Biggest Game Parks in Africa

One of Africa’s biggest attractions is undoubtedly its enormous wealth of wildlife and, fortunately, the vast majority of Southern and East African nations have been conserving this natural heritage for many decades.

Recently, massive transfrontier game reserves have been on the drawing board and these wildlife sanctuaries are not contained within any one country – they effectively straddle a number of nations, with the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park already bustling with tourists.

The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park – 35 000 km²

This spectacular conservation area, situated on the borders of Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe, not only affords visitors diverse and exciting bush opportunities, but allows animals to roam free over large tracts of natural habitat.

Fences have been dropped so that the last remaining vast herds of elephant, wildebeest, zebra and other ungulates, and the predators that haunt their every step, can traverse the land looking for suitable grazing, without the constraints of man-made barriers.

Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Park - 278 132 km²

A brand new addition is planned that will rival the Limpopo offering in size and scope, with the opening expected to coincide with the 2010 FIFA World Cup to be held in South Africa. This conservation area, dubbed the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Park, will cover in the region of 278 132 square kilometres of pristine land in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe – an enormous and thrilling exercise.

Some of the inclusive attractions of this mammoth game reserve (the size of Italy) are the famed Victoria Falls in Zambia and Zimbabwe, the Okavango Delta and the magnificent Chobe Game Reserve in Botswana, The Caprivi Strip in Namibia and the Cuando and Cubango regions of Angola.

Visitors to Africa do not have to limit their bush sojourn to these areas only - there are a number of fantastic game reserves in each nation that offer a slightly different experience. Any reputable tour company will be able to design itineraries to suit all quests and budgets, so depending on the safari speciality that offers the most allure, there is literally a destination to suit anyone.

Kruger National Park – 20 000 km²

One of the oldest and arguably better known game parks in the region is the Kruger National Park in South Africa. Opened in 1898, the reserve covers all land between the Crocodile River in the south and the Limpopo River in the north, an area that was once the personal playgrounds of the ‘Great White hunters’ of yore.

The Kruger is 350km long and 65 km wide and is home to a rich tapestry of wildlife, including 147 different mammal species, 507 diverse bird species and well over 100 different reptiles.

For the ultimate in game viewing, take to the bush where big 5 game drives are but one way of witnessing nature at her best. Hot air balloon safaris, horse-back breaks in the bush and even game viewing from the back of an elephant are all very much on the cards for the intrepid traveller to Africa.