Everyone should visit Africa at least once in their lifetime, your trip will be filled with adventure, excitement and relaxation. One of the best reasons to visit Africa is the game reserves situated in this beautiful continent, so read below our list of the best game reserves in Africa that you should consider in visiting.
Maasai Mara National Reserve
You can find this reserve in Kenya, and many people visit the Maasai Mara from July to October each year to witness the migration of thousands of zebras, wildebeest and gazelle from the Masai Mara to the Serengeti in search of better grazing, this is known as the Great Migration.
This reserve was also made famous by the “Big Cat Diary” documentary which aired on BBC or Planet Animal
Kruger National Park
In our opinion the best game reserve in Africa, is the largest and oldest national park in South Africa. The Kruger spans over two million hectares, it is bigger than some countries like Portugal. The Kruger is one of the best game reserves because unlike other reserves it provides the opportunity to self-drive. The Kruger also provides accommodation for any budget. Besides the Big 5 you can spot other animals such as wild dogs, cheetah and if you enjoy birding, over 500 species of birds.
Chobe National Park
If you love elephants and you would love to see them in the wild, Chobe National Park is where you need to go. Situated in Botswana, the Chobe also has rare antelopes and even leopard in trees. The best time to go is during the dry season because many animals will head to the Chobe river as their main source of water providing you with great sightings, and you can experience this park by car, on foot or on the water.
Serengeti National Park
Found in Tanzania, the park boosts an abundance of wildlife and high biodiversity. It is believed that the Serengeti has the largest population of lions in Africa with 3000 lions, and the possibility of seeing cheetah is greater in the Serengeti than it is in the Kruger. You can visit the Serengeti to witness the great migration as well.
Etosha National Park
You can visit Etosha when you stay Namibia, it is the home to large variety of mammals and birds. Etosha means “the great white area” and this refers to the large salt pan in the middle of the park. The park is the most accessible compared to others due to being accessible in a regular sedan car, and having a range of accommodation, another great thing about Etosha is that it is a malaria free park. The park is home to endangered and rare animals such as the black rhino, black-faced impala and the oryx.
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Meaning “place of thirst” this park is found between the borders of South Africa and Botswana, we have been wanting to visit the Kgalagadi for a while but trying to book accommodation is like finding a needle in a haystack because it is always fully booked. You will find Kalahari black-maned lions in this park as well as meerkats, brown hyenas and other cats such as leopards and cheetah. It the perfect park for photography and spotting animals due to sand dunes and sparse vegetation.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
This park is one of the few places in the world where you can still see gorillas, the Bwindi National Park lies in the southwest part of Uganda. It’s the home to the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Restricted numbers of viewing permits are issued to help protect the endangered gorilla. The park is also home to colobus monkey, chimpanzees and 220 species of butterflies. You will track gorillas by foot and it is also not guaranteed that you might see the gorillas.
Moremi Game Reseve
The list wouldn’t be complete without Moremi Game Reserve, it is found in Botswana, Moremi includes a great part of the Okavango Delta. It is one of the most diverse ecosystem , encompassing grasslands, lagoons and dense mopane forests. Chobe National Park borders Moremi and many visitors will visit both parks. The best way to experience the Okavango Delta is with a mokoro (a traditional dug-out canoe).
There are many game reserves in Africa and because we didn’t include doesn’t mean they do not deserve to be visited, we added ones we would love to visit.