Big is beautiful
Selous lion - photo by Marie-Paule Schaijes
Ruaha leopard - photo by Marie-Paule Schaijes
Red-billed oxpecker on giraffe - photo by Marie-Paule Schaijes
Maybe big is not always the only standard of beauty - as witnessed in these exquisite photos by Marie-Paule Schaijes, taken while staying in Tanzania.
But here we are listing the National Parks and Reserves of Africa by size, just to put things in perspective. Hats off to these African countries for the work they do conserving their wildlife for the world.
Africa’s Largest National Parks (sq. km)
Mudumu National Park, Namibia: 85,000
Namib-Nankluft Park, Namibia: 49,768
Kafue National Park, Zambia: 22,400
Etosha National Park, Namibia: 22,270
Ruaha National Park, Tanzania: 20,226
Kruger National Park, South Africa: 19,455
Luvushi Manda National Park, Malawi: 15,000
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania: 14,763
Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe: 14,651
Gemsbok National Park, Botswana: 12,800
Chobe National Park, Botswana: 10,566
South Luangwa National Park, Zambia: 9,050
Lake Kariba Recreational Park, Zimbabwe: 5,200
Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe: 5,053
Uwanda National Park, Tanzania: 5,000
North Luangwa National Park, Zambia: 4,636
Fish River Canyon National Park, Namibia: 4,347
Nxai Pan National Park, Botswana: 4,000
Makgadikgadi National Park, Botswana: 3,900
Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda: 3,885
Kaudum Game Park, Namibia: 3,800
Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia: 3,660
Mkomazi National Park, Tanzania: 3,600
Mikumi National Park, Tanzania: 3,230
Mweru Wantipa National Park, Zambia: 3,134
Nyika National Park, Malawi: 3,134
Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia: 3,000
Lukusuzi National Park, Zambia: 2,720
Tarangire National Park, Tanzania: 2,600
Katavi National Park, Tanzania: 2,253
Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe: 2,190
Nsumbu National Park, Zambia: 2,020
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda: 2,000
Kasungu National Park, Malawi: 2,000
Chizarira National Park, Zimbabwe: 1,910
West Luangwa National Park, Zambia: 1,684
Masaai Mara National Reserve, Kenya: 1,672
Skeleton Coast National Park, Namibia: 1,600
Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania: 1,577
Matusadona National Park, Zimbabwe: 1,407
Kidepo National Park, Uganda: 1,334
Mt. Elgon National Park, Uganda: 1,145
Udzungwa Mountains National Park, Tanzania: 1,000
Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Uganda: 996
Africa’s Largest Game Reserves and Conservation Areas (sq. km)
Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania: 55,000
Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana: 52,000
Rungwa-Kisigo-Muhesi game reserves ecosystem, Tanzania: 24,774
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania: 8,288
Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana: 3,000
Khutse Game Reserve, Botswana: 2,600
Nkhorakota Game Reserve, Malawi: 1,802
Source: African Almanac (after revisions due to recent additions to Ruaha NP)