National parks of Africa! Travel to Africa - excursion to national parks Location of large nature reserves in Africa.

“In Africa there are sharks, in Africa there are gorillas, in Africa there are big angry crocodiles...” - it is difficult to forget that mixture of childhood curiosity and fear associated with this mysterious, and therefore alluring, distant land. Even as adults, we experience an interest that has remained in our minds since childhood: what kind of continent is this with its outlandish exotic beauties?

Unfortunately, Africa's evergreen rainforests, silent deserts, arrogant mountains, thundering waterfalls, grassy savannas and their inhabitants have become in need of protection. It's not just governments who understand this. African countries, but also many people coming from all over the world for volunteer work, which reserves and National parks Africa is received with gratitude. Their enthusiasm and selfless work made it possible to preserve many species of plants and animals.

First in Africa government structure for Nature Conservation was created in Tunisia in 1884, and only 40 years later the first national park- Taza. Currently, on the continent there are more than 600 national parks, natural monuments and reserves protected by states, and 26 of them are included in the “List of World Cultural and natural heritage» UNESCO. It is prohibited not only to hunt there, but also to carry out any work related to changing the landscape. The remaining areas are partially protected; resort and tourism activities are allowed on them. Basically, protected areas lie in the eastern and southern parts of the continent. The largest number of reserves is located in Kenya, a country in eastern Africa.

On a huge territory of more than 20 thousand square meters. km, occupying 4% of the total area of ​​Kenya, one of the largest national parks in Africa, Tsavo, was founded in 1948. A railway line runs through its territory, connecting the capital Nairobi with the popular seaside resort Mombasa.

The road divides the park into two zones - western and eastern.

The western part is more suitable for civilized recreation. There are luxury hotels here, many of which have their own runway. The eastern part, although drier, is no less interesting for tourists.

Visitors to the park are accompanied by rangers, who with pleasure and pride introduce vacationers to the Yatta Highlands, Mzima Springs, Ngulia Mountains, the Tsavo and Galana Rivers, the Idawe Hills and other natural attractions.

Particularly impressive is the Yatta Highlands, which was formed during the eruption of the Ol Doinio Sabuk volcano and is a 300-kilometer flow of solidified lava.

Another place that is definitely worth a visit is the Mzima springs, which release more than 500 million liters of water from the bowels of the earth every day.

This area is famous for its dense vegetation and exotic animals, whose life can be observed through the huge transparent wall of the underwater observatory that hosts tourists.

The flora of this vast territory is diverse. Thorn bushes grow in the savannas, and palm trees, baobabs, tamarind trees, acacias, reeds and many other plants grow along the river banks. The park is famous for its fauna. More than 60 species of animals live here: elephants, buffalos, antelopes, giraffes, rhinoceroses, lions and cheetahs. Along the banks of the rivers there are hippos and crocodiles.

Tsavo National Park is very popular among tourists; more than 250 thousand people visit it annually.

Another Kenyan national park, also very popular among tourists, is Aberdare, located on the territory of the mountain range with the same name.

Aberdare is proud of its picturesque landscapes: forests giant trees, crystal clear waterfalls on icy rivers, wastelands overgrown with heather, bamboo jungle - you can admire all this forever. This park is listed by UNESCO.

The significant altitude above sea level (about 3000 meters) affected the vegetation and animal world Aberdare. The impenetrable forests are home to elephants, monkeys, rhinoceroses, buffalos, leopards and many other animals. Visiting the park is limited to a small lowland on which two hotels are located.

From their observation platforms, curious tourists can observe the life of animals and enjoy the beauty wildlife, opening in all its splendor.

The highest single peak in the world that tourists can walk along is Mount Kilimanjaro; one of its three peaks, Kibo, rises 5895 m above sea level.

The other two are called Shira and Mawenzi. The foot of the mountain is also located quite high - at an altitude of 1830 meters. This is a dormant but not extinct volcano, which sometimes makes threatening sounds and ejects a cloud of gases through the crater.

beauty surrounding nature Kilimanjaro National Park is complemented by a wealth of wildlife. Here you can find: elephants, rhinoceroses, leopards, lions, as well as several species of monkeys. The world of birds and insects is so diverse that it has always attracted researchers and biologists here.

