Parks . Reserves . Concessions . Conservancies
What’s the Difference?
Unique land spaces of Africa
Each of these spaces plays a crucial role in safeguarding Africa’s natural heritage, offering diverse experiences for those eager to connect with the continent’s breathtaking wildlife and landscapes.
National Parks
A national park is a protected area designated by the government to preserve its natural environment, ecosystems, and wildlife habitats. The goal is to safeguard the natural environment, ecosystems, and wildlife habitats for future generations. Some well-known examples of national parks include Kruger National Park in South Africa, Chobe National Park in Botswana, Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Etosha National Park in Namibia, and South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. These parks are famous for their diverse wildlife and play a key role in conservation and eco-tourism.
Some parks have adjacent private reserves that allow visitors to experience the park while staying outside its boundaries. However, for certain parks, like the Serengeti, you must stay within the park itself to fully immerse yourself in the experience.
Advantages
- Often, quite expansive in area with multiple entry points
- Open to the general public
- Varied accommodation from basic camp sites to more luxurious lodges
- Cost tends to be quite reasonable for those traveling on a tight budget while still experiencing the African safari
- Self-drives are permitted
Disadvantages
- More people means more vehicles at some of the popular parks
- Effort in planning your stay (not necessarily a disadvantage to all)
- No off-roading, night drives, bushwalks
- Not necessarily for travelers that don’t like camping or staying at rest camps
Game Reserves
These are parcels of land, either privately owned or managed by federal or community entities, set aside as safe havens to protect large populations of wildlife. They are typically located adjacent to national parks, creating corridors for animals to roam freely between protected areas.
The tourism model in these reserves is often more controlled, particularly in privately owned game reserves, where the number of visitors and the types of activities are carefully managed to ensure sustainability and minimal impact on wildlife. Some examples of private reserves include Singita Grumeti, Sabi Sands (which comprises multiple individual game reserves under a unified management structure), Mala Mala, Madikwe, and Ongava.
On the other hand, government-managed reserves, while also offering protection to wildlife, may have a slightly more open approach to tourism, often with less stringent controls. Examples include Maasai Mara, Nyerere National Park, and Moremi.
These reserves play a crucial role in wildlife conservation, providing protected environments for animals while offering exclusive and often intimate safari experiences for guests.
Advantages
- Private reserves operate with a more regulated and eco-conscious approach, minimizing the human footprint and offering a more intimate, less crowded safari experience.
- These reserves allow for off-roading, bush walks, night drives, and even balloon safaris, providing a wider range of immersive activities for guests.
- Only those staying in the reserve are allowed to access it, meaning self-drives or general public visitors are not permitted, ensuring a more exclusive and private experience.
- Convenient flight access allows for quick transfers, making it easier to reach these remote reserves.
Disadvantages
- The exclusive nature and added amenities of private reserves often come with a significantly higher price tag compared to public parks or more accessible areas.
- Due to restricted access and low visitor numbers, booking a stay can sometimes be challenging, especially during peak seasons.
- Since these reserves are smaller and more focused, you may not experience the same diversity of ecosystems and habitats as you would in larger, public national parks.
Concessions
Parcels of land within a national park or adjacent to unfenced boundaries, managed by safari operators, are known as concessions. Access to these areas is typically limited to those staying within the concession, which helps with habituating the animals to lodge vehicles and allows for closer encounters. This setup also offers guests a more intimate experience, with unique activities tailored to the specific location. Some concessions are seasonal, influenced by wildlife migration patterns. Notable examples include various concessions in the Okavango Delta, Singita’s concession in Kruger National Park, and Wilderness Safari’s concession on the edge of Mana Pools, among others.
The image below shows a map of the concessions around the Okavango Delta. For those unfamiliar, it can be a bit overwhelming, as it was for us initially. Which concession should you choose? North, South, or perhaps somewhere along the Selinda or Linyanti channels.
Advantages
- Typically managed by a single safari operator, resulting in a smaller, less intrusive lodging footprint.
- Allows for off-roading, bush walks, night drives, and, for those situated along rivers, sunset cruises.
- Offers the authentic African safari experience, with a focus on immersion in nature.
- Fly-in access provides the convenience of quick hops between concessions, allowing guests to explore multiple areas.
Disadvantages
- The primary drawback is the cost, which can be prohibitive for some, although it varies widely depending on the concession.
- In most cases, the only way to access these areas is by flying in.
- Not suitable for those who prefer self-drive safaris or camping experiences.
Conservancies
Similar to concessions, conservancies are typically community-managed parcels of land that allow for the coexistence of wildlife and local tribes, who continue their traditional practices and customs. The key difference between conservancies and concessions lies in the aspect of coexistence (which is not present in concessions). Additionally, conservancies often feature a variety of lodging options operated by different safari companies, whereas concessions are managed by a single operator. Other distinctions include the size of the land, the ecosystems, and the animal habitats.
A prime example of this model can be seen in the conservancies bordering the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. These conservancies have developed over the past several years, and as a result, many animals now permanently reside there, offering ample opportunities to spot a diverse range of wildlife without needing to venture into the Reserve itself. The map below illustrates these conservancies and their proximity to the main Maasai Mara Reserve.
This approach has proven highly beneficial to all parties involved. Interestingly, the Mara Triangle, which operates as a type of conservancy (outlined in red along the left border of the Mara and Talek Rivers to the country border), is managed separately by the Mara Conservancy (run by the TransMara County Council), while the Reserve itself is overseen by the Narok County Council.
Advantages
- High-value, low-density model, ensuring a more exclusive and less crowded safari experience.
- Allows for off-roading and night drives, enhancing the adventure and wildlife encounters.
- If staying for more than 3 nights, a game drive to the Maasai Mara Reserve is typically included, giving guests access to the iconic Reserve.
- Offers a variety of lodging options across different operators, unlike the single-operator model in concessions.
Disadvantages
- No significant disadvantages to speak of. The establishment of the conservancy model has been a win-win, benefiting local tribes with consistent revenue and employment opportunities.
- While not a major issue, it’s worth noting that you may encounter paths used by local tribes for cattle grazing, and you might even see cattle grazing alongside wildlife. This doesn’t detract from the safari experience but is part of the rural, authentic atmosphere of these conservancies.
In general, we suggest focusing on private reserves, concessions, or conservancies for the best safari experience. These areas typically allow for more intimate wildlife encounters as animals become habituated to camp vehicles, providing guests with closer, more personal interactions. Additionally, these areas often offer the beauty and tranquility of the African bush without the crowds.
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