The 15 Greatest Nationwide Parks within the World for Wildlife Watching
Nature lovers and the most effective nationwide parks on the earth go collectively like peanut butter and jelly.
The idea was championed by early conservation icon John Muir and set in movement when President Ulysses S. Grant signed a regulation establishing Yellowstone because the world’s first nationwide park in 1872.
Within the ensuing 144 years, there have been round 7,000 nationwide parks created by almost 100 completely different international locations. From Afghanistan (which has simply 1) to China (208), most international locations have distinctive pure areas which might be value celebrating and preserving.
However these 15 stand out for us among the many very Greatest Nationwide Parks on the earth for wildlife lovers.
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Greatest Nationwide Parks within the World for Wildlife Information
- BANDHAVGARH NATIONAL PARK (India)
- BANFF NATIONAL PARK (Canada)
- CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK (Costa Rica)
- DENALI NATIONAL PARK (USA)
- ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK (Namibia)
- GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK (Ecuador)
- GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK (Australia)
- KAKADU NATIONAL PARK (Australia)
- KRUGER NATIONAL PARK (South Africa)
- PANTANAL MATOGROSSENSE (Brazil)
- SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK (Tanzania)
- TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK (New Zealand)
- TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK (Chile)
- YALA NATIONAL PARK (Sri Lanka)
- YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (USA)
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1. BANDHAVGARH NATIONAL PARK (India)
Situated within the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh, this 431-square mile park boasts one of many highest densities of Bengal Tigers on the earth.
However the fearsome cat is hardly its solely attraction: The park can also be residence to 36 different Indian Animals, together with Leopards, Asian Elephants, and Nilgai (a.ok.a. “blue bulls”).
Park guests can even see greater than 250 species of birds, and round 80 completely different species of butterflies.
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2. BANFF NATIONAL PARK (Canada)
Canada’s oldest nationwide park is assured to provide you a Rocky Mountain excessive.
Its 2,564 sq. miles are full of majestic mountains, coniferous forest (residence to Grizzlies, Cougars, Moose, Elk and lots of of chicken species), glaciers.
There’s additionally the remarkably scenic Icefields Parkway, which extends all the best way from beautiful Lake Louise to neighboring Jasper Nationwide Park making Banff probably the greatest nationwide parks on the earth.
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3. CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK (Costa Rica)
Situated on the Osa Peninsula, Corcovado has been referred to by Nationwide Geographic as “probably the most biologically intense place on Earth by way of biodiversity.”
At 164 sq. miles, it’s one of many world’s few remaining massive areas of lowland tropical rainforests.
The nationwide park’s wildlife features a vary of ecosystems that present properties to greater than 500 species of bushes and a dizzying array of wildlife, together with the endangered Baird’s Tapir, the uncommon Harpy Eagle, Jaguars, and all 4 Costa Rican Monkey species.
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4. DENALI NATIONAL PARK (USA)
With six million acres of pristine wilderness and just one 92-mile highway via it (which is open to personal automobiles simply 4 days a yr), Denali is a nature-lover’s paradise.
The shuttle bus drivers are additionally participating naturalist guides, permitting guests to take a seat again, calm down, and drop their jaws on the beautiful surroundings.
You’ll additionally see an distinctive array Alaska wildlife– we noticed bears, moose, caribou, and even wolves– and, should you’re fortunate, breathtaking views of the huge mountain the Tlingit (indigenous individuals) known as Denali (a.ok.a. Mt McKinley).
READ MORE: Alaskan Animals: 40 Species You Can See Throughout Your Alaska Trip
5. ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK (Namibia)
With an 8,600-square-mile panorama finest described as otherworldly, Etosha facilities across the salt pans from which it will get its identify.
Within the moist season, it fills with water and attracts birds equivalent to flamingoes and pelicans; within the dry season it blows saline mud out to the Atlantic.
It’s additionally residence to a formidable assortment of endangered African Animals, together with 4 of the Huge 5, African Elephants, Giraffes, Black Rhinos and White Rhinos, and the endemic Mountain Zebras.
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6. GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK (Ecuador)
Situated 600 miles off Ecuador’s coast, this volcanic archipelago simply ranks among the many world’s most lovely pure parks for wildlife lovers.
The islands are residence to a various array of endemic wildlife that appears fully unafraid of people, together with Marine Iguanas, Galapagos Sea Lions, Galapagos Tortoises, Galapagos Penguins, and Galapagos Birds.
The archipelago additionally affords a number of the finest snorkeling and birdwatching alternatives we’ve ever skilled making it probably the greatest nationwide parks on the earth for wildlife watching.
