Wilderness National Park is situated in the heart of the Garden route. Through the wilderness Nature trails and relaxing rivers are provided and also a home to King fisher species and the reknown brightly coloured Kynsna Lourie, while great coloured flowers concentrate in the area in Spring months. This provides great spot for picnic.
A variety of activities are offered at Wilderness National Park and these include Dolphin and Whales watching from Dolphin point especially in winter and spring months. Hire canoeing, cycling, hang-gliding, paragliding and abseiling.
Others include bird hide visiting for all ages under African star camping. Also available along side the log cabins and coastal rivers.
The park starts in the west around Touw River and then spreads down Swartulei estuary and then joins the Goukamma Nature Reserve. This helps in 5 lakes protection and serpentine.
Among the tourist activities include; walks along the numerous trails. Among others include the trail, which leads you to the Africa’s Southern far point. Other attractions include the parks museum and a built center to educate visitors on the environment of the area.
Among the four Agulhas National Park’s treasures include: -
A built Light house to lend much desired assistance to weary explorers of the early times as they rounded the trip to Africa. It took 71steps to climb up to the top of the Light house where it’s possible to view the remains of the Khoi-Khoi fish traps.
The Lighthouse is also made up of limestone from a nearby quarry. The light house museum has attractive art facts.
Zoetendal is among the wrecks found along the Agulhas coast as well as Birken head and Armiston.
Shipwreck museum found in Bredasdorp from these wrecks, has a display of pieces. Visitors can see some remains of the wreck on the shores of Cape Agulhas.
The Flora and Fynbos are well known to the Cape region most especially between May and September, with Flowers seen all year round.
The most visited area is the Africa Continent’s South-most tip, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.
Taking a safari in South Africa is the best wildlife tour to take because of the comfy accommodation and spectacular infrastructure that are in every wildlife park. Accommodation in these places is quite affordable as compared to that in other countries.
But with further research or inquiry, you will discover that some parks are better as compared to others.
Basing on reports from African Safari journal website, my more than 20 years experience in safari, magazines, industry forums and universal consent of experts; below is a list of the top best ranking parks and Game Reserves.
Ranking as the number one destination in South Africa is Kruger National Park going after Serengeti and Masai Mara. Because of the dense vegetation in this park, viewing wildlife over a longer distanc can sometimes be very hard.
The diversity in ecosystem, birds and animals that you enjoy in this place is incomparable to any place else where in Africa. The very affordable accommodation and facilities with well maintained roads is quite a wonderful experience.
Now and again you will sight at lions, elephants, wild dogs, leopards, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, cheetahs, buffalos, antelopes, reptiles and a variety of species of insect in a single tour.
Among the various bird species you will be able to spot the very many eagles, water birds, hawks and numerous indigenous and migrating species that all total up to about 510 different species.
There is also an option to spoil your with a self drive tour to view a descent number of wildlife particularly in the Southern and Central regions of this enormous park which is actually large than Ireland. The north part of the park has very few animals because of the dry condition and few tourists who visit that part of the park thus making it an isolated place.
Because variety spices up life, then a safari in South Africa taken in Kruger national Park is an ideal option.
2. Sabi Sands GR
Sabi sands game reserve lays on the west side of Kruger National Park and the two parks boarders are not defined by a fence. The reserve has many worldwide renowned concessions that include Sabi Sabi, Londelozi and Mala Mala.
The elimination of a fence between these two parks enables the animals to move freely and make game viewing in the reserve a wonderful experience as it is in Kruger National Park with only a single difference. Since the park is privately managed, you are allowed to track game off-road thus providing a better plat form to find hard to find big cats, rhinos, large parks of wild dogs, elephants and buffalos. Available in the safari vehicles are radio calls which are used to communicate between the safari cars such that if someone finds significant, they can alert the others.
The intersecting river sabi and river sand in the reserve form a central point which attracts a number of wildlife in this place particularly during the dry season.
In the whole of South Africa, viewing elusive big cats is highly in this reserve guaranteed and the accommodation offered here in places such as Singita Lodge is one of the best worldwide. In the history of Conde Nast Gold List Reader Poll, this lodge was the only and first accommodation to attain a perfect score of 100 and keep the honor for three consecutive years. This reserve has almost thirty different high class lodges.
Facilities in this reserve are quite costly so unless you have traveled with enough money, this place may remain out of reach for you. For this reason, it doesn’t rank as the Nr one among the South African Safari National reserves and parks.
3. Hluhluwe Umfolozi NP
For those who would love to view the endangered white and black rhinos, this reserve is the right place to visit, and not to forget it is the place where the relentless wave of extinction through south of Africa state from.
Today it prides of having the biggest population of white rhinos in the whole world with a total of over 1600, and a steadily increasing 400 in total population of the black rhinos.
In this reserve too tou will catch sight of lions, buffalos, cheetahs, leopards and elephants. In addition, you will view over 400 different species of birds that have so far been brought to book. Because of the vast number of inhabitant elephants, you may crisscross with them as you go through the park.
In the presence of armed Prk rengers, you may treat yourself to a walk through park or opt for an extended trek in the southern Umfolozi region.
4. Madikwe GR
This place’s history is more like the Noah’s Ark tale because majority of the wildlife in this park was relocated from different areas in the year 1991.
About twenty seven various species totaling to more than 10,000 heads of animals were relocated into this place but with time, the numbers were cut down because of hunting and destroying of the natural environment.
The advantage of having a safari in this park is that this south African region is not located in the malaria zone, thus you needn’t worry about prescribing malaria doses as it is required in other parks.
