There are so many amazing locations in Africa where you can witness animals in their native environments. But with so many choices to choose from, not to mention the jargon, it can be simple to become overwhelmed when organizing a safari. It can be difficult to know where to begin with so many national parks, conservancies, concessions, and private game reserves spread out throughout the continent.
Some of the greatest private game reserves and conservancies in the industry are located adjacent to the majority of Africa’s most renowned national parks. The majority of game-spotting experiences are accompanied by knowledgeable rangers and take place in 4×4 cars. However, there are other opportunities to observe wildlife through guided bush walks, hot air balloon and light aircraft safaris, and boat excursions.
Whether you’re a seasoned safari enthusiast, a couple on a romantic honeymoon, or a family taking their first trip together, this guide to Africa’s best game reserves is sure to inspire you.
Best Game Reserves In Africa
Tswalu Kalahari – South Africa
Tswalu Kalahari embodies the best that South Africa has to offer for up-close encounters with the enchantment of African wildlife. This is the largest private game reserve in South Africa, spanning over 100,000 hectares of the grasslands of the southern Kalahari. The sole accommodation is The Motse and Tarkuni House in the entire reserve, which hosts a maximum of 30 visitors at once. This means that Tswalu offers more than 3,000 hectares to each person, even during peak tourist season.
Tswalu Kalahari can provide a variety of distinctive activities for visitors because it is privately owned. For instance, you can take a nighttime walk or horseback safari in South Africa. Sleepouts offer a special opportunity to spend the night among nature and the stars. Speaking of animals, you may view up to 340 different bird species and 80 different mammal species here. Just to name a few, you can witness giraffes, zebras, rhinos, and lions.
Sabi Sands – South Africa
The Sabi and Sand rivers, which flow through the region’s traditional bushveld grasslands for safari travel, are the sources of the name Sabi Sands. This more than 60,000-hectare private reserve, which borders the Kruger National Park, is one of the oldest in South Africa. With an abundance of wildlife that includes lions, leopards, wild dogs, and giraffes, it is also without a doubt one of the greatest African reserves.
The Big Five can be seen at Sabi Sands, which is a popular spot because the animals are accustomed to seeing people. Although winter (June to September) is normally the best time of year to see wildlife, the rainy summer months are great for birdwatching. Here, some of Africa’s most opulent lodges and camps offer a variety of unique experiences, like walking game trails, fishing, camping, and stargazing.
Maasai Mara National Reserve – Kenya
Wildlife enthusiasts worldwide aspire to visit Kenya’s stunning Maasai Mara National Reserve. This park provides some of the best wildlife watching in Africa. it is well-known for the Great Migration, which takes place from July through October and involves thousands of wildebeest, Thomson’s gazelles, and zebra traveling between there and the Serengeti plains. One of the best parts of traveling to Kenya is going on a safari. Protecting the “Big Five,” the park is well-known for its abundance of predators, including lions, cheetahs, and leopards. The Mara River is home to hippos and crocs.
An intriguing cultural element is added by the Maasai, who reside in the park and are covered in red cloaks. According to their language, Mara means “mottled,” which may be referring to the shadows created by changing light passing through the acacia trees on the horizons speckled with clouds, which provide a hauntingly gorgeous backdrop for photographers.
Serengeti National Park – Tanzania
Tanzania’s crown jewel is the Serengeti National Park, one of the best in all of Africa. Tanzania’s oldest and most well-known park, this World Heritage site offers idyllic views of the golden savanna, apparently endless grasslands dotted with acacia trees, and hordes of species. The Great Migration, one of Africa’s greatest sights, occurs from December to July, when over a million wildebeest, together with zebra and Thomson’s gazelle, journey between these parts and the legendary Maasai Mara territories. It is a traditional pilgrimage.
