Serengeti Voted the Best Safari Park of Africa

Category: Other

Jeroen Beekwilder - 22 Jun 2015

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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.

Jump to:

Why is the Serengeti such a great safari destination
The top 50 safari parks
What do experts say about the Serengeti
What do safari tourists say about the Serengeti
Demographics of the reviewers (all parks)

Why is the Serengeti such a great safari destination?

The park is home to the spectacular Great Migration, comprised of over 2.5 million wildebeest and zebra.
Top wildlife viewing all year round.
All of the Big Five animals are present.
Endless grass plains feel like authentic Africa.
The park is so stunningly beautiful, it is declared a Unesco World Heritage Site.
One of the best places in the world to see big cats and other predators.
Chance of seeing thousands of wildebeest cross crocodile infested rivers.
Wildebeest calving in Southern Serengeti from late January to February.
High density of predators makes it relatively easy to witness kills
Excellent birding.
A visit can be easily combined with other top-class parks of Tanzania’s Northern Circuit.
Direct flights to Kilimanjaro Airport make the park is easily accessible from abroad.

The top 50 safari parks

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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

All 50 parks

What do experts say about the Serengeti

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

All Serengeti expert reviews

What do safari tourists say about the Serengeti

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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Contributed by Jeroen Beekwilder NL

Jeroen is co-owner of SafariBookings.com. His desire to feel connected powers his love of travel. He has traveled all over the world with his wife and two children. But he will always remember his first African safari with his family in Tanzania. The thundering hooves of the wildebeest migration over the endless plains helped to develop a passion for Africa which never left.

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