Ditch the tourist-packed hotspots for lesser-known gems that offer peace, solitude, and unspoiled wilderness. These ten off-the-beaten-path safari spots promise an unforgettable adventure where you can experience nature without jostling for the best view.
1. Explore the Undiscovered Charms of Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia
Liuwa Plain National Park is one of Africa’s best-kept secrets. It’s where nature lovers can observe the spectacular wildebeest migration without the bustling crowds.
Here, you’re surrounded by expansive plains that stretch as far as your eyes can see, dotted with elephants, cheetahs, and, of course, the iconic wildebeests themselves. The park is a treasure trove for the informed and adventurous traveler.
2. Experience the Serenade of Solitude at Nyika Plateau, Malawi
Up high in the peaks of northern Malawi, Nyika Plateau offers an experience that is as breathtaking as it is secluded.
With its rolling grasslands teeming with zebras, and the rare sight of orchids and alpine flowers blooming amidst a stunning backdrop, Nyika is a botanical wonderland. It’s perfect for those who love a good trek coupled with some birdwatching.
Did you know? Nyika is Malawi’s largest national park, yet it’s blissfully free from throngs of visitors! An ideal spot for nature photographers seeking solitude.
3. Discover the Wildlife Drama in Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda
Tucked into Uganda’s northeastern corner, Kidepo Valley is one of those rare places where you can still feel like you’ve traveled back in time.
With its jagged hills and vast grasslands, Kidepo is home to lions, elephants, and a wealth of bird species. Visitors often find themselves sharing the landscape with no one but its native wildlife.
This park offers not only a lavish palette of Africa’s grand animals but also a quiet thrill, thanks to its remoteness and seclusion—qualities that must be experienced to be truly appreciated.
4. Traverse the Rugged Beauty of Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia
Crowned by seemingly endless skies, the Bale Mountains in Ethiopia offer a stark, stunning landscape that beckons to the adventurous soul.
This park is a refuge for the rare Ethiopian wolf and mountain nyala, surrounded by towering peaks and mysterious valleys draped in mist.
Don’t forget your hiking boots—Bale is a paradise for those who enjoy walking amidst the clouds.
5. Navigate the Hidden Paths of Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, Malawi
For those who prefer a safari that involves blending into the natural elements, Nkhotakota is an ecological haven.
This untouched reserve boasts a dense canopy and countless rivers, perfect for a quiet, reflective journey. Elephants roam freely here, ensuring any encounter is both humbling and exhilarating.
The reserve is not just about its wildlife—it’s about reconnecting with nature in a deeply personal way.
6. Experience Desert Wonders at Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia
Namib-Naukluft National Park is a dreamscape of towering sand dunes, vast salt pans, and endless horizons. The surreal beauty of this place makes it a must-visit for anyone who loves photography or simply wants to be awed by nature.
Wildlife here is as unique as the landscape, with oryx, springboks, and jackals thriving in the harsh desert environment.
7. Delve into the Pristine Wilderness of Marakele National Park, South Africa
Marakele is a relatively unknown gem, teeming with biodiversity and nestled within the Waterberg mountains.
It’s a park where rhinos and leopards prevail, and each turn in the road can reveal a mesmerizing view over the surrounding landscapes.
Its blend of mountain scenery and African wildlife delivers an experience worth every mile of getting there.
8. Explore the Oceanic Meets Terrestrial Beauty of iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa
Combining both marine and land-based beauty, iSimangaliso is South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From vast wetlands teeming with hippos and crocs to sandy beaches where turtles nest, this site celebrates biodiversity like no other.
It offers a blend of water and land adventures, providing an endless range of activities for all sorts of adventurers.
9. Find Serenity in the Naturally Enhanced Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Botswana & South Africa
For a classic desert safari, Kgalagadi offers dramatic scenery with red dunes and dry riverbeds.
Lions with striking black manes roam these rugged landscapes that portray an almost otherworldly sense of tranquility and isolation.
It is a setting where every glance holds an echo of timeless beauty and unflinching freedom.
10. Traverse the Untamed Remote Charter of Ruvuma River Reserve, Tanzania
This lesser-explored reserve offers a remote wilderness experience along the enchanting waters of the Ruvuma River.
Crocodiles and hippos dominate the river as giraffes and antelopes grace the land traced by barefoot paths.
Perfect for those yearning a connection to the wild at its most visceral and serene.
Closing: Ignite Your Spirit of Adventure!
Exploring Africa’s lesser-known safari spots isn’t just about avoiding crowds—it’s about experiencing the continent in its purest form. These hidden gems offer a connection to nature that’s raw, intimate, and profoundly rewarding.
Have you ever visited any of these less crowded game reserves and parks in Africa? Please let us know your story in the comments below! And make sure to follow me on my socials.
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!
