Top Five Safari Parks in Africa
© AP Photo / Jerome Delay
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Safari is a Swahili word that means "journey" and refers to the outdoor activity of observing wild creatures in their natural habitat. Sputnik Africa lists the top five safari parks in Africa to consider for your next trip.
Africa has the second largest rainforest, the Congo Basin and is home to the largest animal on Earth's surface, the African elephant. As a wildlife-rich continent, the continent is one of the few regions in the world where visitors can experience life on Earth as it was before humans globalized the world.
A specialized website conducted a study that examined 2,373 park reviews. The survey included contributions from 1,363 safari tourists hailing from 83 different countries, as well as 1,010 reviews written by industry experts. As a result, the following parks were highlighted as industry leaders:
1. Serengeti National Park (Tanzania)
In this photo taken Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, hippos bathe in Serengeti National Park, west of Arusha, northern Tanzania.
© AP Photo / Mosa'ab Elshamy
The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is famous for its wildebeest antelope migration and abundant wildlife in general. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with thousands of lions, leopards and cheetahs in an area of nearly 15,000 square kilometers.
2. Mana Pools National Park (Zimbabwe)
In this Oct, 27, 2019, photo, elephants and zebras feed on hay provided by the Feed Mana project in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe.
© AP Photo / Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi
The Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe's north is famous for being home to the African Big Five animals, including buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion, and rhino. It has also been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. Safaris in this park offer unique experiences, as they can be done on foot or by canoe.
3. Mala Mala Game Reserve (South Africa)
In this photo taken Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015, a giraffe approaches a watering hole at Melorani Safaris at Olifantsvallei, South Africa.
© AP Photo / Denis Farrell
The MalaMala Private Game Reserve in South Africa is a luxurious safari company that was founded in 1927. Visitors have the opportunity to witness the incredible wildlife of the Big Five, with a particular focus on leopards.
4. Okavango Delta (Botswana)
Animals share a man-made watering hole in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, in July 1999.
© AP Photo / RICK SAMMON
Okvango Delta, a famous reserve in Botswana, has permanent marshlands and flooded plains. UNESCO recognizes it as the habitat for endangered species like cheetah, white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, African wild dog and lions.
5. Lower Zambezi National Park (Zambia)
A monkey family sits in a tree as the baby keeps an eye on the photogarpher in the town of Livingstone 25 September 2006, the home of the Victoria Falls.
© AFP 2023 ALEXANDER JOE
Lower Zambezi National Park is a large park in Zambia, located near the Zambezi River and neighboring Zimbabwe's Mana Pools National Park. Established in 1983, the park spans 4,092 square kilometers and boasts diverse wildlife, such as buffalos, elephants, lions, and leopards.
