
Serengeti Voted the Best Safari Park of Africa of 2015
SafariBookings.com has published the definitive list of Africa's best safari parks. The in-depth study analyzed more than 3,000 reviews from safari tourists and industry experts alike. After careful consideration, Serengeti National Park in Tanzania was rated the best safari park of Africa.
In total 3,008 reviews were collected via the SafariBookings website. The 2,234 user reviews were contributed by safari tourists from 63 countries. To complement these user reviews, reputable guidebook authors (working for Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Frommer's, Bradt and Footprint) teamed up in the SafariBookings Expert Panel and wrote another 774 expert reviews.
The analysis of these reviews resulted in the list of Africa's top 50 safari parks. With an average rating of 4.89 out of 5, Serengeti came out first and was crowned Africa's Best Safari Park.
It is important to note that the reviewers who have been on multiple safaris rated the Serengeti 16% higher than any other park. The guidebook authors from the Expert Panel also rated the Serengeti highest. These veterans tend to be more critical in their reviews because they can compare the Serengeti to a host of parks they've visited in various countries. Regardless, the Serengeti came out on top, justifying its first place all the more.
Why is the Serengeti such a great safari destination?
The top 50 safari parks
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Serengeti National Park
4.89/5
Classic safari, Big 5 present (rhino rare), many big cats, wildebeest migration
Ranks #1 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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MalaMala Game Reserve
4.81/5
Classic safari, private reserve, abundant wildlife- including the Big 5
Ranks #2 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Okavango Delta
4.75/5
Canoe, boat and classic safari, waterway paradise, Big 5 (rhino in Moremi)
Ranks #3 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Mana Pools National Park
4.75/5
Walking, canoe and classic safaris, 4 of the Big 5 and wild dogs present, no rhino
Ranks #4 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Moremi Game Reserve
4.66/5
Classic safari, Big 5 present (rhino rare), partly located in the Okavango Delta
Ranks #5 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Sabi Sand Game Reserve
4.64/5
Area consisting of multiple private reserves, excellent Big 5 wildlife viewing
Ranks #6 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Phinda Game Reserve
4.63/5
Classic safari, private reserve, abundant wildlife- including the Big 5
Ranks #7 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Masai Mara National Reserve
4.60/5
Classic safari, Big 5 present (rhino rare), many big cats, wildebeest migration
Ranks #8 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
4.59/5
Classic safari, transfrontier park with Botswana, all big cats present
Ranks #9 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Ruaha National Park
4.56/5
Walking and classic safari, 4 of the Big 5 (no rhino), cheetah and wild dogs
Ranks #10 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
What do experts say about the Serengeti
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Mary Fitzpatrick
US - Author of 6 Lonely Planet guides to Africa, incl. Tanzania.
Rating:
5/5 stars
“Almost from the moment you enter the gates, wildlife surrounds you in astounding numbers and variety, together with an incomparable sense of space.” Full review -
Philip Briggs
ZA - Author of 7 Bradt guidebooks to Africa, incl. Tanzania.
Rating:
5/5 stars
“This world famous reserve is probably my favourite anywhere in Africa. The game viewing is reliably superb and the flat grassy plains possess an uplifting sense of vastness and space.” Full review -
Lizzie Williams
ZA - Author of 4 Footprint guidebooks to Africa, incl. Tanzania.
Rating:5/5 stars
“With its natural splendour and greatest concentration of game you are ever likely to see, the Serengeti is faultless as a safari destination.” Full review -
Tim Bewer
US - Author of 10 Lonely Planet guidebooks to Africa, incl. Tanzania.
Rating:
5/5 stars
“Even without the amazing 'Great Migration', Serengeti National Park would still be a contender for Africa’s best safari destination, due to its abundance and variety of wildlife.” Full review
What do safari tourists say about the Serengeti
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Patricia Bates
CH - 35-50 years of age - Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Rating:
5/5 stars
“The savanna is beautiful and truly special and is the home to a rich wildlife population. You can spend days and days inside the park and you will always see something different.” Full review -
Cindy B
CA - 35-50 years of age - Experience level: first safari
Rating:
5/5 stars
“The most incredible place I have ever been. It is wild, exciting, and beautiful. Unreal how close the vehicles can get to the animals, and they give little notice. Kind of a magical place.” Full review -
Lenny Sinke
NL - 35-50 years of age - Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Rating:
5/5 stars
“Not only the wildlife is terrific, every part of Serengeti is different from another: far views, trees, mountains, rocks, kopjes, rivers and lakes... It's all there.” Full review -
Ruth
US - 65 years of age or older - Experience level: first safari
Rating:
5/5 stars
“Serengeti was all I had expected and then some. The animals, including the Great Migration, and the birds were beautiful, accommodations were unique and comfortable.” Full review
Demographics of the reviewers (all parks)
User reviews: 2,234
Expert reviews: 774
Nationalities: 63
Percentage of reviews by country
All user reviews. Move your cursor over a country to get the number
Age and gender (Percentage)
All people who wrote user reviews. Move your cursor over the chart for more details
Safari Experience Level (Percentage)
All people who wrote user reviews. Move your cursor over the chart for more details
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African Safari Tours
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5-Day Tanzania Luxury Safari Tour
$4,235 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti NP, Arusha (End)
Wayfairer Travel
5.0/5 – 74 Reviews
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4-Day Nakuru & Masai Mara Big Five Safari
$865 to $1,005 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tour
Mid-range Tented CampYou Visit: Nairobi (Start), Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Bateleur Eagle Safaris
5.0/5 – 64 Reviews
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4-Day Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro (Tented) Lodge
$1,585 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Central Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Shemeji Safari Tanzania
4.7/5 – 224 Reviews