{"updated": "2026-10-04", "self": "kidepo", "country": "Uganda", "rows": [{"group": "What you will see"}, {"key": "game", "label": "Big game", "sub": null, "type": "rate"}, {"key": "sp-elephant", "label": "Elephant", "sub": null, "type": "species"}, {"key": "sp-lion", "label": "Lion", "sub": null, "type": "species"}, {"key": "sp-leopard", "label": "Leopard", "sub": null, "type": "species"}, {"key": "sp-buffalo", "label": "Buffalo", "sub": null, "type": "species"}, {"key": "sp-wild dog", "label": "Wild dog", "sub": null, "type": "species"}, {"key": "sp-cheetah", "label": "Cheetah", "sub": null, "type": "species"}, {"key": "sp-hippo", "label": "Hippo", "sub": null, "type": "species"}, {"key": "sp-giraffe", "label": "Giraffe", "sub": null, "type": "species"}, {"key": "birds", "label": "Birding", "sub": null, "type": "rate"}, {"group": "What you can do"}, {"key": "walking", "label": "Walking safaris", "sub": null, "type": "rate"}, {"key": "night", "label": "Night drives", "sub": null, "type": "rate"}, {"key": "water", "label": "On the water", "sub": null, "type": "rate"}, {"key": "selfdrive", "label": "Self-drive", "sub": null, "type": "rate"}, {"group": "What it costs"}, {"key": "fee", "label": "Park fee, per day", "sub": null, "type": "money"}, {"key": "cheapest", "label": "Cheapest bed, per night", "sub": null, "type": "money"}, {"key": "typical", "label": "Typical lodge, per night", "sub": null, "type": "money"}, {"key": "budget", "label": "Low-budget safari", "sub": null, "type": "rate"}, {"group": "Three nights for two"}, {"key": "trip_camping", "label": "Camping", "sub": null, "type": "money"}, {"key": "trip_mid", "label": "Mid-range", "sub": null, "type": "money"}, {"key": "trip_flyin", "label": "Fly-in", "sub": null, "type": "money"}, {"group": "Getting there"}, {"key": "airport", "label": "Nearest airport", "sub": null, "type": "fact"}, {"key": "fourx4", "label": "4x4 needed", "sub": null, "type": "fact"}, {"group": "When to go"}, {"key": "peak", "label": "Peak game viewing", "sub": null, "type": "fact"}, {"key": "closed", "label": "Closed or impassable", "sub": null, "type": "fact"}, {"group": "Health and comfort"}, {"key": "malaria", "label": "Malaria", "sub": null, "type": "fact"}, {"key": "tsetse", "label": "Tsetse fly", "sub": null, "type": "fact"}, {"key": "heat", "label": "Hottest month", "sub": null, "type": "fact"}, {"key": "hospital", "label": "Nearest hospital", "sub": null, "type": "fact"}, {"group": "Who it suits"}, {"key": "families", "label": "Families", "sub": null, "type": "rate"}, {"key": "first", "label": "First safari", "sub": null, "type": "rate"}, {"key": "wild", "label": "Wilderness feel", "sub": null, "type": "rate"}], "parks": {"gonarezhou": {"name": "Gonarezhou National Park", "short": "Gonarezhou", "country": "Zimbabwe", "url": "https://visitgonarezhou.com/", "size": "5,053 km²", "character": "Zimbabwe's empty south-east: red cliffs over the Runde, around 11,000 elephants and campsites you have to yourself.", "best": "Experienced self-drivers who want emptiness and an expedition rather than a programme.", "centroid": [-21.6741, 31.8609], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "3Sep to NovElephants: ±11,000; Elephant density: 2.18 / km² (2022); Wild dog: Documented stronghold", "sp-elephant": "Guaranteed", "sp-lion": "Fair chance", "sp-leopard": "Fair chance", "sp-buffalo": "Likely", "sp-wild dog": "Rare", "sp-cheetah": "Rare", "sp-hippo": "Likely", "sp-giraffe": "Not published", "birds": "3400 speciesAbout 400 bird species listed on the wildlife page.", "walking": "2Guided walking runs only through registered third-party operators, with ages, rules and rates unpublished; the one short option is a 3 km trail to Chivilila Falls from Chilo Gorge on the boundary.", "night": "1Night-driving policy is not published and the guide says to assume the conservative answer; the camp curfew keeps you in camp from 18:00 or 18:30.", "water": "2Catch-and-release tigerfishing on the Runde for overnight visitors with a permit is the only water activity; no operator could be confirmed for canoeing.", "selfdrive": "5The Trust calls self-drive the park's primary offering: wild campsites, river drives on the Runde and Mwenezi, and Chipinda Pools gate 55 km and 1 to 1.5 h from Chiredzi, with a true 4x4 needed for most of the park.", "fee": "$25 / $15International adult per day, the lower figure if you sleep inside the park ({'name': 'Official ZimParks Gonarezhou tariff 2026 and the Gonarezhou Conservation Trust rate card', 'url': 'https://www.zimparks.org.zw/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Gonarezhou-Fees.pdf'}, 2026-07-27).", "cheapest": "$50Lowest listed rate per person per night across 14 places; 8 are budget tier.", "typical": "$130Median of 13 priced places; top end $600.", "budget": "4Cheapest listed bed $50, 8 of 14 places in the budget tier, park fee $15 a day.", "trip_camping": "$875Budget one: self-drive camping, the trip most people take", "trip_mid": "$2,170Budget two: a mid-range lodge stay at Bosman's", "trip_flyin": "$3,630Budget three: fly-in and top-end", "airport": "Buffalo Range (BFO), about 1 h to Chipinda PoolsFrom the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "Required for most of the parkFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "Sep to NovFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "Closed 10 Jan to 1 Mar; remote camps late Nov to Mar or AprFrom the best-time page.", "malaria": "High Nov to Jun, lower Jul to OctFrom the health page.", "tsetse": "Not publishedBiting flies are common and overlander guides give tsetse advice, but the guide could not verify an official confirmation of tsetse in the park.", "heat": "October, 32.5°C mean daily maxMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page.", "hospital": "Chiredzi, 1 to 1.5 h from the north gateAir evacuation: Chipinda Pools, Mabalauta, Mahenye.", "families": "2Malaria risk is high Nov to Jun, camps are mostly unfenced, the nearest hospitals are in Chiredzi 1 to 1.5 h from the gate and the park closes 10 Jan to 1 Mar; lion and leopard are only a chance and no camp publishes a minimum age.", "first": "2Elephant is guaranteed but lion and leopard are a chance and wild dog takes luck, the game is thinly spread, and the camps assume your own 4x4, water, food and recovery gear.", "wild": "5Hours without seeing another vehicle in the remote interior, 19 camping areas where solitude is the default, and no shop or fuel anywhere inside."}, "values": {"game": "3", "sp-elephant": "guaranteed", "sp-lion": "chance", "sp-leopard": "chance", "sp-buffalo": "likely", "sp-wild dog": "luck", "sp-cheetah": "luck", "sp-hippo": "likely", "sp-giraffe": "not published", "birds": "3", "walking": "2", "night": "1", "water": "2", "selfdrive": "5", "fee": "$25 / $15", "cheapest": "$50", "typical": "$130", "budget": "4", "trip_camping": "$875", "trip_mid": "$2,170", "trip_flyin": "$3,630", "airport": "Buffalo Range (BFO), about 1 h to Chipinda Pools", "fourx4": "Required for most of the park", "peak": "Sep to Nov", "closed": "Closed 10 Jan to 1 Mar; remote camps late Nov to Mar or Apr", "malaria": "High Nov to Jun, lower Jul to Oct", "tsetse": "Not published", "heat": "October, 32.5°C mean daily max", "hospital": "Chiredzi, 1 to 1.5 h from the north gate", "families": "2", "first": "2", "wild": "5"}, "species": {"elephant": 3, "lion": 1, "leopard": 1, "buffalo": 2, "wild dog": 0.5, "cheetah": 0.5, "hippo": 2, "giraffe": null}, "scores": {"game": 3, "birds": 3, "walking": 2, "night": 1, "water": 2, "selfdrive": 5, "budget": 4, "families": 2, "first": 2, "wild": 5}, "money": {"fee": 25, "cheapest": 50, "typical": 130, "trip_camping": 875.0, "trip_mid": 2170.0, "trip_flyin": 3630.0}}, "hwange": {"name": "Hwange National Park", "short": "Hwange", "country": "Zimbabwe", "url": "https://visithwange.com/", "size": "14,650 km²", "character": "Zimbabwe's big, easy park: about sixty pumped waterholes, around 40,000 dry-season elephants and tar from Victoria Falls.", "best": "A first or budget self-drive safari with near-certain elephants.", "centroid": [-18.8203, 26.7931], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "4Aug to early NovElephants: ±40,000 in dry season; Large carnivores: 8 species; Wild dog: Major stronghold", "sp-elephant": "Guaranteed", "sp-lion": "Likely", "sp-leopard": "Fair chance", "sp-buffalo": "Likely", "sp-wild dog": "Fair chance", "sp-cheetah": "Rare", "sp-hippo": "Rare", "sp-giraffe": "Likely", "birds": "3400 speciesAbout 400 bird species listed on the wildlife page.", "walking": "3Camps with licensed guides run walks of about three hours from 07:00 for two to six people, minimum age twelve to sixteen, but they are arranged on the day and cannot always be guaranteed.", "night": "2Driving after dark is prohibited inside the park and everyone must be in camp by 18:00; advertised night drives run only on the private concessions and forestry land bordering it.", "water": "1The park has no rivers: surface water comes from pumped pans, hippo occur only at the dams, and the activity list has no boat or canoe trips.", "selfdrive": "5Self-driving is normal and allowed: tar to Main Camp, 195 km and 3 to 4 h from Victoria Falls in 2026, ZimParks pitches at $23, and a high-clearance 4x4 for the internal roads.", "fee": "$24 / $12International adult per day, the lower figure if you sleep inside the park ({'name': 'Official ZimParks tariff, published February 2026', 'url': 'https://www.zimparks.org.zw/media/2026/02/De-Gazetted-Tariff-2026.pdf'}, 2026-07-26).", "cheapest": "$10Lowest listed rate per person per night across 32 places; 7 are budget tier.", "typical": "$490Median of 29 priced places; top end $803.", "budget": "4Cheapest listed bed $10, 7 of 32 places in the budget tier, park fee $12 a day.", "trip_camping": "$350Budget one: self-drive camping at Main Camp", "trip_mid": "Not published", "trip_flyin": "$10,602Budget three: fly-in to Wilderness Linkwasha", "airport": "Victoria Falls (VFA), 3 to 4 h by road in 2026From the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "Needed inside the park; essential Dec to MarFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "Aug to early NovFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "Open all yearFrom the best-time page.", "malaria": "High Nov to Jun, lower Jul to OctFrom the health page.", "tsetse": "Not publishedThe health and best-time pages do not mention tsetse; only the history page records the fly across much of the park in the 1920s.", "heat": "October, 34.7°C mean daily maxMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page.", "hospital": "Bulawayo, 4 h plus by roadAir evacuation: MARS and ACE, both based in Victoria Falls.", "families": "4Malaria risk is lower in the Jul to Oct peak months, Ivory Lodge takes children from two inside a fence and Somalisa Acacia runs a children's club; the park's camps are unfenced and full hospital care means Bulawayo, 4 h plus.", "first": "5Elephant is guaranteed and lion likely, Victoria Falls airport has around eleven airlines, and beds run from $10 camping to concession camps on a tar approach.", "wild": "3Main Camp and the southern pans take 80 per cent of visitors, while the private concessions and the south-west at Jozibanini see almost no vehicles in a 14,650 km² park."