Travel to Africa - excursion to national parks. National parks of Africa Reserved areas of Africa in the form of a table

When it comes to Africa, the first thing that comes to mind is wild animals. Africa is home to many populations of wildlife and has a greater variety of fauna than any other continent on our planet, due to its vast landscapes with different climates, ranging from subarctic to tropical. Africa has a range of habitats ranging from tropical rainforests to savannah plains to the arid Sahara Desert, which provide habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. Africa, widely regarded as the place where human life originated, is home to many of the world's amazing animals, as well as those that are endangered.

The African continent has the highest concentration of national parks. There are more of them in Africa than anywhere else in the world. As of 2014, there are 335 national parks in which more than 1,100 species of mammals, 100,000 species of insects, 2,600 species of birds and 3,000 species of fish are protected. In addition, there are hundreds of game reserves, forest reserves, marine reserves, national reserves and natural parks in Africa.

Serengeti National Park

Zebra migration in the Serengeti National Park.
The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is one of the oldest and most famous wildlife sanctuaries in Africa. The park is famous for the annual migration of millions of wildebeest plus hundreds of thousands of gazelles and zebras followed by raptors, one of the most impressive natural spectacles in the world. The Great Migration, which is an annual 1,000-kilometer circular trek, takes place in a unique scenic area, in vast treeless expanses of spectacularly flat grassy pastures dotted with rock outcroppings interspersed with rivers and forests. The park also hosts some of the most impressive and diverse biological relationships of large predators and prey in the world.

Serengeti National Park is located on an area of ​​12,950 square kilometers and is considered one of the least affected natural ecosystems in the world.

Masai Mara National Reserve

The Masai Mara National Reserve is located in Narok County, Kenya and is the northern extension of the Serengeti National Park. It is named after the Maasai people who live in the region. The reserve is known for its exceptional population of lions, leopards, and cheetahs, as well as the annual migration of zebras, Thomson's gazelles, and wildebeests into and out of the Serengeti that occurs each year from July to October, and is known as the Great Migration.

The Masai Mara National Wildlife Refuge is relatively small, yet it is home to an astounding concentration of wildlife. The park is home to about 95 species of mammals, amphibians and reptiles and more than 400 species of birds. The Big Five (buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion, and rhinoceros) can be found throughout the park, as can leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, antelopes, wildebeest, swamps, baboons, warthogs, zebras, hippos, and crocodiles in the Mara River ( Mara River).


An aerial view of a herd of wildebeest following several leading zebras in the Masai Mara.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is located in southwestern Uganda in East Africa. The park covers 331 square kilometers of jungle forest and, as the name suggests, can only be reached on foot. The park is located on the eastern edge of the Albertine Rift Valley, and has a rich ecosystem with perhaps the largest number of tree species for its height in all of East Africa. Diverse fauna can also be seen here, including a number of endemic butterflies and one of the richest concentrations of mammals in Africa. The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is home to almost half of the world's mountain gorilla population, of which, unfortunately, only 340 individuals remain.




Mountain gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park is one of the most popular parks in Kenya. It is located in the southern part of the country on the border with Tanzania and offers one of the most classic and breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro with its 5985-meter peak rising above the plains. Amboseli National Park attracts visitors mainly for its huge herds of elephants, but the park is also a habitat for many predators such as the lion, cheetah and leopard.


An elephant crosses a dirt road in Amboseli National Park. Mount Kilimanjaro is visible in the background.

Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa and one of the most extensive national parks in the world, covering an area of ​​19,485 square kilometers. It is also the first national park in South Africa, which was opened in 1926, although the area of ​​the park has been protected by the state since 1898. The Kruger National Park is home to more species of large mammals than any other African game reserve, including the "Big Five" - ​​lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes.

Chobe National Park

Chobe National Park is located in the northwestern part of Botswana close to the borders with Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia and is famous for its amazing population of elephants. It is estimated to be home to around 50,000 elephants, perhaps the highest concentration of elephants in Africa and part of the largest continuously surviving population of elephants. The best time to visit Chobe is during the dry season from April to October, when the plains dry up and animals congregate near the banks of the river, making them easier to spot.