The renowned “Big Five” are also found inside the park’s boundaries, and during the dry season, which runs from June to October, visitors can witness thrilling predator-versus-prey encounters. More than 500 species can be seen by birdwatchers, including stunning species like Fischer’s lovebird and crowned crane.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Tanzania
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which was formerly a part of Serengeti National Park, is home to numerous significant landmarks. Here are three stunning volcanic craters (of which Ngorongoro is the most well-known), the fabled ancient site of Olduvai Gorge, and over 8,300 square kilometers of African bush, grassland, and deep forest. This is one of the few places on Earth where people and wildlife may live in harmony. In this area designated as a World Heritage Site, the patriotic Maasai people coexist with a variety of species and graze their livestock there.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which was formerly a part of Serengeti National Park, is home to numerous significant landmarks. Here are three stunning volcanic craters (of which Ngorongoro is the most well-known), the fabled ancient site of Olduvai Gorge, and over 8,300 square kilometers of African bush, grassland, and deep forest. This is one of the few places on Earth where people and wildlife may live in harmony. In this area designated as a World Heritage Site, the patriotic Maasai people coexist with a variety of species and graze their livestock there.
Amboseli National Park – Kenya
Africa’s tallest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, watches over this varied park, well-known for its enormous elephant herds. After Maasai Mara National Reserve, this national park is the second most visited in Kenya. Within its boundaries are five distinct habitats: dense forests, savannah, a wetland system, and the dried-up bank of Lake Amboseli. These diverse ecosystems support a wide variety of wildlife, including over 600 different species of birds, waterbucks, gazelles, impalas, and big cats like lions and cheetahs.
During the dry season in this well-known park, photographers may get one of the most iconic pictures: elephants swimming in red dust against the stunning backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. In addition, guests get the opportunity to visit a Maasai village close to the park to gain insight into this intriguing community that resides on its boundaries.
Kruger National Park – South Africa
One of South Africa’s top game reserves is Kruger National Park. With an area of about two million hectares, it is also the biggest and most established national park in the nation. Experience the amazing animal viewing that Kruger National Park has to offer, particularly for those looking for a self-drive safari. Its borders are home to Africa’s Big Five as well as an astounding array of other animals, like as giraffes, zebras, hippos, cheetahs, and over 500 different species of birds.
The variety of self-catering accommodations in this well-known park is one of its best qualities and makes it a reasonably priced safari option. Along with the government-run rest camps inside the park, some of the best private game reserves in Africa can be found close by, along with some of the most opulent luxury safari lodges in South Africa. In addition to the park’s rich river systems, expansive grasslands, and deep woods, there are ancient sites and cave paintings by the Bushman (San).
Timbavati Nature Reserve – South Africa
Timbavati National Reserve, a well-known private reserve with open borders to the nearby Kruger National Park, is Sabi Sand Game Reserve’s closest competitor. Though they seem comparable, the safari in Timbavati feels more organic. Numerous species of birds and animals can be found in great abundance in the Timbavati Nature Reserve.
This area is home to the “Magnificent 7” of the Timbavati, which includes a cheetah, African wild dog, lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo. One of the Timbavati Nature Reserve’s greatest wildlife features and “claim to fame” (so to speak) is the extraordinary and rare white lions. White lions have lived in the Timbavati Nature Reserve since 1938 when the first records of these animals were made.
Singita Grumeti – Tanzania
The largest private reserve in Tanzania, Singita Grumeti, is a must-see destination for any traveler. You may explore more than 140,000 hectares of pristine beauty here, where you won’t see many other tourists. As a component of the vast Serengeti Mara ecosystem, this reserve is one of our all-time favorite places to go on the ultimate African safari.
Singita Grumeti provides unique experiences like balloon safaris, mountain biking, and stargazing tours, along with exclusive access to some of the greatest places in the area to watch animals. You may even be able to see some of the Great Migration if you plan your visit wisely. Every year, hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebras, antelopes, and other animals travel across the Serengeti in an incredible display.
Chobe National Park – Botswana
Chobe National Park, located in northern Botswana, is home to an impressive array of wildlife species and the planet’s largest concentration of elephants. Not only is this a compelling incentive to visit Botswana’s first national park, but it’s also a great choice for those who like independent safari experiences. The park’s northern boundary is framed by the stunning Chobe River, while the rich Okavango Delta waters extend southward, drawing a multitude of species. Chobe is home to Africa’s “Big Five.” Along the verdant banks of the Chobe River, enormous herds of elephants, as well as sable antelope and buffaloes gather to quench their thirst.
