5 Untouched Safari Destinations in Africa
Anyone who has ever toured Africa is likely familiar with famous national parks such as Kruger Park, the Serengeti, and the Okavango Delta. However, the continent has many other places worth visiting during your tour of Africa. In this article, we introduce you to some untouched national parks that are often overlooked in standard tours but are definitely worth a visit.
1. Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia
Liuwa Plain is located in the far west of Zambia. It is a remote area, so only a handful of tourists have ventured there before you. In 2019, there were only 50 visitors! When you visit the park at the right time, a safari in Liuwa Plain National Park can be one of the highlights of your life.
Picture by: https://www.abercrombiekent.co.uk/The park is an exclusive and very remote destination, a must-see for true wilderness lovers. It features unbroken plains with endless vistas, colorful and dramatic cloud formations, waterholes, and swamps teeming with birds, as well as thousands of wildebeest, and the allure of predators such as wild dogs, lions, and even cheetahs. It may sound like a cliché, especially since so many other areas are referred to as “the best-kept secret,” but Liuwa Plain truly lives up to the description.
At the onset of the rainy season in early November, the migration of thousands of wildebeest begins in the north. As they move south, the herd grows larger, with small groups of zebra and tsessebe mingling among them. Once they reach the south, they join buffalo, red lechwe, roan antelope, eland, reedbuck, and oribi to feast on fresh, nutritious grass and give birth to their calves. Around June, the herd migrates north again, retreating into the forested landscape.
2. Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
Ruaha National Park is Tanzania's third-largest national park. Here, you will not find hordes of tourists—this wilderness is a feast for the adventurous traveler. The reserve combines wild nature with an abundant amount of wildlife. You will encounter untamed nature, with red hills, open grasslands, dense forests, and rugged canyons. The park is dotted with mountain ranges, baobabs, rock formations, and hot springs.
Ruaha has a large population of African elephants. Some even consider it the most concentrated group of elephants in Africa. The park likely hosts more elephants than any other country in East Africa. It is also home to large mammals such as kudu, sable, and roan antelope, which are not found in many other national parks. Ruaha is also home to nearly 10% of Africa's lion population. Lastly, it has many zebras, elands, impalas, bat-eared foxes, and jackals. Other animals that can be seen here include leopards, cheetahs, and giraffes.
The beating heart of the park is the Great Ruaha River, a lifeline for wildlife suffering under the unrelenting sun during the drier periods. Ruaha National Park is a beloved destination among Tanzania's adventurous travelers.
3. Zakouma National Park, Chad
Chad is one of the largest countries in Africa and is richly blessed by Mother Nature. Tourism in this part of Africa is still underdeveloped, and travel here is not easy, but those who venture to this central part of Africa will be rewarded with extraordinary sights. The people are hospitable, making introductions and contact easy, and nature is a great attraction for travelers.
Although Chad is largely a desert landscape, the south has magnificent tropical forests. During the dry season, countless animals gather in Zakouma National Park in southern Chad. The park is best known for its elephant population. You will also find buffalo, giraffes, and antelopes. It is a special game park, ideal for the experienced Africa traveler.
4. Odzala National Park, Congo Brazzaville
Odzala-Kokoua is one of Africa's oldest national parks, located in the northwest of the Republic of Congo. This intact wilderness of 13,500 km² is part of the second-largest rainforest in the world. It is Africa's premier location for observing the western lowland gorilla. The remote rainforests are home to an estimated 20,000 gorillas, the largest population of lowland gorillas in all of Africa.
The gorillas share the rainforest with similarly large numbers of chimpanzees, forest elephants, and forest buffalo. This unique park consists of savannas, swamps, rivers, and rainforests. In the north of Odzala-Kokoua, you'll find vast, dense jungles and steep hills, while the south has more flat, open savannas interspersed with forests.
As the site of one of the most pioneering ecotourism operations today, Odzala-Kokoua offers an extraordinarily fascinating safari adventure for enthusiasts and adventurers alike.
5. Matusadona National Park, Zimbabwe
In the late 1950s, the Kariba Dam flooded much of the Zambezi Valley, creating one of the world's largest man-made lakes, Lake Kariba. Matusadona National Park lies south of Lake Kariba and is home to a variety of wildlife. The park is an off-the-beaten-track safari destination and remains relatively unknown—a fact that is entirely unjustified, as the park has much to offer.
Picture by https://www.theafricanwild.com/The wilderness, along with the shores of Lake Kariba, provides a unique setting for spectacular walking safaris. Apart from the nearly impassable trails created by animals, there are only two rough roads, which are passable only during the dry season and only with a 4WD and an experienced driver. This is the 'real' Africa—rugged and untouched. The entire area is characterized by the 600-meter-high 'Matusviadonnah' hills, for which the national park is named. The higher plateaus are covered with open forest land and mountain acacias.
In addition to regular game drives, you can engage in a variety of activities here. Along the edge of Lake Kariba, some excellent safari lodges offer walking safaris, boat safaris, and canoe trips.