Shipwrecks line the shores of the harshest national park in Africa. Hard to reach by land because of sand dunes, only affluent visitors can truly experience Skeleton Coast by flying into the northern section of the park.
Though no land animals live on the misty coast, a large colony of Cape fur seals shares the sea with whales and dolphins. Desert elephants, brown hyenas, and ostriches can be seen further inland.
Visitors come here to experience one of the last places on earth where absolute silence and solitude are still possible, and for a chance to spot the Himba, one of the few nomadic tribes left.
Victoria Falls National Park & Zambezi National Park - Zimbabwe
One of the world's natural wonders and a World Heritage Site, the Victoria Falls is a mile wide and over 300-foot high. All around them, the rich jungle provides the perfect cover for antelopes and baboons. The Zambezi River is home to giant fish species such as the vundu, a type of catfish that can measure over six feet. Fishing, of course, is not allowed. Elephants, giraffe, hippos, and buffalos roam freely in Zambezi's National Park, barely five miles away from the falls.
Other reserves worth seeing
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Uganda) – The only other place to see the highly endangered Mountain Gorillas.
Kafue National Park (Zambia) – Africa's third largest park boasts vast woodlands and grassy plains and the best opportunity in the continent to spot antelopes and their predators, from cheetahs to wild dogs.
Gombe Stream National Park (Tanzania) – Home to one of the largest variety of primates, including chimpanzees, baboons, and red-tailed monkeys. Close sights are frequent.
Hlane Royal Game Reserve (Swaziland) – Some of Africa's most impressive vultures and raptors live among the 1,000-year-old trees. Hlane is one of the few parks where you can drive yourself through the land.