BEST NATIONAL PARKS IN AFRICA

Africa is the second-largest continent in the world. With such vast and varied landscapes, choosing where to go on a safari can be daunting.

The choice of beautiful national parks in Africa is endless. There are over 300 national parks that all offer unique experiences and expose you to different landscapes. Picking which national parks in Africa to visit is no easy task.

From sultry sand dunes to lush green rain forests, sun-drenched savannahs to epic mountain ranges, this handy guide to the best national parks in Africa has it all.

If you are on the verge of booking your African adventure, we are here to give you that little bit of extra guidance to help you pick the best spot to visit and plan your dream trip!

Here is our comprehensive guide to the Best National Parks in Africa…

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SKELETON COAST NATIONAL PARK, NAMIBIA

Best National Parks in Africa / Image: Jean Wimmerlin

Namibia is one of the last wild frontiers in Africa. Most notably, it has one of the best national parks in Africa: Skeleton Coast National Park. Skeleton Coast is a true rarity and incomparable to any of the other national parks in Africa.

What's fascinating about this coastline is its vast desolation, sunken shipwrecks with vast histories, and skull and crossbones signs warning you to go no further. Skeleton Coast is also home to remarkable wildlife that miraculously survives in such barren conditions. Despite the park's unforgiving nature, its eerie scenery makes for a unique and spectacular experience.

People travel far and wide to be able to explore the epic location and view the extraordinary shipwrecks sinking deep into the sands. The coastline makes for an eerie but heart-stopping scene. The ships are the park's main attraction, not to mention the desert, which spans miles of sand. The coastline is also steeped in history and tales of why these shipwrecks submerged here.

Namibia's coastline of unforgiving cold climates and perilous Atlantic seas, along with thick fogs and threatening sea currents, all make the Skeleton Coast one of the most treacherous to sail. Skeleton Coast's vast epic beauty has mountain ranges, ghost towns, and gaping canyons. Animals survive here too. Elephants, rhinos, and lions all survive here under extreme conditions.

Namibia's Skeleton Coast is one of the best national parks in Africa because of its diverse nature, thrilling uniqueness, and legendary beauty that tells 1000 tales. Skeleton Coast is a truly amazing place where you will make lifelong memories.

Best National Parks in Africa / Image: Keith Hardy

SERENGETI

The Serengeti is one of the best national parks in Africa. Many say it is the seventh wonder of the world!

The Serengeti protects and preserves a major share of Africa's wildlife. It also attracts a staggering number of travelers each year and is the ultimate destination for classic safaris. The Serengeti boasts a multitude of wild animals, but its crowning glory is the Great Migration. The Great Migration is a thrilling natural phenomenon that occurs here year after year. Over six million wildebeest, gazelles, and zebras race across 40 kilometers of Serengeti plains in search of grazing pastures. This ritual has occurred for countless years. Predators follow the migration as well. There are many sightings of big cats hunting the migrating animals, which can be particularly captivating if it doesn't make you want to cover your eyes with the brim of your safari hat.

If you are considering traveling to this sensational park, you will not be disappointed. It's encouraged to spend at least five days covering the whole park.

This unforgettable experience will leave you with memories that will last a lifetime. It's no wonder that the Serengeti precedes its reputation as not only a wildlife haven but one of the best national parks in Africa. It's the world's most beloved and recognizable national park.

Best National Parks in Africa / Image: Magdalena Kula Manchee

MAKGADIKGADI PANS NATIONAL PARK

The Makgadikgadi Pans National Park is an extremely vast salt pan with an area of 3,900 kilometers situated in the middle of Botswana's dry savanna. That is why it's Makgadikgadi Pans National Park is one of the most unique and best national parks in Africa.

These shimmering and desolate salt pans are said to be the largest in the world. They are so unique they appear as glaring white endless plains, which makes them a sensation to visit. Makgadikgadi Pans is also a traveler's paradise located near the famous Okavango Delta and surrounded by the Kalahari Desert. But these desolate white plains don't stay white all year round. They transform and come alive into stunning grass-plains during the rainy season. During this time, the pans attract various wild animals, including waterbuck, bushbuck, hippos, and thousands of bird species.

