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Top 10 Best African Safari Parks and Destinations of 2020

Jeroen Beekwilder

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.

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Which safari parks in Africa are the best? An in-depth analysis by SafariBookings of 2,373 reviews was carried out to determine the finest safari parks on the continent. The World Famous Serengeti in Tanzania emerged as the overall winner. Serengeti had an overall rating of 4.92 out of 5, a stunning result (Serengeti also topped the Best Safari Parks list last year, when we carried out our previous analysis). Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe, which jumped a spot higher this year, and Mala Mala Game Reserve in South Africa rounded out the Top 3 parks in our analysis.

In determining a top 50 list of Africa’s best, 157 parks in 11 countries were under consideration. These countries offer the best safari experiences for visitors in Africa. Based on 2,373 park reviews on the SafariBookings.com website, the study included 1,363 reviews contributed by safari tourists from 83 countries around the world. The remaining 1,010 reviews were written by distinguished industry experts. These experts are mostly authors working for well-known guidebook companies such as Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Frommer's, Bradt and Footprint.

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Top 10 Best African Safari Parks
Top 11-50 Best African Safari Parks
How we created this list
Interesting insights
Demographics of the reviewers

Top 10 African Safari Parks and Destinations

Serengeti National Park Tanzania

4.92/5
Classic safari, Big 5 present (rhino rare), many big cats, wildebeest migration
Ranks #1 in Africa's top 50 safari parks

1,157 Serengeti Tours
Mana Pools National Park Zimbabwe

4.85/5
Walking, canoe and classic safaris, 4 of the Big 5 and wild dogs present, no rhino
Ranks #2 in Africa's top 50 safari parks

27 Mana Pools Tours
Mala Mala Game Reserve South Africa

4.80/5
Classic safari, private reserve, abundant wildlife- including the Big 5
Ranks #3 in Africa's top 50 safari parks

3 Mala Mala Tours
Okavango Delta Botswana

4.76/5
Canoe, boat and classic safari, waterway paradise, Big 5 (rhino in Moremi)
Ranks #4 in Africa's top 50 safari parksparks

222 Okavango Tours
Lower Zambezi National Park Zambia

4.68/5
Canoe and classic safari, 4 of the Big 5 (no rhino), no giraffe
Ranks #5 in Africa's top 50 safari parks

31 Lower Zambezi Tours
Moremi Game Reserve Botswana

4.68/5
Classic safari, Big 5 present (rhino rare), partly located in the Okavango Delta
Ranks #6 in Africa's top 50 safari parks

134 Moremi Tours
South Luangwa National Park Zambia

4.67/5
Walking and classic safari, giraffe, 4 of the Big 5 (no rhino), abundant wildlife
Ranks #7 in Africa's top 50 safari parks

76 South Luangwa Tours
Ngorongoro Crater Tanzania

4.64/5
Classic safari, abundant wildlife in the volcanic crater includes the Big 5
Ranks #8 in Africa's top 50 safari parks

1,489 Ngorongoro Tours
Sabi Sand Game Reserve South Africa

4.62/5
Area consisting of multiple private reserves, excellent Big 5 wildlife viewing
Ranks #9 in Africa's top 50 safari parks

106 Sabi Sand Tours
Masai Mara National Reserve Kenya

4.59/5
Classic safari, Big 5 present (rhino rare), many big cats, wildebeest migration
Ranks #10 in Africa's top 50 safari parks

1,459 Masai Mara Tours

Top 11-50 Best African Safari Parks

#11 Kidepo Valley National Park Uganda

4.58/5
Classic safari, giraffe, cheetah, antelope species, 4 of the Big 5 (no rhino)
#12 Hwange National Park Zimbabwe

4.57/5
Classic safari, abundance of all major safari animals including the Big 5
#13 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park South Africa

4.57/5
Classic safari, transfrontier park with Botswana, all big cats present
#14 Chobe National Park Botswana

4.53/5
Boat and classic safari, Big 5 present (rhino very rare), abundant elephants
#15 Ruaha National Park Tanzania

4.52/5
Walking and classic safari, 4 of the Big 5 (no rhino), cheetah and wild dogs
#16 Selous Game Reserve Tanzania

4.51/5
Walking, boat and classic safari, Big 5 present, healthy population of wild dog
#17 Mahale Mountains National Park Tanzania

4.48/5
Chimpanzee tracking, several major safari animals present but rarely seen
#18 Kruger National Park South Africa

4.47/5
Classic safari, great abundance of all major safari animals including the Big 5
#19 Madikwe Game Reserve South Africa

4.45/5
Classic safari, private reserve, Big 5 present
#20 Phinda Game Reserve South Africa

4.45/5
Classic safari, private reserve, abundant wildlife- including the Big 5
#21 Amboseli National Park Kenya

4.45/5
Classic safari, Big 5 present, famous for its views of Mount Kilimanjaro
#22 Etosha National Park Namibia

4.43/5
Classic safari, 4 of the Big 5 (no buffalo), abundant wildlife during the Dry season
#23 Central Kalahari Game Reserve Botswana

4.40/5
Classic safari, wildlife scarce except after summer rains, all big cats present
#24 Samburu National Reserve Kenya