Baby elephant in the Serondela zone, on the banks of the Chobe River, in the Chobe National Park.

Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park is located in northwestern Namibia. It covers an area of ​​22,270 square kilometers and takes its name from the large, silvery, white Etosha Salt Plateau, which covers almost a quarter of the Etosha National Park. The park is home to hundreds of species of mammals, birds and reptiles, including several rare and endangered species such as black rhinos.


The Etosha Salt Plateau covers an area of ​​4,800 square kilometers and was formed 16,000 years ago.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

The Central Kalahari National Game Reserve, located in Botswana's Kalahari Desert, covers an area of ​​52,800 square kilometers, about twice the size of Massachusetts, making it the second largest game reserve in the world. This hunting reserve is characterized by vast open plains, salt flats and ancient riverbeds. The territory of the reserve is mostly flat, with small hills covered with shrubs and grass, which also grow on sand dunes, and in areas with large trees. The reserve is home to such wild animals as giraffes, brown hyena, warthog, cheetah, wild dogs, leopard, lion, blue wildebeest, eland, oryx, markhorn antelope and red hartebeest.

The Bushmen have inhabited the Kalahari for thousands of years and their people date back to the Stone Age period. These Bushmen still live here, and roam the territories as nomadic hunters.




Bushmen of the Kalahari.

Nechisar National Park

Nechisar National Park is a small park, located on an area of ​​514 square kilometers, in an excellent picturesque part of the rift valley between two lakes. To the east, the park is bordered by the Amaro foothills, which rise to about 2,000 meters, to the north of it are the ever red waters of Lake Abaya, which covers an area of ​​1,070 square kilometers. To the south is Lake Chamo, a small lake with clear waters covering an area of ​​350 kilometers. To the east is the city of Arba Minch, which is the main city of the Northern Omo zone. The central plains located between the lake and the foothills of Amaro (Amaro) from afar appear white, which was the source of the name Nechisar or "white grass".

The Nechisar National Park is considered an important habitat for bird populations, especially those that are migratory. There are significant populations of kingfishers, storks, pelicans, flamingos and screaming eagles.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The Ngorongoro Game Reserve is located in northwestern Tanzania. At its very center is the impressive Ngorongoro Crater, an old volcano that collapsed to form the crater. The steep slopes of the crater have become a natural reserve for a wide variety of wild animals that live here. Beyond the edge of the crater, the Maasai people graze their cattle on the plains, seemingly oblivious to the herds of wild animals that share this vast landscape with them. This area is also of great importance in tracing human origins, as some of the earliest human remains have been found here, including human footprints dating back 3.5 million years.


View of Ngorongoro from inside the crater.


Lake inside the Ngorongoro Crater.

Africa has the largest nature reserve in the world. It is called Kavango Zambezi. The complex is located on the borders of five Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe. The total area of ​​the reserve exceeds 44 million hectares. The protected area united 36 nature reserves and the lands surrounding them. Almost half of all elephants in Africa, more than 600 species of various plants and about 300 species of birds live in Kawang Zambezi.

With the formation of such nature protection complexes as the transnational nature reserve of Africa, which is called Kavango Zambezi (KAZA for short), which are prone to migration (elephants and rhinos), feel completely safe in a vast area the size of Sweden.

Tourist paradise

This land is home to many world-famous attractions. For example, despite the fact that this African reserve was founded quite recently (2011), one of the main tasks that the five states set themselves was to create conditions for the free migration of all animal species. In addition, for these countries, nature reserves and Africa are the most important tourist sites. Every year, thousands of tourists from all over the world come to this unique transboundary reserve.

Animals

Undoubtedly, the main representatives of the animal world living in the complex are elephants. It’s probably hard to believe, but almost half of these giants from the total number of African elephants live in the protected area. 600 species of plants grow in these vast territories. Many of them are unique. In the most picturesque areas of the region, 300 species of birds have found their homes.

