1. Botswana
Botswana’s jewel, the famous Okavango Delta, shines so brightly that it attracts visitors from afar, curious to learn more about the world’s largest inland delta. The flood plains and channels of this mysterious and exciting wilderness paradise offer exceptional game viewing opportunities amidst picture perfect settings.
As Botswana has one of Africa’s strictest conservation policies, the many wildlife national parks and reserves are dedicated to conducting tourism with the utmost respect to the environment and its furry, scaly and other-skinned inhabitants. This ensures that visitors can experience nature at its wildest and most unspoilt.
Other popular game viewing destinations in Botswana include Chobe National Park, where there are staggering concentrations of elephant, the Kwando/Linyanti/Savute regions, Central Kalahari National Park and the Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan ecosystem, where thousands of flamingos congregate once a year between December and February at the Sowa Pan.
2. South Africa
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As wild Africa extends further south, it becomes narrower and points towards its final destination; South Africa, which fittingly brings together different tourist attractions that are found in the rest of Africa.
South Africa offers copious national parks and reserves. Many of these are proud holders of the game-lover’s dream; the ‘Big Five’. Renowned all over the world, the Kruger National Park is South Africa’s wildlife claim to fame and is one it its most popular tourist attractions with the greatest species diversity than any park in Africa. A leader in conservation, Kruger is home to 146 kinds of mammals, 520 bird species, 230 butterfly species, 50 types of snakes, 62 other reptile species, 2000 plant species and abundant insects and micro-organisms.
Other wilderness destinations include Ubizane Wildlife Reserve, Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve, Mkuze Game Reserve and Pongola Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, the private game reserves of Mpumalanga along the western border of Kruger, Addo Elephant Park, Blaauwbosch, Lalibela and Shamwari in the Eastern Cape, Pilanesberg National Park and Madikwe Game Reserve in the North West, Welgevonden Private Game Reserve in Limpopo province, and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on the border of South Africa and Botswana.
3. Kenya
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Kenya offers a mix of ecosystems which appeal to all kinds of tourists. Hikers can climb Mt Kenya, beach bums can bathe on beautiful beaches, fishermen can cast their lines into Africa’s largest lake and horseback riders can enjoy the scenery at Lewa Downs. Included in Kenya’s captivating attractions are its national parks and reserves. These include Tsavo East and West, Aberdare, Amboseli, Meru, Mt Kenya National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Samburu and, of course, the Masai Mara National Reserve, where one of the world’s most spectacular wildlife events occur between southern Serengeti in Tanzania and northern Masai Mara. The Great Migration, comprising of 1 300 000 wildebeest, 360 000 Thomson’s Gazelle, 191 000 zebra, 12 000 eland and the hungry predators that follow these herbivores. The Great Migration is best viewed in the Masai Mara between late July and September.
4. Tanzania
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Home to the Serengeti leg of the Great Migration and witness to the synchronised birthing of about 400 000 wildebeest calves between a two to three week period, the Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s most famous wilderness area. After migrating to the Masai Mara in Kenya, where the millions of herbivores quench their thirst, the never-ending chain of animals return to the Serengeti National Park and the cycle once again repeats itself.
Game-viewers can visit Tanzania any time of the year and they will still be treated to spectacular views and an abundance of game. Tourists can also enjoy thousands of lesser flamingos in the shallow Lake Magadi, tree-climbing lions in Lake Manyara National Park, Selous Game Reserve, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Arusha, Mikumi, Tarangire and Kilimanjaro National Parks and Mafia Island.
Mountaineers can tackle Africa’s highest mountain and Zanzibar’s stunning beaches are a stone’s throw away.
5. Zambia
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Considered one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world, South Luangwa National Park is a Zambian tourism magnet. Its Luangwa River and ox bow lagoons attract incredible numbers of game and these are sneakily observed by menacing predators lurking in the depths below.
The Crocodile Farm at the park entrance offer up close and personal views of these large water beasts. Pay attention as you cross the bridge into the park for the 30 to 70 hippos that usually lounge in the river below.
Another tourism hotspot is the Lower Zambezi National Park, where an intriguing ‘hidden valley’ hosts Africa’s major wildlife species.
There are many other areas in Zambia where one can experience wild and unspoilt Africa. These include Kafue, Lochinvar, Mosi-Oa-Tunya, Kasanka and North Luangwa.
Other wildlife spectacles visitors should make a point to witness is the return of the carmine bee-eaters and Zambia’s profuse birdlife, and the thousands of wildebeest in the Luiwa National Park during the migration in November every year.
