Absolutely Enthralling National Parks In Africa

Scattered throughout the lush continent of Africa, an expedition into the 10 most fascinating National parks of Africa that provide haven and shelter to Africa’s beautiful and vulnerable wildlife heritage 

1 . SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK IN TANZANIA                                                                

            

The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the oldest and a world Heritage Wider Wonder. It is one of most popular national park on earth with most captivating safari areas and famed for its annual migration where more than 1,500,00 wildebeest and 500,000 Thomson Gazelle follow some 200,000 Zebra in 200 km round pilgrimage from Tanzania’s Serengeti to the south of Kenya’s Masai Mara in search of lush grazing grounds and life-giving water.  Predator versus prey dominates the migration. Lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena and host of other, smaller predators, watched buy the ever-present vultures, gorge on their annual feast while, in the rivers, giant crocodile wait their turn. The Park is divided into 3 sections. The popular southern/central part (Seronera Valley), what the Maasai called the “serengit”, the land of endless plains with classic savannah, dotted with acacias and filled with wildlife. The western corridor is marked by the Grumeti River, and has more forests and dense bush. The north, Lobo area, meets up with Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve, is the least visited section.

2 . Maasai Mara National Reserve/Kenya

Located within the Great Rift Valley in the southern part of Kenya it is photographer’s and naturalist’s paradise. Maasai Mara National Reserve derives its name from the indigenous people of Kenya, the Maasai tribe and the Mara River that cuts through the park and covers approximately 1510sq. km (approx. 938sq. miles) of area

In addition to its impressive population of big cats, rhinos and elephants, its sweeping horizons, beautiful landscapes and a rich cultural heritage, The Mara is also best known for the Great Migration, which takes place every year July to September. During these months the yellow savannah is dotted black by more than 1.5 million wildebeest, zebra and antelopes that migrate from the Serengeti to the Mara in search of food and water. Mara and Serengeti parks are interdependent wildlife havens. It is where the world’s largest migration takes place. The movement is, centered around the wildebeest migrating from Serengeti to Masai Mara during the dry period in Tanzania, crossing the impressive Mara River on their way.

3 . Estosha National Park/Namibia

Etosha, meaning “Great White Place”, is dominated by a massive mineral pan. The pan is part of the Kalahari Basin, the floor of which was formed around 1000 million years ago. It is home to 114 mammal species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species and, surprisingly, one species of fish. The abundance of game in Etosha National Park is somewhat unexpected, exhibiting some of the most common and rarest wildlife species. The areas with thicker vegetation are home to elephant (some of the largest in Africa due to the vitamins and nutrients found in the ground), the endangered black rhino and even leopard. Lions are camouflaged in the pale- golden color of the grasslands, while giraffes rise-high above most of the dry vegetation.

A heaven for birders, after good rains the salt pan fills with water attracting a cloud of flamingos. More than 340 bird species have been counted in Etosha National Park. During the rainy season, one million flamingoes use Etosha as a breeding ground. Falcons, harriers and the Egyptian vulture are some wonderful birds found here. Among the migratory species, the European bee-eater is possibly the most popular sighting. The game reserve is also home to the world’s largest bird, the ostrich, and the heaviest flying bird and the kori bustard.

4.  Kruger National Park/South Africa.                                                                                            

 

Lying in the north of South Africa, the Kruger is one of the world’s great national parks and the largest and oldest national park in South Africa covering over 20,000 square kms

The diversity, density and sheer numbers of animals is almost unparalleled, 137 mammals and over 500 varieties of bird. It’s also regarded as the best place in the world to see a leopard.

5 . Hwangwe national Park/Zimbabwe

With over 100 species present, Hwange has the widest variety of mammals of any national park in Zimbabwe and the largest and most popular. It offers excellent wildlife viewing, and most big safari animals can be seen, including the Big Five. Hwange is also fame to have one of the largest elephant populations in the world. There are 20,000 to 70,000 individuals that congregate around the waterholes toward the end of the Dry season.

