In mid-May, South Africa hosts its annual Indaba, Africa’s most inspiring travel fair. During this fair, people catch up with old acquaintances and share the latest accommodations, recently discovered regions and special new initiatives in Africa. Inspired by this fair, Director Jozef and Travel Designer Africa Michal share some special places on the continent that they think are really worth discovering. Where the world can’t find you….
1. Liuwa Plains – Zambia
Liuwa Plains National Park is located in western Zambia, near the border with Angola, and is among the most pristine natural areas in the country. Because of its vastness and limited infrastructure, this area is still very authentic and hardly affected by tourism. The local people still live here in traditional ways and use canoes for fishing. The park is best known for the annual migration of wildebeest and zebra, which migrate to the plains from Angola and bring the landscape to life.
2. Iona – Angola
Iona National Park is one of the largest and most extraordinary parks in Angola and is known for its extreme landscapes. The area consists of endless sand dunes, impressive rock formations and vast grassy plains with scattered camelthorn trees. In this rugged landscape grows the welwitschia plant and inhabits the springbok, oryx, ostrich and hyena, among others. The park is very remote, making it feel like a place where the world is far away.
3. Nkasa Rupara – Namibia
Nkasa Rupara National Park is Namibia’ s largest protected wetlands area, covering 337 km². The park consists of reed beds, lagoons and small islands and has an ecosystem very similar to the Okavango Delta. Seasonal floods continuously change the landscape from wetlands to dry plains. The park plays an important role as a natural corridor where wildlife such as elephants and buffalo can move freely between Angola, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia.
4. Gonarezhou – Zimbabwe
One of Zimbabwe ‘s most rugged and least visited parks, Gonarezhou National Park is known for its pristine nature. The landscape consists of rivers, mopane forests, swamps and the characteristic red Chilojo Cliffs. The park is home to many elephants, predators and several antelope species. At the confluence of the Save and Runde rivers, natural water sources are created that attract many animals. The park is part of the larger Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park along with Kruger and Limpopo National Park.
5. Matobo – Zimbabwe
Matobo National Park, consists of an impressive landscape of granite rock formations formed by erosion. Culturally and historically very important, the area is known for ancient rock paintings of the Khoekhoe and archaeological sites from the Stone and Iron Age. With altitudes of up to 1,500 meters and an area of about 3,100 km², this is one of the most extraordinary and culturally rich natural areas in southern Africa.
6. Mkomazi – Tanzania
Mkomazi National Park is a large 3,245 km² nature park in northern Tanzania, set in an arid and vast landscape. The name comes from the language of the Pare tribe and means “scoop water,” referring to the aridity of the area. The park is known for its black rhinos, which live in specially protected areas and can be seen up close during safaris. It is also home to African wild dogs and about 450 species of birds, making the park particularly diverse.
7. Katavi – Tanzania
One of Tanzania ‘s most remote and pristine parks, Katavi National Park offers a true wilderness experience. The park is large, barely developed and receives very few visitors daily. Due to the lack of roads and mass tourism, the area feels very exclusive. The park is home to huge numbers of wildlife, including large groups of buffalo, hippos and crocodiles in the rivers, along with predators such as lions, leopards and hyenas, which are found here in high concentrations.
8. Mahale – Tanzania
Mahale Mountains National Park lies on the shores of Lake Tanganyika and consists of tropical rainforest transitioning into deserted sandy beaches. The park is accessible only by boat or on foot and has no roads, making it very pristine. The area is best known for the large population of chimpanzees that live here in the wild. Accompanied by guides, visitors can observe these animals in their natural habitat, along with other primates such as colobus monkeys and red-tailed monkeys.
9. Rubundo Island – Tanzania
Located in Lake Victoria in northwestern Tanzania, Rubondo Island National Park is one of the most remote nature reserves in the country. The island is mostly covered in tropical forest and has a peaceful, pristine atmosphere. The park is home to chimpanzees that have been released here, as well as elephants, giraffes and various antelopes. In addition, the area is a paradise for bird lovers, with more than 400 species of birds.
10. Usangu – Tanzania
Usangu is a vast nature reserve in southern Tanzania and, together with Ruaha National Park, forms one large ecosystem. The landscape consists of plains, grasslands and swamps that change greatly with the seasons. During the rainy season, the area becomes a wetland, while in the dry season it changes to open grass plains. This dynamic makes Usangu important for many wild animals such as elephants, buffalo, zebra and antelope. Because the area has little tourism, it offers a tranquil and pure safari experience in a pristine environment.
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