Generally speaking, South Africa provides one of the most magnificent avenues for wildlife exploration on Earth. The parks in South Africa have all the wildlife tourists wish to come across when they tour Africa.
In this fascinating country, you’ll be sure to discover the big five, which include elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, and rhinoceros.
So at any time, you plan a holiday to Africa to discover the wild then consider South Africa and mostly the following national parks.
Parks in South Africa You Must Explore
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa
Even though Kgalagadi is not as prominent as Kruger, the park offers tourists an opportunity to explore spectacular wildlife in South Africa. The park is located at the border between Botswana and South Africa.
It is a fascinating place to explore the big five in their natural habitat and also witness the enticing sensation created by the movement of animals like the wildebeest and springbok.
Kgalagadi covers an area of about 38,000 square kilometers. A quarter of the entire park is in South African territory.
The name to that national park means “place of thirst,” which denotes the fact that this national park is located in the dusty and dry Kalahari Desert.
This is a desert where dunes and dry riverbeds create a dramatic backdrop offering tourists scenic views.
In this majestic park is where you can observe diverse wildlife such as hyenas, cheetahs, leopards, and lions. Beware; however, the weather can get scorchy during the day at this park and extremely cold during the night.
At Kgadigala national park in South Africa there are three vast camps that have lots of services to accommodate visitors. There are also six wilderness camps here that are ideal for tourists and visitors to camp in.
Kruger National Park
If you have ever heard of a vast national park in South Africa, then probably it is Kruger you heard of.
Kruger is among the most extensive national parks in entire Africa. The Federal Reserve measures approximately 19,485 square kilometers.
Animals move freely from Kruger to Sabi Sands Game Reserve, which borders Kruger but with an unfenced border. The government moved in to protect some parts of the reserve around the late 19th century.
That was before the government declared it the first national park in South Africa.
The park is currently a UNESCO reserve since it is of great importance to both nature and humankind.
The big five wild animals, which include lion, elephant cheetah, leopard, and rhinos, can be easily spotted at this sprawling park among many other animals that graze in this park.
At Kruger there are nine entrance gates and four main gates meaning that you have to plan well your itinerary before the actual visit.
You do not want to get lost in the park as it is quite vast. Kruger is one of the irresistible spots for a luxury break or holiday in the safari lodges available in the park.
The magnificent park also offers tourists the opportunity to camp in the rest camps available for the travelers who wish to discover more of Kruger at an in-depth.
If you still need more information about Kruger you can check it out at https://www.southafricavisa.com/
Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Park
This national park in South Africa pays homage to the largest population on the planet of white rhinos.
In fact, Hluhluwe was set up initially to save the white rhinos from becoming extinct due to human activities.
Currently, there are about 2,000 white rhinos at the park, with many others being transferred to various parks throughout the country. This stunning park is also a few kilometers from Durban.
It is only two and a half hours away from the city, making it accessible to most of the tourists. White rhinos are not the only wildlife that roams in this enormous park as there are other animals such as the big five.
You can easily spot a lion or a leopard in this park or maybe an elephant feeding on twigs. Hluhluwe is usually a buzz of activities and generally during the on-peak seasons such as holidays.
That only means that the park is a prime spot for viewing wildlife.
Proximity to Durban means tourists can get accommodation with much ease, and it could happen to be your dream holiday after discovering the spectacular Durban.
Mapungubwe National Park
It is a pre-eminent park in South Africa found in Limpopo province. It covers a vast area of approximately 28,000 hectares, which includes the phenomenal Mapungubwe Hill historic site.
That was typically the capital belonging to the Kingdom of Mapungubwe many years ago.
Nowadays, the park is regarded as an iconic national park in South Africa orchestrating diverse flora and fauna. It is only one of the few spots on Earth where meerkats and Nile crocodiles co-exist peacefully together.
To visit these fantastic parks in South Africa, you have to acquire a visa. And now, South Africa is introducing new online visas where travelers will no longer have to visit a South African consulate to be granted a visa.
Everything will be purely online, as SA looks to cover an expansive number of tourists. South Africa is unique with remarkable features, and that is why they are looking to avail the visa application process to everyone by making it online.
These visas will save on time and expenses for all applicants. The program is currently under test for travelers from Kenya but will be available to other eligible countries soon.
Addo Elephant National Park
Just as its name has it, this is the ideal spot to see elephants and learn a thing or two about them. The park in South Africa is strategically placed as it is only one hour away from Port Elizabeth.
There are over 500 African elephants at this majestic park, and it is also the third-largest national park in South Africa. Addo elephant was initially set up with 11 elephants to save them back in 1931.
Nowadays more animals roam this park such as antelopes, lions, rhinos, and buffalos as well. There is a wide range of accommodation here, including luxury lodges and basic camps too.
Final Thoughts
If you are planning on visiting parks in South Africa for a holiday, these are the most prominent national parks that you should not miss. They are renowned parks that will offer you scenic views of the marvelous country.