}, "values": {"game": "4", "sp-elephant": "guaranteed", "sp-lion": "likely", "sp-leopard": "chance", "sp-buffalo": "likely", "sp-wild dog": "chance", "sp-cheetah": "luck", "sp-hippo": "luck", "sp-giraffe": "likely", "birds": "3", "walking": "3", "night": "2", "water": "1", "selfdrive": "5", "fee": "$24 / $12", "cheapest": "$10", "typical": "$490", "budget": "4", "trip_camping": "$350", "trip_mid": "", "trip_flyin": "$10,602", "airport": "Victoria Falls (VFA), 3 to 4 h by road in 2026", "fourx4": "Needed inside the park; essential Dec to Mar", "peak": "Aug to early Nov", "closed": "Open all year", "malaria": "High Nov to Jun, lower Jul to Oct", "tsetse": "Not published", "heat": "October, 34.7°C mean daily max", "hospital": "Bulawayo, 4 h plus by road", "families": "4", "first": "5", "wild": "3"}, "species": {"elephant": 3, "lion": 2, "leopard": 1, "buffalo": 2, "wild dog": 1, "cheetah": 0.5, "hippo": 0.5, "giraffe": 2}, "scores": {"game": 4, "birds": 3, "walking": 3, "night": 2, "water": 1, "selfdrive": 5, "budget": 4, "families": 4, "first": 5, "wild": 3}, "money": {"fee": 24, "cheapest": 10, "typical": 490, "trip_camping": 350.0, "trip_mid": null, "trip_flyin": 10602.0}}, "kafue": {"name": "Kafue National Park", "short": "Kafue", "country": "Zambia", "url": "https://visitkafue.com/", "size": "22,400 km²", "character": "Zambia's giant: 22,400 km² of rivers, miombo and the Busanga Plains, cut by a tar highway.", "best": "Self-drivers and repeat visitors after cheetah, red lechwe, night drives and multi-day walking trails.", "centroid": [-15.3782, 25.9922], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "4Aug to Oct, park-wideAntelope species: 21; Elephant: ±4,800, increasing; Lion: 200+", "sp-elephant": "Likely", "sp-lion": "Guaranteed", "sp-leopard": "Fair chance", "sp-buffalo": "Guaranteed", "sp-wild dog": "Rare", "sp-cheetah": "Fair chance", "sp-hippo": "Guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "Absent", "birds": "4515 speciesAbout 515 bird species listed on the wildlife page.", "walking": "4Every walk goes out with an armed escort and camps set a minimum age of about 14; Musekese is built on walking and the park now runs three- and six-day self-catered wilderness trails.", "night": "5Zambia permits night drives inside national parks and Kafue's camps make full use of it, with red-filtered spotlights and an aardvark programme at Konkamoya.", "water": "4Boat safaris on the Kafue, Lufupa and Lunga rivers and Lake Itezhi-Tezhi at a $20 daily boating fee, solar e-boats, and guided canoeing in parties of up to three canoes.", "selfdrive": "4The M9 crosses the park on tar, 270 to 280 km and 3.5 to 5 h from Lusaka with no 4x4 needed to Mukambi; beyond the corridor a high-clearance 4x4 is required and Busanga adds 5 to 6 h of track.", "fee": "$20International adult per day ({'name': 'DNPW fee schedule, published via the Zambia Tourism Agency and the Kafue Park Operators Association', 'url': 'https://www.zambiatourism.com/park-entry-fees/'}, 2026-07-26).", "cheapest": "$25Lowest listed rate per person per night across 27 places; 6 are budget tier.", "typical": "$495Median of 18 priced places; top end $1,600.", "budget": "4Cheapest listed bed $25, 6 of 27 places in the budget tier, park fee $20 a day.", "trip_camping": "$655Budget one: self-drive camping at Kasabushi, the cheapest real version", "trip_mid": "$2,375Budget two: mid-range at Mukambi Safari Lodge", "trip_flyin": "Not published", "airport": "No scheduled flights; Lusaka 270 to 280 km, 3.5 to 5 h on the M9From the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "Not needed on the M9 to Mukambi; high-clearance 4x4 beyondFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "Aug to Oct, park-wideFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "Busanga open early Jul to early Nov; some central and southern camps all yearFrom the best-time page.", "malaria": "High countrywide, worst in the rainsFrom the health page.", "tsetse": "PresentSerious tsetse in the miombo and mopane woodland, worst on the long drives between camps such as the run north to Busanga.", "heat": "October, 35.0°C mean daily maxMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page.", "hospital": "Mumbwa, about 2 h from Hook BridgeAir evacuation: SES air ambulance from Lusaka.", "families": "2Malaria is high all year, the miombo is serious tsetse country, much of the park has no phone signal and the nearest hospital is Mumbwa, about 2 h from Hook Bridge; Ila sets no age limit and Kasabushi prices children.", "first": "3An ordinary car reaches the central sector in 3.5 to 5 h and lions are near-daily on Busanga from Aug to Oct, but elephant is only likely and the game is spread across 22,400 km².", "wild": "5One of the richest parks in Africa seen by remarkably few people, with the Busanga Plains holding six small camps of mostly four to six units."}, "values": {"game": "4", "sp-elephant": "likely", "sp-lion": "guaranteed", "sp-leopard": "chance", "sp-buffalo": "guaranteed", "sp-wild dog": "luck", "sp-cheetah": "chance", "sp-hippo": "guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "absent", "birds": "4", "walking": "4", "night": "5", "water": "4", "selfdrive": "4", "fee": "$20", "cheapest": "$25", "typical": "$495", "budget": "4", "trip_camping": "$655", "trip_mid": "$2,375", "trip_flyin": "", "airport": "No scheduled flights; Lusaka 270 to 280 km, 3.5 to 5 h on the M9", "fourx4": "Not needed on the M9 to Mukambi; high-clearance 4x4 beyond", "peak": "Aug to Oct, park-wide", "closed": "Busanga open early Jul to early Nov; some central and southern camps all year", "malaria": "High countrywide, worst in the rains", "tsetse": "Present", "heat": "October, 35.0°C mean daily max", "hospital": "Mumbwa, about 2 h from Hook Bridge", "families": "2", "first": "3", "wild": "5"}, "species": {"elephant": 2, "lion": 3, "leopard": 1, "buffalo": 3, "wild dog": 0.5, "cheetah": 1, "hippo": 3, "giraffe": 0}, "scores": {"game": 4, "birds": 4, "walking": 4, "night": 5, "water": 4, "selfdrive": 4, "budget": 4, "families": 2, "first": 3, "wild": 5}, "money": {"fee": 20, "cheapest": 25, "typical": 495, "trip_camping": 655.0, "trip_mid": 2375.0, "trip_flyin": null}}, "katavi": {"name": "Katavi National Park", "short": "Katavi", "country": "Tanzania", "url": "https://visitkatavi.com/", "size": "4,471 km²", "character": "Western Tanzania's empty floodplain: hippos packed into shrinking pools and buffalo herds over a thousand strong.", "best": "Seasoned travellers who want the late dry-season spectacle with almost nobody else there.", "centroid": [-6.984, 31.2907], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "5Aug to OctHippos: Hundreds per pool; Buffalo herds: 1,000+ animals; Crocodiles: Dry-season cave dwellers", "sp-elephant": "Guaranteed", "sp-lion": "Likely", "sp-leopard": "Fair chance", "sp-buffalo": "Guaranteed", "sp-wild dog": "Rare", "sp-cheetah": "Absent", "sp-hippo": "Guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "Likely", "birds": "3400 speciesAbout 400 bird species listed on the wildlife page.", "walking": "4One of Tanzania's best walking parks: walks of one to four hours at $20 and longer at $25 behind an authorised armed ranger, a camp built on walking, and fly-camping at $50 a night.", "night": "4Night game drives are permitted and named in the TANAPA tariff at $50 per adult, offered as a standard option at Mbali Mbali Katavi, plus night nature walks at $10.", "water": "1No boat or canoe activity is listed; the shrinking Katuma pools are watched from the bank for hippo and crocodile.", "selfdrive": "2Self-drivers with a proper 4x4 can do their own drives, but reaching the park is a multi-day expedition of 550 to 700 km from Mbeya on black cotton soil, with Mpanda the last fuel.", "fee": "$35.40International adult per day ({'name': 'Official TANAPA tariff sheet 2023/24 (still the current published schedule)', 'url': 'https://www.tanzaniaparks.go.tz/uploads/publications/en-1688147569-TARIFFS%20Design%20202324.pdf'}, 2026-07-27).", "cheapest": "$20Lowest listed rate per person per night across 7 places; 3 are budget tier.", "typical": "$445Median of 6 priced places; top end $910.", "budget": "4Cheapest listed bed $20, 3 of 7 places in the budget tier, park fee $35.40 a day.", "trip_camping": "$774Budget one: self-drive camping, for those already crossing western Tanzania", "trip_mid": "Not published", "trip_flyin": "$5,595Budget three: the fly-in reality, how almost everyone actually visits", "airport": "Ikuu airstrip in the park; Safari Air Link Mon and Thu from Ruaha, 07:00 to 08:50From the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "High-clearance 4x4 mandatoryFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "Aug to OctFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "All camps closed Mar to MayFrom the best-time page.", "malaria": "High year-round below 1,800m (NaTHNaC)From the health page.", "tsetse": "PresentTsetse common in the miombo woodland away from the rivers; guides warn before a drive.", "heat": "October, 34.4°C mean maxMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page.", "hospital": "Mpanda, about 40 km from the gateAir evacuation: Ikuu, inside the park.", "families": "2Malaria risk is high all year, tsetse is real in the miombo, flights run only on Monday and Thursday and every camp closes Mar to May; Mbali Mbali takes all ages and Katavi Wildlife Camp has two family suites.", "first": "2Elephant, buffalo and hippo are guaranteed and lion likely, but the only scheduled flight is twice weekly at $615 one way from Ruaha and a missed connection costs days.", "wild": "5Katavi received 1,338 international visitors in all of 2024, so a dry-season drive routinely happens with no other vehicle in sight."