14 Of The Most Insanely Beautiful National Parks In Africa

You’ve likely pictured it already: the golden hour light, the quiet hum of the bushveld, the feeling of pure awe. That’s the feeling you’ll find in Africa’s wild spaces. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the choices, but that’s what we’re here for. We’ve put together a guide to some of the most captivating national parks in Africa, from the iconic to the hidden gems, to help you find the place where your own safari story can continue or begin.

1. Etosha National Park, Namibia

African national parks aren’t all golden grasslands and sprawling savannahs. Etosha National Park is famous for its massive salt pans. These cover over 20% of the park’s vast 22,269 square kilometre/8,598 square mile area.

The shimmering white backdrop of the pans not only offers a unique landscape but also plays a vital role in the park’s ecological system. Etosha means ‘great white place’ in Oshindonga. These mostly dry pans are remnants of ancient lakes and the sheer expanse of them is mesmerising.

However, during the rainy season, the pans often fill with water, attracting an absolute wealth of wildlife and bird species, including rare and endangered black rhino, black-faced impala, bustards, and grey hornbills. It also has cheetahs, lions, leopards, hyenas, elephants, giraffes, honey badgers, bat-eared foxes, zebras, springbok, gemsbok, and eland, to mention but a few.

2. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

The Masai Mara National Reserve is rightly one of the most renowned Africa national parks due to the Great Wildebeest Migration, when over a million wildebeest, zebras, and antelopes arrive.

Dramatic wildlife viewing can be seen when wildebeest cross rivers, dodging crocodiles waiting in the water. The Masai Mara is also home to the renowned Big Five, as well as a plethora of other wildlife. More than 470 bird species have been recorded here! The variety of Masai Mara accommodation on offer varies from camping options to luxury lodges.

3. Kruger National Park, South Africa

The vast Kruger National Park is undoubtedly South Africa’s flagship wildlife reserve, and is a much sought-after national park for wildlife safaris. The Kruger is renowned for its diverse wildlife, including the Big Five.

Its vast landscapes include savannahs, woodlands, and rivers, and more than 500 bird species have been recorded. The Greater Kruger ecosystem includes exclusive private reserves, such as Sabi Sands and Timbavati.

4. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Serengeti National Park is undoubtedly one of the most iconic national parks in Africa. Its ecological importance is underlined by its UNESCO World Heritage status.

The Serengeti is one of the locations of the Great Wildebeest Migration, putting it firmly on the list of the top 10 national parks in Africa. Beginning in the southern region of the park, the millions of grazers sweep through the Serengeti on their way to the Masai Mara, followed closely by predators, including big cats.

Accommodation in Serengeti National Park can be found dotted along the migration route, affording travellers awe-inspiring views of this spectacular natural event.

5. Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

Moremi Game Reserve is the oldest protected area in the Okavango Delta and is a premier safari destination. It lies in an unspoiled wilderness area renowned for its rich biodiversity and spectacular natural beauty.

This African national park offers visitors a stunning mix of lush waterways, floodplains, open savannahs, and dense woodlands. Its diverse wildlife includes the iconic Big Five – elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, and rhinos. Numerous other species occur here, including hippos, crocodiles, zebras, giraffes, sable antelopes, cheetahs, and spotted hyenas.

The range of accommodation includes luxury lodges and campsites. Activities on offer include game drives and walks, as well as boating and mokoro safaris.

6. Chobe National Park, Botswana

Botswana’s vast Chobe National Park is celebrated for its wealth of diverse species, including lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, cheetahs, meerkats, crocodiles, wild dogs, lechwe, buffaloes, hippos, and aardvarks. It also has an estimated 50,000 elephants. Its 450 bird species include fish eagles, Kori bustards, kingfishers, coucals, nightjars, herons, and many more.

Chobe is a premier destination for luxury safari tours due to its wildlife density as well as unique experiences. You can enjoy both land- and water-based safaris here. This national park is also the perfect extension to a Victoria Falls tour thanks to its easily accessible location.

7. Bwindi Forest National Park, Uganda

If you’re looking for African national parks with incredible primate trekking and birdwatching opportunities, this is the safari destination for you.