The small Central African country of Rwanda is famous for its natural attraction, the Volcanic National Park, which occupies a relatively small area of ​​130 square meters. km. It was here that the Hollywood film “Gorillas in the Mist”, released in 1988, was filmed.

The park is located at an altitude of 2400-4500 m above sea level, it is unique place, where very rare apes live - mountain black gorillas.

There are only about 650 individuals throughout globe, half of them live here.

The territory of the park borders the country of Zaire, with which a guerrilla war has been waged for several years. Mines are occasionally found in the park, which do not particularly frighten tourists, but cause irreparable harm to the monkeys.

Tourism here is organized quite well, there are hotels, and excursions are organized. For example, during the dry season, vacationers are offered a hike to the extinct volcanoes of a sprawling mountain range, from where they can admire all the splendor of the surrounding nature.

In the southwestern part of the country of Uganda, on an area of ​​330 square meters. km stretches the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, declared a national park in 1991. Tourist visits are very strict here; monkeys can only be observed if accompanied by a guide in groups of up to 6 people.

Despite the strict boundaries, the reserve is highly popular, because this is a real African wild jungle, which not only looks mysterious and impenetrable, but actually is so.

An excursion through the jungle can give you a unique experience. Walking along barely visible paths amid the silence of tall trees and under the supervision of lurking animals is not for the faint of heart.

An excellent example of excellent wildlife management is the Kruger National Park, located in South Africa. Looking at the magnificent nature, it is difficult to imagine how many hardships this land has endured. The Anglo-Boer Wars, plague epidemics, poaching that exterminated all living things - in addition to these misfortunes, the territory of the park was chosen as a refuge by escaped convicts, prisoners and criminals hiding from the law.

In 1900, President Paul Kruger convinced the Tranvaal Parliament to declare this territory protected by the state, hunting was banned here, and a few years later, all residents were evicted from here. The park is a living memorial to Kruger and his associates.

All this is already in the past, and today protected area almost 20 thousand sq. km annually receives more than a million tourists, who are attracted not only rich nature, but also history. Many traces of ancient settlements have been found on the territory of the Kruger Park; there are unique rock paintings dating back to the Stone Age.

The Kruger National Park includes as many as six unique ecosystems. This:

• Lebombo acacia bushveld;

• sandy baobab veld;

• mapane bush;
• mixed acacia forest;
• red willow forests;
• forests of river valleys.

At first glance, Kruger National Park can be considered a lost world.

This illusion is violated only by comfortable guest houses equipped with all the amenities of civilization, which are called lodges here. Accommodation in them, as well as the services of rangers and safari guides, are quite expensive. How could it be otherwise in a national park that generates the largest income among all the reserves in the world?

Lake Nyasa is one of the largest African lakes, in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa, 560 km long, up to 80 km wide and up to 704 m deep. Nyasa means "lake" in the Yao language.

Lake Nyasa is located between Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique. The relief of the coastline varies from rocky cliffs to spatial beaches. The coastal plains are especially wide in the northwest, where the Songwe River flows into the lake, as well as in the southern part of the coast. The lake is fed by 14 year-round rivers, including the most important Ruhuhu, Songwe, North and South Rukuru, Dwangwa, Bua and Lilongwe. The only external drainage of the lake is the Shire River. The water of the lake varies, from warm to sometimes cool.

The lake is famous for its wide variety of fish species. In addition to fish, this lake is characterized by a large number of crocodiles, as well as African whooper eagles that hunt fish.

Lake Nyasa is a regional natural attraction worthy of the attention of travelers.

Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi is the second deepest lake in Africa. Lake Malawi is also known as the “Calendar Lake” due to its length of 365 kilometers, the number of days in a year.

Beautiful freshwater lake, which is landlocked, making it unique and natural, with beautiful golden beaches in the country. Local fishermen offer a trip around the lake to see a huge number of colorful fish. There is also one interesting entertainment on the shore of the lake - feeding an eagle. You must say the word and throw the fish high so that the eagle can get a treat before the fish falls into the water. On the lake you can swim surrounded by colorful fish. For those interested, there is scuba diving.