South Africa is a land where the incongruous combines in an amazing way. Landscapes striking in their beauty are concentrated in the reserves and national parks of the country.

Kruger park

The cross-border territory, with an area of ​​20 thousand square kilometers, is located between Zimbabwe and Mozambique. An elephant and a lion, a buffalo and a rhinoceros, a leopard feel quite comfortable here.

Statistics confirm the uniqueness of these places. The area occupied by this African reserve can be compared with the territory of Wales. It represents countless picturesque meadows and pastures, coastal forests, which are home to about 150 species of mammals, including the largest population of rhinos.

A five-hour drive from South Africa's largest metropolis, Johannesburg, you can see the inhabitants of the wild and get an unforgettable experience. For example, in Kruger Park you can watch the fight between a lion and a crocodile.

The most fearless tourists can go on a guided tour, accompanied by armed guards. Nature reserves and national parks in Africa are best visited in winter. At this time, the vegetation does not grow so rapidly and does not block the view. Animals can be seen at numerous water bodies, moreover, at this time the risk of contracting malaria is minimal.

Royal Natal

One of the most picturesque mountain ranges in Africa is the Drakensberg. The name translates as The sharp tops of the mountains here smoothly turn into green slopes, which are covered with bumps and bumps.

The Royal Natal National Park is located on a small area (2500 sq. Km), which is part of the Uqahlamba complex, a World Heritage Site. Regardless, the Drakensberg is one of the most famous rock formations on Earth.

Sedeberg Nature Reserve

This mountain range is located 200 km north of Cape Town. The Sedeberg Africa Reserve is made up of many sandstone hills, thick fynbos and the magnificent Mount Saint Roque. Excursion routes last from one hour to several days.

During such a walk, you can enjoy the wildlife of these places. You can climb the steep slopes to the picturesque hills - Wolfberg Arch or Tourists prefer to stay at the Sanddrief base. There is an observatory and a huge wine cellar. The best time to travel is from April to August. At this time, the weather for walking will be the best.

Mapungubwe

African national reserves amaze tourists with the beauty of pristine nature. Mapungubwe is no exception. It is located along the borders of Botswana and Zimbabwe, in the valley. In these places, giraffes and elephants, baboons and leopards leisurely stroll through the trees.

Mapungubwe is included in the World Heritage List and is of historical value, so if you are in Johannesburg, be sure to come here.

In ancient times, this territory was the center of the South African kingdom. In 1300 B.C. nine thousand people lived in these places. Archaeologists managed to find hills with burials in which unique valuables were buried, for example, a golden figurine of a rhinoceros. It is better to come here in June-August.

Blyde River

The nature reserves and parks of Africa differ from each other in their natural landscape. This canyon deserves to be seen with your own eyes. It rises above the Blyde River, and it seems that it breaks down from the tops of the Drakensberg ridge with the luxurious crowns of thousands of beautiful trees.

Even more beautiful this place is made by green gentle slopes, above which rise hills of sandstone and limestone. The most famous of these is the Triple Rondavel rock, with its huge arches and semicircular peaks that resemble the roofs of rondavels (African houses).

It is better not to visit the nature reserves of Africa from January to March. At this time, traveling here is not very comfortable - moist air descends from the mountains, and there is a danger of contracting malaria.

Isimangaliso

This place seems to be created for lovers of ecotourism. The name of this wetland park means "miracle" in the Zulu language. Can't be more specific about this place. The national park covers an area of ​​3320 sq. km is an ecosystem of global importance. The territory of Isimangaliso is covered with lakes, marshy forests, coral reefs. This is the largest river delta on the continent and about 220 km of beaches located on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

The reserves of Africa are large and not very large, mostly prepared to meet tourists. For example, Isimangaliso Park has excellent conditions for diving and horseback riding. Under the guidance of experienced instructors, you can kayak and watch wildlife.

During one day in these places you can see a whale and a rhinoceros. This park, located 375 km from Durban, is especially good from June to October, when there is no exhausting heat, and the risk of contracting malaria is minimal.

