The Most Exhaustive List of African National Parks & Game Reserves

02/05/2021

The traditional land of safari, Africa is home to more than 200 national parks and game reserves. With its abundantly diverse wildlife, which includes 1100 mammals species, 2600 bird species and more than 100 thousand insect species, Africa is one of the world’s most iconic safari destinations.

These national parks and game reserves provide wildlife habitat to some of Africa’s most majestic species such as the Big Five (elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhino) as well as a wide range of other animals, reptiles, insects, and often hugely diverse birdlife. For example, Botswana, Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania are the destinations with large concentrations of big five animals, while Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda are known as the best destinations for gorilla viewing and trekking.

Sorted alphabetically by country-name, here’s the ultimate list of African National Parks and Game Reserves. Our list covers the primary African safari destinations and includes major national parks as well as lesser-known ones.

1. Botswana

Major National Parks/Game Reserves

• Chobe National Park
• Central Kalahari Game Reserve
• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
• Linyanti Wildlife Reserve
• Makgadikgadi Pans
• Moremi Game Reserve
• Nxai Pan National Park
• Okavango Delta

Lesser-Known National Parks/Game Reserves

• Khutse Game Reserve
• Linyanti Swamp
• Mashatu Game Reserve
• Mokolodi Nature Reserve
• Savuti Channel and Savute Marsh

2. Burundi

• Kibira National Park
• Ruvubu National Park
• Rusizi National Park
• Bururi Forest Nature Reserve
• Kigwena Natural Reserve
• Lake Rwihinda Natural Reserve (Lac aux Oiseaux)
• Rumonge Nature Reserve
• Rusizi Nature Reserve
• Vyanda Forest Nature Reserve

3. Cameroon

Major National Parks/Game Reserves

• Benoue National Park
• Bouba Njida National Park
• Campo Ma’an National Park
• Dja Faunal Reserve
• Faro National Park
• Korup National Park
• Lobeke National Park Safari
• Limbe Wildlife Centre
• Ndzanga Sangha National Park
• Nki National Park
• Waza National Park

Lesser-Known National Parks/Game Reserves

• Bakossi National Park
• Boumba Bek National Park
• Deng Deng National Park
• Douala Edéa National Park
• Kimbi-Fungom National Park
• Mbam Djerem National Park
• Mbéré Valley National Park
• Mount Cameroon National Park
• Mpem and Djim National Park
• Nki National Park
• Takamanda National Park

4. Democratic Republic of Congo

Major National Parks/Game Reserves

• Kahuzi-Biega National Park
• Lola ya Bonobo
• Lomako-Yokokala Faunal Reserve
• Okapi Wildlife Reserve
• Parc de la Vallée de la Nsele
• Virunga National Park

Lesser-Known National Parks/Game Reserves

• Garamba National Park
• Kundelungu National Park
• Lomami National Park
• Maiko National Park
• Mangroves National Park
• Salonga National Park
• Upemba National Park

5. Ethiopia

Major National Parks/Game Reserves

• Abijata Lakes National Park
• Bale Mountains National Park
• Chebera Churchura National Park
• Gambela National Park
• Mago National Park
• Nech Sar National Park
• Omo National Park
• Simien Mountains National Park

Lesser-Known National Parks/Game Reserves

• Alatish National Park
• Awash National Park
• Bahir Dar Blue Nile River Millennium Park
• Borena Saynt National Park
• Dati Wolel National Park
• Geraille National Park
• Gibe Sheleko National Park
• Kafeto Shiraro National Park
• Loka Abaya National Park
• Maze National Park
• Yabello National Park
• Yangudi-Rassa National Park

6. Gabon

• Akanda National Park
• Batéké Plateau National Park
• Birougou National Park
• Crystal Mountains National Park
• Ivindo National Park
• Loango National Park
• Lopé National Park
• Mayumba National Park
• Minkébé National Park
• Moukalaba-Doudou National Park
• Mwangné National Park
• Pongara National Park

7. Ghana

• Bia National Park
• Bui National Park
• Digya National Park
• Kakum National Park
• Kyabobo National Park
• Mole National Park
• Nini Suhien National Park
• Ankasa Conservation Area

