Africa, a continent renowned for its vast landscapes and iconic wildlife, is also home to a myriad of lesser-known sanctuaries that offer unique and intimate encounters with nature. Beyond the famed Serengeti and Kruger National Park, these hidden gems provide sanctuary to rare species and pristine ecosystems, untouched by mass tourism.
Kidepo Valley
Kidepo Valley National Park, located in the northeastern corner of Uganda, is one of the country’s most remote parks. Its isolation offers a truly wild and pristine experience, ideal for those seeking solitude and unspoiled nature. The park’s landscape features vast savannahs framed by rugged mountains, home to a diverse array of wildlife. Kidepo is renowned for its large herds of buffalo and elephants, as well as an impressive array of big cats.
Liuwa Plain Park
Liuwa Plain National Park in Zambia is a lesser-known yet spectacular sanctuary featuring vast open plains and dramatic seasonal transformations. This park is renowned for hosting one of Africa’s lesser-known wildlife phenomena: the annual Liuwa Plains Wildebeest Migration.
Shimba Hills Reserve
Shimba Hills Reserve in Kenya is a stunning yet lesser-known sanctuary situated just a short drive from the coastal city of Mombasa. The reserve is celebrated for its rich biodiversity and breathtaking landscapes, which include rolling hills and lush greenery. If you’re availing yourself of the services of international hotel groups such as the Minor Hotels group, try to find an accommodation partner that will let you near these establishments.
Gonarezhou Park
Gonarezhou National Park, meaning “Place of Elephants” in the local Shona language, is a majestic yet lesser-known wildlife sanctuary in southeastern Zimbabwe. It forms part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a vast conservation area that also includes South Africa’s Kruger National Park and Mozambique’s Limpopo National Park.