Namakua

Not all nature reserves in Africa can boast such unique vegetation as Namakuwaland, located along the coast of South Africa. It is often called the African garden, blooming in spring with a thousand colors. This is a true decoration of the arid continent. From the beginning of August to the end of September, this beauty can be seen with your own eyes.

The park is located near Cape Town. This true treasury has the richest flora. What is the flowering of daisies in this park - this is a bewitching sight.

Kgalgadi Transboundary Park

A "wild island" of land, located on the hot sands of the Kalahari Desert. Kgalgadi Park is located in the transboundary zone between Botswana and South Africa - it is the world's largest protected area. There are many animals here - lions and ostriches, leopards and cheetahs that survive in these arid lands.

Ktugalgadi Park is a great place to watch big cats. However, care must be taken - at any moment you can find yourself with a lion on the same path.

table mountain

The national park, which has such a strange name, is located on the territory of the Cape Peninsula. From here you have a breathtaking view of Cape Town, the oldest city in South Africa.

There are many great opportunities for outdoor activities in this park. Here you will be offered to fly on a paraglider from the rock Lion's Head. You can go rock climbing on the highest slope of Table Mountain, take a walk along the picturesque paths. Locals recommend climbing uphill through the meadows of the Kirstenbosch botanical garden.

Golden Gate

The Maluti Mountains are located 300 km northeast of the city of Bloemfontein. In the early morning here you can see herds of grazing antelope. The magnificent view of the mountains in the rays of the setting sun, when the slopes are covered with a golden color, gave the name to this park. Mount Brandwag is especially beautiful - it can be seen here from any point.

When you think of Africa, wild animals immediately spring to mind. Africa is a continent with the richest variety of flora and fauna, much more than on any other continent of our planet. Due to the wide variety of climate zones, from subarctic to tropical, Africa has many different habitats: tropical rainforests, savannahs, plains and arid Sahara desert. Africa is also considered the continent where the first people appeared.

The African continent has the highest concentration of national parks, with 335 as of 2014, protecting over 1,100 mammal species, 100,000 insect species, 2,600 bird species and 3,000 fish species. In addition, there are hundreds of game reserves, forest reserves, marine reserves, national reserves and nature parks.
Serengeti National Park

Zebra migration in the Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is one of the oldest and most famous nature reserves in Africa. The park is famous for the annual migration of millions of wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of gazelles and zebras, as well as predators, which is one of the most impressive natural spectacles in the world.
The Serengeti National Park covers an area of ​​12,950 square kilometers and counts. This park is considered the place where the natural ecosystem is least disturbed.

Masai Mara National Reserve
Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and is named after the Maasai people who inhabit these regions. It is famous for its lions, leopards and cheetahs, as well as the annual migration of zebra, Thomson's gazelle, and wildebeest.

The Masai Mara is relatively small, but it has an amazing concentration of wildlife. The park is home to 95 species of mammals, amphibians and reptiles and over 400 bird species.

bwindi national park
Bwindi National Park is located in southwestern Uganda in East Africa. The park includes 331 square kilometers of jungle forests and can only be reached on foot. Located on the eastern edge of the Rift Valley, the park has a rich ecosystem. It also has a wide variety of fauna, including a number of endemic butterflies and one of the richest concentrations of mammals in Africa. The park is home to nearly half of the world's mountain gorillas, sadly numbering only 340.

Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park is one of the most popular parks in Kenya. Located in the south of the country, on the border with Tanzania, it offers one of the most breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro with its 5985 meter high peak rising above the plains. Amboseli attracts visitors primarily because of its huge herds of elephants. The park is also home to many predators such as the lion, cheetah and leopard.

Kruger National Park
The Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa and one of the largest national parks in the world, with an area of ​​19,485 square kilometers. It is also the first national park in South Africa. It was opened in 1926, although the park has been protected by the state since 1898. Kruger Park has the largest number of species of large mammals.

Chobe National Park
Chobe National Park is located in the northwestern part of Botswana, near the border of Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia and is famous for its amazing elephant population. It contains an estimated 50,000 elephants, possibly the highest concentration of Africa's elephant. The best time to visit Chobe is during the dry season from April to October.