}, "values": {"game": "5", "sp-elephant": "guaranteed", "sp-lion": "likely", "sp-leopard": "chance", "sp-buffalo": "guaranteed", "sp-wild dog": "luck", "sp-cheetah": "absent", "sp-hippo": "guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "likely", "birds": "3", "walking": "4", "night": "4", "water": "1", "selfdrive": "2", "fee": "$35.40", "cheapest": "$20", "typical": "$445", "budget": "4", "trip_camping": "$774", "trip_mid": "", "trip_flyin": "$5,595", "airport": "Ikuu airstrip in the park; Safari Air Link Mon and Thu from Ruaha, 07:00 to 08:50", "fourx4": "High-clearance 4x4 mandatory", "peak": "Aug to Oct", "closed": "All camps closed Mar to May", "malaria": "High year-round below 1,800m (NaTHNaC)", "tsetse": "Present", "heat": "October, 34.4°C mean max", "hospital": "Mpanda, about 40 km from the gate", "families": "2", "first": "2", "wild": "5"}, "species": {"elephant": 3, "lion": 2, "leopard": 1, "buffalo": 3, "wild dog": 0.5, "cheetah": 0, "hippo": 3, "giraffe": 2}, "scores": {"game": 5, "birds": 3, "walking": 4, "night": 4, "water": 1, "selfdrive": 2, "budget": 4, "families": 2, "first": 2, "wild": 5}, "money": {"fee": 35.4, "cheapest": 20, "typical": 445, "trip_camping": 774.0, "trip_mid": null, "trip_flyin": 5595.0}}, "kidepo": {"name": "Kidepo Valley National Park", "short": "Kidepo Valley", "country": "Uganda", "url": "https://visitkidepo.com/", "size": "1,442 km²", "character": "Uganda's far north-east: the Narus Valley's buffalo herds and giraffe under mountains on two borders.", "best": "Second-time Uganda visitors who want the country's emptiest park and accept the long road.", "centroid": [3.903, 33.7885], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "3Late Dec to early MarBuffalo: National stronghold; Nubian giraffe: 163 (2025); Lions: ±12 (2022 survey)", "sp-elephant": "Likely", "sp-lion": "Rare", "sp-leopard": "Rare", "sp-buffalo": "Guaranteed", "sp-wild dog": "Rare", "sp-cheetah": "Rare", "sp-hippo": "Not published", "sp-giraffe": "Guaranteed", "birds": "4475 speciesAbout 475 bird species listed on the wildlife page.", "walking": "3Ranger-guided walks at $25 from Apoka, longer walks in East Kakine among giraffe, buffalo and elephant, the 15 km Rionomoe Trail, and hikes up Mount Lomej at $40 and Lonyili at $50.", "night": "3Night drives cost $30 per person with a mandatory UWA guide and are sold only to guests sleeping inside the park.", "water": "1The sand rivers flow only after rain, the Kanangorok hot springs are a scenic border excursion rather than a bathing resort, and no boat activity is listed.", "selfdrive": "3Self-drive costs $10 a vehicle in a park built around it, but Kampala is 571 km and about 10 h away, a sound 4WD is required and there is no fuel in the park.", "fee": "$40International adult per day ({'name': 'UWA Conservation Tariff 2024–2026 (official PDF)', 'url': 'https://ugandawildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/UWA-Conservation-Tariff-July-2024-June-2026.pdf'}, 2026-08-17).", "cheapest": "$40Lowest listed rate per person per night across 10 places; 3 are budget tier.", "typical": "$110Median of 3 priced places; top end $880.", "budget": "3Cheapest listed bed $40, 3 of 10 places in the budget tier, park fee $40 a day.", "trip_camping": "$610Budget one: self-drive camping, the trip most people take", "trip_mid": "$1,205Budget two: a mid-range stay at Kidepo Savannah Lodge", "trip_flyin": "$7,740Budget three: fly-in and top-end", "airport": "No scheduled flights; Kampala 571 km, ±10 h, or charter to ApokaFrom the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "EssentialFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "Late Dec to early MarFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "Open all year; wet season Apr to OctFrom the best-time page.", "malaria": "High, year-round, countrywideFrom the health page.", "tsetse": "Not publishedOnly the history page mentions tsetse, as the colonial bush-clearing of the 1950s; the health page is silent.", "heat": "Dec to Mar, up to 31.7°C mean maxMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page.", "hospital": "Kaabong and Kitgum, several hours out; referral hospital in GuluAir evacuation: Charter flight, Apoka or Lomej airstrip.", "families": "2Malaria risk is high all year, there is no clinic and the hospitals in Kaabong and Kitgum are hours away on dirt, flights are charter only and Apoka Rest Camp is unfenced; Apoka Safari Lodge lets under-fives stay free.", "first": "2Buffalo and giraffe are guaranteed, but a 2022 survey estimated about 12 lions in the whole park and the trip takes about 10 h by road or a charter.", "wild": "5Nothing here is crowded, ever: the distance keeps the park empty and the guide lists three places to stay inside it."}, "values": {"game": "3", "sp-elephant": "likely", "sp-lion": "luck", "sp-leopard": "luck", "sp-buffalo": "guaranteed", "sp-wild dog": "luck", "sp-cheetah": "luck", "sp-hippo": "not published", "sp-giraffe": "guaranteed", "birds": "4", "walking": "3", "night": "3", "water": "1", "selfdrive": "3", "fee": "$40", "cheapest": "$40", "typical": "$110", "budget": "3", "trip_camping": "$610", "trip_mid": "$1,205", "trip_flyin": "$7,740", "airport": "No scheduled flights; Kampala 571 km, ±10 h, or charter to Apoka", "fourx4": "Essential", "peak": "Late Dec to early Mar", "closed": "Open all year; wet season Apr to Oct", "malaria": "High, year-round, countrywide", "tsetse": "Not published", "heat": "Dec to Mar, up to 31.7°C mean max", "hospital": "Kaabong and Kitgum, several hours out; referral hospital in Gulu", "families": "2", "first": "2", "wild": "5"}, "species": {"elephant": 2, "lion": 0.5, "leopard": 0.5, "buffalo": 3, "wild dog": 0.5, "cheetah": 0.5, "hippo": null, "giraffe": 3}, "scores": {"game": 3, "birds": 4, "walking": 3, "night": 3, "water": 1, "selfdrive": 3, "budget": 3, "families": 2, "first": 2, "wild": 5}, "money": {"fee": 40, "cheapest": 40, "typical": 110, "trip_camping": 610.0, "trip_mid": 1205.0, "trip_flyin": 7740.0}}, "liwonde": {"name": "Liwonde National Park", "short": "Liwonde", "country": "Malawi", "url": "https://liwondenationalpark.com/", "size": "±548 km²", "character": "Malawi's compact river park: around 600 elephants and 2,000 hippos along the Shire.", "best": "An easy, affordable river safari: book the boat and build the rest around it.", "centroid": [-14.8272, 35.3173], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "4Jul to OctElephants: ±600; Hippos: ±2,000; Buffalo: 1,000+", "sp-elephant": "Guaranteed", "sp-lion": "Fair chance", "sp-leopard": "Fair chance", "sp-buffalo": "Likely", "sp-wild dog": "Rare", "sp-cheetah": "Fair chance", "sp-hippo": "Guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "Absent", "birds": "3380 speciesAbout 380 bird species listed on the wildlife page.", "walking": "3Two-hour walks at $25 with an armed scout, early mornings in the dry season only, groups of up to six and nobody under 16.", "night": "3The park sells a three-hour sundowner drive at $35 that runs into darkness, the only route to genet, civet and hyaena, and camps advertise night drives.", "water": "5The two-hour Shire boat safari is the signature at a fixed $25 sold by the park to anyone, it runs year-round, and boats take over transfers when the roads soften in the rains.", "selfdrive": "4Self-driving is officially supported year-round for a $5 vehicle fee, with a 2WD workable outside Dec to Apr, community guides for hire at the gate, and Blantyre 120 km away.", "fee": "$30International adult per day ({'name': 'Chimwala Camp Rates 2025, published by Liwonde National Park (African Parks / DNPW)', 'url': 'https://visitliwonde.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/Chimwala-Camp-Rates-2025.pdf'}, 2026-07-26).", "cheapest": "$10Lowest listed rate per person per night across 10 places; 4 are budget tier.", "typical": "$305Median of 9 priced places; top end $1,000.", "budget": "4Cheapest listed bed $10, 4 of 10 places in the budget tier, park fee $30 a day.", "trip_camping": "$463Budget one: self-drive camping at Chinguni", "trip_mid": "Not published", "trip_flyin": "$3,580Budget three: fly in to Mvuu Lodge", "airport": "Blantyre (BLZ), 120 km, 2.5 to 3.5 h by roadFrom the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "Needed Dec to AprFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "Jul to OctFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "Open all year; Kuthengo Camp closed in FebruaryFrom the best-time page.", "malaria": "Year-round, all of Malawi (CDC)From the health page.", "tsetse": "Not publishedNo Liwonde page mentions tsetse.", "heat": "October, 34.1°C average highMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page.", "hospital": "Zomba Central, about 1 h awayAir evacuation: No domestic provider in Malawi.", "families": "4Zomba Central Hospital is about an hour away, Mvuu Camp is the operator's family pick with kiddies walks and Kuthengo takes all ages; malaria is a year-round risk and walks are 16 and over.", "first": "4Elephant, hippo and crocodile are guaranteed and Blantyre is 2.5 to 3.5 h by road, but the reintroduced lions and cheetahs are only a chance.", "wild": "2A fenced park of 548 km² where in the dry season most of what lives here is pressed against the one river."