Hidden Wild Parks

Our team of Africa travel designers; Petra van Seters, Michal van Bavel and Mariëtte Boomsma; and our director Jozef Verbuggen will take you to the lesser-known game reserves: the continent’s best-kept treasures. These remote areas, where pristine nature takes center stage, are ideal for experienced safari goers who want to look beyond the beaten path. You will enjoy diverse landscapes and outstanding wildlife experiences, at peace and at a pace that leaves room to discover more. The ultimate African wilderness, Where the world can’t find you….

1. Mkomazi – Tanzania

Located in northern Tanzania, Mkomazi National Park is a dry, wide area of bushland, ancient baobab trees and savanna forests. The park is an important refuge for endangered animals such as the black rhino and the African wild dog, and is home to a total of 78 mammal species. During game drives or walking safaris, you can spot giraffes, elephants, lions, leopards and numerous other animals. Bird lovers can look forward to more than 400 species, from colorful weavers to impressive martial eagles.

2. Liuwa Plain – Zambia

More than 150 years ago, King Lubosi Lewanika of Barotseland laid the foundation for Liuwa Plain National Park in Zambia, where people and wildlife live together. Twenty years of cooperation between the local government and the community have restored the park: the lion population grew from one lioness to a healthy group, the wildebeest migration is the second largest in Africa, and hyenas, cheetahs and wild dogs are also thriving. At the same time, thousands of residents are benefiting from sustainable agriculture, beekeeping, education and tourism.

3. Katavi – Tanzania

Established in 1974, the Katavi National Park is one of Tanzania’s most pristine parks and is known for its exceptional abundance of wildlife. It is home to large concentrations of buffalo, elephants and hippos. Especially at the end of the dry season, the spectacle is impressive: in the last deep water pools, up to two hundred hippos sometimes gather. The landscape varies from flooded grassy plains to steep rocky slopes, with forests, swamps and green riverbanks. The area around the Katuma River and seasonal lakes Katavi and Chada offers the best opportunities for wildlife spotting, making the park a pure and unforgettable safari destination.

4. Cuatir – Angola

Deep in the east of Angola lies the Cuatir Conservation Area, a reserve known for its exceptional tranquility and untouched nature. The area consists of vast woodland savannas, rivers and quiet swamps where various wildlife species live in complete freedom. Visitors can explore the reserve on game trails, quad tours through the savannah or a boat trip on the Cubango River, which further contributes to the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Cuatir is a destination for travelers seeking pure wilderness and complete silence.

5. Iona – Angola

In southwestern Angola lies Iona National Park, the northern end of the Namib Desert, considered one of the oldest deserts in the world. The area is known for red sand dunes, a rugged coast full of shipwrecks and the characteristic Welwitschia plants. Despite major losses during decades of conflict, species such as zebra, oryx and springbok remained present, as well as smaller populations of cheetah, leopard and brown hyena. Since 2019, the Angolan government has been working to protect and restore the area. This led to important steps, such as the return of the Angolan giraffe in 2023 and 2024.

6. North Luangwa – Zambia

North Luangwa National Park is located in the oldest part of Africa’s Great Rift Valley and is formed by the Luangwa River. The park, established as a game reserve in 1938 and a national park since 1972, is part of a protected area of 30,000 km². Thanks to the North Luangwa Conservation Program, which engages communities in conservation, the park has been on the IUCN Green List since 2022. The area is home to Zambia’s largest elephant population and healthy populations of lion, leopard, buffalo and unique species such as Cookson’s wildebeest. Due to its remote location and low visitor numbers, North Luangwa is a quiet safari destination.

Travel proposal