Lake Amaramba

Lake Amaramba is a shallow lake along the edge of which the state of Malawi is located. The lake is located on the Nyansa plateau and has a total area of ​​20,600 acres. Water sports enthusiasts also know it as a place for a “sailing safari”.

The lake once had a rich wild fauna, but during the period of poaching during civil war, a significant part was exterminated. The aquatic fauna of the lake has also suffered due to excessive emigration from the country of Malawi. After such a defeat, the World Wide Fund for Nature initiated various events on restoration of nature. The five-year program calls for the creation of a lake sanctuary to conserve fish and waterbirds. Protect the surrounding forest area and thereby restore wild life on the shore of the lake.

Lake Malombe

Lake Malombe is located in southern Malawi, on the Shire River, in the Southern Region. The area of ​​the lake is about 450 square kilometers.

The lake is fed by the Shire River and has a depth of 2-2.5 meters. Rice and corn (maize) are grown along the shores of the lake. Fishing is also very popular on the lake. You can go boating on the lake to appreciate the purity and beauty of the water, see colorful fish and enjoy the fresh air. The "Golden Leopard" or Venustus - a large cichlid inhabits Lake Malombe. This is a very large fish that grows more than 20 cm in length. Here you can make your dream come true - scuba diving.

Africa boasts of its enchanting landscapes, which include sand dunes, jungles, and, of course, savannas. This vast continent is home to a wide variety of animals and plants. Unfortunately, some representatives of flora and fauna that live on the continent are on the verge of extinction. It was with the aim of protecting them that National Parks were created - areas where human activity is limited. We present to your attention a list of the 10 best national parks in Africa.

Birunga National Park

Birunga National Park, known as the Volcanoes National Park, is located in the north-west of Rwanda and borders the Virunga and Mgahinga national parks. It is considered the first national park created on the continent. Known mainly for the mountain gorillas that live there. The park was a base for zoologist Dian Fossey.

Ras Mohammed

Ras Mohammed (translated from Arabic means “head of Mohammed”) is the first nature reserve to open in Egypt. It is located in the south of the Sinai Peninsula, between the Suez and Aqaba Gulfs. This extraordinary national park is famous for its dazzlingly beautiful coral reefs, which attract divers from all over the world, as well as the population sea ​​turtles. The park is the main attraction on the Red Sea Riviera and the pride of Egypt.

Table Mountain National Park

Table Mountain Park - formerly known as Cape Peninsula National Park - located in the Western Cape, South Africa. The park was created on May 29, 1998 and includes: Table Mountain, for which it was named, and Cape Good Hope- the farthest southwestern point of Africa. The park area is 225,000 hectares, plus an additional 1,000 km. sq. coastal waters and beaches.

Kabarega is an African national park located in the northern part of the state of Uganda. It was founded in 1952 and named after the waterfall of the same name, which is located in the park. Covers an area of ​​3,839 km. sq. Kabarega National Park is home to large African wild animals such as elephants, buffalos, lions, rhinoceroses, etc.

Etosha Park - located in the north-west of Namibia. It is considered one of the largest national parks in the world and covers an area of ​​22,270 square kilometers. It was founded in 1907 and is home to a large amount of wildlife. The park is best known for its black rhinoceroses and African wild dogs.

Ahaggar is a national park and highland of the same name, located in the central part of the Sahara Desert, in southern Algeria. The park is famous for its stunning scenery, big amount sand dunes and mountains consisting mainly of volcanic rocks. It is considered one of the more remote national parks on the planet.

Masuala is a national park located in the northeast of Madagascar, on the Masuala Peninsula. It was founded in 1997 and covers an area of ​​240,520 hectares. Masuala is the largest national reserve in the country. Since 2007 he has been listed World Heritage UNESCO. Characterized by a wide variety of ecosystems - including wet a tropical forest, mangroves and sea with coral reef.

In third place in the list of the best national parks in Africa is Kilimanjaro National Park, which is located in the north of Tanzania, near the city of Moshi. The park includes the entirety of Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, and its surrounding forests. Covers an area of ​​753 km. sq.