Deep within Uganda, a misty, ancient landscape awaits. This is Bwindi Forest National Park, a protected UNESCO World Heritage site and home to over half of the world’s mountain gorillas. It offers the rare opportunity to watch these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. As you trek through its lush greenery, you’ll discover a world of vibrant birdlife that feels truly untouched.

8. Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks, Kenya

Opened in April 1948, Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks together make up one of the largest protected areas in Africa. Tsavo East comprises vast, generally flat plains, while Tsavo West is more swampy and mountainous. Both parks are home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino) and numerous other species, but Tsavo West is famous for its rhino population.

The Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, established in 1986, is a fenced stronghold run by the Tsavo Trust that works towards the recovery and breeding of black rhinos. Accommodations in Tsavo include upmarket lodges and tented camps.

9. Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa

Established in 1931, the Addo Elephant National Park is a renowned wildlife conservation park located near Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). It’s particularly renowned for its large population of elephants, as well as the Big Seven. These consist of the traditional Big Five as well as the southern right whale and great white shark!

The coastal area of Addo includes the ecologically important Alexandria Dunefield. Bird Island and St. Croix Islands in Algoa Bay are also part of Addo and they are important breeding places for Cape gannets and African penguins.

Visitors can self-drive in the park and also enjoy guided game drives, horseback safaris, hiking, and trail running.

10. South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

South Luangwa is often rightly referred to as one of the greatest wildlife safari destinations in the world. Its density of animals, the beautiful Luangwa River, and its oxbow lagoons all make for extraordinary wildlife experiences.

The park is home to lions, leopards, rhinos, buffalos, hippos, many antelope species, and wild dogs. South Luangwa is a superb venue for walking safaris, and other activities include game drives, cultural visits, and fantastic birdwatching safaris. Accommodation ranges from luxury lodges to camping.

11. Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

Hwange’s vast semi-arid landscapes of grasslands and mopani woods support diverse wildlife, including enormous herds of elephants. It also has populations of lions, rare African wild dogs, sable antelope, pangolins, giraffes, and leopards.

Mandavu and Masuma dams are excellent places to see wildlife. The Bumbusi National Monument includes fascinating 18th-century ruins and ancient rock carvings. Hwange offers a variety of accommodation options, including lodges and camps.

12. Nyerere National Park, Tanzania

Nyerere National Park, formerly known as Selous Game Reserve, is the largest national park in Africa. It’s also known for its big cats, rhinos (although rare), elephants, wild dogs, and high densities of plains game. The Rufiji River provides great animal habitats – you might even see a rare Pel’s fishing owl!

Visitors can enjoy boating excursions on the Rufiji River, and the reserve’s accommodation includes lodges and tented camps.

13. Ruaha National Park, Tanzania

Remote and pristine, Ruaha National Park is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty. Its diverse wildlife includes lions, leopards, elephants, wild dogs, and buffalos, and numerous bird species. It has diverse landscapes of rugged hills, lush riverbanks, and vast savannahs that are far less frequented compared to other national parks in Africa. This is the perfect place if you aim to stay clear of well-trodden tourist trails.

The park’s lifeline is the Great Ruaha River. Visitors can enjoy boating safaris, guided game drives, and walking safaris.

14. Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

Gorongosa is one of the most famous national parks in Africa for its conservation and rewilding success. Once almost obliterated by civil war, Gorongosa National Park has undergone a truly astonishing transformation. The park now hosts a growing population of lions, elephants, and many other wildlife species.

A safari in Gorongosa is about more than seeing wildlife – it’s about supporting incredible work that’s being done to rehabilitate the land and protect the species. This, along with stunning accommodation options and its remote, undiscovered feeling, makes Gorongosa one of the best safari national parks in Africa.

Activities include guided safari drives, walking safaris, Mount Gorongosa excursions, and pangolin conservation initiatives.

The national parks of Africa are diverse and all enthralling for a variety of reasons. From the Great Migration herds across the Serengeti to the big cats of the Masai Mara and the newly thriving species in Gorongosa, each park is a unique chapter in the African safari story.

Ready to turn your dream African safari into a journey in your calendar? You don’t have to do it alone. We’ve spent decades planning safaris and still believe every journey should feel like the first. Let’s start designing your African chapter.