and migration. This is one of the most famous national safari parks in all Africa as it is the site for the annual migration of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, and antelopes. The birth and death place of most calves, this truly is a place to behold if you want to experience authentic deal.

Located in the eastern part of Rwanda, Akagera National Park is an amazing place to enjoy sightseeing in Rwanda. The park lies near the border with Tanzania and can be visited anytime if the year.

It was gazetted in 1934 covering an area of 1122 km sq. and was named after the river Akagera that flows through this park pouring its waters in the Lake Victoria. The park is a home to unique wildlife and bird species including the rare shoe bill stork a bird sought after by many birders. The major mammals in the park include zebras, elephants, Topi, bush back, water back, duiker, impala, Oribi, bohor reedbuck and primates like olive baboons, L’Hoest and blue monkeys. Recently lions were reintroduced in the park and they were got from South Africa.

Getting There

To get to the park, it only takes about 2-3 hours from the Kigali and it only has one park entrance at Kiyonza south of the park and the only exit is at Nyungwe gate north of the park

Where to Stay

There are very few accommodation facilities in this national park only two lodges and camp sites. Those interested in luxurious facilities use Akagera Game Lodge or Ruzizi tented lodge therefore tourists should make their bookings early enough. For those looking tp deluxe, Akagera Game lodge offers a deluxe wing while for those on a shoestring budget Akagera Guest House is the available option.

Things to Do in the Park

Birding, Game drives, boat cruises on Lake Ihema, sport fishing, community walks are the major activities one can engage in while at the national park.

Excursions and Tours

There are organised safaris to the park offered by several tour operators in Rwanda. The shortest trip is the 2 Day Wildlife Safari though an excursion is also possible. There are also guides and cars hire services are available for tourists interested in self driven wildlife expeditions in the park however booking for them in advance is highly recommended.

The Country

Namibia is a country located in southwest Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. Namibia is officially known as Republic of Namibia. This large and mainly arid country shares its borders with Bostwana, Angola, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

This is the only country in this world to have protection of natural resources and address conservation. The Article 95 of the constitution states , “The State shall actively promote and maintain the welfare of the people by adopting international policies aimed at the following: maintenance of ecosystems, essential ecological processes, and biological diversity of Namibia, and utilization of living natural resources on a sustainable basis for the benefit of all Namibians, both present and future.”

Etosha National Park

The Etosha Game Park which was given the status of a National Park in 1907 is South Africa’s most important and finest park. This park covers extends and covers an area of 22,270 square km. The park is in fact the home for 340 bird species, 114 mammal species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species and also one species of fish. For any holiday chart prepared for Namibia, Etosha Park will be a definite destination on it.

The term Etosha means “Great White Place”. The park is dominated by huge amount mineral pan. The part of the Kalahari Basin, which was originated around 1000 million years ago, is known is pan. One fourth of this National Park is covered by the Pan. The pan was in fact a lake fed by the River Kunene. But the lake dried up when the river course was changed some many years ago.

The pan is presently a large and dusty mixture of clay and salt which holds water on rainy days. However this temporary water attracts thousands of beautiful birds including the famous flocks of flamingos.

The game viewing is an excellent pleasure for eyes in this Park. The best time for this is from May to September- the cooler months in the country. Many buck species, elephants, giraffe, rhino and lions can also been seen in this wonderful Park. More fortunate visitors will see leopard and cheetah.

Camping & Lodging

Basically Etosha provides three rest camps to its visitors which are Namutoni, Halali and Okaukuejo. Tourist facilities such as a basic goods shop, a restaurant, a motor garage for basic repairs & fuel, a swimming pool and various ranks of camping & accommodation facilities are also available in each of these camps. Besides these, Onkoshi Camp, an eco-friendly luxury lodge inside Etosha, is also available for camping. Non-resident visitors to Etosha can stop off at these camps for rest, recreation, and refueling.

The Park is only open from sunrise to sunset and visitors either have to be in any of the camps, or completely outside the park beyond these hours. Also Etosha does not provide its own guided safaris. So if you need a guided safari you are either required to stay at one of the private lodging which offer this service or manually make private guided safari.

Park Essentials

The daily entrance fee is N$80 for foreign visitors and for a passenger vehicle (with 10 seats max) its N$10.

