Africa’s Most Remote Game Reserves — How to Get There and What to Expect
Africa is home to some of the last truly wild places on Earth. While many safari-goers flock to well-known parks like the Serengeti or Kruger, those seeking a deeper connection with nature must venture further. Remote game reserves offer unspoiled landscapes, rare wildlife sightings, and an exclusive experience far from the crowds. These destinations require effort to reach, but the reward is an authentic and breathtaking encounter with Africa’s untamed wilderness.
This guide will take you through the most remote game reserves in Africa, how to access them, and what to expect when you arrive.
Why Visit Africa’s Remote Game Reserves?
Remote game reserves provide an experience unlike any other. Unlike popular national parks where game drives might involve following a convoy of vehicles, these reserves offer true solitude and uninterrupted wildlife encounters. You’re not just a visitor—you become part of the landscape, moving through terrain that has remained unchanged for centuries.
Aside from their untouched beauty, these locations play a crucial role in conservation. By visiting, you directly contribute to the protection of endangered species and support local communities. Many of these reserves limit visitor numbers, ensuring that tourism remains sustainable and minimizes environmental impact.
Here’s what makes these remote locations special:
Pristine landscapes with vast savannahs, dense forests, and arid deserts
Rare and elusive wildlife, such as black rhinos, wild dogs, and desert lions
Authentic cultural experiences with Indigenous communities who have lived in harmony with nature for generations
Exclusive and intimate safaris, often without another vehicle in sight
If you’re ready to step off the beaten path, these are the most incredible remote reserves in Africa, and you need to know what to know before visiting them.
1. Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda
Getting There
Kidepo Valley National Park is one of Uganda’s most secluded parks, located in the far north near the South Sudanese border. The journey itself is part of the adventure. There are two main ways to reach the park:
By air: The fastest and most convenient way is to take a domestic flight from Entebbe to the Kidepo airstrip, which takes about two hours.
By road: A much longer and more challenging option is a 12-hour drive from Kampala, passing through rough and rugged terrain. This route is ideal for those looking for a road trip through some of Uganda’s most scenic and remote areas.
What to Expect
Kidepo is often called “Africa’s last true wilderness.” The vast, golden savannah is surrounded by rugged mountains, creating a dramatic backdrop for wildlife viewing. The park is home to a variety of species not commonly found in other Ugandan parks, including:
Lions and cheetahs—Kidepo is one of the few places in Uganda where you can spot cheetahs.
Massive buffalo herds—These can number in the thousands, a spectacular sight in the dry season.
Over 475 bird species, making it a paradise for birdwatchers.
Because of its remoteness, Kidepo remains one of Africa’s best-kept secrets, offering a true off-the-grid safari experience.
2. North Luangwa National Park, Zambia
Getting There
North Luangwa is the definition of wild. Unlike its more accessible southern counterpart, this park is strictly protected, and access is limited. The only ways to reach it are:
We will take a chartered flight to Mwaleshi Airstrip, followed by a guided safari into the park.
An organized tour, as self-drives are not permitted, ensures that only experienced guides navigate its untamed terrain.
What to Expect
This park is not for the casual tourist—it’s for those looking for a raw and immersive safari experience. North Luangwa is best known for its exceptional walking safaris, where you explore the bush on foot with expert guides. This allows for a thrilling and intimate experience with wildlife, including:
Black rhinos, which have been successfully reintroduced to the park.
Large elephant and buffalo herds are often seen congregating around water sources.
A high density of predators, including lions and leopards, makes it an excellent destination for big cat sightings.
With no permanent lodges and only a handful of visitors each year, this park offers a rare glimpse into Africa’s wild heart.
3. Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
Getting There
Ruaha is Tanzania’s largest national park, yet it remains one of its least visited due to its remote location. To get there:
Take a domestic flight from Dar es Salaam or Arusha to Msembe Airstrip, located inside the park.
Drive from Iringa, a journey that takes around 10 hours over rough terrain.
What to Expect
Ruaha is a predator-rich landscape with an impressive concentration of big cats. It has one of the largest lion populations in Africa, alongside:
African wild dogs are an endangered species rarely seen in other parks.
Huge elephant herds, particularly during the dry season when they gather around the Great Ruaha River.
Diverse landscapes, from vast plains to rolling hills and thick woodlands.
Because Ruaha receives fewer visitors than the Serengeti, you’ll often have entire wildlife sightings to yourself, making it a top choice for those seeking an unspoiled safari.
4. Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia
Getting There
Reaching Liuwa is a challenge, as it’s one of the most isolated parks in Zambia. Options include:
By charter flight from Lusaka to Kalabo, followed by a 3-hour drive into the park.
By 4×4, a demanding drive requiring self-sufficiency and an experienced guide.
What to Expect
Liuwa is home to Africa’s second-largest wildebeest migration, an awe-inspiring spectacle with thousands of animals moving across the golden plains.
It’s also one of the best places to see cheetahs in Zambia, and there are a high number of hyenas, which outnumber lions in the region. The park is pristine, with few visitors and no large lodges, making it ideal for those seeking a private safari experience.
Final Thoughts
Africa’s most remote game reserves offer something truly special—an experience where nature reigns supreme, where you can witness wildlife without the distractions of modern tourism. These destinations are not the easiest to reach, but they offer the ultimate safari adventure for those who seek authenticity.
Whether it’s tracking gorillas in Bwindi, exploring the vast wilderness of North Luangwa, or marveling at the desert-adapted wildlife of Namib, these reserves promise an unforgettable journey into the heart of Africa’s wild landscapes.
What Do You Think?
Would you travel to one of these remote destinations? Which of these game reserves intrigues you the most?
If you’ve already visited one of these hidden gems, share your insights and let others know what to expect!
Who am I? Well, the least you can say is that I am quite crazy about Africa, its nature, its climate, its culture, and more.
As a young woman in my twenties, I had already traveled to several African countries by traveling along in an overlander on my own and mostly camping ( or glamping ) and just fell in love with the diversity of it all.
So much, so that at the age of 26, I went back to university to study biology, which, unfortunately, I couldn’t finish because of health reasons (yes, I got sick from a tropical disease, oh cynicism). But this did not stop my dream of traveling back to Africa several times, and I still do.
My dream was back then to leave Europe and go study animal behavior, especially the elephants (sure, that’s every girl’s dream haha), but I am also very much intrigued by hyenas and other “ugly African animals“.
So, I “kind of” have a little bit of a scientific approach to my articles, when I write about African birds, for example. And most of all: the passion.
But life goes on, you move from one side of the country to the other, you get sick again and top it off with lower back problems, and before you know it, you are over 50 hahaha!
Now, I still travel to Africa, but take it a bit “easier” than the good old camping days, and stay in comfortable, yet affordable accommodations, together with my husband Wouter.
These are some of the countries I have traveled to: Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Tunisia, and a little bit of Lesotho LOL .
While clearly not being African territory, but Spanish, I also visited Gran Canaria and Tenerife, and location-wise, I consider them “African”, because of their climate and nature, sue me :-p
The last trip I took was to South Africa in the year 2023, and it sure got the fevers for Africa back! From the Barberton mountains to the Drakensberg and the Southcoast, one month wasn’t enough at all to see the whole country, so we’ll be back! At ease and with a little bit more luxury than in my younger days haha!
