In the 54 African countries, these are over 99+ National Parks in Africa. From the popular Serengeti, Kruger, and South Luangwa parks to lesser-known parks and national reserves, there is a park for everyone.

National Parks in African

You might notice a recurring theme here: the top African National Parks are usually classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

This roundup post highlights the national parks and national reserves offering you the best opportunities to see the diverse and, dare I say, exotic wildlife unique to the continent of Africa. 

In case you’re wondering, some of these best African national parks include National parks in Namibia; parks in Kenya, East Africa; and game reserves in the Kalahari Desert are amongst a few.

Most people visit Africa not just for the allure of experiencing a totally different culture but to see animals in their natural habitat.

In a Safari in Africa, you’ll see the Big Five game animals – Lion, Leopard, Rhinos, Elephant, and Cape Buffalo. In addition, these parks are home to mountain zebras, mountain gorillas, and wild dogs.

If you are fortunate, you’ll get to see some of these endangered species:

  • African Wild Dog
  • Rothschild Giraffe
  • Black Rhino
  • Grevy Zebra
  • Riverine Rabbit
  • Ethiopian Wolf
  • Pickersgill Reed Frog
  • Mountain Gorilla
  • Chimpanzee
  • African Penguin.

Sadly, the Northern White Rhino has been declared extinct as of March 19, 2019.

A photo of the Great Migration in North Serengeti National Park; an African National Park in Tanzania.
A photo of the Great Migration in North Serengeti National Park

For a once in a lifetime adventure, you should head to the world-famous Serengeti National Park.

You will get to experience the Great migration of  the Wildebeest, Zebra and Gazelle, which happens in mid December to March. For a detailed list of the major African national parks in each African countries, lets get started…

Comprehensive List of African National Parks

Algeria

  • El Kala National Park
  • Tasssili N’Ajjer National Park

Angola

  • Ambriz Game Reserve
  • Bicuari National Park
  • Cameia National Park
  • Cangandala National Park
  • Iona National Park
  • Kisama National Park
  • Luenge National Park
  • Luiana National Park
  • Longa-Mavinga National Park
  • Mucusso National Park
  • Mupa National Park
  • Namibe Game Reserve
  • Quiama National Park

Benin

  • Pendjari National Park
  • W National Park

Botswana

  • Central Kalahari Game Reserve
  • Chobe National Park
  • Gemsbok National Park
  • Khutse Game Reserve
  • Mabuasehube Game Reserve
  • Makgadikgadi Pans Game Reserve
  • Mashatu Game Reserve
  • Moremi Game Reserve
  • Nxai Pan National Park
  • Burkina Faso
  • Arli National Park
  • Po National Park
  • W National Park

Burkina Faso

  • Arli National Park
  • Deux Balés National Park
  • Kaboré Tambi National Park
  • W of the Niger National Park

Burundi

  • Kibira National Park
  • Rusizi National Park
  • Ruvubu National Park
  • Nyungwe Forest National Park

Cape Verde

  • Cova-Paul-Ribeira da Torre Natural Park
  • Fogo Natural Park
  • Moroços

Cameroon

  • Benoue National Park
  • Korup National Park
  • Central African Republic
  • St. Floris National Park
  • Banigui-Bangoran National Park

Chad

  • Manda National Park
  • Zakouma National Park
  • Congo (Brazzaville)
  • Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park
  • Parc National De Odzala

Central African Republic (CAR)

  • Andre Felix National Park
  • Bamingui-Bangoran National Park Biosphere Reserve
  • Dzanga-Ndoki National Park
  • Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park
  • Mbaéré Bodingué National Park

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

  • Epulu Reservation
  • Garamba National Park
  • Kahuzi-Biega National Park
  • Kundelungu National Park
  • Maiko National Park
  • L’Upemba National Park
  • Salonga National Park
  • Virunga National Park
  • Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville)

  • Conkouati-Douli National Park
  • Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park
  • Ntokou-Pikounda National Park
  • Odzala-Koukoua National Park

Djibouti

  • Day Forest National Park
  • Djibouti National Park
  • Yoboki National Park

Egypt

  • Abu Galum Wildlife Reserve
  • Ahrash Protected Area
  • Ashtum El Gamil Nature Reserve
  • Elba National Park
  • El Hassana Dome
  • Lake Burullus
  • Lake Qarun Wetland
  • Nabq Marine Reserve
  • Nile Islands
  • Omayed Protected Area
  • Petrified Forest Protected Area
  • Ras Mohamed Marine Reserve
  • Saluga & Ghazal Wildlife Reserves
  • Sannur Cave
  • St. Catherine National Park
  • Taba Wildlife Reserve
  • Wadi Alaqi Nature Reserve
  • Wadi Digla Wildlife Reserve
  • Wadi El Rayan Nature Reserve
  • Wadi El Assuti Nature Reserve
  • Zaranik Protected Area
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Monte Alen Park