The uncommon red lechwe lives in the Linyanti Marsh, while predator sightings in the savannah and grasslands are common in the Savuti Marsh region. There are several lodging options, from luxurious game lodges to basic campsites, and you can even take a houseboat tour along the Chobe River. Less than 100 kilometers separate the northeast entry gate from Zimbabwe’s breathtaking Victoria Falls, an excellent after-dinner excursion after a fulfilling safari. By limiting the number of tourists permitted in the parks, Botswana’s low-density tourism strategy contributes to the preservation of these distinctive ecosystems.
Grootbos Private Nature Reserve – South Africa
With 2,500 hectares of ruggedly gorgeous landscape covered in fynbos and thickly packed with native milkwood trees, Grootbos offers expansive views from the hillside that stretch to Walkers Bay’s dramatic coastline.
The private reserve is located in the center of the Cape Floral Kingdom, where you can explore the richness of the plant life, spot whales, great white sharks, penguins, seals, and dolphins along the coast, and horseback ride, go on guided hikes, go bird watching, go on quad biking, and generally immerse yourself in nature.
Moremi Game Reserve – Botswana
The Okavango Delta, one of the richest and most diversified ecosystems in all of Africa, is located in Botswana. The sole protected area within the delta is the Moremi Game Reserve. This enormous floodplain, which supports an astounding diversity of species, extends out across the arid lands of northwest Botswana. Within the park’s boundaries reside all five of the Big Five, along with a plethora of other creatures like hippos, giraffes, kudus, leopards, African wild dogs, and over 400 different species of birds.
Lagoons, grasslands, dense mopane woods, and meandering blue waterways and ponds are all part of the luxuriant landscape. Another distinctive feature of Moremi is that it is the first reserve in Africa created by the local population out of concern for the declining wildlife. Many visitors to the area visit both Moremi and Chobe National Park, which are adjacent to each other. Similar to Chobe, Moremi is a great place for self-guided safaris; however, it is advisable to hire a local guide, as they have the necessary bush experience to track the game.
Tsavo Conservation Area – Kenya
This is Kenya’s largest park, covering Tsavo West, Tsavo East, and Chyulu Hills National Park, and is home to the majority of the nation’s elephant population. The most well-known of these parks is Tsavo West, which is home to the crocodile and hippo population at Mzima Springs and the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary. Seeing raptors is highly recommended in Chaimu Crater. Although the wildlife is harder to see due to the deep forest, particularly in the park’s northern regions, the lush surroundings provide a stunning backdrop for pictures. In the park, rock climbing is another well-liked pastime.
Halfway between Nairobi and Mombasa, Tsavo East is far drier than its western counterpart. Here, baobabs line the arid plains, large herds of elephants roll in the red dust, and the Galana River, studded with palm trees, meanders through the parched terrain. The Yatta Plateau, home to the longest lava flow in the world, waterfalls, and a variety of animals like lions, smaller kudus, rhinos, and elephants are among the other attractions.
Volcanoes National Park – Rwanda
One of the few places in the world where you may still see these amazing animals is Volcanoes National Park. Experiencing the wonder of gazing into the eyes of a mountain gorilla is an experience that will last a lifetime. Here, in 1967, the renowned American naturalist Dian Fossey launched the Karaoke Research Center and carried on her fervent advocacy for gorilla conservation.
The park is home to over 170 different species of birds in addition to spotted hyenas, buffalo, golden monkeys, elephants, bushbuck, and black-fronted duikers. One of the main draws in Rwanda is Volcanoes National Park. In addition, a lot of tourists come here to ascend Mount Bisoke and Karisimbi. Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, is approximately two hours drive from Volcanoes National Park.
Madikwe Game Reserve – South Africa
Located 40 km southeast of Gaborone, close to the Kalahari Desert, is the magnificent Madikwe Wildlife Reserve, the country’s sixth-largest wildlife reserve. One can almost always count on seeing one of the amazing animal species when visiting Madikwe Game Reserve, including the much sought-after African Big 5. The Big Five, as well as the uncommon African wild dog, the elusive cheetah, the brown hyena, the aardwolf, elephants, giraffes, hippos, lions, and zebras, are among the rich and diverse animals that wildlife enthusiasts can witness and experience in Madikwe.