The 12 World’s Most Amazing National Parks

Table of Contents

1. Serengeti National park
2. Kruger National Park
3. Galapagos National Park
4. Fiordland National Park
5. Ranthambore National Park
6. Vatnajokull National Park
7. Kakadu National Park
8. Komodo National Park
9. Yala National Park
10. Khao Sok National Park
11. Banff National Park
12. Yosemite National Park

National parks exist to protect mother nature’s diverse ecosystems, incredible wildlife, and beautiful landscapes. There are a lot of ways to explore these beautiful reserves ranging from the highest peaks to the deepest valleys. You can trek, climb rocks, or kayak. If you are an avid traveler, this article is for you. In this post, we are going to share with you the world’s most amazing national parks. By visiting these national parks, you’ll not only expand your mind but also have an amazing experience. Let’s get started!

1. Serengeti National park

The Serengeti National Park is located in Tanzania and a part of it overflows into the Maasai Mara in Kenya. It is among the best places to watch wildlife in the world. It is famous for the annual migration where millions of wildebeest, gazelle, and zebra move to the Maasai Mara in Kenya in search of pasture and water.

There are also predators in this national park. Therefore, it’s quite difficult to check out without seeing a killing as you drive around the park. Apart from the annual migration, the Serengeti has a lot to offer. And you’ll have a great experience when there are few visitors in the park. You can enjoy a glamping experience or get the best views by taking a hot air balloon safari.

2. Kruger National Park

This is the flagship national park of South Africa. It’s the best place to spot leopards, elephants, buffalos, rhinos, and lions in their natural habitat. Kruger National Park borders Zimbabwe and Mozambique. And it covers fourteen eco-zones where each is a habitat for different animals. The best part about this national park is you don’t have to hire a guide to have an amazing experience.

It’s perfect for both night drives and self-drive. If you don’t want to spend most of your time driving, there are hiking trails. The river banks are a great place to watch wildlife.

3. Galapagos National Park

Galapagos is located off Ecuador’s coast and it’s among the most biologically diverse destinations on the planet. It was established back in 1959 and it has a unique ecosystem. Some of the fish, plants, and animals here cannot be found in any other destination in the world. It’s the only place where you’ll find penguins in the northern hemisphere. Researchers have also reported that the population of iguanas is more than the people. It also has a unique species of penguins, tortoises, and lizards.

The unique marine life is also protected by the Galapagos Marine Reserve. And this includes the Galapagos sea lion, Galapagos green sea turtle, and the marine iguana. Cruising around the islands is the best way to explore the park both on and off the land. However, you should be prepared to spend.

4. Fiordland National Park

This national park is located in New Zealand and it’s one of the largest on earth. Fiordland is home to a wide range of glacier-tipped fjords. A popular highlight is the Milford Sound which is one of the most popular destinations in the world. It is the only fjord that you can reach by road. While Milford Sound is a few hours’ drive from Queensland, the annual number of visitors communicates something. You’ll get to see raging waterfalls, beautiful mountains, and spectacular wildlife. There’s no other place in the world like Milford Sound. The flightless kakapo parrot and the flightless takahe bird have been spotted in this national park. The key highlights of this park are the Te Anau Caves and Lake Te Anau.

5. Ranthambore National Park

This is one of the most popular and biggest national parks in India. It is located in southeast Rajasthan and is known for its Bengal tigers. It’s one of the few parks in the region where you can see these huge cats in their habitat. The best time to visit Ranthambore is between November and May.

Apart from tigers, you’ll get to see sloth bears, Indian leopards, and striped hyenas to name a few. If you get tired of watching wildlife, you can visit the ancient ruins that are scattered all over the park. And this includes a historic fortress that overlooks the jungle. At this point, you can easily spot vultures and serpent eagles.

6. Vatnajokull National Park

There are three national parks in Iceland and one of them is the Vatnajokull national park. Some of its key characteristics include breathtaking waterfalls, glacial ice, active volcanoes, and deep valleys. Its glacier is the second largest outside the Arctic. You can visit this park any time of the year. There are lots of amazing facilities which include free parking, free toilets, and internet.