Equatorial Guinea

  • Altos de Nsork National Park
  • Monte Alén National Park
  • Pico Basilé National Park

Eritrea

  • Dahlak Marine National Park
  • Semenawi Bahri National Park

Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)

Ethiopia

  • Abijatta-Shalla Lakes National Parks
  • Awash National Park
  • Bale Mountains National Park
  • Mago National Park
  • Omo National Park
  • Nechi Sar National Park
  • Semien Mountains National Park

Gambia

  • Abuko National Park
  • Bijilo National Park
  • Kiang West National Park

Gabon

  • Okanda National Park
  • Petit Loango National Park
  • Wonga-Wongu National Park

Ghana

  • Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Mole National Park
  • Kujani Game Reserve
  • Shai Hills Game Reserve
  • Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire)
  • Marahoué National Park
  • Comoé National Park
  • Taï National Park
  • Mt. Péko National Park
  • Azagny National Park
  • Banco National Park
  • Mt. Nimba National Park
  • Aboukuamekro Reserve
  • Iles Ethoiles National Park
  • Mt. Sangbé National Park

Guinea

  • Badiar National Park
  • National Park of Upper Niger

Guinea-Bissau

  • Cacheu River Mangroves Natural Park
  • Cantanhez Forests National Park
  • João Vieira and Poilão Marine National Park
  • Lagoas Cufada Natural Park
  • Orango National Park

Ivory Coast

  • Assagny National Park
  • Banco National Park
  • Comoé National Park
  • Îles Ehotilés National Park
  • Marahoué National Park
  • Mont Péko National Park
  • Mont Sângbé National Park
  • Taï National Park

Kenya

  • Aberdare National Park
  • Amboseli National Park
  • Lake Nakuru National Park
  • Malindi-Watamu Marine Reserve
  • Marsabit National Park
  • Masai Mara National Reserve
  • Meru National Park
  • Mt Kenya National Park
  • Nairobi National Park
  • Samburu Nature Reserve
  • Shaba National Reserve
  • Sibiloi National Park
  • Tsavo National Park

Lesotho

  • Sehlabathebe National Park
  • Ts’ehlanyane National Park

Liberia

  • Lofa-Mano National Park
  • Sapo National Park

Libya

  • Abughilan National Park
  • Algharabolli National Park
  • El Naggaza National Park
  • Rajma National Park
  • Sabratha
  • Surman National Park
  • El-Kouf National Park

Madagascar

  • Isalo
  • Marojejy National Park
  • Malawi
  • Cape Maclear National Park
  • Kasungu National Park
  • Lengwe National Park
  • Liwonde National Park
  • Majete Game Reserve
  • Mwabve Game Reserve
  • Nkhotakota Game Reserve
  • Nyika Plateau National Park
  • Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve

Malawi

  • Lake Malawi National Park
  • Nyika National Park
  • Kasungu National Park
  • Liwonde National Park
  • Lengwe National Park

Mali

  • Bouche du Baoule
  • Mauritania
  • Banc d’Arguin

Mauritania

  • Banc d’Arguin National Park
  • Diawling National Park

Mauritius

  • Black River Gorges National Park
  • Bras d’Eau National Park
  • Islets National Park

Morocco

  • Massa National Park
  • Mozambique
  • Gile National Park
  • Zinave National Park

Mozambique

Namibia

  • Etosha National Park
  • Khaudom Game Reserve
  • Mahango Game Reserve
  • Namib-Naukluft National Park
  • Skeleton Coast Park
  • Waterberg National Park
  • West Caprivi Game Reserve

Niger

  • W du Niger National Park

Nigeria

  • Yankari National Park
  • Gashaka-Gumti National Park
  • Chad Basin National Park
  • Cross River National Park
  • Kamuku National Park
  • Kainji National Park
  • Okomu National Park

Rwanda

  • Parc National des Volcans

Sao Tome and Principe

  • Parque Natural Obô de São Tomé
  • Parque Natural Obô do Príncipe

Senegal

  • Djoudj National Park
  • Basse Casamance National Park
  • Langue de Barbarie National Park
  • Niokolo-Koba National Park
  • Sine Saloum National Park