Etosha National Park
Etosha National Park is located in northwestern Namibia. It covers an area of ​​22,270 square kilometers. The park is home to hundreds of species of mammals, birds and reptiles, including several rare and endangered species such as black rhinos.

Central Kalahari
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana's Kalahari Desert covers an area of ​​52,800 km², about twice the size of Massachusetts, making it the second largest game reserve in the world. The park contains wild animals such as giraffes, brown hyena, warthog, cheetah, wild dogs, leopards, lions, blue wildebeest.

The Bushmen have inhabited the Kalahari for thousands of years. These tribes still live here and roam the area as nomadic hunters.

Auvash National Park
Auvash National Park occupies only 514 sq. km, located in the picturesque part of the Rift Valley between two lakes. It is considered an important habitat for bird populations, especially kingfishers, storks, pelicans, flamingos and eagles.

Ngorongoro
Ngorongoro is located in northwestern Tanzania. In fact, this is the impressive Ngorongoro Crater, an extinct volcano that left behind a crater. The steep slopes of the crater have become a habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. The area is also of great importance in the study of the origin of man, because it was here that some of the earliest human remains were found, including traces of his stay here 3.5 million years ago.

Africa is an amazing continent with outlandish beauties: unusually towering mountain formations, sources of mountain rivers with thundering waterfalls; evergreen tropical thickets; silent deserts; grassy and wooded savannas; diversified fauna and flora. Most of its territory is under state protection and is included in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List, so Africa can rightfully be considered a huge national park of all mankind.

Throughout the world, African national parks are recognized as the legitimate pride of all mankind. In various parts of the continent, people of many nationalities continue to take part in the work of the parks. Thus, thanks to the universal efforts, hundreds of species of rare animals were saved from extinction and extermination.

The continent of Africa has an excellent natural basis for the prosperity and development of tourism. There are many different national parks and reserves on the territory of South Africa, where people come to see how animals behave in their natural habitat, as well as admire the exotic nature of this mysterious continent. The largest number of national parks is concentrated in Kenya.

For visitors to the territory of African national parks, rules are established to comply with certain norms of behavior. So, for example, it is permissible to drive cars only along special paths designated for this, from which you cannot move to the side, as well as lift anything from the ground; driving is allowed only in the car of the park ranger and in his direct escort; you can't scream; It is forbidden to feed animals, smoke, litter and so on.

The main reserves and national parks of Africa

National parks of Kenya

Tsavo- the largest national park in terms of area, occupying the territory of the whole island - Jamaica. This is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world where wild African safaris are allowed.

The park is divided into two equal parts, each of which is inimitable and unique: East Tsavo, which is characterized by flat terrain covered with thorns and undersized acacias, and West Tsavo is a volcanically active part of the park with rocky mountains and hills, which is also considered to be more intense and lively .

The Tsavo Park has a fairly diverse wildlife, numbering about 500 species of individuals: zebras, giraffes, impalas, antelopes, waterbucks, buffaloes, cheetahs, leopards, crocodiles, lions. The park is world famous for its many rhinoceroses and a huge herd of "red" elephants, so named because their skin has a pink tint, formed as a result of the reddish-pink dust that covers their bodies.

The main attractions of Tsavo are the springs of Mzima - a real fragrant oasis in the middle of a lifeless and dusty savannah; Growling rocks, from where the most beautiful panoramic views of the park open; volcanic block and crater of Chaumu volcano; swamps of Kanderi - a natural source of fresh water; waterfalls Lugard and rapids on the seething river, disappearing from sight in a narrow gorge.

Amboseli - a beautiful old park, located near the slope of Mount Kilimanjaro, from where the most successful views of its snow-capped peaks open. Most of the territory of Amboseli is occupied by lakes, so the flora and fauna here are quite diverse: 425 species of birds, more than 50 species of mammals (lions, hippos, leopards, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes, rhinos and others). Many types of acacia grow in the park - there is no such variety anywhere else.