A million wildebeest… each one driven by the same ancient rhythm, fulfilling its instinctive role in the inescapable cycle of life: a frenzied three-week bout of territorial conquests and mating; survival of the fittest as 40km (25 mile) long columns plunge through crocodile-infested waters on the annual exodus north; replenishing the species in a brief population explosion that produces more than 8,000 calves daily before the 1,000 km (600 mile) pilgrimage begins again.

Tanzania’s oldest and most popular national park, also a world heritage site and recently proclaimed a 7th world wide wonder, the Serengeti is famed for its annual migration, when some six million hooves pound the open plains, as more than 200,000 zebra and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelle join the wildebeests trek for fresh grazing. Yet even when the migration is quiet, the Serengeti offers arguably the most scintillating game-viewing in Africa: great herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephant and giraffe, and thousands upon thousands of eland, topi, kongoni, impala and Grants gazelle.

The spectacle of predator versus prey dominates Tanzanias greatest park. Golden-maned lion prides feast on the abundance of plain grazers. Solitary leopards haunt the acacia trees lining the Seronera River, while a high density of cheetahs prowls the southeastern plains. Almost uniquely, all three African jackal species occur here, alongside the spotted hyena and a host of more elusive small predators, ranging from the insectivorous aardwolf to the beautiful serval cat.

But there is more to Serengeti than large mammals. Gaudy agama lizards and rock hyraxes scuffle around the surfaces of the parks isolated granite koppies. A full 100 varieties of dung beetle have been recorded, as have 500-plus bird species, ranging from the outsized ostrich and bizarre secretary bird of the open grassland, to the black eagles that soar effortlessly above the Lobo Hills.

As enduring as the game-viewing is the liberating sense of space that characterizes the Serengeti Plains, stretching across sun burnt savannah to a shimmering golden horizon at the end of the earth. Yet, after the rains, this golden expanse of grass is transformed into an endless green carpet flecked with wildflowers. And there are also wooded hills and towering termite mounds, rivers lined with fig trees and acacia woodland stained orange by dust.
Popular the Serengeti might be, but it remains so vast that you may be the only human audience when a pride of lions masterminds a siege, focused unswervingly on its next meal.
We drive from Arusha via Lake Manyara, Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater.
Best time to go to follow the wildebeest migration is December to July. Best time for to see predators is June to October.

The route and timing of the wildebeest migration is unpredictable. Allow at least three days to be assured of seeing them on your visit – longer if you want to see the main predators as well.

The Masai Mara is one of the best known and most popular reserves in the whole of Africa. At times and in certain places it can get a little overrun with tourist minibuses, but there is something so special about it that it tempts you back time and again.
Seasoned safari travellers, travel writers, documentary makers and researchers often admit that the Masai Mara is one of their favourite places. So why is that? Perhaps it is because of the ‘big skies’, the open savannahs, the romance of films like ‘Out of Africa’ and certainly because of the annual wildebeest migration, the density of game, the variety of birdlife and the chance of a hot air balloon ride.

Also because of the tall red-robed Masai people whose lifestyle is completely at odds with western practices, and from whom one learns to question certain western values.

A combination of all these things plus something to do with the spirit of the place – which is hard to put into words – is what attracts people to the Mara over and over.
The Masai Mara lies in the Great Rift Valley, which is a fault line some 3,500 miles (5,600km) long, from Ethiopia’s Red Sea through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and into Mozambique. Here the valley is wide and a towering escarpment can be seen in the hazy distance. The animals are also at liberty to move outside the park into huge areas known as ‘dispersal areas’. There can be as much wildlife roaming outside the park as inside. Many Masai villages are located in the ‘dispersal areas’ and they have, over centuries, developed a synergetic relationship with the wildlife.
There are four main types of topography in the Mara: Ngama Hills to the east with sandy soil and leafy bushes liked by black rhino; Oloololo Escarpment forming the western boundary and rising to a magnificent plateau; Mara Triangle bordering the Mara River with lush grassland and acacia woodlands supporting masses of game especially migrating wildebeest; Central Plains forming the largest part of the reserve, with scattered bushes and boulders on rolling grasslands favoured by the plains game.
In a short stay during the wildebeest migration you could see thousands of animals, at other times there are still hundreds. The plains are full of wildebeest, zebra, impala, topi, giraffe, Thomson’s gazelle. Also regularly seen are leopards, lions, hyenas, cheetah, jackal and bat-eared foxes. Black rhino are a little shy and hard to spot but are often seen at a distance.

