Amboseli National Park’s flat, “big-sky” landscape and proximity to the iconic Kilimanjaro offer photographers an unparalleled, dramatic backdrop. Nevertheless, visitors
Arusha is the safari hub for Tanzania’s “Northern Circuit.” The city itself has a few interesting sights (notably the Arusha Market), though it’s mainly
Located just north of the Mozambican coastal town of Vilanculos, the Bazaruto Archipelago contains numerous small islands of stunning, white beaches. Visitors are offered a variety
The second-biggest island in the idyllic Bazaruto archipelago, Benguerra is a tropical paradise of long, palm-lined white beaches, verdant rainforest and temperate turquoise seas
Though by no means one-dimensional, the main attraction of Bwindi is unmistakably its mountain gorilla population. Finding these gorillas can be an arduous task. After scouts
Cape Town has one of the most beautiful settings in the world, with Table Mountain dominating the skyline, the Cape Peninsula to the Cape of Good Hope, and stunning coastal
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve, in one word, is epic. This due to not only its size (20,000 mi²), but also its uniquely beautiful landscape of wooded dunes and petrified river
Chobe National Park is Botswana’s most visited wildlife area. The 4250 mi² park is renowned for its prolific buffalo and elephant herds. Moreover, Chobe’s lion prides are
Situated between Tsavo West and Amboseli National Parks, Chyulu Hills is primarily known for its magnificent bull elephants, picturesque views of Kilimanjaro and exclusivity. In
Damaraland is a sprawling arid, mountainous region located in between Skeleton Coast and Etosha National Parks. This Namibian region has adopted an unique conservancy model.
Etosha means “Great White Place,” referring to the dusty clay and salty plains of the expansive pan that comprises much of the 8,569 mi² national park. The pan (a silvery
Set in the Songo Songo Archipelago, the pristine Fanjove Island is located off the Tanzanian coast in the Indian Ocean. An oasis of tranquillity, Fanjove Island boasts a
The Garden Route stretches along South Africa’s southern coastline, from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. Heading East from Cape Town, the route passes through the Cape
At 5656 mi² (14,651 km²), Hwange is Zimbabwe’s largest national park. Besides its vastness, Hwange also boasts incredible quantity and diversity of wildlife; in fact, Hwange
At 8687 mi², Kafue is by far Zambia’s, and one of Africa’s, largest national parks. It is also arguably Zambia’s best, for two reasons. First, it offers the greatest
For the primate enthusiast, Kibale is a must-see. Containing 13 primate species, this 296 mi² national park of lowland tropical rain forest, tropical deciduous forest, marshes
Kruger is South Africa’s most visited safari destination. It’s easy to understand why: the 7523 mi² national park contains more species of wildlife than any other wildlife
Kwando, Linyanti and Selinda Concessions lie between Botswana’s Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta. During the dry season, the concentration of elephant here is
Kwandwe is a 62,000 acre private reserve located in South Africa’s the malaria-free Eastern Cape. A 2 hr. drive from Port Elizabeth, it is appealingly accessible for those
Though it means “treeless plain” in Maasai, Laikipia actually covers a vast array of landscapes. This elevated Kenyan region (5500-8500 ft) consists high plains, scrubland,
Lake Eyasi is Tanzania’s largest soda lake. The lake’s northern shore forms part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area’s southern border. Unlike Ngorongoro, however, it is
Ernest Hemingway described this Tanzanian park’s lake as “the loveliest I have seen in Africa.” A narrow strip of land separates Lake Manyara from the Great Rift
Located in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru National Park encompasses the alkaline lake of the same name. The park’s claim to fame are the hundreds of thousands
“Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in flight”. That’s what David Livingstone wrote in his journal upon seeing Victoria Falls for the first time. One of
Lower Zambezi National Park extends 75 miles along the Zambezi River and 20 miles inland to the Zambezi Escarpment. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the absence of
The Maasai Mara National Reserve and its surrounding conservancies are quintessential Africa: big game and predators traversing the open plains, rolling savannah grasslands, and