There are also multiple ways to explore the park. There are skiing trips, guided treks, ice climbing, jeep safaris, snowmobiling, sailing trips, and ice walks.

7. Kakadu National Park

Kakadu is located in Australia and it’s the largest park in the region. To explore most of the areas, you’ll need at least a week. It’s a great place to visit if you want to immerse yourself in nature and get to know an amazing culture. You’ll discover lots of wildlife in the woodlands, coastal wetlands, and wilderness. If you love fishing, this is a great place to visit. If you love bird watching, there are lots of birds that call this national park home. You’ll also get to explore original rock art sites that date back thousands of years.

8. Komodo National Park

Komodo is located in Indonesia. And it is made up of three main islands – Rinca, Komodo, and Padar. As the name suggests, the park is known for Komodo Dragons. These are the biggest lizards in the world. They grow as long as three meters in length and weigh more than seventy kilograms. Apart from the lizards, you’ll spot water buffalos, wild horses, Timor deer, wild boars, and long-tailed macaques. The park also has some of the best marine habitats on the globe.

It’s home to more than two hundred species of coral and a wide range of crustaceans, sponges, and bony fishes. The shark and sea turtle are common sightings for snorkelers and divers. Whales and dolphins are also spotted here frequently.

9. Yala National Park

This park is located in Sri Lanka and it’s the second-largest in the region. It has numerous ecosystems including forests, lagoons, wetlands, beaches, and grassland. All these ecosystems are natural habitats for thousands of species. The most popular animals to see here are the Sri Lankan Leopard and the Sri Lankan Elephant. The park is also home to more than 200 species of bird. Therefore, if you love watching birds, this is the place to be. Close to 90 bird species live in the wetlands. And most of them migrate. They include flamingoes, herons, egrets, and pelicans.

You can visit all the ecosystems with or without a guide. However, only a small area in the park requires guidance. Visit the Yala National Park for further information

10. Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok is located on the southwest coast of Thailand. And it has been a protected area since the early 80s. The landscape is made up of waterfalls, native forests, lakes, mountains, karsts, and limestone cliffs. The climate is mainly influenced by the Pacific and Indian oceans that create monsoons that pour down the land bridge regularly.

The national park has the highest rainfall rate due to these frequent downpours. The high amount of rainfall makes thick and lush forests of banana and bamboo. Some of the animals that can be easily spotted here include elephants, tigers, cloud leopards, bats, and gibbons to name a few. Visiting this huge national park will allow you to explore the mountainous regions with a guide and even a kayak.

11. Banff National Park

The Banff national park is located in Canada in the Alberta Rockies region. And it is one of the most beautiful places in the world. It is tucked within forested slopes and mountain peaks. There are two towns in the area namely Lake Louise and Banff. Apart from these two towns, other areas of the park have not been touched. And this makes it the best place to spot wildlife. Some of the animals that you should expect to see include moose, black bears, bighorn sheep, and mountain lions. You can ride up the mountains for breathtaking views if you are not on a budget.

12. Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is located in the United States and it’s one of the most popular national parks in the world for a reason. It has a diverse and unique landscape of cascading waterfalls, granite clifftops, multiple lakes, and a few streams. You should visit Glacier Point to have a breathtaking view of the Yosemite Valley. There are lots of fun activities for everyone including hiking, rock climbing, horse riding, golfing, and skiing to name a few. This park is home to more than 300 species of animals and 150 bird species.

Conclusion

Traveling not only expands your mind but it’s also good for your health. With all these national parks, you can never run out of beautiful places to visit. Which national park do you want to visit next with your loved ones?

Author Bio:

Eun Rockwell is a blogger and academic writer who works with EduGeeksClub. She likes trying new subjects and is always focused on proving her worth as a writer in new and challenging writing areas. Her hobbies are reading books and traveling.