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 legislation 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 practically 100 completely different nations. From Afghanistan (which has simply 1) to China (208), most nations have distinctive pure areas which might be price 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)
Positioned 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 be dwelling to 36 different Indian Animals, together with Leopards, Asian Elephants, and Nilgai (a.okay.a. “blue bulls”).
Park guests may 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 stuffed with majestic mountains, coniferous forest (dwelling to Grizzlies, Cougars, Moose, Elk and a whole lot of chook species), glaciers.
There’s additionally the remarkably scenic Icefields Parkway, which extends all the way in which from beautiful Lake Louise to neighboring Jasper Nationwide Park making Banff the most effective nationwide parks on the earth.
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3. CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK (Costa Rica)
Positioned on the Osa Peninsula, Corcovado has been referred to by Nationwide Geographic as “probably the most biologically intense place on Earth when it comes to biodiversity.”
At 164 sq. miles, it’s one of many world’s few remaining giant areas of lowland tropical rainforests.
The nationwide park’s wildlife features a vary of ecosystems that present houses 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 street via it (which is open to personal automobiles simply 4 days a 12 months), Denali is a nature-lover’s paradise.
The shuttle bus drivers are additionally partaking naturalist guides, permitting guests to take a seat again, chill out, 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, for those who’re fortunate, breathtaking views of the huge mountain the Tlingit (indigenous folks) known as Denali (a.okay.a. Mt McKinley).
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5. ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK (Namibia)
With an 8,600-square-mile panorama greatest described as otherworldly, Etosha facilities across the salt pans from which it will get its title.
Within the moist season, it fills with water and attracts birds resembling flamingoes and pelicans; within the dry season it blows saline mud out to the Atlantic.
It’s additionally dwelling to a powerful 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)
Positioned 600 miles off Ecuador’s coast, this volcanic archipelago simply ranks among the many world’s most stunning pure parks for wildlife lovers.
The islands are dwelling 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 presents a number of the greatest snorkeling and birdwatching alternatives we’ve ever skilled making it the most effective 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 dwelling 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 consists of mangroves and salt marshes on the Queensland coast, which give fertile breeding grounds for saltwater crocodiles and frogs.
Guests can also see get an opportunity to a number of the 215 species of birds (roughly 1.5 million in whole) that use its 900 islands to nest and/or roost.
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8. KAKADU NATIONAL PARK (Australia)
Positioned 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 dwelling to round 2,000 species of natural world, together with saltwater crocodiles, Flatback turtles, and a whole lot of chook 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 dwelling to an distinctive array of animals, together with 517 chook species, 147 species of huge mammals, and 114 reptile species.
Your Kruger Nationwide Park Entrance Price provides 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 among 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 through the wet season, making it certainly one of Earth’s richest ecosystems.
Wildlife lovers can have a discipline day right here: The world is dwelling to roughly 1000 chook 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 ceaselessly,” this 5,700-square mile UNESCO World Heritage Website is the start line for the annual Nice Migration from Tanzania to Kenya.
Its grasslands, riverine forest, bushy savanna, and open woodlands are dwelling to a staggering array of wildlife, together with Elephants, Giraffes, Nile Crocodiles, Colobus Monkeys.
You’ll additionally doubtless see big herds of Wildebeest, Zebras, Gazelles, and Buffalo, which crowd the plains in staggering numbers through the moist season.
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12. TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK (New Zealand)
This can be a uncommon twin UNESCO World Heritage Space.
It has been acknowledged each for its numerous ecosystems (which embody lively volcanoes, desert plateaus, and plush forests) and the cultural heritage of the indigenous Maori folks.
It’s additionally an amazing place to see endemic birds resembling Fantails, Tui and, for those who’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 seem like waves on a sea of inexperienced, Torres Del Paine’s surroundings is second to none.
Its ample array of Chilean wildlife– resembling 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 dwelling to the nation’s biggest focus of wildlife, together with Leopards, Elephants, Sloth Bears, Jackals, Buffalo, Crocodiles and Monkeys.
It additionally boasts over 150 chook species, and the adjoining Yala East (a.okay.a. Kumana Nationwide Park) is a infamous nesting web site for waterbirds.
Yala is a big think about Sri Lanka’s speedy 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 rather a lot as a result of dangerous practices and animal selfies of irresponsible guests.
However that doesn’t diminish the overwhelming great thing about its pure sights, together with Mammoth Scorching 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 way more. –by Bret Love
