Elegant giraffes greet you on their way home, hippos splash around in the marshes while the king of the jungle saunters in and makes his long-awaited appearance. This is just another day on an African safari. So if you’re ready to go on safari but can’t decide which one is right for you read on…
Kruger National Park - South Africa
Probably the most photographed game park in the world: Kruger National Park in South Africa. Stretching over 236 miles, Kruger is the biggest and most developed park in Africa. Its highly developed infrastructure makes it easy to navigate around the park and also offers a range of accommodation from rugged camping to highly luxurious private game reserves.
Kruger’s wildlife is impressive and most visitors will at some point spot at least one member of the Big Five – or all. There are also more than 500 species of birds, wild dogs, hyenas, crocodiles and a large number of antelope. Nature lovers will revel in the rich collection of tropical and subtropical plant life.
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Chobe - Botswana
Located in the north of Botswana, close to the Zambezi River, is the Chobe National Park. Covering nearly 4300 square miles Chobe is the third largest park in Botswana and it is the most diverse in terms of both wildlife and terrain. Four unique eco systems exist in the park: the plains of Serondela, the forests around the Chobe River area, the Savuti Marsh and the Linyanti Swamps. The game viewing here is second to none with buffalo, zebras and lions roaming around the marsh area. But the real draw is the elephant. 120,000 Kalahari elephants live here – making it the biggest elephant population in Africa.
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Serengeti - Tanzania
Ever since American hunter Stewart Edward White claimed he had found paradise when he stumbled upon the Serengeti adventurers and intrepid tourists have travelled to the northwest of Tanzania to discover its legendary beauty.
Blessed with an ecosystem that has remained virtually untouched for the last million years, the Serengeti covers 5,000 square miles extending all the way to the south west of Kenya. Most of its land is a vast savanna consisting of lush forest, woodlands and marshes. But its rich plant life isn’t the main reason for visiting the Serengeti – the migration of its wildlife is. Nearly a million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra head clockwise from the south to the north and back between the months of November and July. For safari mavens or first time safari-goers viewing a migration is truly a life changing experience.
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Masai Mara - Kenya
The setting for the movie Out of Africa – Masai Mara is Kenya's most popular wildlife park. Joined in the south to the Serengeti in Tanzania, Mara is ideal for those in search of an abundance of animals including the Big Five. The best way to view the animals up-close is to stay in a tented camp and embark on adventurous game drives and walks on Mara River.
Like its neighbour the Serengeti, Masai Mara is also famous for its migration- the Great Migration- when the wildebeest and zebra travel from the Serengeti.
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Namibia - Etosha National Park
"Great White Place" – Etosha – is Namibia's prized national park located in the Kunene Region in the north west of the country. The park is home to hundreds of mammal, bird, reptile and amphibian species all living on 9000 square miles; 25 per cent of which is a 1000 million-year old mineral pan.
Legend has it that the Etosha Pan was formed from the tears of a village woman who had lost her family in a raid. Although this makes for a good campfire story the reality of it is less dramatic – it was fed by the Kunene River but later dried up leaving a large salt and clay depression. However, when it rains the abyss fills with water and thousands of birds including colourful flamingos and other wildlife come to rehydrate. Buck species, elephant, giraffe, lions and rhino can also be seen hovering around the edge of the pan.
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Madagascar
In the middle of the Indian Ocean lies the African island of Madagascar. Although the country is synonymous with lush rainforests and endless beaches, it’s probably less known for its national parks. Those looking for a safari break that isn’t a traditional African safari like those found in Southern Africa then Madagascar is the place. Parc National de Ranomafana and Parc National de L'Isalo are two of the best ones to explore.
Parc National de Ranomafana occupies 102,549 acres of rainforest and is home to 12 lemur species which are found only in Madagascar. Guided walks at night are the only way to see the elusive Malagasy civet and the dainty brown mouse lemur. Further south is the Parc National de L'Isalo situated in the Toliara Province. The park has a diverse terrain of eroded sandstone formations and deep canyons topped with forests and grasslands. The wildlife consists of various species of birds, reptiles, frogs and of course, lemur.
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Seema Salaam
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Updated April 2009