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7. GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK (Australia)
The world’s largest coral reef system (133,000 sq. miles) is residence to Cool & Bizarre Ocean Animals together with 30 species of cetaceans, over 1,500 species of fish, six species of sea turtles, and round 125 species of sharks and stingrays.
The UNESCO World Heritage Website additionally contains mangroves and salt marshes on the Queensland coast, which give fertile breeding grounds for saltwater crocodiles and frogs.
Guests may see get an opportunity to a number of the 215 species of birds (roughly 1.5 million in complete) that use its 900 islands to nest and/or roost.
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8. KAKADU NATIONAL PARK (Australia)
Situated within the Northern Territory, Australia’s largest nationwide park (12,427 sq. miles) options ecosystems starting from wetlands and rivers to sandstone escarpments.
The Kakadu Nationwide Park is residence to round 2,000 species of wildlife, together with saltwater crocodiles, Flatback turtles, and lots of of chicken species.
It additionally boasts one of many world’s most spectacular collections of historical aboriginal rock-art work.
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9. KRUGER NATIONAL PARK (South Africa)
One of many largest recreation reserves on the African continent, Kruger covers over 7,500 sq. miles.
A part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, South Africa’s oldest nationwide park (est. 1926) is residence to an distinctive array of animals, together with 517 chicken species, 147 species of huge mammals, and 114 reptile species.
Your Kruger Nationwide Park Entrance Price offers you entry to loads of uncommon, endangered animals, together with Black Rhinos and the beautiful African Wild Canine.
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10. PANTANAL MATOGROSSENSE (Brazil)
Brazil’s Pantanal is likely one of the world’s largest tropical wetlands, estimated to cowl 54,000-75,000 sq. miles.
Round 80% of the UNESCO World Heritage Website’s floodplains are submerged in the course of the wet season, making it certainly one of Earth’s richest ecosystems.
Wildlife lovers could have a subject day right here: The world is residence to roughly 1000 chicken species, 400 fish species, 300 species of mammals (together with the elusive Jaguar), and 480 species of reptiles.
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11. SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK (Tanzania)
Named after the Maasai phrase for “the place the place the land runs on perpetually,” this 5,700-square mile UNESCO World Heritage Website is the place to begin for the annual Nice Migration from Tanzania to Kenya.
Its grasslands, riverine forest, bushy savanna, and open woodlands are residence to a staggering array of wildlife, together with Elephants, Giraffes, Nile Crocodiles, Colobus Monkeys.
You’ll additionally seemingly see large herds of Wildebeest, Zebras, Gazelles, and Buffalo, which crowd the plains in staggering numbers in the course of the moist season.
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12. TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK (New Zealand)
It is a uncommon twin UNESCO World Heritage Space.
It has been acknowledged each for its various ecosystems (which embody energetic volcanoes, desert plateaus, and plush forests) and the cultural heritage of the indigenous Maori individuals.
It’s additionally an awesome place to see endemic birds equivalent to Fantails, Tui and, should you’re very fortunate, the uncommon Kakariki (parakeet) or Karearea (falcon).
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13. TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK (Chile)
The distant wilderness expertise Chilean Patagonia has to supply is sort of a slice of heaven on earth.
From towering rock formations (together with the enduring Paine Massif) to expansive fields of Patagonia Flora and wind-blown grasses that appear to be waves on a sea of inexperienced, Torres Del Paine’s surroundings is second to none.
Its plentiful array of Chilean wildlife– equivalent to Pumas, Guanacos, Foxes, Caracaras, and the huge Andean Condor– is nothing to sneeze at both.
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14. YALA NATIONAL PARK (Sri Lanka)
Sri Lanka’s oldest and most famed nationwide park is residence to the nation’s biggest focus of wildlife, together with Leopards, Elephants, Sloth Bears, Jackals, Buffalo, Crocodiles and Monkeys.
It additionally boasts over 150 chicken species, and the adjoining Yala East (a.ok.a. Kumana Nationwide Park) is a infamous nesting website for waterbirds.
Yala is a big think about Sri Lanka’s fast rise as an Asian ecotourism hotspot.
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15. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (USA)
The world’s first nationwide park has been within the information quite a bit because of the dangerous practices and animal selfies of irresponsible guests.
However that doesn’t diminish the overwhelming fantastic thing about its pure points of interest, together with Mammoth Sizzling Springs, Lamar Valley, the Higher & Decrease Geyser Basin, and Grand Prismatic Spring.
The spellbinding surroundings is matched solely by the copious wildlife, together with Grizzly Bears, Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Bison, Wolves, Bald Eagles and rather more. –by Bret Love