}, "values": {"game": "4", "sp-elephant": "guaranteed", "sp-lion": "chance", "sp-leopard": "chance", "sp-buffalo": "likely", "sp-wild dog": "luck", "sp-cheetah": "chance", "sp-hippo": "guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "absent", "birds": "3", "walking": "3", "night": "3", "water": "5", "selfdrive": "4", "fee": "$30", "cheapest": "$10", "typical": "$305", "budget": "4", "trip_camping": "$463", "trip_mid": "", "trip_flyin": "$3,580", "airport": "Blantyre (BLZ), 120 km, 2.5 to 3.5 h by road", "fourx4": "Needed Dec to Apr", "peak": "Jul to Oct", "closed": "Open all year; Kuthengo Camp closed in February", "malaria": "Year-round, all of Malawi (CDC)", "tsetse": "Not published", "heat": "October, 34.1°C average high", "hospital": "Zomba Central, about 1 h away", "families": "4", "first": "4", "wild": "2"}, "species": {"elephant": 3, "lion": 1, "leopard": 1, "buffalo": 2, "wild dog": 0.5, "cheetah": 1, "hippo": 3, "giraffe": 0}, "scores": {"game": 4, "birds": 3, "walking": 3, "night": 3, "water": 5, "selfdrive": 4, "budget": 4, "families": 4, "first": 4, "wild": 2}, "money": {"fee": 30, "cheapest": 10, "typical": 305, "trip_camping": 463.0, "trip_mid": null, "trip_flyin": 3580.0}}, "lower-zambezi": {"name": "Lower Zambezi National Park", "short": "Lower Zambezi", "country": "Zambia", "url": "https://visitlowerzambezi.com/", "size": "4,092 km²", "character": "Zambia's water park: canoes past hippo pods, elephants swimming between islands and leopard on night drives.", "best": "Canoe-and-lodge safaris with night drives, between May and mid-November.", "centroid": [-15.4481, 29.6829], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "4September and OctoberElephant sightings: 100% of trips; Lion sightings: 96% of trips; Leopard sightings: 88% of trips", "sp-elephant": "Guaranteed", "sp-lion": "Likely", "sp-leopard": "Likely", "sp-buffalo": "Likely", "sp-wild dog": "Fair chance", "sp-cheetah": "Absent", "sp-hippo": "Guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "Absent", "birds": "2378 speciesAbout 378 bird species listed on the wildlife page.", "walking": "4Walking is permitted with a guide and an armed scout, the Tusk & Mane fly-camps specialise in it and reach the escarpment foot, and under-12s are normally excluded.", "night": "5Night drives are permitted and widely offered inside the park and the game management area through licensed operators until 20:00, and leopard is seen on 88 per cent of trips.", "water": "5Canoeing is the signature, from a couple of hours to multi-day trails at a $20 park fee, every river camp runs boat cruises, and tigerfishing is catch-and-release.", "selfdrive": "2Self-driving is permitted on a $30 tariff, but the road is ±216 km and at least 5 h with the last hours on a rough Chiawa GMA track, a 4x4 is required and no bookable campsite inside the park could be traced.", "fee": "$30International adult per day ({'name': 'DNPW park fee schedule, published via the Zambia Tourism Agency', 'url': 'https://www.zambiatourism.com/park-entry-fees/'}, 2026-07-27).", "cheapest": "$200Lowest listed rate per person per night across 27 places; 5 are budget tier.", "typical": "$900Median of 16 priced places; top end $1,995.", "budget": "1Cheapest listed bed $200, 5 of 27 places in the budget tier, park fee $30 a day.", "trip_camping": "$420Budget one: the GMA campsite base, the budget trip that actually exists", "trip_mid": "$3,550Budget two: mid-range, a tented chalet at Mvuu", "trip_flyin": "$10,060Budget three: fly-in to Anabezi, inside the park", "airport": "Lusaka: ±35 min by air to Jeki, or ±5 h by roadFrom the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "Required inside the parkFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "September and OctoberFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "Camps ±April to mid-Nov; flights 1 May to 15 NovFrom the best-time page.", "malaria": "High year-round, whole country (NaTHNaC)From the health page.", "tsetse": "PresentPart of a Zambezi valley day, especially in thick bush away from the river; a comfort problem, mostly.", "heat": "October, 34.8°C mean daily maxMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page.", "hospital": "Mtendere Mission Hospital, Chirundu; real hospitals in LusakaAir evacuation: SES road and air ambulance, Lusaka based.", "families": "3Lolebezi and Chongwe Camp take all ages and Royal Zambezi has a kids' corner, but malaria is high all year, the camps are unfenced and children under 12 are normally kept off canoe and walking safaris.", "first": "4Elephant on 100 per cent of trips, lion on 96 and leopard on 88, and Proflight reaches Jeki in about 35 min from Lusaka, though only from 1 May to 15 Nov.", "wild": "3Most of the 4,092 km² is escarpment with no drivable tourist network, so game drives work a narrow valley-floor strip and the interior is reached only by walking and fly-camp operators."}, "values": {"game": "4", "sp-elephant": "guaranteed", "sp-lion": "likely", "sp-leopard": "likely", "sp-buffalo": "likely", "sp-wild dog": "chance", "sp-cheetah": "absent", "sp-hippo": "guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "absent", "birds": "2", "walking": "4", "night": "5", "water": "5", "selfdrive": "2", "fee": "$30", "cheapest": "$200", "typical": "$900", "budget": "1", "trip_camping": "$420", "trip_mid": "$3,550", "trip_flyin": "$10,060", "airport": "Lusaka: ±35 min by air to Jeki, or ±5 h by road", "fourx4": "Required inside the park", "peak": "September and October", "closed": "Camps ±April to mid-Nov; flights 1 May to 15 Nov", "malaria": "High year-round, whole country (NaTHNaC)", "tsetse": "Present", "heat": "October, 34.8°C mean daily max", "hospital": "Mtendere Mission Hospital, Chirundu; real hospitals in Lusaka", "families": "3", "first": "4", "wild": "3"}, "species": {"elephant": 3, "lion": 2, "leopard": 2, "buffalo": 2, "wild dog": 1, "cheetah": 0, "hippo": 3, "giraffe": 0}, "scores": {"game": 4, "birds": 2, "walking": 4, "night": 5, "water": 5, "selfdrive": 2, "budget": 1, "families": 3, "first": 4, "wild": 3}, "money": {"fee": 30, "cheapest": 200, "typical": 900, "trip_camping": 420.0, "trip_mid": 3550.0, "trip_flyin": 10060.0}}, "mahale": {"name": "Mahale Mountains National Park", "short": "Mahale Mountains", "country": "Tanzania", "url": "https://visitmahale.com/", "size": "1,577 km²", "character": "Chimpanzees on forested mountains that drop into Lake Tanganyika, reached only by plane and dhow.", "best": "Chimpanzee trekking with a clear-water lake afterwards, for travellers who can handle the logistics.", "centroid": [-6.2278, 29.9234], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "1Jul to Oct for trekkingChimpanzees: Est. 800–1,000; Habituated M group: ±60–75 individuals; Studied since: 1965 (M group 1968)", "sp-elephant": "Rare", "sp-lion": "Rare", "sp-leopard": "Rare", "sp-buffalo": "Rare", "sp-wild dog": "Rare", "sp-cheetah": "Not published", "sp-hippo": "Rare", "sp-giraffe": "Rare", "birds": "3398 speciesAbout 398 bird species listed on the wildlife page.", "walking": "4Everything is on foot with an authorised ranger: daily chimpanzee treks in groups of six with one hour at the sighting, forest walks at $20 to $25, and multi-day hikes towards Mount Nkungwe.", "night": "2There are no vehicles and so no night drives; the tariff prices night nature walks at $10.", "water": "4Swimming in designated areas of clear lake water, snorkelling over endemic cichlids at $10, kayaking at $10, boat safaris at $20, dhow sundowners and sport fishing.", "selfdrive": "1There are no roads in the park; every arrival is a light aircraft followed by a 1 to 2 h boat to camp.", "fee": "$94.40International adult per day ({'name': 'Official TANAPA tariff sheet 2023/24 (still in force; no newer tariff has been gazetted)', 'url': 'https://www.tanzaniaparks.go.tz/uploads/publications/en-1688147569-TARIFFS%20Design%20202324.pdf'}, 2026-07-26).", "cheapest": "$30Lowest listed rate per person per night across 5 places; 2 are budget tier.", "typical": "$520Median of 5 priced places; top end $1,125.", "budget": "3Cheapest listed bed $30, 2 of 5 places in the budget tier, park fee $94.40 a day.", "trip_camping": "$838.80Budget one: the independent route that barely exists", "trip_mid": "$6,300Budget two: mid-range, at Mbali Mbali Mahale", "trip_flyin": "$14,190Budget three: fly-in and top-end, at Greystoke Mahale", "airport": "Mahale airstrip, then ±1 to 2 h by boat; flights Mon and Thu onlyFrom the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "No roads in the parkFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "Jul to Oct for trekkingFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "All camps closed Mar to MayFrom the best-time page.", "malaria": "All of Tanzania below 1,800 m, year-roundFrom the health page.", "tsetse": "Not publishedNo Mahale page mentions tsetse.", "heat": "September, 28.1°C mean maxMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page.", "hospital": "Kigoma, ±130 km, a boat day awayFrom the health page.", "families": "1Chimpanzee trekking carries a stated minimum age of 12, malaria risk runs all year, flights operate only on Monday and Thursday, and Kigoma, the nearest hospital town, is a boat day away.", "first": "1Not a game-viewing park: elephant, buffalo and lion live on inaccessible eastern slopes, and chimpanzees are likely over two or three treks but never guaranteed.", "wild": "5No roads, arrival by dhow, and August, the busiest month, brought 147 international visitors in 2024; all camps sit on the western lakeshore strip."