Its Predators includes all three of the big cats which are regularly spotted. It is also home to an impressive variety of antelope, including some of the unusual species such as gemsbok, sable antelope, roan antelope and greater kudu. The park has also one of the largest the population of wild dogs in Africa and over 400 species of birds

 6. Ngorongoro conservation area/Tanzania

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The Ngorongoro Conservation Area stretches vast expanses of highland plains, savanna, savanna woodlands and forests. Established in 1959 as a multiple land use area, with wildlife coexisting with semi-nomadic Maasai pastoralists practicing traditional livestock grazing. It includes the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest caldera together with the Olmoti and Empakaai craters are part of the eastern Rift Valley, whose volcanism dates back to the late Mesozoic / early Tertiary periods, it is famous for its geology.  The property also includes Laetoli and Olduvai Gorge, which contain an important palaeontological record related to human evolution.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area has yielded an exceptionally long sequence of crucial evidence related to human evolution and human-environment dynamics, collectively extending from four million years ago to the beginning of this era, including physical evidence of the most important benchmarks in human evolutionary development.

The stunning landscape of Ngorongoro Crater combined with its spectacular concentration of wildlife is one of the greatest natural wonders of the planet. Spectacular wildebeest numbers (well over 1 million animals) pass through the property as part of the annual migration of wildebeest across the Serengeti ecosystem and calve in the short grass plains which straddle the Ngorongoro Conservation Area/Serengeti National Park boundary.

 7. Bwindi National Park/uganda

The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a bio-diverse, mountainous area in southwest Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley. With mist covered hillsides, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the oldest and most biologically diverse rain-forest, which dates back over 25,000 years with over 400 species of plant.   A visit to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a lifetime experience will reward you with a closer view of adults feeding, grooming and resting as the youngsters frolic and swing from vines in delightfully playful display. This biologically diverse region also provide shelter to a further 120 mammals, including several primate species such as baboons and chimpanzees, as well as elephants and antelopes, around 350 species of birds including 23 Albertine Rift endemics.

8. South Luanga National Park/Zambia

The Luangwa River is the most intact major river system in Africa and is the life-blood of this 9059 sq.kms Park. South Luangwa Park supports a very rich flora and fauna, and the key to this is in the valley’s soils. These were originally volcanic in origin, so are often rich in minerals and nutrients, augmented by fine deposits from the river. Combine these with plenty of rainfall and a position about 12–14° from the Equator, where there is plenty of light, and you have the base for a lush and diverse plant growth.  There are 60 different animal species in South Luangwa National Park. The concentration of animals around the Luangwa River, and its oxbow lagoons, is among the most intense in Africa. There are also 400 species of birds in the park, including 39 birds of prey. The now famous ‘walking safari’ originated in this Park and is still one of the finest ways to experience Africa’s pristine wilderness first-hand.

9. Chobe National Park/ Bostwana

 

known as ‘The Land of The Giants’, Chobe National Park is situated in the northern Botswana with more than 11 7 00 sq kms of rich ecosystems, diverse landscapes and an almost unparalleled abundance of wildlife and birdlife all centred around the stunning Chobe River. It is home to Africa’s largest elephant population. Chobe was first set aside as wildlife reserve in the 1930s and became Botswana’s first national park in 1968.

The Chobe River, which is without undoubtedly one of Africa’s most beautiful rivers, forms its northern boundary and in the extreme south-west it borders the Moremi Game Reserve and supports a diversity and concentration of wildlife unparalleled anywhere else in the country. The Chobe Riverfront is most famous for its large herds of elephants and Cape Buffalo, which during the dry winter months converge upon the river to drink. In the dry winter months over 50 000 elephants can converge on the Chobe River to drink – an awe-inspiring sight. Also over 460 bird species have been recorded in the park, making it one of Africa’s premier venues for bird Safaris.

 10. Mahale National park/Tanzania

Mahale National park is Tanzania’s most remote and one of its most attractive. It covers 1,613km² of the Mahale Mountains. The Park was originally created to protect the thousands of chimpanzees that inhabit the region. It is renowned as known as the best place in the world for chimp safaris and for its fantastic sunsets over Lake Tanganyika, which makes it an essential stop for devoted photographers and safari enthusiasts.

The Park is home to around 1700, but the focal point for visitors is the 60 strong Mimikere, or ‘M’ group, which has been habituated by researchers for more than four decades.  It’s possible to trek and observe them from very close quarters; led by an impressive alpha male, they go where they want and when they want but are always relaxed near people.

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