Hippos are abundant in the Mara River as are very large Nile crocodiles, who lay in wait for a meal as the wildebeest cross on their annual quest to find new pastures.
Every July (or sometimes August), the wildebeest travel over 600 miles (960km) from Tanzania’s Serengeti plains, northwards to the Masai Mara and the Mara River is the final obstacle. In October or November, once they have feasted and the grass has all but gone, they turn around and go back the other way.

The Mara birds come in every size and colour including common but beautiful ones like the lilac breasted roller and plenty of large species like eagles, vultures and storks. There are 53 different birds of prey.

Geography

Africa’s first formally declared trans-border conservation area, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is located in the Kalahari regions of both South Africa and Botswana. Thabo Mbeki and Festus Mogae, then Presidents of South Africa and Botswana respectively, officially launched the Park on May 12, 2000.
The location of the Park is approximately 904 km from Johannesburg and 250 km from Upington in the far Northern Cape. The Park spreads about 38,000 square kilometres. The Park area lies in such a way that the three-quarters of it lie in Botswana and the remaining one-quarter in South Africa.

The Park

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park comprises of a very vast and varied wildlife. The large mammalian predators such as Cheetahs, Leopards, Black-maned Kalahari lions, and Hyenas can be easily spotted here. The Park is also very rich in its herbivores and bird populations. Herbivores such as Springbok, Eland, Blue wildebeest, and Red hartebeest living and migrating within the park is a well renowned attraction of Kgalagadi
At least 200 species of birds can be found in the Park which includes vultures and raptors in which commonest being Tawny, Buzzards, Black breasted Snake Eagle, Bateleur and Secretary birds. Ground Squirrel and Suricate (Meerkat) are two more of the park’s more prominent species. Pangolin (Scaly Anteater), Honey Badger (Ratel), and Bat-eared Fox are some of the other park specials to find for.

The sights of stunning predations are a usual scene in this Park. High dunes border the pans of Kgalagadi. The pans contains nutrient-rich soils, and salts when it get filled up with water during rainy season.

Camping & Lodging- South Africa

There are six different camps of varying facilities, size and cost at Kgalagadi. Among them, three camps provide basic facilities for shopping and fuel. They are traditional rest camps. The remaining three camps are known as wilderness camps, which doesn’t have any fences. Staying in a wilderness camp is really a very thrilling experience since you are actually inviting the Kalahari and the tranquillity of Africa right into your room.
The traditional Rest Camps are Twee Rivieren, Mata Mata and Nossob. The Wilderness Camps are Bitterpan, Grootkolk and Kalahari Tent Camp.

Camping & Lodging- Botswana

The camping points in Botswana are Rooiputs, Polentswa, Two Rivers and Mabuasehube. A 4*4 vehicle is very necessary to access the Park from the Botswana side.

Fees/Permits

Citizens and Residents of South Africa (with ID) will have to remit R40 per person, per day. SADC Nationals (with passport) need to pay R80 per person, per day (children R40). R160 per adult / R80 per child, per day is the Standard Conservation Fee for Foreign Visitors. Another mean for fees is by Wildcard which can be bought by SADC Nationals and International visitors. It can become cheaper depending on the duration of your stay.

Geography

The Volcanoes National Park is an extraordinary park situated in the northern part of Rwanda. The Park is most famous for hosting the mountain gorillas that live in the forested jungles of this region that is part of the larger Virunga conservation Area.

The Volcanoes National Park is blessed and crowded with impressive tropical rainforest, volcanic beauties and many tourists have enjoyed gorilla trekking adventures, adventure journeys on foot leading to the natural homes of the mountain gorillas.The rare mountain gorillas are seen in plenty here which makes it the best place in earth to visit these great apes that are only found in three countries in the world.

The Park is exactly located in North-western part of Rwanda and is bordered by Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo. The Park extends up to an area of 8090 square km. The National Park was converted into a battlefield during the Rwandan Civil War that ended into the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, when the park headquarters was attacked in 1992. But by 1999, everything was put back to normal and when the area was deemed to be safe and under control.