Victoria Falls Park - located in the north-west of Zimbabwe, on the Zambezi River and is considered as the largest waterfall in the world. A notable feature of the park is the rainforest that grows around the falls, which includes plants such as ferns, palms, vines and a large number of trees such as mahogany, which do not grow elsewhere in the region.

Kruger Park is one of the oldest and largest national parks in the world, located in South Africa. It is located in the two South African provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Its area is 18,989 km. sq. and stretches for 350 km in a north-south direction. The park is home to 147 species of mammals, 500 species of birds and reptiles, and tens of thousands of insect species.

The tropical waters of Malawi (also called Nyasa) are characterized by a large number of fish. Such a diversity of fish kingdom is not found in any other lake on the planet.

Origin of the lake basin of Lake Nyasa

Several million years - this is how experts estimate the age of a body of water like Lake Nyasa. The origin of the basin of reservoirs can be associated with a volcanic or tectonic fault, due to an exogenous factor, convergence of glaciers and other situations.

The Malawi Lake Basin arose as a result of a tectonic rift. That is, the origin of Lake Nyasa is connected with the grandiose East African graben. As a rule, such lakes are the largest and deepest on the globe. Lake Nyasa is no exception.

The origin of the Malawi Basin, according to some sources, calls into question the continued existence of Africa. In the future, this fault may tear the continent from south to north along a line. This will lead to changes in the slope of the land and the direction of water flow in the rivers.

History of discovery

While it was not difficult for scientists to trace the origin of Lake Nyasa, its discovery does not seem entirely clear. For Europeans, the history of this geographical object began almost four hundred years ago. Then, in 1616, a Portuguese named Gaspar Bucarro, during his journey along the northeast of the lower reaches which flows into Indian Ocean, made the first discovery of Lake Nyasa. It turned out that, although Bucarro was the European discoverer of the reservoir, this did not receive wide publicity, and the information itself was buried in the Portuguese state archives. That's why for a long time The discovery of Lake Nyasa was attributed to the Scottish missionary and great explorer of Africa, David Linvingstone.

He, knowing nothing either about the explorer Bukarru himself or about his discovery, in 1858 led a large expedition to the Zambezi basin. And September 16, 1859 announced the date of discovery of the southernmost of the Great Lakes of East Africa - Lake Nyasa. By the way, it is worth noting: if his attempt to climb up the Zambezi had not failed, then perhaps he would not have begun exploring the Shire River and would not have stumbled upon the “lake of stars,” as the explorer himself called Nyasa in his diaries.

Origin of the name of the lake

As already mentioned, one of the largest has two names - Nyasa and Malawi.

“Nyasa” is consonant with the ancient name of Lake Victoria - “Nyanza”. These two words come from different but related languages ​​that belong to the same large language family - Bantu. Hence their same value- “big water” or “large reservoir”.

The second name - Malawi - comes from the Malawi ethnic group, which makes up more than half of the population of the same name African republic. By the way, the latter owns most of the reservoir. But this will be discussed later.

Due to the duality of the name on different maps You can find both Lake Malawi and Lake Nyasa.

Geography

Where is Nyasa? The lake fills a crack in the earth's crust of the Rift Trench, which is located at the southernmost point of the Great Rift system. And the latter stretches between the outskirts of the Red Sea and the lower reaches of the Zambezi River.

Due to the characteristics of the terrain where Nyasa is located, the lake has an elongated shape, reaching a length of 584 km with a width of 16 to 80 km in different places. The area of ​​the reservoir is 29,604 km2, and it lies at an altitude of almost five hundred meters (more specifically, 472 m) above sea level.

The maximum depth of Lake Nyasa reaches 706 m, and the average is 292 m. This means that the most deep places are below sea level. The bottom of the lake does not have sharp changes; depth indicators gradually increase from south to north.

The relief of the coastline is not monotonous. In some places on the coast, mountains and peaks rise (from 1500 to 3000 m above sea level), in others there is a coastal plain, which expands at the confluence of this water body big rivers

Lake Nyasa on the map of Africa can be found at coordinates: 11°52′ south latitude and 34°35′ east longitude.