4.40/5
Classic safari, 4 of Big 5 (no rhino), adjoining Buffalo Springs without fences
#25 Ol Pejeta Conservancy Kenya

4.39/5
Classic safari, private reserve, Big 5 and chimpanzee sanctuary present
#26 Tsavo East National Park Kenya

4.38/5
Classic safari, adjacent to Tsavo West, Big 5 present, low wildlife density
#27 Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve South Africa

4.31/5
Classic safari, Big 5 present, famous for its rhino population
#28 Shamwari Game Reserve South Africa

4.25/5
Classic safari, private reserve, Big 5 present
#29 Timbavati Nature Reserve South Africa

4.25/5
Classic safari, private reserve, Big 5 present
#30 Tarangire National Park Tanzania

4.24/5
Classic safari, 4 of the Big 5 (no rhino), abundant wildlife in the dry season
#31 Murchison Falls National Park Uganda

4.23/5
Boat and classic safari, waterfall, abundant wildlife, 4 of the Big 5 (no rhino)
#32 Makgadikgadi Pans National Park Botswana

4.13/5
Classic safari, wildlife scarce outside wet season, Big 5 present (rhino rare)
#33 Tsavo West National Park Kenya

4.11/5
Classic safari, adjacent to Tsavo East, Big 5 present, low wildlife density
#34 Lake Nakuru National Park Kenya

4.02/5
Classic safari, black and white rhino, family-friendly park
#35 Katavi National Park Tanzania

4.00/5
Classic safari, private reserve, Big 5 present
#36 Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda

4.00/5
Boat and classic safari, abundant wildlife, 4 of the Big 5 (no rhino), no giraffe
#37 Pilanesberg Game Reserve South Africa

3.98/5
Classic safari, Big 5 present
#38 Addo Elephant National Park South Africa

3.94/5
Classic safari, Big 5 present, but only elephant are regularly seen
#39 Kafue National Park Zambia

3.94/5
Walking, boat and classic safari, cheetah, 4 of the Big 5 (no rhino), no giraffe
#40 Aberdare National Park Kenya

3.87/5
Classic safari, Big 5 present (lion difficult to spot)
#41 Nairobi National Park Kenya

3.83/5
Classic safari, Big 5 present, small park, lacking wilderness vibe, close to city
#42 Lake Manyara National Park Tanzania

3.83/5
Classic safari, 4 of the Big 5 (no rhino), big cats difficult to spot
#43 Nxai Pan National Park Botswana

3.79/5
Classic safari, wildlife scarce outside Wet season, Big 5 present (rhino rare)
#44 Hell's Gate National Park Kenya

3.77/5
Cycling, walking and classic safari, mainly antelope species, lion very rare
#45 Augrabies Falls National Park South Africa

3.75/5
Scenery, animals scarce, some antelope species, giraffe and leopard
#46 Mountain Zebra National Park South Africa

3.71/5
Classic safari, Cape mountain zebra, cheetah, lion, black rhino and antelope
#47 Arusha National Park Tanzania

3.68/5
Classic safari, hiking, several antelope species and black-and-white colobus
#48 Meru National Park Kenya

3.63/5
Classic safari, 4 of the Big 5 present (rhino in fenced sanctuary)
#49 Mikumi National Park Tanzania

3.54/5
Walking and classic safari, 4 of the Big 5 (no rhino), predators rarely seen
#50 Karoo National Park South Africa

3.50/5
Classic safari, mainly antelope species, black rhino and lion (rare) present

How we created this list

In total, 157 parks from 11 safari countries (Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) were included in the study.
Only parks recognized for classic wildlife-viewing safaris were considered. Parks mostly known for scenery or gorilla/chimp tracking (and not other wildlife) were not included.
Parks with less than 10 reviews were excluded from the top 50.
The overall review score of a park consists of 50% expert reviews and 50% user reviews.

Interesting Insights

Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is Africa's best safari park according to our analysis. Deserving of this accolade, this stunning park impresses with the sheer numbers and variety of wildlife contained within its borders. The abundance of predators and spectacular wildebeest migration are two more big drawcards to the Serengeti.
Rating second is the pristine wilderness of Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe. This sublime park appeals to the adventurous with canoeing a popular way to see the animals. The expertise of the guides here ensures exciting encounters with wildlife.
Rated as Africa’s third best park, privately-owned Mala Mala Game Reserve in South Africa has a reputation for outstanding wildlife viewing, heavenly accommodation, and first-rate guiding. Mala Mala is one of 14 South African parks in the Top 50.
The fastest climber was Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia, which came in 5th. The park, which mirrors Mana Pools across the Zambezi in Zimbabwe, has magnificent landscapes and wonderful canoe safaris which add another level of excitement to viewing its prolific wildlife.
Selous Game Reserve plummeted in our ratings, falling to 16th in our top 50. Selous has been ravaged by poaching in recent years with its elephant populations decimated. See our blogpost for more information.
Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe was rated 2nd by safari-goers (12th overall). The atmospheric bush vibe and wildlife were particularly appreciated. Hwange has the most diverse array of mammals of any park in Africa.