}, "values": {"game": "1", "sp-elephant": "luck", "sp-lion": "luck", "sp-leopard": "luck", "sp-buffalo": "luck", "sp-wild dog": "luck", "sp-cheetah": "not published", "sp-hippo": "luck", "sp-giraffe": "luck", "birds": "3", "walking": "4", "night": "2", "water": "4", "selfdrive": "1", "fee": "$94.40", "cheapest": "$30", "typical": "$520", "budget": "3", "trip_camping": "$838.80", "trip_mid": "$6,300", "trip_flyin": "$14,190", "airport": "Mahale airstrip, then ±1 to 2 h by boat; flights Mon and Thu only", "fourx4": "No roads in the park", "peak": "Jul to Oct for trekking", "closed": "All camps closed Mar to May", "malaria": "All of Tanzania below 1,800 m, year-round", "tsetse": "Not published", "heat": "September, 28.1°C mean max", "hospital": "Kigoma, ±130 km, a boat day away", "families": "1", "first": "1", "wild": "5"}, "species": {"elephant": 0.5, "lion": 0.5, "leopard": 0.5, "buffalo": 0.5, "wild dog": 0.5, "cheetah": null, "hippo": 0.5, "giraffe": 0.5}, "scores": {"game": 1, "birds": 3, "walking": 4, "night": 2, "water": 4, "selfdrive": 1, "budget": 3, "families": 1, "first": 1, "wild": 5}, "money": {"fee": 94.4, "cheapest": 30, "typical": 520, "trip_camping": 838.8, "trip_mid": 6300.0, "trip_flyin": 14190.0}}, "mana-pools": {"name": "Mana Pools National Park", "short": "Mana Pools", "country": "Zimbabwe", "url": "https://visitmanapools.com/", "size": "2,196 km²", "character": "A Zambezi floodplain where you may walk among big game, canoe past hippo pods and sleep unfenced.", "best": "Experienced safari-goers who want to walk and canoe, between April and mid-November.", "centroid": [-15.9669, 29.4544], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "4Aug to OctElephant sightings: 100% of visitors; Wild dog sightings: 58%; Hippo & crocodile: Largest in Zimbabwe", "sp-elephant": "Guaranteed", "sp-lion": "Likely", "sp-leopard": "Fair chance", "sp-buffalo": "Likely", "sp-wild dog": "Fair chance", "sp-cheetah": "Rare", "sp-hippo": "Guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "Absent", "birds": "3380 speciesAbout 380 bird species listed on the wildlife page.", "walking": "5One of a tiny handful of parks where the public may walk unaccompanied, on a permit and on the open floodplain; a ZimParks ranger walks with you at $12 per person per hour, and under-16s may not walk.", "night": "2Night driving and spotlighting are prohibited and a curfew keeps you in camp from 18:00 or 18:30; only Kavinga and the Ruckomechi concession on private land at the edges run night drives.", "water": "5Canoe safaris on the Zambezi are the signature, from half days to multi-day trails, alongside tigerfishing from bank or canoe on a $15 licence; motorboats are not allowed in the park.", "selfdrive": "4Self-drivers are welcome on the designated roads: 384 km and 6 to 7 h from Harare with a Marongora check-in and 74 km of gravel, a high-clearance 4x4 required and the park closed in practice Dec to Mar.", "fee": "$24International adult per day ({'name': 'Official ZimParks tariff, published February 2026', 'url': 'https://www.zimparks.org.zw/media/2026/02/De-Gazetted-Tariff-2026.pdf'}, 2026-07-26).", "cheapest": "$120Lowest listed rate per person per night across 21 places; 6 are budget tier.", "typical": "$235Median of 9 priced places; top end $1,140.", "budget": "2Cheapest listed bed $120, 6 of 21 places in the budget tier, park fee $24 a day.", "trip_camping": "$810Budget one: self-drive camping at Nyamepi", "trip_mid": "$915Budget two: a ZimParks lodge, Hippo, Nyati or Muvee", "trip_flyin": "$6,240Budget three: fly-in to Wilderness Ruckomechi", "airport": "Harare, 384 km, 6 to 7 h by road; ±1 h 35 by light aircraftFrom the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "High-clearance 4x4 requiredFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "Aug to OctFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "Effectively closed Dec to MarchFrom the best-time page.", "malaria": "High all year in the Zambezi ValleyFrom the health page.", "tsetse": "PresentZimbabwe's surviving tsetse belts sit in the Zambezi Valley; worst in the mopane and jesse bush between escarpment and river.", "heat": "October, 36.9°C mean daily maxMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page.", "hospital": "Kariba, Karoi, Chinhoyi (stabilisation only); serious cases by air to HarareAir evacuation: MARS (Kariba base) or ACE (Chirundu, Chinhoyi) to Harare.", "families": "2Every camp is unfenced, malaria risk is high all year in the Zambezi Valley, tsetse is present and under-16s cannot walk; Nyamatusi Mahogany is the family exception with a kids' programme.", "first": "3Elephant is seen by 100 per cent of visitors and lion by 89, but access is a 6 to 7 h drive or a charter and night drives are banned.", "wild": "4Unfenced camps, a five-vehicle cap at sightings and no facilities at all at Chitake Springs, though most visitors share the 15 by 3 km floodplain and September books out up to a year ahead."}, "values": {"game": "4", "sp-elephant": "guaranteed", "sp-lion": "likely", "sp-leopard": "chance", "sp-buffalo": "likely", "sp-wild dog": "chance", "sp-cheetah": "luck", "sp-hippo": "guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "absent", "birds": "3", "walking": "5", "night": "2", "water": "5", "selfdrive": "4", "fee": "$24", "cheapest": "$120", "typical": "$235", "budget": "2", "trip_camping": "$810", "trip_mid": "$915", "trip_flyin": "$6,240", "airport": "Harare, 384 km, 6 to 7 h by road; ±1 h 35 by light aircraft", "fourx4": "High-clearance 4x4 required", "peak": "Aug to Oct", "closed": "Effectively closed Dec to March", "malaria": "High all year in the Zambezi Valley", "tsetse": "Present", "heat": "October, 36.9°C mean daily max", "hospital": "Kariba, Karoi, Chinhoyi (stabilisation only); serious cases by air to Harare", "families": "2", "first": "3", "wild": "4"}, "species": {"elephant": 3, "lion": 2, "leopard": 1, "buffalo": 2, "wild dog": 1, "cheetah": 0.5, "hippo": 3, "giraffe": 0}, "scores": {"game": 4, "birds": 3, "walking": 5, "night": 2, "water": 5, "selfdrive": 4, "budget": 2, "families": 2, "first": 3, "wild": 4}, "money": {"fee": 24, "cheapest": 120, "typical": 235, "trip_camping": 810.0, "trip_mid": 915.0, "trip_flyin": 6240.0}}, "matobo": {"name": "Matobo National Park", "short": "Matobo", "country": "Zimbabwe", "url": "https://visitmatobo.com/", "size": "424 km²", "character": "Granite domes, painted caves and black eagles, half an hour from Bulawayo.", "best": "Walking, rock art and a low-malaria break between big-game parks.", "centroid": [-20.39, 28.535], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "1No game peak; May to Sep for walking and rock artBlack eagle nest sites: 100+ monitored; Eagle survey: Every year since 1963; Raptor species: 50+, 32 breeding", "sp-elephant": "Rare", "sp-lion": "Absent", "sp-leopard": "Rare", "sp-buffalo": "Not published", "sp-wild dog": "Absent", "sp-cheetah": "Not published", "sp-hippo": "Fair chance", "sp-giraffe": "Likely", "birds": "2340 speciesAbout 340 bird species listed on the wildlife page.", "walking": "4A park you walk into rather than drive through: walking on the granite domes is widely practised, every private lodge offers guided walks, and there are no resident lions.", "night": "1No night activity is listed; park hours are usually given as 06:00 to 18:00 and driving after dark outside towns is discouraged.", "water": "1The guide says to assume the dams carry bilharzia and not to swim, and fishing rules are not in the tariff.", "selfdrive": "5Tar from Bulawayo to Maleme, gravel roads suitable for most vehicles, and a high-clearance 4x4 only for the fenced game section and some outlying areas.", "fee": "$18 / $10International adult per day, the lower figure if you sleep inside the park ({'name': 'Official ZimParks tariff (De-Gazetted Tariff 2026), published February 2026', 'url': 'https://www.zimparks.org.zw/media/2026/02/De-Gazetted-Tariff-2026.pdf'}, 2026-09-24).", "cheapest": "$12Lowest listed rate per person per night across 18 places; 13 are budget tier.", "typical": "$154Median of 8 priced places; top end $447.", "budget": "5Cheapest listed bed $12, 13 of 18 places in the budget tier, park fee $10 a day.", "trip_camping": "$161Budget one: self-drive camping at Maleme", "trip_mid": "$818Budget two: Farmhouse Lodge, dinner, bed and breakfast", "trip_flyin": "Not published", "airport": "Bulawayo (BUQ), about 55 to 60 km to the boundaryFrom the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "Not needed to Maleme; recommended in the game sectionFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "No game peak; May to Sep for walking and rock artFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "Open all yearFrom the best-time page.", "malaria": "Low, per secondary sourcesFrom the health page.", "tsetse": "Not publishedNo Matobo page mentions tsetse.", "heat": "OctoberMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page.", "hospital": "Bulawayo, the nearest city, about 30 kmFrom the health page.", "families": "4Malaria risk is described as low, Bulawayo is about 30 km away and Matobo Hills Lodge has family chalets with cots; the real hazards are wet granite and near-freezing June to August nights.", "first": "2Not a big-game park: no resident lions or elephants, leopard takes luck, and the plains game lives in a fenced, restocked section of about 105 km².", "wild": "2Well under an hour from Bulawayo, with a fenced and restocked game section and the festive weeks busier with Zimbabwean holidaymakers."