Wildlife in Volcanoes  National Park

The Park is home to five of the eight volcanoes of the Virunga Mountains (Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo), which are covered in rainforest and bamboo. The high altitudinal range of the Park always influences the vegetation here. Neoboutonia forest is present within 2400 and 2500 m.

Mounting 30 % of the Park area, Arundinaria alpina (bamboo) forest occurs from 2500 to 3200 m. Hagenia-Hypericum forest occurs in 2600 to 3600 m covering another 30% of the Park.The park is best known for the Mountain Gorilla and hence it is known as heaven of Mountain Gorillas. Mammals such as Golden monkey (Cercopithecus mitis kandti), Buffalo (Syncerus caffer), Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta), Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) and Black-fronted duiker (Cephalophus niger) is also camps in this Park.

Few Elephants are also reported to be residing in this Park. The bird species recorded here counts up to 178, with at least 13 species and 16 subspecies endemic to the Virunga and Ruwenzori Mountains.

Tourism in the Park

The main tourist activities in the Park are Gorilla visits, Karisimbi and Bisoke volcano climbing, Golden monkey visits, Lake and Cave tours and visit to the tomb of Dian Fossey

Camping & Lodging

Volcanoes National Park has two drive-in campgrounds which are Namakani Paio (located off of Highway 11), and Kulanaokuaiki (located off of Hilina Pali Road). Important feature of these campgrounds are that they are free and the only fee you have to remit is the park entrance fee. Camping is provided on a first-come basis.The Namakani Paio campground has restrooms, water, fireplace and pavilion facilities where as Kulanaokaiki has only restroom, fireplace and a vault-type toilet facilities only.

Fees/Permits

The pay per private non-commercial vehicle is $10.00 and $5.00 for pedestrians or bicyclists. Non-commercial groups entering the park in a bus or vehicle with a capacity of 15 persons or more will be charged $5.00 for each person on board.

LocationAmboseli National Park, earlier known as Maasai Game Reserve, is situated in Kajiado District, Rift Valley Province in Kenya. The Park can be better defined as an ecosystem that spreads across Kenya-Tanzania border. Amboseli was announced as a reserve in 1968 and gazetted a National Park status in 1974. The Amboseli National Park extends up to an area of 392 square km.260 kilometres from the capital city Nairobi, Amboseli National Park is the third most visited game area in Kenya

The Park

The Amboseli National Park constitutes five important wildlife habitats which are open plains, acacia woodland, rocky thorn bush country, swamps and marshland. A temporary lake, Lake Amboseli, which floods in heavy rainfall, is situated within the Pleistocene basin.

Amboseli is so famous for its exotic beauty and big game.The main attraction of this splendid Park is the view of elephants grazing in front of the majestic mountain which is visible early in the morning or late afternoon.Filled with great game such as giraffe, zebra, buffalo, warthog, wildebeest, the long-necked mini-giraffe like gerenuks, impala, and baboons galore, Amboseli is indeed a tourist spot which you don’t want to miss ever. The ancient and most studied elephant population in sub-Saharan Africa lives in Amboseli.

Amboseli is also so rich with in its bird population. There are around 420 recorded bird species here which contains dozens of birds of prey including more than 10 different kinds of eagles. There is also a profusion of water birds including flamingo and more than 12 heron species in the swamp areas of Amboseli.You can experience a so eye-catching scene of water seeping up from the lava rocks at Enkongo Narok which is in the mid region of the park.

Camping & Lodging

Almost all the camp sites in the region are run by the Maasai authorities. The camps are accessible from the Park even though they are seen as technically outside.Group Ranch, situated very close to the border of the park, is the only public camp site. Even though it is a large place it is often preferred for low-scale safaris which can make it quite crowded sometimes.A special campsite known as Nairushari is located in a solitary place, in the southwest corner of the park. The high budget campers usually opts this campsite. Since there is only firewood supply, you need to bring your own water and food.

Entrance Fees

A smartcard is a mandatory requirement for entering the Park. The entrance fees for various groups of people are

• Adult resident – 500 Kshs
• Children resident – 200 Kshs
• Adult non resident – 30 US
• Children non resident – 10 US