For children, visiting safari parks and watching a diverse range of wildlife can be the best experience for them to get a better understanding of the wonders of the natural world. However, you don’t need to be a child to enjoy this kind of pleasure. Wildlife, especially these rare and giant animal species, can always amaze adults as well.
There are lots of zoos and parks located throughout the world so we can easily get a chance to see some exotic animals. Well, to see the “Big Five” (lion, elephant, rhino, leopard and buffalo) in their natural habitat, you’d better head to Africa countries like Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and Zimbabwe etc.
Here, we’re going to share with you a number of wonderful pictures of the world’s best safari parks and reserves where are ideal for you to see wildlife.
1. Bandavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Photo: Jnarin, wikipedia, Raphael Musse
Just imagining you are driving along a dirt track and tracking a tiger walking through thick undergrowth. Does that sound like something you want to do? If yes, you are strongly recommended to pay a visit to Bandaygarh National Park in India. You will be able to have an extremely close encounter with more than one tiger!
2. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Great Rift Valley
Photo: wikipedia, Stefan Gara, Graham Racher, Kaj17
Bwindi is one of the two locations in Uganda where you can find highly endangered mountain gorillas in the jungles. (The other is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park) If you are looking for something that few people have ever experienced, well, that’s the place to go. Seeing half the world’s population of mountain gorillas would be an unparalleled encounter for sure.
3. Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park, Stirling
Photo: wikipedia, fiona ferguson, lmrlib
This park has lots of interesting attractions for visitors of all ages. For animal lovers, its Wildlife Animal Reserve is the best place to go. Major inhabitants in this reserve include webcams, lemur, rhino, bears, bison and camels. Besides, zebra, wallaby, tiger and lechwe can be found there.
4. Chobe National Park, Okayango Delta
Photo: wikipedia, Shelby PDX, Dave Govoni, Gakige, Corvair Owner
As the second largest national park in Botswana, Chobe is like no other parks. The signature feature of this park is its concentration of elephant – you can find over 120,000 ones there. An abundance of buffalo, predators and antelope are also habitants in this park.
5. Combe Martin Dinosaur and Wildlife Park, Devon
Photo: Steve & Anna Moores, whiper, andy_kyte_uk, Andwar
You know what? You can see a number of wolves and gain an encounter with lemurs there. Falconry displays and sea lion shows are available on a daily basis. Plus, this park has a dinosaur museum where a real dinosaur egg can be found.
6. Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens, Oxfordshire
Photo: bobba_dwj, left-hand, Keir, rikdom, sunface13
It exhibits a wide variety of animals including mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds etc. Here, you will see giraffes, lions and penguins wandering around the beautiful parkland. As this park share and exchange animals with other members of the EAZA, you might encounter different species in different times.
7. Highland Wildlife Park, Kingussie
Photo: wikipedia, Veebl, whisperwolf, Hilary Chambers, Veebl
This park allows you to discover massive endangered animals and Scottish wildlife. You can track cuddly animals on foot or drive around the Main Reserve to spot dangerous ones in your own car. Some of the animals you can see in this park include red deer, wildcat, pine marten, capercaillie, beaver, lynx, European bison and klang and so on.
8. Hwange National Park, Bulawayo
Photo: lwpkommunikacio, travfotos, gorbulas_sandybanks, bupowski
This is the largest game reserve in Zimbabwe and serves as the habitat for one of the world’s largest populations of wild dogs. Massive elephants can be spotted there and you might also be impressed with its abundance of lions, giraffes and many other mammal species.
9. Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Photo: RahulR, ianduffy, monojussi, sahiljatana
Madhya Pradesh is internationally renowned as a tiger territory. So, it is not that uncommon to see tigers wandering around in five national parks in this area. Compared to other parks in India, Kanha National Park features vaster forest and allows you to go deep into the forest to have a complete safari experience.
10. Knowsley Safari Park, Liverpool
Photo: wikipedia, marcus_and_sue, Cats 2007
Take a break on animal adventure at the Knowsley Safari Park and you will find many different animals there, from elephants and lions to bongos and baboons. Smaller animals such as Madagascar hissing cockroaches, iguanas and a Kingsnake are also kept on site. At present, they stay at the “Bug House”.
11. Kruger National Park, South Africa
Photo: Jessica Eriksson, Alexandra Roberts, Franco Caruzzo, Stuart.Bassil, Alexandra Roberts
Well, this park is regarded as one of the oldest and largest reserves in Africa. So, if you are on a trip to this amazing continent, Kruger National Park is an unmissable stop. You are assured of the best wildlife experience in the world as the “Big Five” are resident in this park.
