Top 10 Best African Safari Parks and Destinations of 2023

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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

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  #1 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

  1,084 Serengeti Tours
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  #2 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

  22 Mana Pools Tours
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  #3 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

  2 Mala Mala Tours
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  #4 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

  91 Okavango Tours
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  #5 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

  25 Lower Zambezi Tours
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  #6 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

  92 Moremi Tours
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  #7 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

  49 South Luangwa Tours
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  #8 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

  1,501 Ngorongoro Tours
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  #9 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

  51 Sabi Sand Tours
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  #10 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

  1,034 Masai Mara Tours

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  #11 Kidepo Valley National Park    Uganda

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• 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.

• 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.