Travelers can expect something extremely unique and unusual when visiting this part of Botswana. The salt pans make for one of the most mysterious but best national parks in Africa. If you're traveling to Botswana, make sure not to miss out on this incredible place.

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NGORONGORO NATIONAL PARK

Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most interesting and best national parks in Africa. Located in the heart of Tanzania, Ngorongoro Crater is a popular destination that welcomes thousands of travelers each year. Ngorongoro means the "gift of life" in Maasai. The crater is also largely populated by the native Maasai tribe too. You might be thinking, "Is the Ngorongoro Crater worth visiting?" The answer is, "Absolutely!" Ngorongoro National Park is definitely worth visiting and extremely spectacular. The crater is the world's largest inactive and unfilled volcanic caldera. The crater formed when a large volcano erupted and collapsed on itself two and a half million years ago. When it was still an active volcano, it was a similar size to Mount Kilimanjaro, one of the world's biggest mountains.

Today, the most mesmerizing wildlife lives in the crater. When you drive along the rim, you can see the clouds part to witness the crater in all its glory. When you visit, you can also drive down to the base to surround yourself with the beauty of the unfilled volcanic caldera. No matter which route you take, you will be sure to love what your eyes will see. Ngorongoro Crater is among the best national parks in Africa.

Best National Parks in Africa / Image: Hendrik Cornelissen

HWANGE NATIONAL PARK

Hwange Park is one of the best national parks in Africa because of its true diversity. If you're feeling a little tired of the regular safari destinations offered by other national parks in Africa, Hwange National Park is a great place to visit. This park is home to 500 species of animals and birds, plus it's best known for one of the largest elephant populations in the world. So if you're an elephant enthusiast, this is the place for you! In addition, it has the world's tallest waterfall, Victoria Falls.
If you remember the tragic death of the famed lion Cecil, Hwange National Park is where he used to reside. Cecil's death caused a lot of outrage among animal conservationists and has made the park a focal point for the world. Since this tragic event, park authorities at Hwange National Park are taking every necessary step to prevent such acts from happening again in this biologically rich area of South Africa.

Best National Parks in Africa / Image: Catherine Merlin

MASAI MARA NATIONAL PARK

Masai Mara is one of the biggest, most popular, and best national parks in Africa. This legendary national park in southwest Kenya is a beautiful vast expanse of African savannah plains. Masai Mara also borders the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Masai Mara is an incredible wildlife conservation haven famous for its large population of lions and its spectacular natural diversity of wildlife. Overall, Masai Mara offers many great reasons for travelers to visit and is easily one of the best national parks in Africa. When you visit the Masai Mara National Park, you will see every African wild animal possible, including cheetahs, elephants, rhinos, African buffalo, wildebeest, giraffes, zebras, and, of course, lions. Due to its expansive size, it allows its wild inhabitants to roam freely, stretching for miles on end.

The national park is named in honor of the Maasai tribe, who are famous in the area. The word 'Mara' is the Maasai word for 'spotted,' which refers to the unique flat-topped acacia trees, shrubs, and short bushes that dot the landscape across much of the reserve.

Best National Parks in Africa / Image: Bibhash

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

Kruger National Park is one of the all-time greatest and best national parks in Africa. Kruger is known for its amazing wildlife and beauty. In addition, the area is home to a sizable population of the Big 5. If you're looking for a legendary safari park to visit, Kruger should be high on your list. The reason why it's one of the best national parks in Africa and a great safari destination is because you can observe all of Africa's varied wild animals, including elephants, lions, cheetahs, rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, and leopards. In fact, Kruger is regarded as one of the best places to spot leopards in the wild! Aside from viewing its fascinating inhabitants, Kruger National Park is rich in unique historical and archaeological sites located within the park. If you go, make sure to check out the ancient Bushman rock paintings. The paintings are an ancient legacy of the indigenous San people and one of the richest rock art sites in the world.

Kruger is not only one of South Africa's most exciting safari destinations but also steeped in history and legend, making this one of the best national parks in Africa. If you visit Africa's southern region, don't miss this legendary national park.