Seychelles

  • Baie Ternay Marine National Park
  • Morne Seychellois National Park
  • Praslin National Park
  • Curieuse Marine National Park
  • Silhouette Island Marine National Park
  • Saint Anne Marine National Park

Sierra Leone

  • Outamba-Kilimi National Park
  • Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Somali Republic (Somalia)
  • Kismayu National Park
  • Hargeysa National Park

Somalia

  • Daallo Mountain
  • Hargeisa National Park
  • Hobyo grasslands and shrublands
  • Jilib National Park
  • Kismayo National Park
  • Lag Badana National Park

South Africa

  • Addo Elephant National Park
  • Agulhas National Park
  • Augrabies Falls National Park
  • Bontebok National Park
  • Golden Gate Highlands National Park
  • Kainji Gemsbok National Park
  • Karoo National Park
  • Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
  • Knysna National Lake Area
  • Kruger National Park
  • Madikwe Game Reserve
  • Marakele National Park
  • Mountain Zebra National Park
  • Namaqua National Park
  • Richtersveld National Park
  • Table Mountain National Park
  • Tankwa Karoo National Park
  • Tsitsikamma National Park
  • Vaalbos National Park
  • Vhembe-Dongola National Park
  • West Coast National Park
  • Wilderness National Park

South Sudan

  • Bandingilo National Park
  • Boma National Park
  • Lantoto National Park
  • Nimule National Park
  • Shambe National Park
  • Southern National Park

Sudan

  • Dinder National Park
  • Radom National Park
  • Suakin Archipelago National Park

Tanzania

  • Arusha National Park
  • Gombe Stream National Park
  • Katavi National Park
  • Lake Manyara National Park
  • Mahale Mountains National Park
  • Mkomazi National Park
  • Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Ngorongoro Crater)
  • Ruaha National Park
  • Selous Game Reserve
  • Serengeti National Park
  • Tarangire National Park
  • Udzungwa Mountain National Park

Togo

  • Fazao National Park
  • Kéran National Park
  • Fosse aux Lions

Tunisia

  • Bou-Hedma National Park
  • Boukornine National Park
  • Chambi National Park
  • El Feidja National Park
  • Ichkeul National Park
  • Jebel Chitana-Cap Négro National Park
  • Jebel Serj National Park
  • Jebil National Park
  • Sidi Toui National Park

Uganda

  • Ajai Game Reserve
  • Bokora Corridor Game Reserve
  • Bugundu Game Reserve
  • Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
  • Kabalega Falls National Park
  • Karuma Game Reserve
  • Katonga Game Reserve
  • Kibale Forest Primate Reserve
  • Kidepo Valley National Park
  • Kigezi Game Reserve
  • Lake Mburo National Park
  • Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
  • Mount Elgon National Park
  • Murchison Falls National Park
  • Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Rwenzori Mountains National Park
  • Semuliki National Park
  • Toro Game Reserve

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Now, that’s a wrap! If you have made it this far, you must be a national park lover. The hard part is deciding which parks to visit. To help make your decision a little easier, here are some common frequently asked questions.

African National Parks Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which is the most beautiful national park in Africa?

According to CNN, the beautiful national park in Africa include:

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda
Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
Samburu National Reserve, Kenya
Kalahari Desert, Botswana
South Luangwa National Park and Kafue National Park, Zambia
Etosha National Park, Namibia
Kruger National Park, South Africa

Which is the best National Park to visit in South Africa?

The Best Parks in South Africa according to Lonely Planet are:

Kruger National Park
Royal Natal National Park
Golden Gate Highlands National Park
Table Mountain National Park
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Mapungubwe National Park
Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Namaqua National Park

How are South African National Parks funded?

According to the South African National Parks (SANParks), an organization that manages a system of 19 functional national parks in South Africa, most park funding comes from donations and park entrance fees.

Why are the national parks in Africa called ‘zoos in reverse’?

The term “zoos in reverse” is not commonly used in Africa. However, it means that in an African National Park or Safari, the animal roams around while humans are usually confined in a car; a reverse of having the animals confined.

What are the best safaris in Africa?

The best safari’s in Africa have diverse wild animals, huge elephant population, and various bird species and an opportunity for a walking safari. According to Trip Savy, they are:

Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Chobe National Park, Botswana
Kruger National Park, South Africa
South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
Okavango Delta, Botswana

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