8. Kenya

Major National Parks/Game Reserves

• Amboseli National Park
• Buffalo Springs National Reserve
• Lake Nakuru National Park
• Maasai Mara National Park
• Meru National Park
• Mombasa Marine Park
• Mount Kenya National Park
• Nairobi National Park
• Samburu National Reserve
• Tsavo East And West National Parks

Lesser-Known National Parks/Game Reserves

• Aberdare National Park
• Arabuko Sokoke National Park
• Central Island National Park
• Chyulu Hills National Park
• Hell’s Gate National Park
• Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park
• Kora National Park
• Malindi Marine National Park
• Malka Mari National Park
• Mount Elgon National Park
• Mount Longonot National Park
• Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park
• Ruma National Park
• Saiwa Swamp National Park
• Sibiloi National Park
• Watamu Marine National Park
• Arawale National Reserve
• Bisanadi National Reserve
• Boni National Reserve
• Dodori National Reserve
• Kakamega Forest National Reserve
• Kisumu Impala Sanctuary
• Lake Bogoria National Reserve
• Mwaluganje Elephant sanctuary
• Mwea National Reserve
• Mwingi National Reserve
• Rahole National Reserve
• Rimoi National Reserve
• Shimba Hills National Reserve
• Tana River Primate Reserve
• Witu Forest Reserve (Utwani Forest Reserve)

9. Madagascar

Major National Parks/Game Reserves

• Amber Mountain National Park
• Ankarafantsika National Park
• Isalo National Park
• Masoala National Park
• Ranomafana National Park
• Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
• Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park

Lesser-Known National Parks/Game Reserves

• Ambatovaky Reserve
• Amber Forest Reserve
• Ambohijanahary Reserve
• Ambohitantely Reserve
• Analamerana Reserve
• Analamazaotra National Park
• Andohahela National Park
• Andranomena Reserve
• Andringitra National Park
• Anjanaharibe-Sud Reserve
• Ankarana Reserve
• Baie de Baly National Park
• Bemarivo Reserve
• Beza Mahafaly Reserve
• Bora Reserve
• Cap Sainte Marie Reserve
• Kalambatritra Reserve
• Kasijy Reserve
• Kirindy Mitea National Park
• Lokobe National Park
• Mananara Nord National Park
• Mangerivola Reserve
• Maningoza Reserve
• Manombo Reserve
• Manongarivo Reserve
• Marotandrano Reserve
• Marojejy National Park
• Marolambo National Park
• Midongy du sud National Park
• Nosy Hara National Park
• Nosy Tanikely National Park
• Nosy Ve-Androka National Park
• Pic d’Ivohibe Reserve
• Sahamalaza National Park
• Tampoketsa Analamaitso Reserve
• Tsimanampetsotse National Park
• Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park
• Tsingy de Namoroka National Park
• Zahamena National Park

10. Malawi

• Kasungu National Park
• Lake Malawi National Park
• Lengwe National Park
• Liwonde National Park
• Majete Wildlife Reserve
• Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve
• Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve
• Nyika National Park
• Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve

11. Morocco

• Al Hoceima National Park
• Dakhla National Park
• Haut Atlas Oriental National Park
• Ifrane National Park
• Iriqui National Park
• Khenifiss National Park
• Khenifra National Park
• Merdja Zerka National Park
• Souss-Massa National Park
• Talassemtane National Park
• Tazekka National Park
• Toubkal National Park

12. Mozambique

Major National Parks/Game Reserves

• Bazaruto National Park
• Gorongosa National Park
• Limpopo National Park
• Maputo Elephant Reserve

Lesser-Known National Parks/Game Reserves

• Banhine National Park
• Chimanimani National Reserve
• Gilé National Reserve
• Lake Niassa Partial Marine Reserve
• Magoe National Park
• Malhazine Municipal Park
• Marromeu Buffalo Reserve
• Niassa National Reserve
• Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve
• Pomene National Reserve
• Quirimbas National Park
• Zinave National Park

13. Namibia

Major National Parks/Game Reserves

• Etosha National Park
• Namib-Naukluft National Park
• Tsau ǁKhaeb National Park

Lesser-Known National Parks/Game Reserves

• Skeleton Coast National Park
• Nkasa Rupara National Park
• Waterberg Plateau Park
• Khaudum National Park
• Mangetti National Park
• Mudumu National Park
• ǀAi-ǀAis Hot Springs Game Park
• Bwabwata National Park
• Dorob National Park

