
Top 50 Best African Safari Parks and Destinations of 2015


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.
SafariBookings.com conducted an in-depth analysis of 3,008 reviews to put to rest the question of which park was best for African safaris. With an overall rating of 4.89 out of 5, Serengeti National Park in Tanzania came out as the clear winner. Rounding up the top 3 were MalaMala Game Reserve in South Africa, and Okavango Delta in Botswana.
In total, 138 parks of the 8 major safari countries were in consideration for a place in the top 50. The analysis was based on 3,008 park reviews collected through the SafariBookings website. Of them, 2,234 reviews were contributed by safari tourists from 63 countries around the world. The remaining 774 reviews were written by renowned industry experts, most of whom are guidebook authors working for Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Frommer's, Bradt and Footprint.
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The top 50 safari parks
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Serengeti National Park
Tanzania
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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Mala Mala Game Reserve
South Africa
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
Botswana
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
Zimbabwe
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
Botswana
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
South Africa
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
South Africa
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
Kenya
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
South Africa
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
Tanzania
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
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South Luangwa National Park
Zambia
4.56/5
Walking and classic safari, giraffe, 4 of the Big 5 (no rhino), abundant wildlife
Ranks #11 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Ngorongoro Crater
Tanzania
4.52/5
Classic safari, abundant wildlife in the volcanic crater includes the Big 5
Ranks #12 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Selous Game Reserve
Tanzania
4.48/5
Walking, boat and classic safari, Big 5 present, healthy population of wild dogs
Ranks #13 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Kidepo Valley National Park
Uganda
4.45/5
Classic safari, giraffe, cheetah, antelope species, 4 of the Big 5 (no rhino)
Ranks #14 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Chobe National Park
Botswana
4.45/5
Boat and classic safari, Big 5 present (rhino very rare), abundant elephants
Ranks #15 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Kenya
4.45/5
Classic safari, private reserve, Big 5 and chimpanzee sanctuary present
Ranks #16 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Etosha National Park
Namibia
4.45/5
Classic safari, 4 of the Big 5 (no buffalos), excellent wildlife viewing during the dry season
Ranks #17 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Linyanti Concession
Botswana
4.44/5
Classic safari, private reserve, 4 of the Big 5 (no rhino)
Ranks #18 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Hwange National Park
Zimbabwe
4.44/5
Classic safari, abundance of all major safari animals- including the Big 5
Ranks #19 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Kruger National Park
South Africa
4.43/5
Classic safari, great abundance of all major safari animals- including the Big 5
Ranks #20 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Lower Zambezi National Park
Zambia
4.40/5
Canoe and classic safari, 4 of the Big 5 (no rhino), no giraffe
Ranks #21 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Katavi National Park
Tanzania
4.35/5
Classic safari, 4 of the Big 5 (no rhino), abundant wildlife in the dry season
Ranks #22 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Matusadona National Park
Zimbabwe
4.35/5
Walking, boat and classic safari, Big 5 present, many elephant, no giraffe
Ranks #23 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Timbavati Nature Reserve
South Africa
4.33/5
Classic safari, private reserve, Big 5 present
Ranks #24 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Samburu National Reserve
Kenya
4.33/5
Classic safari, 4 of Big 5 (no rhino), adjoining Buffalo Springs without fences
Ranks #25 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Tsavo West National Park
Kenya
4.31/5
Classic safari, adjacent to Tsavo East, Big 5 present, low wildlife density
Ranks #26 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Madikwe Game Reserve
South Africa
4.28/5
Classic safari, private reserve, Big 5 present
Ranks #27 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Amboseli National Park
Kenya
4.26/5
Classic safari, Big 5 present, famous for its views of Mount Kilimanjaro
Ranks #28 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Kafue National Park
Zambia
4.26/5
Walking, boat and classic safari, cheetah, 4 of the Big 5 (no rhino), no giraffe
Ranks #29 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Tembe Elephant Park
South Africa
4.25/5
Classic safari, the Big 5 is present, famous for its big tuskers