12. Kyushu Natural Zoological Park African Safari, Usa-shi
Photo: ohmymy
It is one of the largest safari parks in Japan. There are four major areas in this park, including Animal Kingdom where tigers, bears and elephants are kept in a natural setting, Encounter Zone featuring miniature pigs, Dog & Cat Worlds with different kinds of dogs and cats and Horse Riding Area for you to ride on miniature horses.
13. Liwonde National Park, Lilongwe
Photo: Keith A H, john.duffell
Adjacent to the Shire River, this national park in Malawi boasts a large variety of wild animals, including an estimated 600 antelope, 4000 hippos and nearly 900 elephants. Also, you can track zebra as well as rhino and hartebeest in the Liwonde National Park – one of the most exciting wildlife experiences.
14. Longleat Safari Park, Wiltshire
Photo: James F Clay, Bain McLeod, Cyberslayer, MHadlow78
When it opened 40 years ago, it was the only safari park outside Africa. Today, this safari park attracts a huge crowd of visitors every year as it boasts a number of lions, tigers, giraffe and rhino. If you prefer to see the pair of lowland gorillas, you need to visit the seals and Gorilla Island which is only accessible by safari boat.
15. Masai Mara National Reserve, Rift Valley Province
Photo: wikipedia, webercw, pentera, soyignatius, Gakige
This area in Kenya is highly appreciated by animal lovers, as it offers lots of excellent opportunities for visitors to spot lions, leopard and cheetah etc. It is home to over 37 black rhino, which might not be seen regularly, as well as a large number of elephants, zebras, hippos and buffalo. In addition, more than 450 species of birds and millions of wildebeest can be found there.
16. Mgahinga Gorilla National park, Kampala
Photo: weesam2010, floeschen/
Uganda possesses a few national parks that are perfect for wildlife spotting and cultural experience. Mgahinga Gorilla is one of the most popular ones. Featuring half of the amount of endangered mountain gorillas in the world, this incredible park also merits a visit for appreciating the breathtaking scenery.
17. Sasan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat
Photo: Javier Corbo, washuugenius, vaidyarupal
Well, please visit other India parks or reserves if you just want to spot tigers, as you will never encounter one in this wildlife sanctuary. However, it is the only place in the world for you to see the last remaining wild Asia lions.
18. Serengeti National Park, Arusha
Photo: David Berkowitz, wikipedia, Tapio Kaisla, Martha de Jong-Lantink
This Tanzania national park earns itself a solid reputation for being the mother of all parks – it’s one of the oldest ecosystems on earth. As one of the last great wildlife refuges in the world, it is characterized with expansive woodlands and grasslands and offers you chances to chase the most beautiful and thrilling sights in the world.
19. South Luangwa National Park, Mambwe
Photo: sara_joachim, ggallice, wikipedia, ticklemymonkey99
It is perhaps one of the world’s largest wildlife sanctuaries. However, few people visited this Zambia national park all year round and as a result most spectacular sightings are still untouched. If you have the luck of visiting South Luangwa National Park, you got to take the chance to enjoy night safaris. It’ll be an incomparable experience you will never forget.
20. Virginia Safari Park, Shenandoah Valley
Photo: Camera Slayer, Diane S Murphy, toddwickersty, rockinfree, Triskay86
The largest park in Virginia. You will see more than 1,200 animals freely roaming on the grounds. Some of them will even watch you right out of your car window when you drive through the park. Monkeys of different shapes and sizes may try to entertain you while you frolic with deer or antelope. You are bound to have a great time there.
21. West Midlands Safari Park, Worcestershire
Photo: marcus_and_sue, That HP Chap, johnmuk, Sally Payne
Well, this safari park provides visitors with a 4 miles long drive-through which winds around 100 acres of land, so you will be able to see most of the attractions without even getting out of your car.
Its African Village featuring traditional farm animals is definitely worth visiting. Besides, this park possesses the largest walk-through lemur wood in the UK. You will be allowed to wander through the mature woodland while 4 species of lemur playing and swinging around you.
22. Woburn Safari Park, Bedfordshire
Photo: wikipedia, Tim Ebbs, Scorpions and Centaurs, (Mick Baker)rooster
This award-winning park features two safari trails for you to catch a view of wild animals. If you’d like to see large and dangerous animals, remember to stay in your car and drive along the car trail. However, if you prefer for furry and cuddly ones, you are recommended to take the walking trail.
23. Yosemite National Park, California
Photo: Steel Wool, wikipedia, netzkobold, renedrivers
Visited by millions of people every year, this park does live up to its reputation. Apart from amazing natural splendor, it is also noted for its abundance of wildlife. Chance encounters are likely as Yosemite National Park is a habitat for over 400 different species of vertebrates.