14. Nigeria

• Chad Basin National Park
• Cross River National Park (Okavango and Oban sections)
• Gashaka-Gumti National Park
• Kainji National Park (Borgu and Zugurma sections)
• Kamuku National Park
• Okomu National Park
• Old Oyo National Park
• Yankari National Park

15. Republic of Congo

• Conkouati-Douli National Park
• Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park
• Ntokou-Pikounda National Park
• Odzala-Kokoua National Park
• Ougoue Lekiti National Park

16. Rwanda

• Akagera National Park
• Gishwati Forest
• Nyungwe Forest National Park
• VolcanoesNational Park

17. South Africa

Major National Parks/Game Reserves

• Addo Elephant National Park
• Garden Route National Park
• Golden Gate Highlands National Park
• Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve
• Ithala Game Reserve
• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
• Kruger National Park
• Kwande Game Reserve
• Madikwe Game Reserve
• Mountain Zebra National Park
• Pilanesberg Game Reserve
• Phinda Game Reserve
• Table Mountain National Park
• West Coast National Park
• Wilderness National Park
• Tembe Elephant Park
• Tsitsikamma National Park

Lesser-Known National Parks/Game Reserves

• Agulhas National Park
• Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park/Richtersveld National Park
• Amakhala Game Reserve
• Augrabies Falls National Park
• Bontebok National Park
• Camdeboo National Park
• Karoo National Park
• Mapungubwe National Park
• Marakele National Park
• Mokala National Park
• Namaqua National Park
• Royal Natal National Park
• Sabi Sand Game Reserve
• Shamwari Game Reserve
• Tankwa Karoo National Park

18. Tanzania

Major National Parks/Game Reserves

• Arusha National Park
• Kilimanjaro National Park
• Lake Manyara National Park
• Mahale Mountains National Park
• Mount Meru National Park
• Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Ruaha National Park
• Selous Game Reserve
• Serengeti National Park
• Tarangire National Park
• Udzungwa Mountains National Park

Lesser-Known National Parks/Game Reserves

• Gombe Stream National Park
• Katavi National Park
• Kitulo National Park
• Mafia Island Marine Park
• Mikumi National Park
• Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park
• Mkomazi National Park
• Nyerere National Park
• Rubondo Island National Park
• Saadani National Park
• Saanane Island National Park
• Uwanda Game Reserve

19. Uganda

Major National Parks/Game Reserves

• Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Lake Mburo National Park
• Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
• Murchison Falls National Park
• Mount Elgon National Park
• Kibale National Park
• Kidepo Valley National Park
• Rwenzori Mountains National Park
• Semuliki National Park

Lesser-Known National Parks/Game Reserves

• Ajai Wildlife Reserve
• Bokora Corridor Wildlife Reserve
• Entebbe Wildlife Sanctuary
• Katonga Wildlife Reserve
• Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve
• Karenga Community Wildlife Management Area
• Kigezi Wildlife Reserve
• Matheniko Wildlife Reserve
• Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
• Otze Forest Wildlife Sanctuary
• Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
• Semliki Wildlife Reserve
• Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

20. Zambia

Major National Parks/Game Reserves

• Blue Lagoon National Park
• Kafue National Park
• Kasanka National Park
• Lower Zambezi National Park
• Lochinvar National Park
• Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park (Victoria Falls National Park)
• Nsumbu National Park
• South Luangwa National Park

Lesser-Known National Parks/Game Reserves

• Isangano National Park
• Lavushi Manda National Park
• Liuwa Plain National Park
• Luambe National Park
• Lukusuzi National Park
• Lusaka National Park
• Lusenga Plain National Park
• Mweru Wantipa National Park
• North Luangwa National Park
• Nyika National Park
• Sioma Ngwezi National Park
• West Lunga National Park

21. Zimbabwe

Major National Parks/Game Reserves

• Hwange National Park
• Kazuma Pan National Park
• Mana Pools National Park
• Victoria Falls National Park
• Zambezi National Park

Lesser-Known National Parks/Game Reserves

• Chimanimani National Park
• Chizarira National Park
• Gonarezhou National Park
• Matobo National Park
• Matusadona National Park
• Nyanga National Park

About author

Robin Cormack

MD and Co-Founder. Born in Zimbabwe, Robin has a long history in Africa, and safaris in general, from running lodges to marketing. He is always on the look out for new ideas and products from around the safari world.