In 1991, “Operation Phoenix” began, beginning seven years’ of animal translocations to Madikwe. Today, this South African reserve boasts the Big Five (both black
The stark landscape of Makgadikgadi Pans National Park gives many visitors a somewhat haunting feeling of freedom and isolation. Located in Botswana, the park itself covers about a
Malilangwe, a 134,000 acre reserve in southeastern Zimbabwe, is arguably both one of Africa’s best kept secrets and its best private reserve. For one, its open savannahs,
Mana Pools’ appeal lies equally with its blend of scenery and wildlife as it does with its unique activities. This 845 mi² national park is located in northern Zimbabwe. In the
Mashatu is a 72,000 acre private reserve within Botswana’s Northern Tuli Game Reserve – and arguably one of Africa’s best kept secrets for game viewing! This part
Matobo Hills is one of Africa’s most unique national parks. This 164 mi² national park in Zimbabwe has hundreds of granite rock formations precariously balanced on gray kopjes
At 19,340 ft above sea level, Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa. What’s more, because it juts more than 16,000 ft above the surrounding plains, its summit offers
Named after the famous waterfall along the Victoria Nile, Murchison Falls is a 1500 mi² national park in Uganda best experienced on boat. Trips are either full or half day, and
Situated at an altitude of about 6,000 feet near the eastern edge of the Great Rift Valley, Nairobi (meaning “place of cool waters” in Maasai) is the modern, bustling capital
At 19,215 mi², Namib-Naukluft is one of the largest parks in the entire world. This Namibian national park is named after the Namib Desert, the world’s oldest desert, but also
Ngorongoro is the world’s largest unflooded, intact caldera. Grasslands, stream-fed swamps and forests occupy the of crater floor, 1600 ft fleet below the crater rim. Located
Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) is located in Southern Tanzania. Its landscape is composed of miombo woodlands, grasslands, floodplains, marshes and dense
Odzala-Kokoua, located in the northern Republic of the Congo and on the Gabon border, is one of Africa’s oldest national parks. It’s composed primarily pristine equatorial
Covering more than 6000 mi², the Okavango Delta is one of the most dynamic and stunning natural places on earth. This inland delta in Botswana is a natural mosaic of palm-fringed
The Omo Valley of southwestern Ethiopia is home to some of the most remote, colorful and interesting cultures in the world. Until the last few decades, these tribes have lived in
Phinda is located in the northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This 43,000 acres reserve comprises seven distinct habitats: acacia and broad-leafed savannah, riverine woodland,
Within South Africa’s Kruger National Park and along its western border lie numerous privately owned wildlife reserves. Like the national parks, these private reserves are
Located between Kibale Forest and Bwindi National Parks, Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s premier destination for viewing big game. The park’s volcanic cones, craters,
At 8500 mi², Ruaha is Tanzania’s largest national park and also one of its best. And because of its remoteness in the country’s south, it is also one of the least visited.
Though relatively small at 64 mi², Samburu is, nevertheless, well-reputed. This reserve in northern Kenya has an arid landscape characterized by scrub desert, thornbush, riverine
In the Maasai language, Serengeti means “endless plains,” a very appropriate name for this Tanzanian national park. Most of the park consists of vast, open plains occasionally
This 6504 mi² park in Namibia straddles the Atlantic Ocean for several hundred miles. The San (Bushmen) called Skeleton Coast “the land God made in anger”. Appropriate,
For those keen to explore Africa’s wilderness while on foot or on a night game drive, South Luangwa in Zambia is one of the continent’s best. The Luangwa River meanders across
Named after the Tarangire River, this national park is one of Africa’s most scenic. It’s the best place on Tanzania’s Northern Circuit to see lions in trees and
Tswalu Kalahari is the largest privately owned game reserve in South Africa. Located in the southernmost area of the Kalahari, the reserve has exceptional year-round wildlife
Volcanoes National Park, located in northern Rwanda, has two claims to fame: it is Africa’s oldest national park and contains a third of the world’s mountain gorilla
Zanzibar, which is only 22 miles from the Tanzanian mainland, is a beautiful Indian Ocean island with a fascinating history. The narrow streets and Arabic architecture of