}, "values": {"game": "1", "sp-elephant": "luck", "sp-lion": "absent", "sp-leopard": "luck", "sp-buffalo": "not published", "sp-wild dog": "absent", "sp-cheetah": "not published", "sp-hippo": "chance", "sp-giraffe": "likely", "birds": "2", "walking": "4", "night": "1", "water": "1", "selfdrive": "5", "fee": "$18 / $10", "cheapest": "$12", "typical": "$154", "budget": "5", "trip_camping": "$161", "trip_mid": "$818", "trip_flyin": "", "airport": "Bulawayo (BUQ), about 55 to 60 km to the boundary", "fourx4": "Not needed to Maleme; recommended in the game section", "peak": "No game peak; May to Sep for walking and rock art", "closed": "Open all year", "malaria": "Low, per secondary sources", "tsetse": "Not published", "heat": "October", "hospital": "Bulawayo, the nearest city, about 30 km", "families": "4", "first": "2", "wild": "2"}, "species": {"elephant": 0.5, "lion": 0, "leopard": 0.5, "buffalo": null, "wild dog": 0, "cheetah": null, "hippo": 1, "giraffe": 2}, "scores": {"game": 1, "birds": 2, "walking": 4, "night": 1, "water": 1, "selfdrive": 5, "budget": 5, "families": 4, "first": 2, "wild": 2}, "money": {"fee": 18, "cheapest": 12, "typical": 154, "trip_camping": 161.0, "trip_mid": 818.0, "trip_flyin": null}}, "matusadona": {"name": "Matusadona National Park", "short": "Matusadona", "country": "Zimbabwe", "url": "https://visitmatusadona.com/", "size": "About 1,400 km²", "character": "A lakeshore park on Kariba where the boat does as much work as the vehicle.", "best": "Boat-based game viewing, guided walks and houseboats, reached across the lake from Kariba.", "centroid": [-16.865, 28.65], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "3June to October, on the lakeshoreElephant: About 480 (2022 count); Hippo on the shoreline: Over 2,100 (2021 survey); Wild dog: 20 reintroduced, Feb 2026", "sp-elephant": "Likely", "sp-lion": "Fair chance", "sp-leopard": "Rare", "sp-buffalo": "Likely", "sp-wild dog": "Rare", "sp-cheetah": "Absent", "sp-hippo": "Guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "Not published", "birds": "2350 speciesAbout 350 bird species listed on the wildlife page.", "walking": "4Guided walks of two to three hours with park guides at about $40, and the Matusadona Trails, multi-day escarpment backpacking at $275 a day; walking only with a designated official and no under-12s on the Trails.", "night": "2The park runs no night drives; only Bumi Hills offers them, on its own concession outside the boundary.", "water": "5Morning and evening cruises from Tashinga and every lodge, the Sanyati Gorge by boat, houseboats along the shore and tigerfishing under a five-fish limit; canoeing is not offered.", "selfdrive": "2Self-drive is allowed from sunrise to sunset, but getting a vehicle in means the private McMaster ferry, 3 to 3.5 h plus about 2 h of bush road, or 9 to 10 h from Harare with a 4x4 recommended.", "fee": "$30International adult per day ({'name': 'ZimParks De-Gazetted Tariff 2026 (Matusadona conservation row p.12, vehicles p.23)', 'url': 'https://www.zimparks.org.zw/media/2026/02/De-Gazetted-Tariff-2026.pdf'}, 2026-09-24).", "cheapest": "$30Lowest listed rate per person per night across 38 places; 22 are budget tier.", "typical": "$630Median of 6 priced places; top end $999.", "budget": "3Cheapest listed bed $30, 22 of 38 places in the budget tier, park fee $30 a day.", "trip_camping": "Not published", "trip_mid": "Not published", "trip_flyin": "Not published", "airport": "Kariba town, about 1 h by speedboat to TashingaFrom the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "RecommendedFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "June to October, on the lakeshoreFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "No closure published; interior roads may close in the rains (unconfirmed)From the best-time page.", "malaria": "Prophylaxis recommended by the parkFrom the health page.", "tsetse": "Not publishedThe guide found no Matusadona-specific source; the management plan says tsetse were eradicated from the surrounding communal areas.", "heat": "October, up to 40°C and moreMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page.", "hospital": "Clinic at Tashinga headquarters; hospitals a boat ride or a long day's drive awayAir evacuation: Recommended by the park.", "families": "3There is a clinic at Tashinga and Changa has family tents with adjoining children's tents, but every camp is unfenced, the park recommends malaria prophylaxis and Jenje and the Trails take no one under 12.", "first": "2Hippo, crocodile and impala are guaranteed and elephant likely, but lion is only a chance in what the guide calls a recovering park.", "wild": "4Across the lake from the nearest town, with a park fleet of two pontoon boats and four vehicles in 2023 and no more than three vehicles allowed at a sighting."}, "values": {"game": "3", "sp-elephant": "likely", "sp-lion": "chance", "sp-leopard": "luck", "sp-buffalo": "likely", "sp-wild dog": "luck", "sp-cheetah": "absent", "sp-hippo": "guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "not published", "birds": "2", "walking": "4", "night": "2", "water": "5", "selfdrive": "2", "fee": "$30", "cheapest": "$30", "typical": "$630", "budget": "3", "trip_camping": "", "trip_mid": "", "trip_flyin": "", "airport": "Kariba town, about 1 h by speedboat to Tashinga", "fourx4": "Recommended", "peak": "June to October, on the lakeshore", "closed": "No closure published; interior roads may close in the rains (unconfirmed)", "malaria": "Prophylaxis recommended by the park", "tsetse": "Not published", "heat": "October, up to 40°C and more", "hospital": "Clinic at Tashinga headquarters; hospitals a boat ride or a long day's drive away", "families": "3", "first": "2", "wild": "4"}, "species": {"elephant": 2, "lion": 1, "leopard": 0.5, "buffalo": 2, "wild dog": 0.5, "cheetah": 0, "hippo": 3, "giraffe": null}, "scores": {"game": 3, "birds": 2, "walking": 4, "night": 2, "water": 5, "selfdrive": 2, "budget": 3, "families": 3, "first": 2, "wild": 4}, "money": {"fee": 30, "cheapest": 30, "typical": 630, "trip_camping": null, "trip_mid": null, "trip_flyin": null}}, "moremi": {"name": "Moremi Game Reserve", "short": "Moremi", "country": "Botswana", "url": "https://moremipark.com/", "size": "3,900–5,000 km²", "character": "The protected core of the Okavango: flood-fed lagoons, red lechwe and some of Africa's best predator country.", "best": "Classic Botswana self-drive or a fly-in Delta safari, June to October.", "centroid": [-19.2946, 23.2184], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "5Jul to OctMammal species (Delta): 130; Wild dog (Okavango): ±500, a world stronghold; Red lechwe (Delta): 30,000–90,000", "sp-elephant": "Guaranteed", "sp-lion": "Likely", "sp-leopard": "Likely", "sp-buffalo": "Likely", "sp-wild dog": "Fair chance", "sp-cheetah": "Rare", "sp-hippo": "Guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "Likely", "birds": "3400 speciesAbout 400 bird species listed on the wildlife page.", "walking": "2Walking safaris are not permitted inside the reserve; walks happen in the surrounding private and community concessions such as Khwai.", "night": "2Night drives are not permitted in the reserve, Chief's Island included; Khwai and the private concessions run them legally.", "water": "4Motorboat cruises from Xakanaxa to the Gcodikwe heronry, mokoro trips from Mboma when water allows, and boats year-round on the permanent lagoons, best May to Sep.", "selfdrive": "4Self-driving is the main activity on the sand tracks, 92 km and about 2 h from Maun to South Gate, but a high-clearance 4x4 is essential and the four public campsites sell out 6 to 8 months ahead for June to October.", "fee": "$20International adult per day ({'name': 'Government of Botswana national parks tariff (Ministry of Finance Savingram, December 2025) and DWNP', 'url': 'https://www.christourszambian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Botswana-Park-Fee-Updates.pdf'}, 2026-07-26).", "cheapest": "$30Lowest listed rate per person per night across 35 places; 7 are budget tier.", "typical": "$718Median of 31 priced places; top end $2,889.", "budget": "3Cheapest listed bed $30, 7 of 35 places in the budget tier, park fee $20 a day.", "trip_camping": "$7,650Budget one: self-drive camping, the classic Maun loop", "trip_mid": "Not published", "trip_flyin": "Not published", "airport": "Maun (MUB), 92 km and ±2 h to South Gate; 30 to 45 min by light aircraftFrom the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "Essential, no exceptionsFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "Jul to OctFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "Open all year; occasional wet-season closures (6 Mar to 13 Apr 2026)From the best-time page.", "malaria": "High Oct to May, low Jun to Sep (NaTHNaC)From the health page.", "tsetse": "Not publishedOnly the history page discusses tsetse, as the shifting fly belts of old Ngamiland; the health page is silent.", "heat": "October, 36.5°C mean daily maxMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page.", "hospital": "Maun, ±2 h from South GateFrom the health page.", "families": "4Malaria risk is low Jun to Sep, the best all-round months, and Sandibe, Gomoti Plains, Kiri and Monachira take all ages; campsites are unfenced and the nearest hospitals are in Maun, ±2 h from South Gate.", "first": "5Hippo on 100 per cent of reported trips and elephant on 99, lion 91 and leopard 77, with 30 to 45 min light-aircraft hops from Maun's scheduled airport.", "wild": "4Protected core country with no off-road driving, three vehicles per campsite and Chief's Island reachable only by air; the Khwai strip is the busiest in the area."