Top African Safari Destinations

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Top African Safari Destinations


Named after the Swahili word for a trip, safari has evolved. Where they were once hunting and "roughing" in the wild, nowadays they are mostly all about wildlife watching/photographing and come in every level of luxury and the budget you can imagine.

The wildlife safaris have become a global phenomenon, but Africa is still among the best continents for nature and wildlife lovers to explore. Here's a look at the ten best African safari destinations, from popular East African countries like Kenya and Tanzania to upcoming ecotourism hot spots like Malawi, Namibia, and Rwanda.

Here are the top 5 African Safari Destinations


BOTSWANA

  • People were surprised when we told them that Botswana currently ranks high on our African safari list. But the state's robust and forward-thinking approach to wildlife conservation and a unique collection of national parks and the game reserves make it a haven for nature lovers.
  • The country's anti-poaching methods are among the strictest across Africa. For example, Botswana banned commercial hunting entirely in 2014, and Environment Minister Chekedi Khama launched an unofficial policy of shooting to kill poachers.
  • The anti-poaching units are overseen by the government-funded Botswana Defense Force, which means they have more training, weapons, and other resources than APUs in other countries. Because the management of wildlife is left mainly in the hands of local communities (which provide an alternative source of income for poaching), poachers are widely treated as enemies of humans.
  • As a result, the Botswana has emerged in recent years as one of Africa's most crucial ecotourism destinations. The vast elephant herds in Chobe National Park and canoe-based wildlife safaris in the Okavango Delta are among the country's world-renowned tourist attractions. But there are also the traditional Big Five safaris in Moremi Nature Reserve (Botswana's first protected area) and uncrowded gems like Makjadikgadi Bans National Park, Nxai Pan National Park, and Central Kalahari Reserve.

KENYA

  • With African safaris taking off, it's hard to beat a tour of Kenya's national parks and reserves. Even if you didn't visit it during the Great Migration of Africa?when millions of wildebeest, zebras, and other herbivores track the rain north from the Serengeti in Tanzania?Kenya's stunning natural beauty and an astounding array of wildlife would defy accurate description.

    The Kenya offers 25 national parks, 16 national reserves, six parks, marine reserves, and countless private reserves for visitors to explore. In addition, the state boasts about 390 mammals (including 20 primates, 37 carnivores, and 43 ungulates), 1,100 bird species (eight of which are endemic), 280 reptiles, and 115 amphibians.
  • Kenya's most famous national parks include the 151-square-mile Amboseli, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near the Tanzanian border famous for its massive elephant population, over 400 bird species, and stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Of course, Masai Mara National Reserve needs no introduction as the northern terminus of the Great Migration Route.
  • But the 583-square-mile mile is just part of the Greater Mara's ecosystem. This includes the neighboring Maasai and owned wildlife reserves and conservation areas. The Greater Mara is home to about 25% of Kenya's wildlife, including an impressive number of big cats (leopards, East African lions, and leopards) and their prey.

MALAWI

  • Most of the people would be hard-pressed to locate Malawi on a map (hint: it is southern Tanzania, Zambia, and northern Mozambique), not to mention why the country is an upcoming must-see ecotourism destination. The government is small (45,747 square miles) and relatively undeveloped, with most of its population being rural and poor.
  • So why visit? The first reason is Lake Malawi National Park, which occupies almost a third of the state's area. It is one of the most biodiverse lake regions in the world, providing a fertile habitat for nearly 200 mammals (including big cats, elephants, hippos, monkeys, and more), 650 species of birds, and more than 5,500 plants.
  • But Malawi also has four other national parks (Kasongo, Lingwe, Leondi, and Nyika) and four wildlife reserves (Magiti, Mwabi, Nkhotakota, and Fawaza Marsh). Two biosphere reserves (Lake Chilua and Mount Mulang Forest Reserve), some of which is It is developing a reputation as an off-the-beaten-path haven for bird watchers.

NAMIBIA

  • Located on the southwest coast of the continent, Namibia is quite unlike any other country in Africa. With only 2 million people living in an area of ??more than 300,000 square miles, it is one of the least populous countries on the planet. The land between the cities - mostly dominated by the Kalahari and Namib deserts - is wild and relatively uncontaminated by any development.
  • But don't let the stark images of Deadvlei ghost trees and the stunning red dunes of Sossusvlei fool you: Namibia is positively bustling with life. With 12 national parks, many other reserves, and protected areas, the country has plenty of wildlife-rich regions to explore.
  • Etosha National Park, which includes four of Africa's Big Five (there are no Cape buffaloes), is so dry that you can usually find animals congregating around watering holes. Bwata National Park, located on a narrow strip of land near Zambia and Zimbabwe, has wetlands that make it an excellent place for elephant and bird watching. The remote wilderness of Khodom National Park is home to many lions, leopards, hyenas, roan antelopes, and herds of elephants.
  • But Cape Cross Seal Sanctuary is perhaps the most unique protected area in the country. It is home to the largest fur seal colonies in the world, whose population can exceed 500,000 animals!

RWANDA

  • Talk about this landlocked East African country, and the first thing that comes to most people's mind is the Hotel Rwanda and the genocide of nearly a million people in 1994. But the past 25 years have brought a lot of investment in infrastructure in Rwanda, and the result is one of Africa's most impressive (and fastest growing) ecotourism destinations.
  • Most people are familiar with Rwanda's mountain gorillas, whose plight for survival was made famous by National Geographic and the late Dian Fossey in the 1970s and 1980s. Thanks to Fossey's conservation initiatives that are still implemented today by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, the latest census shows that the population in the Virunga Mountains continues to grow. Their total number recently exceeded 1,000 for the first time in decades.
  • There are ten typical gorilla families at Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, with groups of 8 trekkers allowed to visit them for one hour each day. Spending time with these gentle giants easily ranks among the best African safari experiences. But it is far from Rwanda's only great activity for nature lovers.
  • From trips to see the usual chimpanzees and many other primate species in the Nyungwe Forest National Park in southern Rwanda to the more traditional Big 5 safari in Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda, this country remains a relatively uncrowded gem for wildlife watchers.

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