One of the most breathtaking sights that can be seen here is a calm walk through the savannah of huge herds of elephants. Also in Amboseli lives the rarest species of rhinoceros, which is on the verge of extinction - the black rhinoceros.

Located near the financial and economic center and capital of Kenya, Nairobi, and this fact, in turn, contributes to its popularity among foreign tourists. The park was opened before other similar parks and is considered the oldest in the country. It incomprehensibly combines the beauty of untouched wildlife and the silhouettes of tall office buildings seen from afar.

On the territory of Nairobi there are many savannahs, steep gorges, plains, forests, which are inhabited by various species of animals and birds. In addition, it is known for being the place where ivory is burned. In order to stop the poaching of elephants, President Moi gave the order to burn 10 tons of ivory in Nairobi.

Located in the area of ​​the Aberdare mountain range, rich in picturesque landscapes. Its views are amazing: forests of huge trees, picturesque cliffs with crystal-clear waterfalls erupting from them; bamboo jungle; cascades of ice rivers; moorlands. Aberdare has a very diverse flora and fauna. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

National parks of Tanzania

The Serengeti is the most famous wildlife sanctuary in the world., located in the African Great Gorge at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level, covering an area of ​​​​about 30 thousand square meters. km. Its name, translated from the Masai language, means "elongated platform." The park has a changing landscape: from short and long grass to hills covered with green forests. The Serengeti African National Park has been recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural and natural heritage site. It is considered to be the main treasury of wildlife.

Due to the unique climatic conditions, representatives of the local fauna are very diverse: more than one million large animals live on endless savannahs, plains, lakes and rivers. These are leopards, crocodiles, buffaloes, lions, rhinos, hyenas, giraffes, baboons, foxes, antelopes, zebras; more than 300 species of reptiles; about 450 species of birds. It was on the territory of this park that the world's largest flock of lions was discovered, consisting of 41 individuals. One of the most interesting events in the life of the Serengeti is the annual migration of artiodactyl animals, in particular wildebeest and zebra, moving from the hilly northern regions to the plains of the south.

Every year attracting the attention of millions of tourists from all over the world. It is also called the "eighth wonder of the world" and is rightfully considered a world heritage. Most of this giant tropical park is located in a huge volcanic crater of the same name. The diameter of the volcano funnel is 20 km, and the area of ​​​​the crater is 265 square meters. km. The uniqueness of this crater lies in the fact that over the course of several years, many species of animals have formed their own habitat there. More than 30 thousand animals live on its territory.

At the very bottom of the crater is the alkaline Magami Lake, a favorite habitat for flamingos. There are also pastures for zebras, antelopes and gazelles in the area.

Another attraction of the Ngorongoro Reserve is the Olduvai Gorge, famous for the fact that excavations were constantly carried out on its territory. So, the archaeologist Jonathan Leakey discovered the remains of Homo Hablis (“handy man”). Also in the area of ​​​​this gorge is the 100-meter rock Nazara Rock, known for the location of a person there in the prehistoric period.

Other African countries

Zambia

Kafue is the largest and oldest park in Zambia. Its area is 2.24 million hectares, which is comparable to the area of ​​Wales. Almost the entire park area is a large strip of forest savanna. Kafue is striking in his lush dambos; the beautiful grassy plains of Busanga; ancient savannas; the amazing Lafuta, Kafue and Lunga rivers with hydropower facilities; teak forests with a variety of insects.

The Kafue African National Park, like other parks, provides a place to live for huge animal populations: 150 species of mammals, 480 species of birds, 70 species of reptiles.

Congo

Werunga is a national park located in the northeast of the Congo, characterized by an outstanding variety of natural habitats: alpine meadows, peat bogs, snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori and Werunga mountains, grassy and tree savannahs, bamboo thickets, extensive lava plateaus, low-mountain rainforests. Its area is 7800 sq. km. The park has a rather diverse flora - about 2000 plant species. And its fauna is represented by 110 species of reptiles, 197 species of mammals and 89 species of amphibians.