You will be spoilt at the sight of the Big Five, packs of wild dogs and cheetahs. The numerous dogs are commonly seen now and again patrolling their territories. Chances of catching sight of these wild dogs are more guaranteed in this park than all other parks.
Unque antelope species like the gemsbok, sable and eland will be seen here too. Game viewing in this place is a serene and lonely activity because very few tourists are aware about this spectacular game reserve.
5. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
The occupants of this area appreciate that this place is a superb game park and it falls in the category of a country’s “best kept secret” that many countries have for reasons unknown, so the reserve does not get the popularity it deserves among tourists.
Probably since this park is located in the Kalahari Desert and many people don’t associate with desert wildlife, although there are options to this rule, thus this park meets the requirements.
You will be aable to view some rare and spectacular game such as gemsbok antelopes which can survive for months without water, blue wildedeests, red hartebeest, springbok and the eland.
Remember, where ever you find numerous antelopes, there is always predators in the nearby surrounding such as black-maned lions which are quite few in this area, cheetahs and leopards which always make use of the open landscape to chase after their prey.
The meerkat –suricate is commonly seen in addition to the bat-eared foxes and all these do their hunting in this park.
This park is famous for birds of prey like the sociable weaver and sociable weaver which build their nest that are an equivalent of bird apartment blocks that are usually too big that they break tree branches on which they r built.
Agulhas National Park
The park lies in the far Southern part of the Africa Continent, where the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Oceans meet creating one of the early explorer’s feared places.
Addo National Park Safari
The park was proclaimed to protect the remaining Elephants in Addo area in 1931 since they where less than 15. At one time, it hard the largest herd in the Eastern Cape with 140 Elephants.
Augrabies Falls National Park
Augrables waterfalls roars only 56 meters. The sound of the waterfalls is deafening when the Orange river is full.
The Khoi-Khoi renamed the Falls “Aukoerebis”, which means place of great noise.
Bontebok National Park
Bontabok National Park provides a real holiday destination experience inform of natural beauty and colour with doors to diverse idyllic relaxation spots and adventures.
Golden Gate Highlands National park.
Golden Gate is situated in the Free State Province in the North Eastern, 360Km South of Johannesburg. This Golden Gate highland lies in the hills that make up the base of Maluti mountains.
Karoo National Park
Karoo National park offers you a chance to experience dusk and dawn. Any traveler visiting S. Africa has to experience the colors, which illuminate the beauty of Karoo, with hope to witness the natural splendor of the country.
Knysna National Lake Area
Knysna’s holiday destination is well-known for its forest friendly people lagoon. The park provides an excellent and beautiful atmosphere for planning your gateway and well-known for its friendly people.
Mountain Zebra National Park.
Cape mountain zebras faced extinction in the early 1930’s and a few were left in Cradock district. This led to the proclamation of Mountain Zebra National Park in July 1937, by the Trustees of the National Park’s board.
Richter’s Veld National Park.
This is a mountain desert park located in the north by Orange River curve. The terrain is undulating and rugged and differ in form of wind sculpted rock formations.
Tsitsikamma National Park (Garden Route).
The National park is located in the middle of the Golden Route in the Southern Eastern East area of the Western Cape Province of South Africa.
Wilderness National Park
Wilderness National Park is situated in the heart of the Garden route. Through the wilderness Nature trails and relaxing rivers are provided and also a home to King fisher species
West Coast National Park.
To protect the migratory birds that once were seen at the park and the wetland area, measures to proclaim the park area were raised in 1985.
Knysna’s holiday destination is well-known for its forest friendly people lagoon. The park provides an excellent and beautiful atmosphere for planning your gateway and well-known for its friendly people. It’s a pleasure to travel 500km from Cape town to Scenic Garden Route. The Coastline climate makes Kynsna one of the memorable and exciting place to stay during your holiday.
Visitors of Knysna National Lake area can look out for the memorable experience of dining on fresh seafood dishes and open African sky camping.
Months of summer are ideal for visitors to enjoy. The environment is characterized by warm sunshine on the waters of the tidal lagoon.
The area provides excellent fun activities and you are taken further to experience the natural beauty of the park.
The Knysna River Estuary and the nearby lagoon provide the great natural colourful wildlife in the area. The National Lake area is a home to a variety of sea creatures as well as the endangered Knysna sea horse, which drifts amongst seaweed clusters in a carefree manner and enjoy the stable conditions of the lagoon.
Among the birds spotted in summer time include sand pipers, Green shanks and Grey plovers. While in the lagoon, you can spot the Cormorants, Egrets, Gulls and Ibises especially in winter season. Also spotted for bird watchers are the Cape shoveller endangered African Oyster catcher, Avocet and Black winged stilt. This great scenery for bird life provides excellent bird views and photo opportunities. The bird trees are located at Rondevlei and Langulei.
There is no national Park infrastructure worthy to mention despite calling the lagoon a protected area. The lagoon can be accessed from various points in Knysna. In the town of Knysna, it’s the best way to find accommodation. The place provides private bed and breakfast with a comfortable and pleasant opportunity for relaxation.
The town is also well known for its various activities, which include water sports, secluded sports, forest trails, picnicking and hiking as well. All these allow you to explore these areas for hours either on your mountain bike or on your foot.
Among the water sports include, sailing, fishing, power boats and wind surfing.
While water skiing is being permitted in Swartulei and at the island lake.
Knysna is easily accessible, with the national airport being 70km away in the toen of George. Kynsna is a place to explore so come with your swimming costumes to enjoy the fresh waters in the lazy sunshine of Kynsna.