Climate

The climate in the territory where Lake Nyasa is located is subtropical and tends to change: invigorating coolness reigns in the mountains, moderately warm in the Malawi valley itself, and in the region Lower River really hot.

Autumn and winter here are warm and mostly dry, with only occasional rain possible. The minimum temperature at this time does not fall below +22 0 C, and the maximum fluctuates at +25 0 C. And even then this is in the mountains. On the plain the temperature is slightly higher, but higher: +27 ... +30 0 C.

At the end of spring - beginning of summer, the rainy season begins. The air temperature drops to +15 ... +18 0 C in the mountains, and +20 ... +25 0 C on the plain.

Hydrography

Lake Nyasa is fed by fourteen rivers. Among them, an important place is occupied by Bua (or, as it is sometimes translated, Bwa), North and South Rukaka, which carry their waters from the west, Dwanga, Ruhuhu from the northeast, Songwe from the northwest and Lilongwe from the south. west.

The Shire River is the only external drainage of the reservoir. It flows from Malawi in the south and flows to the Zambezi.

The greater depth of the lake means no less volume of water mass of Nyas - 8,400 km 3. But, despite this, its flow is equal to 63 km 3 of water per year. Of this volume, only 16% flows through the Shire River, the remaining 84% evaporates from the surface. Because of these features, the lake’s water renewal period is quite long: according to experts, it takes 114 years to completely renew the water mass.

The salinity of Lake Nyasa is within 0.4 grams per 1 liter. The water itself is similar in composition to the water of Lake Tanganyika - just as hard and hard. Both reservoirs also have the same temperature, which, depending on the time of year, ranges from 23.5 to 27.5 0 C.

Biology

Lake Malawi has one of the most diverse ecosystems of any freshwater body on the planet. It is home to from 500 to 1000 species of fish, eleven families are represented.

Each area, in individual bays and on the coasts, has its own fish kingdom. But the most common inhabitants are lake cichlids, which are divided into two groups: pelagic and coastal. Pelagic cichlids - predatory fish, most species live in the thicket away from the shores. Their opposite is coastal cichdids. They come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, feeding styles and behaviors.

But fish are not the only inhabitants of the waters of Lake Nyasa. The pond is favored by crocodiles and African whooping eagles, which inhabit it in large numbers.

In general, the animal world can boast of no less diversity of its representatives. Buffalo, rhinoceroses, zebras, antelopes, giraffes, predatory lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas and jackals roam around the lake. Such a variety of wild animals is due to the versatility of nature. Here with the mountain tropical wet forests Savannahs are adjacent to green palm trees, airy acacias and majestic baobabs.

Political distribution

The magnificent lake is surrounded by three countries: Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania. For a long time there was a dispute between the last two about who owned the waters of the reservoir. And all because in different years the boundaries of ownership were determined differently: before the First World War, the line ran between the former Nyasaland and German East Africa, and after 1914, the lake was in the name of Malawi.

Sometimes these disputes led to clashes. But today, passions have subsided a little, and Malawi is no longer trying to restore its rights to the object we are considering. Although it does not officially recognize that the disputed part belongs to Tanzania.

With all this, part of Nyassa and its basin is proportionally divided as follows: Malawi controls 68% of the reservoir, Tanzania - 25%, and Mozambique - only 7% of the basin.

Fishing

A large number of fish contributed to the formation of such a trade as fishing. The annual volume of fish caught here was five to seven thousand tons per year, of which 2/3 was caught by local African fishermen.

The development of fishing has led to the emergence of small fishing villages on the shores of Lake Nyasa, which live solely from the sale of their catch. Of course, residents consume a small portion of the catch themselves, but most of it is sold - the fish is smoked or dried and sold in this form, most often through intermediaries.

More recently, Lake Nyasa has become a place for industrial fishing, not only by locals, but also by foreigners. Such activities are completely market oriented. Fishermen, unlike African fishermen, have fully equipped modern vessels at their disposal.

