2 Incredible National Parks in Africa

(From the article: 10 Incredible National Parks Around the World)

By Kyana Moghadam

Yellowstone National Park was a pioneer of its time. The park’s scenic geysers, forests, and mountain peaks inspired its visitors to advocate for the conservation of the area’s natural landscape. In 1872, Congress named Yellowstone the fi rst national park and established some of the procedures that would become the foundation for the preservation and care of over 400 public parks nationwide.

What began as a relatively small movement in the wilds of Yellowstone spread across the nation and throughout the world—today there are more than 1,200 national parks in over 100 countries.

To help you explore the great outdoors beyond U.S. borders, we— along with our friends at luxury travel advisor company, Audley Travel (www. audleytravel.com)—have put together a list of 10 memorable international national parks to visit.

Africa Travel editors highlight the two national parks of Africa that are featured in the article.

Hell’s Gate National Park

4. Hell’s Gate National Park - Kenya

In East Africa, going on safari generally means climbing into a jeep and driving around in search of animals with an experienced guide. But at

Mount Toubkal National Park

Hell’s Gate National Park, two to three hours west of Nairobi, visitors can set out in search of zebras, giraff es, and gazelle on a self-guided

hike or bike ride and even rock climb within

the park. If those sweeping cliffs and volcanoes look familiar to you, you’re not alone: Disney animators visited the park to get inspiration for The Lion King .

Best yet, the iconic fl amingo-fi lled Lake Naivasha National Park is right next to Hell’s Gate, with many of the area’s hotels and campsites built on Lake Naivasha’s shores.

6. Mount Toubkal National Park - Morocco

Whether the word “park” triggers images of a relaxing afternoon or a vigorous hike up a mountainside, Mount Toubkal National Park has got you covered. Residents and tourists alike make the journey to view the Atlas Mountains or to hike along the highest peaks of North Africa, often stopping for a visit at one of the local Berber villages along the way. www.afar.com/magazine/10-incredible-national-parksaround-the-world

Image credits: placepass.com, africasafari.co.uk, Ivoha / Shutterstock, Culture Trip