}, "values": {"game": "5", "sp-elephant": "guaranteed", "sp-lion": "likely", "sp-leopard": "likely", "sp-buffalo": "likely", "sp-wild dog": "chance", "sp-cheetah": "luck", "sp-hippo": "guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "likely", "birds": "3", "walking": "2", "night": "2", "water": "4", "selfdrive": "4", "fee": "$20", "cheapest": "$30", "typical": "$718", "budget": "3", "trip_camping": "$7,650", "trip_mid": "", "trip_flyin": "", "airport": "Maun (MUB), 92 km and ±2 h to South Gate; 30 to 45 min by light aircraft", "fourx4": "Essential, no exceptions", "peak": "Jul to Oct", "closed": "Open all year; occasional wet-season closures (6 Mar to 13 Apr 2026)", "malaria": "High Oct to May, low Jun to Sep (NaTHNaC)", "tsetse": "Not published", "heat": "October, 36.5°C mean daily max", "hospital": "Maun, ±2 h from South Gate", "families": "4", "first": "5", "wild": "4"}, "species": {"elephant": 3, "lion": 2, "leopard": 2, "buffalo": 2, "wild dog": 1, "cheetah": 0.5, "hippo": 3, "giraffe": 2}, "scores": {"game": 5, "birds": 3, "walking": 2, "night": 2, "water": 4, "selfdrive": 4, "budget": 3, "families": 4, "first": 5, "wild": 4}, "money": {"fee": 20, "cheapest": 30, "typical": 718, "trip_camping": 7650.0, "trip_mid": null, "trip_flyin": null}}, "murchison-falls": {"name": "Murchison Falls National Park", "short": "Murchison Falls", "country": "Uganda", "url": "https://visitmurchisonfalls.com/", "size": "3,840 km²", "character": "The Nile forced through a gorge: boat trips to the falls, Uganda's giraffe stronghold and most of its lions.", "best": "A first Uganda safari with the country's strongest big-game odds and the Nile by boat.", "centroid": [2.2645, 31.8051], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "4Late Dec to Feb; second window June to SeptemberNubian giraffe: About 2,250; Lions: 240 (2022 survey); Leopard density: 14.1 per 100 km²", "sp-elephant": "Likely", "sp-lion": "Likely", "sp-leopard": "Rare", "sp-buffalo": "Guaranteed", "sp-wild dog": "Absent", "sp-cheetah": "Absent", "sp-hippo": "Guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "Guaranteed", "birds": "4450 speciesAbout 450 bird species listed on the wildlife page.", "walking": "3A ranger-escorted hike to the Top of the Falls at $15, birding and nature walks at $25, and chimpanzee tracking at Kaniyo Pabidi from age 12.", "night": "3Night drives cost $40 per person with a UWA guide and are sold only to guests sleeping inside the park; night nature walks cost $50.", "water": "5The launch to the foot of the falls at $30 and the delta cruise for shoebill leave the same jetty, and sport fishing below the falls targets Nile perch.", "selfdrive": "4Self-driving is allowed and reasonably common: 305 km of tar from Kampala in 4 to 5 h, a bridge at Paraa and $10 a vehicle for a self-guided drive, with a 4x4 for the game tracks.", "fee": "$45International adult per day ({'name': 'UWA Conservation Tariff, July 2024 to June 2026 (official PDF)', 'url': 'https://ugandawildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/UWA-Conservation-Tariff-July-2024-June-2026.pdf'}, 2026-08-17).", "cheapest": "$8Lowest listed rate per person per night across 20 places; 6 are budget tier.", "typical": "$60Median of 9 priced places; top end $780.", "budget": "4Cheapest listed bed $8, 6 of 20 places in the budget tier, park fee $45 a day.", "trip_camping": "$870Budget one: self-drive camping, the trip most people take", "trip_mid": "$1,470Budget two: a mid-range lodge stay at Murchison River Lodge", "trip_flyin": "$5,070Budget three: fly-in and top-end", "airport": "Entebbe, about 1 h by Aerolink; Kampala 305 km, 4 to 5 h by roadFrom the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "Needed for the game tracksFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "Late Dec to Feb; second window June to SeptemberFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "Open all year; no scheduled flights Mar, Apr, May, NovFrom the best-time page.", "malaria": "High, all year (NaTHNaC)From the health page.", "tsetse": "PresentDocumented and current on the Nile corridor, with government control and tsetse traps visible in the park; still rare in visitors.", "heat": "February, 33.9°C mean daily maxMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page.", "hospital": "Masindi General, district-level; real backstop KampalaFrom the health page.", "families": "3Murchison River Lodge has a pool, childcare and published child rates and Pakuba a family room, but malaria is high all year, tsetse is documented on the Nile corridor and serious care means Kampala.", "first": "4Giraffe, hippo, crocodile and buffalo are guaranteed and lion and elephant likely, 4 to 5 h on tar from Kampala or about 1 h by Aerolink from Entebbe.", "wild": "3Uganda's busiest park, where 38 per cent of recorded visitors are in transit on the public road; January to March brings the fewest vehicles on the Buligi tracks."}, "values": {"game": "4", "sp-elephant": "likely", "sp-lion": "likely", "sp-leopard": "luck", "sp-buffalo": "guaranteed", "sp-wild dog": "absent", "sp-cheetah": "absent", "sp-hippo": "guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "guaranteed", "birds": "4", "walking": "3", "night": "3", "water": "5", "selfdrive": "4", "fee": "$45", "cheapest": "$8", "typical": "$60", "budget": "4", "trip_camping": "$870", "trip_mid": "$1,470", "trip_flyin": "$5,070", "airport": "Entebbe, about 1 h by Aerolink; Kampala 305 km, 4 to 5 h by road", "fourx4": "Needed for the game tracks", "peak": "Late Dec to Feb; second window June to September", "closed": "Open all year; no scheduled flights Mar, Apr, May, Nov", "malaria": "High, all year (NaTHNaC)", "tsetse": "Present", "heat": "February, 33.9°C mean daily max", "hospital": "Masindi General, district-level; real backstop Kampala", "families": "3", "first": "4", "wild": "3"}, "species": {"elephant": 2, "lion": 2, "leopard": 0.5, "buffalo": 3, "wild dog": 0, "cheetah": 0, "hippo": 3, "giraffe": 3}, "scores": {"game": 4, "birds": 4, "walking": 3, "night": 3, "water": 5, "selfdrive": 4, "budget": 4, "families": 3, "first": 4, "wild": 3}, "money": {"fee": 45, "cheapest": 8, "typical": 60, "trip_camping": 870.0, "trip_mid": 1470.0, "trip_flyin": 5070.0}}, "nyerere": {"name": "Nyerere National Park", "short": "Nyerere", "country": "Tanzania", "url": "https://visitnyerere.com/", "size": "30,893 km²", "character": "The Rufiji's water world: boat safaris among hippos and lakes in one of Africa's great wild dog strongholds.", "best": "A fly-in southern Tanzania safari built around boats, an hour from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar.", "centroid": [-8.8671, 37.307], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "5June to OctoberBuffalo: 34,950; Hippo: 21,963; Elephant: 8,303", "sp-elephant": "Likely", "sp-lion": "Likely", "sp-leopard": "Fair chance", "sp-buffalo": "Guaranteed", "sp-wild dog": "Fair chance", "sp-cheetah": "Absent", "sp-hippo": "Guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "Guaranteed", "birds": "3440 speciesAbout 440 bird species listed on the wildlife page.", "walking": "4Walking is excellent: $20 for up to four hours or $25 beyond, with an armed ranger, and several camps offer fly camping.", "night": "2Night drives are not permitted inside the park since the 2019 regazettement; they still run in the Selous Game Reserve blocks to the south.", "water": "5Boat safaris on the Rufiji and the lakes are the signature at $20 a person and run year-round because the water is permanent.", "selfdrive": "2About 250 km and 5 to 7 h from Dar es Salaam with an unpaved last stretch and a 4x4 sensible; only the TANAPA campsites are road-accessed and the lodges fly their guests in.", "fee": "$82.60International adult per day ({'name': 'TANAPA tariff 2023/24, still the current published schedule', 'url': 'https://www.tanzaniaparks.go.tz/uploads/publications/en-1688147569-TARIFFS%20Design%20202324.pdf'}, 2026-07-26).", "cheapest": "$35Lowest listed rate per person per night across 18 places; 6 are budget tier.", "typical": "$395Median of 11 priced places; top end $1,065.", "budget": "3Cheapest listed bed $35, 6 of 18 places in the budget tier, park fee $82.60 a day.", "trip_camping": "$1,253Budget one: the honest budget route, outside the gate", "trip_mid": "Not published", "trip_flyin": "$5,476Budget three: fly-in and top-end at Sand Rivers Selous", "airport": "Park airstrips, ±1 h by air from Dar es Salaam; ±250 km, 5 to 7 h by roadFrom the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "Sensible for the road inFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "June to OctoberFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "Most camps closed March to MayFrom the best-time page.", "malaria": "High year-round below 1,800m (NaTHNaC)From the health page.", "tsetse": "PresentA real and long-standing feature of the miombo and riverine bush; a comfort problem to plan around.", "heat": "October, 33.1°C mean daily maxMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page.", "hospital": "Dar es Salaam, 5 to 7 h drive or ±1 h flightAir evacuation: By air from park airstrips; verify your cover.", "families": "2Malaria risk is high year-round, tsetse is real, bilharzia is plausible in the lakes and there is no clinic inside; Siwandu's North camp suits families with young children and Roho ya Selous takes children from five.", "first": "4Giraffe, hippo and buffalo are guaranteed, elephant 97 per cent and lion 90, and scheduled flights take about an hour from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar.", "wild": "3Only the northern strip of the park is open to photographic safaris, so your gate and sector decide what you see, and only the TANAPA campsites are reached by road."