What are the best game parks in East Africa?

East Africa has an abundance of wildlife parks and reserves that all offer exceptional safari experiences

Identifying the best game parks in East Africa is a tricky exercise, as everyone’s opinion will differ. That said, the names of some parks will always crop up in such conversations, given their undeniable boasts or charms. With this in mind, here are the game parks in East Africa that are the most popular with safarigoers.

(Note that this list focuses on traditional big-game safari destinations centred on 4×4 or boating outings, not on wildlife encounters like primate tracking.)

1. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

This is perhaps Africa’s most famous national park. Found in the far north of Tanzania on the border with Kenyan border, the Serengeti is an enormous park conntaining many different habitats. But its most famous image is that of the seemingly endless flat plains that predominate.

The park boasts an exceptional density of big game, including the famed Big Five. It also has a staggering diversity of birds – over 500 species, in fact.

Perhaps most notably of all, Serengeti National Park is the main home of the Great Wildebeest Migration. This phenomenon sees well over a million wildebeests, zebras, and antelopes take part in a neverending quest for green pastures. The herds’ movements are tracked by lions, leopards, cheetahs, and other predators, and so visitors are often treated to the spectacle of a hunt or kill.

2. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

The Great Migration ecosystem extends into southern Kenya, where it’s protected by the Masai Mara National Reserve. Similar to the Serengeti, the Masai Mara is renowned for its density of wildlife, which includes the Big Five. It is, in fact, one of Africa’s best reserves for big cat sightings. Also similar to the Serengeti, it offers excellent game-viewing no matter the season.

The reserve is also popular as a place for learning about the Maasai. Kenya’s most famous tribe, the Masai live very traditional herding lives, and many villages welcome visitors to come learn about the culture.

3. Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) sits adjacent to the Serengeti in northern Tanzania. It’s a vast area with abundant plains game, but the jewel in its crown is without doubt Ngorongoro Crater.

Arguably the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, the basin floor of Ngorongoro Crater teems with wildlife. It has particularly high densities of lions, elephants, and black rhinos. In fact, it’s likely your best bet for spotting black rhinos in the wild. And also your best bet for spotting all of the Big Five in one day.

The crater’s rim is covered in thick jungle, but there are viewpoints offering panoramic vistas that are utterly spellbinding. Ngorongoro Crater really does offer an African safari like no other.

4. Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

Queen Elizabeth National Park is another shoo-in when it comes to identifying the best game parks in East Africa. It sits in southwest Uganda, with Lake Edward serving as its western boundary and Lake George forming part of its eastern boundary. The park lies within the Albertine Rift and is one of the most biodiverse locations in all of East Africa. Unsurprisingly, it’s Uganda’s top safari destination.

The standout experience for visitors to Queen Elizabeth National Park is a boat trip on Kazinga Channel. This is a natural waterway that connects the two lakes. On a boat safari you’ll see a plethora of waterbirds as well as the likes of hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, and buffaloes.

The park is also famous for the tree-climbing lions of its southern Ishasha Sector.

5. Nyerere National Park, Tanzania

Nyerere National Park in southern Tanzania is the keystone of that country’s Southern Safari Circuit. The park, named for a widely beloved former president, is one of Africa’s largest protected wilderness areas. It includes the former well-known Selous Game Reserve.

The park is known for hosting a wide range of wildlife, including the Big Five and endangered African wild dogs. The mighty Rufiji River is central to the park, and lets you enjoy boat safaris alongside traditional game drives and walking safaris. Its remote and untamed feel offers a more exclusive and adventurous safari compared to the busier parks of Tanzania’s Northern Circuit.

6. Akagera National Park, Rwanda

Located in eastern Rwanda along the border with Tanzania, Akagera National Park is the country’s top safari destination. It’s also once again a Big Five reserve after the successful reintroduction of lions and black rhinos.

Akagera is dominated by savannah, rolling hills, lakes, and wetlands. These varied habitats support a wonderful range of wildlife, including giraffes, zebras, and large hippo populations. It’s also an outstanding birding destination, boasting over 500 recorded species, which include the astonishing shoebill stork. One of the best ways to look for waterbirds and aquatic wildlife is on a boat safari on Lake Ihema.

7. Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Found in southern Kenya on the border with Tanzania, Amboseli National Park is famous for its iconic views of Mount Kilimanjaro rising up out of the surrounding plains. What’s more, elephants and giraffes often wander into the viewfinder when you’re capturing this sight, making it all the more charming. So understandably, photographers adore Amboseli.

Much of the park’s wildlife concentrates around its swamps, which are fed by underground rivers. So the wetlands are prime locations for spotting buffaloes, wildebeests, hippos, elephants, and waterbucks, among others. The park also offers world-class birding, with over 500 species having been recorded. Its waterbirds include flamingoes, pelicans, cranes, herons, egrets, storks, jacanas, ducks, and kingfishers.

8. Samburu National Reserve, Kenya

Samburu National Reserve in north-central Kenya offers a distinct safari experience compared with southern Kenya safaris. This is because it has a more rugged and arid climate, and so the wildlife here consists of species that have adapted to the harsher climate. While you can find four of the Big Five here (there are no rhinos), the park’s real allure is the presence of the so-called Samburu Special Five. These are Grevy’s zebras, reticulated giraffes, Beisa oryxes, Somali ostrichs, and gerenuks (long-necked antelopes).

Samburu National Reserve is centred on the Ewaso Ng’iro River. The river is a lifeline for wildlife, and attracts elephants, lions and other big cats to its bank. So head for the river when here for excellent game-spotting.

The park is also a lovely place to visit to learn about the traditional Samburu culture.

As should be clear by now, each destination discussed has something unique to offer that makes it a worthy part of this list of the best game parks in East Africa. If you ever get the chance to visit any of them, don’t hesitate! There’s magic to be found in each and every one of them.

Note: This blog post was rewritten on 16 January 2026