There are thousands of national parks spread across the world, and these parks are sites used to protect diverse ecosystems and fantastic wildlife. Apart from this, public parks are also for the pleasure and enjoyment of people with their dazzling nature reserves, magical landscapes, geographic wonders, icy glaciers, and unique lush green flora and valleys.
National parks are always open to the public. If you’re an explorer or lover of great outdoor activities, it is best to know that you can make lifetime memories in these sweeping sceneries, whether hiking, trekking, kayaking, or mountain biking.
Read on, and you’ll get to see some of the ten best national parks in the world that are full of jaw-dropping surprises;
1. Kakadu National Park, Australia
Known as Australia’s largest National Park, Kakadu National Park is located 150 kilometers southeast of Darwin in Australia’s tropical north and covers a wilderness area of almost 20,000 square kilometers that is about half the size of Switzerland.
The UNESCO World Heritage is a global treasure known for its environment and aboriginal culture of people who have lived there for more than 50,000 years.
The park is also famous for its towering waterfalls, wetlands, lush rainforests, and exotic wildlife that includes about 280 types of birds and a large number of 10,000 crocodiles.
2. Yellowstone National Park, USA
Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is extensively located in the northwest corner of Wyoming and extends into Montana and Idaho in the western United States. It was America’s first National Park and quickly became a notion that spread worldwide to protect the earth and the thermal wonders that form a magical landscape.
Yellowstone is an enormous wilderness with unique wildlife where you might even see a grizzly and black bear, as well as waterfalls, lakes, mountain ranges, and geologic wonders like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River that will leave you in awe.
3. Torres Del Paine National Park, Chile
The landscape of Torres del Paine National Park embodies over 448,000 acres of extraordinary geographical features that include the famous Cuernos del Paine, which is a bunch of remarkable granite peaks, thundering mountains, animals like penguins, pumas, whales, and rare wildlife as the
llama-like guanacos and bright blue icebergs. You may spot animals like penguins, pumas, and whales. Located in Chilean Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park has some of the most popular hiking spots, which include the W Trek and the O Circuit, which require a guide and take up to four or five days.
4. Goreme National Park, Turkey
If you’re ready to lay your eyes on volcanic landscapes that are sculpted entirely by erosion and surroundings that contain artistic rock-hewn formations, Goreme National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated at Cappadocia in central Turkey.
It is also one of the best national parks in the world for a ride on a hot air balloon and exploring nearby villages, abandoned cave dwellings, impressive multi-colored cliffs and cave dwellings, and hiking the high hills.
5. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
The oldest and most famous National Park is The Serengeti National Park on the Serengeti Plain in north-central Tanzania, which was acknowledged recently as the 7th wonder of the world.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site features 1,200 miles of 1.5 million wildebeest, about 4000 lions, and 200,000 zebras. The park also has the highest ostrich population in Tanzania and can be considered a typical African scenery, teeming with wildlife and chasing the rains in a race for life.
6. The Zhangjiajie National Park, China
The Zhangjiajie National Park is a must-see scenery with its 200-m tall giant sandstone pinnacles that soar dramatically to the sky. The National Forest Park became internationally known after the release of Avatar, a 2009 renowned movie.
It is China’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site and hosts millions of people every year who visit the park which holds plenty of significance. It is located in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province, China.
7. Pribaikalsky National Park, Russia
Located in southeastern Siberia, Pribaikalsky National Park shows extraordinary scenic water, lake-facing slopes, offshore islands, and mountainous settings.
There are about 220 endemic species and over 1000 species of vascular plants, as well as lush green valleys and poplar forests in the lowlands to discover.
8. Kruger National Park, South Africa
Here, you can access Africa’s wild animals such as buffalo, elephants, lions, hippos, rhinos, leopards, and Nile crocodiles, as well as unique birds like the lappet-faced vultures and southern ground-bills. Kruger National Park is about 5 million acres and is located around 260 miles northeast of Johannesburg in South Africa.
The Park is home to more than just wildlife as there are many other geographical features and rivers like the Limpopo River in the north and the Lebombo Mountains in the east.
9. Vatnajokull National Park
Vatnajokull National Park is home to the second-largest glacier outside of the Arctic – the Vatnajokull glacier, which lies within its borders. It is open access to visitors every day of the year.
It is the largest national park out of the three national parks in Iceland, including its spectacular glacial ice, impressive waterfalls, broad valleys, and volcanoes that are still active.
The remarkable facilities such as paid internet, free parking, and accessible toilets are the primary attractions for visitors. They offer guided skiing trips, ice walks, sailing trips between the icebergs, and ice climbing.
10. Calanques National Park
Situated on the Mediterranean coast, Bouches-du-Rhône, and in the heart of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in Southern France. Calanques National Park is one of the most beautiful attractions in France.
It is known for its biodiversity, gorgeous seaside, beautiful landscapes, picturesque forests, and limestone cliffs. The crystal clear waters are perfect for a lazy afternoon swim or kayaking and are mostly popular with people who enjoy scuba diving.
