In some African cultures, the mix of rain and sunshine implies that a leopard and a lioness have given beginning to a cub.
I hoped that this was the case as we traversed Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve in a four-wheel drive jeep within the midst of a sunny downpour.
In the seven years that I’ve been a journey journalist in Africa, the sport drive expertise has all the time been one in all my favorites. Wildlife is Africa’s treasure, and vacationers enjoy watching the animals — notably the cats — of their pure habitats.
Travel journalist Harriet Akinyi watches a herd of elephants in a recreation drive at Mugie Conservancy, Kenya.
Source: Harriet Akinyi
There are 10 nations in Africa which have a sturdy wildlife focus: Kenya (my motherland), Tanzania, South Africa, Uganda, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Namibia and Rwanda.
Here are highlights that I like to recommend.
Kenya
For greater than 25 years, skilled safari information Geoff Mayes has taken vacationers to the best parks in Africa. He believes that many select Kenya — and particularly, Maasai Mara — for his or her first journey to Africa as a result of it is protected and pretty accessible.
Known as one of many eight wonders of the world due to the wildebeest migration, Masaai Mara is one in all Africa’s most famed parks, stated journey journalist Harriet Akinyi.
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“It’s simpler to catch flights to Kenya, making it excessive on peoples’ bucket record,” he stated. “Also a recreation drive expertise in Kenya can be in a position to meet the vacationers’ expectations when it comes to catching ‘the Big Five.'”
Less than an hour flight from the capital metropolis of Nairobi is Nairobi National Park, the place there’s a good probability of seeing lions and rhinos, he stated.
And “if you happen to come to the Maasai Mara, you will see the elephants and leopards and lions,” he defined as we drove by means of it.
In complete, Kenya has 25 nationwide parks and 16 nationwide recreation reserves with numerous personal conservancies, that are smaller, private-owned wildlife reserves.
Amboseli National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is thought for its large elephant inhabitants and spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Harriet Akinyi having a bush breakfast with a view of the rhinos after a recreation drive in Solio Conservancy in Kenya.
Source: Harriet Akinyi
Tsavo National Park, Kenya’s largest park, is among the world’s largest recreation sanctuaries. It was highlighted by President Barack Obama within the five-part Netflix docuseries “Our Great National Parks.”
South Africa
Kenya will not be the one nation the place I’ve gone on recreation drives.
South Africa is one other and is house to a number of the oldest and most iconic nationwide parks in Africa. It’s a year-round safari vacation spot, however the best game-viewing circumstances are within the cooler winter months from May to September.
A recreation drive at Kruger National Park, South Africa.
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There are 20 nationwide parks, together with the world–well-known Kruger National Park — which has Africa’s “Big Five” recreation animals: lions, leopards, elephants, rhino and buffaloes.
There’s additionally Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, close to the border of Botswana, and Pilanesberg National Park. The latter is about 150 kilometers (93 miles) from Johannesburg. It’s smaller than Kruger, however wealthy in wildlife — and, fascinatingly, it is contained in the crater of an historical volcano believed to be some 1.2 billion years outdated.
Another spotlight, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, has the “Big Five” in addition to a thriving inhabitants of African wild canine.
I’ve additionally been to Addo — the most important park within the Eastern Cape and third-largest in South Africa — which is known for its elephants. According to Ncediso Headman Nogaya, a recreation guard at Addo, October to April is the best time to go to.
“We are extra seemingly to obtain rains from May to September and whereas the season is nice as a result of it offers meals to the wildlife … it is perhaps a slippery drive and muddy,” he famous.
Uganda
Uganda is thought for its numerous wildlife and beautiful landscapes in its 10 nationwide parks and 12 recreation reserves. Of the nationwide parks, seven are situated on savannahs and three in forests. In these three, one can observe mountain gorillas in Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Around 1,000 mountain gorillas exist as we speak, greater than half which dwell in Uganda, in accordance to the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
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My favourite recollections at Queen Elizabeth National Park are of monitoring chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge, watching tree-climbing lions and a herd of elephants strolling majestically on the plains, and observing buffaloes, warthogs, hippos and Nile crocodiles whereas cruising the Kazinga Channel.
Another park to think about is the Kidepo Valley National Park, with its sweeping plains and valleys overshadowed by the brooding Mount Morungole. The mountain is sacred to the Ik tribe, one of many smallest tribes in Uganda. The park ranks among the many best birding safari locations within the nation too.
I cherished my recreation drive expertise at Lake Mburo National Park, although it is one of many smallest nationwide parks within the nation.
It’s the one park the place vacationers can take pleasure in boat cruises, strolling safaris and horseback driving, tour operator Dennis Kahungu instructed CNBC Travel.
A gaggle of massive horn Ankole Cattle in Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda.
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Plus “it is the one nationwide park in Uganda with the impalas,” he stated. “It’s additionally the place you’ll discover the massive horned Ankole cows.”
Rwanda
Located in japanese Rwanda, Akagera National Park is a protected wetland and the final remaining refuge for savannah-adapted species in Rwanda. Park guests can take boat safaris alongside Lake Ilhema, the second largest lake in Rwanda, for wildlife and birdwatching.
Weaver birds and nests over Lake Ihema, Rwanda.
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Travelers in quest of mountain gorillas often go to Volcanoes National Park within the northern a part of the nation. It’s additionally house to golden monkeys, and effectively regarded for mountain climbing and mountaineering.
Recently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Nyungwe National Park is one other half to discover and is located in southwest Rwanda and is thought for its chimpanzees and colobus monkeys. It’s additionally standard for cover walks on a suspended bridge some 70 meters (230 ft) above the forest ground.
While the parks may be visited all yr spherical, it is best to keep away from April, as that is when Rwanda usually receives heavy rains.
Botswana
Botswana is a fast-emerging ecotourism vacation spot — guests are drawn to the huge elephant herds of Chobe National Park and the canoe-based wildlife safaris within the Okavango Delta.
A herd of elephants at Chobe National Park, Botswana.
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One may also see the “Big Five” at Moremi Nature Reserve, Nxai Pan National Park, Makgadikgadi Pans National Park in addition to Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
Tanzania
In Tanzania, I visited the long-lasting UNESCO-listed Serengeti National Park, which rivals Kenya for one of many best wildlife experiences in Africa.
Tourists watch a herd of wildebeest from a land cruiser within the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.
Patrick J. Endres | Corbis Documentary | Getty Images
My first time there was throughout the calving season when the wildebeests and the zebras give beginning on their manner to Kenya throughout the Great Migration.
Another surprise is the Ngorongoro Crater, one of many largest calderas on the earth.
Some think about it one of many best places to go on safari in Africa.
Zimbabwe
Apart from the famend Hwange National Park, I’ve additionally visited Matobo National Park, which has a large variety of fauna and loads of white rhinos. The space round Matobo Hills is house to the stays of early settlements and the graves of historic figures like Cecil Rhodes.
The rock formation in Matobo National Park in Zimbabwe, Africa, which is house to the grave of Cecil Rhodes.
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The best time to go to the parks is throughout the dry season, from June to October. That’s when the bush is thinner — making wildlife simpler to spot.
Mayes stated the best time for safaris in Kenya and Tanzania is, after all, throughout the migration season. But he recommends visiting Zimbabwe and Zambia from July to October.
In different components of the continent, months like February, June and September may be very rewarding too.
“The wildlife is incredible and there are fewer automobiles round,” he stated. “And you possibly can usually profit from a off-season value construction which after all is all the time good.”