Visit 3 Unique National Parks In South Africa For More Than Wildlife

While Kruger National Park is world-famous as one of the best safari destinations in South Africa, the country has other equally excellent national parks to visit. The following do still have wildlife, but they also stand out for their magnificent scenery. Read on to find out more about these national parks for your next adventure in South Africa.

1. Addo Elephant National Park, Eastern Cape

Addo Elephant National Park covers 1,640 km² (630 mi²) and is located in the Eastern Cape, close to the southern tip of central South Africa. The park is the third-largest in the country after Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

Meanwhile, Addo Elephant National Park hosts more than 600 elephants, over 400 cape buffaloes and 50 black rhinoceroses. Moreover, other species seen here include hartebeest, hyena, lion, warthog and zebra.

There are plans to add a marine reserve and neighboring islands to the park, more than doubling its size. Once done, this introduces the great white shark as one of the more interesting species in the protected area. Of interest to note, the islands feature the largest collection of gannets in the world and are home to African penguins.

Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Free State, South Africa

Located in Free State, close to the Lesotho border, Golden Gate Highlands National Park covers an area of 340 km² (223 mi²). While it doesn’t feature the Big 5 of African wildlife, a variety of animals graze the grasslands. These include blesbok, eland, oribi, springbok and zebra. Moreover, they can all roam freely here due to the lack of any real predators.

Meanwhile, what makes this park so special are its golden, ochre and orange-hued sandstone cliffs and outcrops. One of these is known as the Brandwag Rock, pictured below.

The park is set in the Maluti Mountains, with the Caledon River flowing to the south. Meanwhile, the highest summit in Golden Gate Highlands National Park is Ribbokkop, standing at 9,281 ft (2,829 m). The vegetation here is a combination of Highveld and Montane grasslands, as well as the Afromontane Forest.

Table Mountain National Park, Western Cape, South Africa

Most people have seen the amazing Table Mountain, backing the city of Cape Town in South Africa. Besides the amazing scenery, seen best from Bloubergstrand Beach, there is more to this spectacular mountain. Table Mountain National Park neighbors the city, covering 221 km² (85 mi²).

The national park forms part of the greater Cape Floral Region World Heritage Site and protects more than 1,100 indigenous vegetation species. In fact, a number of these species are endemic and occur nowhere else in the world. While not famous for its wildlife, some species you may encounter include dassie, fallow deer, hartebeest, rock hyrax and zebra.

Another popular activity here is bird watching, as more than 250 species of bird can be seen. Among the highlights are ostrich, African penguin and various sunbirds and songbirds.

Meanwhile, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the park, Bryde’s whales, humpback whales, killer whales and southern right whales can be seen. Moreover, dusky dolphins and seals are among other marine species in the national park.

Make sure to experience one of these magnificent national parks on your next visit to South Africa!