Several people outside the African continent often think of Africa as a wildlife destination. Though there are several other things to do on an African safari, it is inevitable to talk about safaris without front-lining wildlife destinations. From the tropical rain forests of Central Africa to majestic savanna national parks, Africa is such a diverse continent attracting adventure seekers who experience unforgettable experiences all year round. Here are the best destinations to consider visiting for the best wilderness wildlife experience in Africa.

1. Serengeti National Park- Tanzania
Though quite debatable Serengeti could be the safari capital of Africa. It is made special by the great migration where herds of wildlife cross the Mara River annually in search for greener pastures. What makes this experience special are the predators that wait along the banks and in the water to get for themselves what to eat during this season.

Besides the great migration highlight, Serengeti is known as one of the best destinations to encounter the Africa’s big five. The Serengeti plains stretch for miles linking with the Masai Mara National Park of Kenya. Together with the Mara Plains, the two parks host the world’s nature wonder that you will not ever find elsewhere in Africa.

2. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park- Uganda
Contrary to most of the parks on this list, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park stands out because of hosting almost half of the world’s remaining population of the mountain gorillas. Located in south western Uganda, this UNESCO world heritage site has climbed the travel ladder and today it is one of the places that do not miss of adventure seekers’ bucketlist.

The park’s most popular experience is gorilla trekking, a rewarding expedition into the tropical rain forest to meet the mountain gorillas in the wild. Gorilla watching is done all year round and there are strict rules and guidelines that enhance your safety during your meetup with great apes that you will encounter eye to eye without any barrier.

Bwindi is one of the four parks in the whole world where you can find the endangered mountain gorillas. It is the park with the highest mountain gorilla population in the whole world.

All the other mountain gorillas are distributed among three national parks, that is Mgahinga, Volcanoes and Virunga national park in Congo.

3. Kruger National Park- South Africa
The world reknowned Kruger National Park ranks among the best national parks in Africa and truly offers a rewarding experience. Stretching over 2 million hectares, there is unrivaled diversity of wildlife that draw travelers to South Africa.

In the league of safari game drives, Kruger National Park stands out as one of the great contemporaries of Serengeti National Park. As earlier stated, it is still debatable which one is better. But you should expect amazing wildlife experiences with the highlight of encountering the Africa’s big five. Kruger offers a world class experience that you can find elsewhere in the world.

4. Masai Mara National Reserve Kenya
Masai Mara is undoubtedly the Kenyan side of Serengeti National Park. Located in South West Kenya, the vast Masai Mara hosts the wildebeest migration, a nature wonder that is rated among the most exceptional wildlife spectacle on planet earth. If you wish to catch something similar to Serengeti National Park outside Tanzania, then Masai Mara is the place to be.

Masai Mara National Park is also very popular for the big five safaris. Lions, elephants, leopards and buffaloes are a common sighting in the Masai Mara National Park. It is also a great home for the Masai warriors and therefore if you are looking at an unforgettable experience with the nomads, this is the right place to be while on an African safari.

5. Volcanoes National Park- Rwanda
It is hard to talk about mountain gorillas without sliding the Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park into the mix. Located in northern Rwanda, this is the most accessible of all gorilla parks in Africa. Though Rwanda has a smaller population of mountain gorillas compared to Uganda, it has marketed itself as the prime gorilla trekking destination. Someone always has to choose between Volcanoes National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Rwanda has greatly branded its self as a luxurious gorilla trekking destination.  It also has more of world class luxury lodges for exclusive stays during your visit.

6. Ngorongoro Conservation Area- Tanzania
The Ngorongoro National Park is one of the most unique destinations in Tanzania. Situated in the northern Tanzania, Ngorongoro is a UNESCO world heritage site that protects wildlife while allowing human habitation. The park’s most notable feature is the Ngorongor Crater, a great home to over 25,000 animals including large mammals.

It has a lot of wildlife but because of research, it has very limited entry making it quite expensive compared to most of the destinations on this list. Regardless, a visit to Ngorongoro conservation area is one of the must visit on the African continent.

7. Etosha National Park- Namibia
Etosha is one of the most unique protected areas in Africa. The park’s outstanding attraction is the salt pan that is so large that it can be seen from space. There is a lot of wildlife that can be seen within this park.

Etosha is the most accessible of all national parks in South Africa. Today, Namibia is one of the leading self drive destinations on the African continent. It stands out because of its easy to access protected areas like Etosha. It is a great destination for encountering lions and elephants.

8. Chobe National Park- Botswana
Chobe is the nemesis of Etosha, it is popular for closely a similar desert wildlife experience. Herds of elephants are some of the things that make this park special. This park can be easily be included in the south African bucket list destination.

9. Okavango Delta- Botswana
The Okavango Delta offers a uniquely lush oasis within the arid landscapes of Botswana. Its seasonal floodplains and vibrant green vegetation provide a distinct safari experience that combines the rich wildlife of Chobe and the remote beauty of Etosha.

10. Kidepo Valley National Park - Uganda
One of the hidden gems of Uganda’s safari experiences is Kidepo Valley National Park. It has started getting recognition since CNN travel ranked it among the top five safari destinations on the African continent. It offers a unique wilderness experience with lions, cheetahs, ostriches and elephants.