Despite the great demand for fish, the deep-sea part of the reservoir remains underutilized - improved equipment is needed to expand fishing areas, and accordingly, more money. In the meantime, there is enough production closer to the shore, no one will be prepared for the extra expenses.

Tourism

The beauty of Lake Nyasa itself could be the reason for the pilgrimage of tourists. But the fish kingdom has become not only a commercial specialization, but also a bait for divers.

Today there are special tours to Lake Malawi for those who like to dive and admire the beauty underwater world. How else? After all, such diversity aquarium fish along with the clarity of the water (visibility is achieved at a distance of thirty meters) there is no analogue in all of Africa.

Typically these tours include both day diving and night diving. In addition to swimming, vacationers have access to walking and transport trips along the picturesque shores of the lake.

But not only divers come here. In 1934, some areas of the territory were declared forest reserves and bird sanctuaries, and in 1972 their area increased several times, which led to the creation of a national park. For example, bird researchers can make several discoveries by observing the large population of fishing eagles that like to hunt and nest on lake shores.

The journey to Nyasa, like its history, will not leave anyone indifferent!

Hot and welcoming Africa happily opens the doors of its most intimate and interesting places. Safari - please, wild and exotic animals - please. The entire animal world of Africa is open to visitors, and you can see it in the most beautiful and famous national parks and reserves in Africa.

It is with them that we want to introduce you in this article, take you into the world of animals and birds and show what secrets mysterious Africa keeps.

This park is famous for the annual migration of zebras, wildebeest, gazelles and, accordingly, the predators that hunt them. The national park is considered one of the most undisturbed ecological systems in the world. It is also the oldest park in Africa.

The park is located in Tanzania, the coordinates of the park are 2°19′51″ S. w. 34°50′00″ E. d. Upon arrival, you can stay at the Serengeti Safari Camp and spend an unforgettable time traveling through the valleys and expanses of Tanzania.

Perhaps this is the most famous and popular nature reserve in Africa. It is located in one of the districts of Kenya called Narok. The coordinates of the reserve are 1°29′24″ S. w. 35°08′38″ E. d. It is named after the tribe that lives here.

From September to October, an impressive event takes place in this reserve - the wildebeest migration. In general, the reserve is a continuation of the Sarengeti National Park. But most of all it is famous for the lions that live here in large numbers.

Upon arrival, you can stay at one of the many campsites located on site.

Unlike the previous two, this park is located in the jungle, and you can only travel through it on foot. This park is located in the Albertine Valley, the coordinates of the park are 1°03′29″ S. w. 29°42′01″ E. d.

Here you can enjoy the largest number the most diverse trees in Africa. The park is also home to exotic and stunningly beautiful butterflies.

Gorilla safari is popular here and there is even a cottage called Gorilla Safari Lodge. The official website of the park will inform you about all the details of your stay.

This is both a nature reserve and a national park at the same time. Also, this is the very first national park in Africa. It has the largest number of mammals, the most popular being lions, rhinoceroses, elephants, leopards and buffaloes. The park coordinates are 24°00′41″ S. w. 31°29′07″ E. d.

It is open from 6.00 to 17.30, and on its territory you can stay in both private campsites and regular recreational sites. You can book your safari and arrival time on the official website.

Already from the name it becomes clear that it is located in the Kalahari Desert in Botswana. This is the second largest nature reserve in the world. The desert, you might think, what to do there. Despite this, the park contains salt lakes and ancient riverbeds along with sand dunes. This park has the largest concentration of wild animals in the world.

The most famous residents are white rhinoceroses, crocodiles, hippopotamuses, giraffes, wild dogs, cheetahs, hyenas and, of course, lions and leopards. The coordinates of the reserve are 21°53′22″ S. w. 23°45′23″ E. d. Of course, the infrastructure is developed here and anyone can visit and even hunt wild animals.

National parks and reserves of Africa have a special charm, and the point is not even in the famous safaris, the point is rather in the fact that they have retained their pristine beauty, pristineness, grandeur and a certain inaccessibility. These factors attract millions of tourists from all over the world to unravel the mysteries and mysteries of the beautiful African nature.