Ranks #30 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Tsavo East National Park
Kenya
4.25/5
Classic safari, adjacent to Tsavo West, Big 5 present, low wildlife density
Ranks #31 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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North Luangwa National Park
Zambia
4.21/5
Walking safari only, Big 5 present (rhino in protected zone), no giraffe
Ranks #32 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Botswana
4.20/5
Classic safari, wildlife scarce except after summer rains, all big cats present
Ranks #33 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Queen Elizabeth National Park
Uganda
4.19/5
Boat and classic safari, abundant wildlife, 4 of the Big 5 (no rhino), no giraffe
Ranks #34 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Shamwari Game Reserve
South Africa
4.17/5
Classic safari, private reserve, Big 5 present
Ranks #35 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve
South Africa
4.16/5
Classic safari, Big 5 present, famous for its rhino population
Ranks #36 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
Kenya
4.15/5
Classic safari, private reserve, Big 5 present
Ranks #37 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Meru National Park
Kenya
4.15/5
Classic safari, 4 of the Big 5 present (rhino in fenced sanctuary)
Ranks #38 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Murchison Falls National Park
Uganda
4.11/5
Boat and classic safari, waterfall, abundant wildlife, 4 of the Big 5 (no rhino)
Ranks #39 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Kapama Game Reserve
South Africa
4.08/5
Classic safari, private reserve, Big 5 present
Ranks #40 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Gonarezhou National Park
Zimbabwe
4.08/5
Classic safari, Big 5 and cheetah present, rhino rare and animals are skittish
Ranks #41 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Tarangire National Park
Tanzania
4.05/5
Classic safari, 4 of the Big 5 (no rhino), abundant wildlife in the dry season
Ranks #42 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
Botswana
4.04/5
Classic safari, wildlife scarce outside wet season, Big 5 present (rhino rare)
Ranks #43 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Nxai Pan National Park
Botswana
4.00/5
Classic safari, wildlife scarce outside wet season, Big 5 present (rhino rare)
Ranks #44 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Mkhuze Game Reserve
South Africa
3.92/5
Classic safari, Big 5 present, wild dog present but rare
Ranks #45 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Lake Nakuru National Park
Kenya
3.90/5
Classic safari, Big 5 present, famous for its flamingos
Ranks #46 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Pilanesberg Game Reserve
South Africa
3.87/5
Classic safari, Big 5 present
Ranks #47 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Addo Elephant National Park
South Africa
3.86/5
Classic safari, Big 5 present, but only elephants are regularly seen
Ranks #48 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Mapungubwe National Park
South Africa
3.85/5
Classic safari, 4 of the Big 5 and cheetah, no buffalo, lion and rhino are rare
Ranks #49 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
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Matobo National Park
Zimbabwe
3.85/5
Classic safari, rhino, leopard, cheetah, giraffe and antelope species present
Ranks #50 of Africa's top 50 safari parks
How we created this list
- In total, 138 parks of 8 major safari countries were included in the study (Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe).
- Only parks known for classic wildlife viewing safaris were considered. Parks mostly known for scenery or typical gorilla/chimp tracking parks 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.
- The reviews of individual Sabi Sands reserves were merged into one overall Sabi Sands rating because those reserves collectively brand themselves as the Sabi Sand Game Reserve.
Notable Insights
- Serengeti National Park in Tanzania was rated Africa's best safari park. The sheer variety of wildlife, abundance of predators and spectacular wildebeest migration are valid reasons why this park deserves this ranking.
- Second is the privately owned Mala Mala Game Reserve in South Africa. Renowned for its excellent wildlife viewing, luxurious accommodation, and top-class guiding. Mala Mala is one of South Africa's 4 parks in the Top 10
- The annual flooding of the Okavango Delta transforms this vast area into a true wildlife paradise. Anyone who had the privilege of navigating the tranquil waterways in a Mokoro canoe knows the Delta deserves a spot in the top 3.
- It is remarkable that Kenya, although having 8 parks in the top 50, has only Masai Mara National Reserve ranking in the top 10.
- Kruger National Park in South Africa ranked 20th, which came as a surprise to the SafariBookings team. They expected this top-class park to rank higher.
- Zimbabwe did very well, with Mana Pools National Park ranking 4th.
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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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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