}, "values": {"game": "5", "sp-elephant": "likely", "sp-lion": "likely", "sp-leopard": "chance", "sp-buffalo": "guaranteed", "sp-wild dog": "chance", "sp-cheetah": "absent", "sp-hippo": "guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "guaranteed", "birds": "3", "walking": "4", "night": "2", "water": "5", "selfdrive": "2", "fee": "$82.60", "cheapest": "$35", "typical": "$395", "budget": "3", "trip_camping": "$1,253", "trip_mid": "", "trip_flyin": "$5,476", "airport": "Park airstrips, ±1 h by air from Dar es Salaam; ±250 km, 5 to 7 h by road", "fourx4": "Sensible for the road in", "peak": "June to October", "closed": "Most camps closed March to May", "malaria": "High year-round below 1,800m (NaTHNaC)", "tsetse": "Present", "heat": "October, 33.1°C mean daily max", "hospital": "Dar es Salaam, 5 to 7 h drive or ±1 h flight", "families": "2", "first": "4", "wild": "3"}, "species": {"elephant": 2, "lion": 2, "leopard": 1, "buffalo": 3, "wild dog": 1, "cheetah": 0, "hippo": 3, "giraffe": 3}, "scores": {"game": 5, "birds": 3, "walking": 4, "night": 2, "water": 5, "selfdrive": 2, "budget": 3, "families": 2, "first": 4, "wild": 3}, "money": {"fee": 82.6, "cheapest": 35, "typical": 395, "trip_camping": 1253.0, "trip_mid": null, "trip_flyin": 5476.0}}, "nyika": {"name": "Nyika National Park", "short": "Nyika", "country": "Malawi", "url": "https://nyikanationalpark.com/", "size": "3,134 km²", "character": "A temperate grassland plateau above 2,000 m: roan, eland and zebra by day, leopard on night drives, orchids in the rains.", "best": "Something different: night drives, mountain biking and trekking with low malaria on the plateau.", "centroid": [-10.5487, 33.8318], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "1May to OctSignature antelope: Roan; Malawi-only birds: 4 species; Orchid species: 200+", "sp-elephant": "Rare", "sp-lion": "Absent", "sp-leopard": "Fair chance", "sp-buffalo": "Absent", "sp-wild dog": "Not published", "sp-cheetah": "Not published", "sp-hippo": "Not published", "sp-giraffe": "Not published", "birds": "3400 speciesAbout 400 bird species listed on the wildlife page.", "walking": "3Short guided walks around Chelinda and a pre-arranged three-day guided trek to Livingstonia, on a plateau without dangerous game around every corner.", "night": "4The spotlit night drive from Chelinda is the signature, the classic way to look for leopard, with spotted hyaena, side-striped jackal and serval as the supporting cast.", "water": "2Fly-only trout fishing in three dams and the plateau streams from Sep to Apr, with permits at Chelinda; no boat activity is listed.", "selfdrive": "3Almost everyone drives: tar to Rumphi, then a 60 km dirt climb from Thazima Gate, 3 to 4.5 h from Mzuzu, with a 4x4 required and non-negotiable in the Nov to Apr rains.", "fee": "$10International adult per day ({'name': 'Malawi DNPW figures via Peace Parks Foundation: Nyika National Park', 'url': 'https://www.peaceparks.org/parks/nyika-national-park/'}, 2026-07-26).", "cheapest": "$350Lowest listed rate per person per night across 5 places; 3 are budget tier.", "typical": "$350Median of 1 priced places; top end $350.", "budget": "3Cheapest listed bed $350, 3 of 5 places in the budget tier, park fee $10 a day.", "trip_camping": "$280Budget one: self-drive camping, an estimate with real error bars", "trip_mid": "$2,680Budget two: full board at Chelinda Lodge, the number that IS current", "trip_flyin": "Not published", "airport": "Lilongwe, 6 to 8 h by road; charter only to ChelindaFrom the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "Required, above all Thazima to ChelindaFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "May to OctFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "No closure published; some roads curtailed in the Jan to Apr rainsFrom the best-time page.", "malaria": "Low, above the general 2,000 m lineFrom the health page.", "tsetse": "Not publishedNo Nyika page mentions tsetse.", "heat": "Not published", "hospital": "Mzuzu Central, 3 to 4.5 h from ChelindaFrom the health page.", "families": "3Malaria risk on the plateau is low and there are no lion or buffalo, but nights touch freezing, Mzuzu Central is 3 to 4.5 h away and none of the places to stay publishes a child policy.", "first": "2Not a big-game park: eland, roan and zebra are likely, leopard a chance on night drives, and lion and buffalo absent.", "wild": "4Chelinda is the only hub of accommodation, with five places to stay in the guide, on hundreds of kilometres of open grassland tracks."}, "values": {"game": "1", "sp-elephant": "luck", "sp-lion": "absent", "sp-leopard": "chance", "sp-buffalo": "absent", "sp-wild dog": "not published", "sp-cheetah": "not published", "sp-hippo": "not published", "sp-giraffe": "not published", "birds": "3", "walking": "3", "night": "4", "water": "2", "selfdrive": "3", "fee": "$10", "cheapest": "$350", "typical": "$350", "budget": "3", "trip_camping": "$280", "trip_mid": "$2,680", "trip_flyin": "", "airport": "Lilongwe, 6 to 8 h by road; charter only to Chelinda", "fourx4": "Required, above all Thazima to Chelinda", "peak": "May to Oct", "closed": "No closure published; some roads curtailed in the Jan to Apr rains", "malaria": "Low, above the general 2,000 m line", "tsetse": "Not published", "heat": "", "hospital": "Mzuzu Central, 3 to 4.5 h from Chelinda", "families": "3", "first": "2", "wild": "4"}, "species": {"elephant": 0.5, "lion": 0, "leopard": 1, "buffalo": 0, "wild dog": null, "cheetah": null, "hippo": null, "giraffe": null}, "scores": {"game": 1, "birds": 3, "walking": 3, "night": 4, "water": 2, "selfdrive": 3, "budget": 3, "families": 3, "first": 2, "wild": 4}, "money": {"fee": 10, "cheapest": 350, "typical": 350, "trip_camping": 280.0, "trip_mid": 2680.0, "trip_flyin": null}}, "queen-elizabeth": {"name": "Queen Elizabeth National Park", "short": "Queen Elizabeth", "country": "Uganda", "url": "https://visitqueenelizabeth.com/", "size": "1,978 km²", "character": "Two lakes, the Kazinga Channel's hippos, Ishasha's tree-climbing lions and Uganda's longest bird list.", "best": "Variety on a chimpanzee-and-gorilla circuit through western Uganda.", "centroid": [-0.2509, 29.978], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "3No dry season; drier windows Jun to Jul and Dec to FebHippos: About 6,950; Elephants: 4,711 ± 1,106 (2018 survey); Lions, park-wide: 93 or under 40", "sp-elephant": "Likely", "sp-lion": "Fair chance", "sp-leopard": "Rare", "sp-buffalo": "Guaranteed", "sp-wild dog": "Absent", "sp-cheetah": "Absent", "sp-hippo": "Guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "Absent", "birds": "5600 speciesAbout 600 bird species listed on the wildlife page.", "walking": "3Birding and nature walks at $25, chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge at $100 from age 12, and mongoose tracking on Mweya at $30.", "night": "3Night drives cost $30 per person with a compulsory UWA guide and are sold only to visitors sleeping inside the park; night nature walks cost $50.", "water": "4The two-hour Kazinga Channel cruise from Mweya at $30 is the signature, with sport-fishing permits sold separately.", "selfdrive": "3A self-guided drive is $10 a vehicle and Mweya is 8 km from tar, but Kampala is 410 km and 7 to 8 h away and the murram to Ishasha needs a 4x4.", "fee": "$40International adult per day ({'name': 'UWA Conservation Tariff July 2024 to June 2026 (official PDF)', 'url': 'https://ugandawildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/UWA-Conservation-Tariff-July-2024-June-2026.pdf'}, 2026-09-18).", "cheapest": "$10Lowest listed rate per person per night across 42 places; 17 are budget tier.", "typical": "$120Median of 23 priced places; top end $990.", "budget": "4Cheapest listed bed $10, 17 of 42 places in the budget tier, park fee $40 a day.", "trip_camping": "$660Budget one: self-drive camping, the trip most people take", "trip_mid": "$1,080Budget two: a lodge inside the park, with the chimpanzees added", "trip_flyin": "$2,400Budget three: fly-in and top-end in Ishasha", "airport": "Kasese airstrip (Aerolink from Entebbe), then 1.5 to 2 h to MweyaFrom the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "Advised for Ishasha; 2WD to Mweya in the dry seasonFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "No dry season; drier windows Jun to Jul and Dec to FebFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "Open all year; one flight a day in Mar, Apr, May and NovFrom the best-time page.", "malaria": "High, all year (NaTHNaC)From the health page.", "tsetse": "Not publishedNo published park-specific record of tsetse density or sleeping sickness; the guide advises dressing for the fly anyway.", "heat": "February, 29.4°C mean daily maxMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page.", "hospital": "Kilembe Mines Hospital, Kasese, about 60 km from MweyaFrom the health page.", "families": "3Many lodges publish child policies and family cottages, Engiri and Katara among them, but malaria is high all year, the guide says to stay out of all fresh water and Kampala is 7 to 8 h away.", "first": "3Hippo, buffalo and Uganda kob are guaranteed and elephant likely, but lion is only a chance and Ishasha needs its own night, half a day's drive from Mweya.", "wild": "2A public highway runs through the park, eleven fishing villages sit in and against it, and the guide lists 42 places to stay."}, "values": {"game": "3", "sp-elephant": "likely", "sp-lion": "chance", "sp-leopard": "luck", "sp-buffalo": "guaranteed", "sp-wild dog": "absent", "sp-cheetah": "absent", "sp-hippo": "guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "absent", "birds": "5", "walking": "3", "night": "3", "water": "4", "selfdrive": "3", "fee": "$40", "cheapest": "$10", "typical": "$120", "budget": "4", "trip_camping": "$660", "trip_mid": "$1,080", "trip_flyin": "$2,400", "airport": "Kasese airstrip (Aerolink from Entebbe), then 1.5 to 2 h to Mweya", "fourx4": "Advised for Ishasha; 2WD to Mweya in the dry season", "peak": "No dry season; drier windows Jun to Jul and Dec to Feb", "closed": "Open all year; one flight a day in Mar, Apr, May and Nov", "malaria": "High, all year (NaTHNaC)", "tsetse": "Not published", "heat": "February, 29.4°C mean daily max", "hospital": "Kilembe Mines Hospital, Kasese, about 60 km from Mweya", "families": "3", "first": "3", "wild": "2"}, "species": {"elephant": 2, "lion": 1, "leopard": 0.5, "buffalo": 3, "wild dog": 0, "cheetah": 0, "hippo": 3, "giraffe": 0}, "scores": {"game": 3, "birds": 5, "walking": 3, "night": 3, "water": 4, "selfdrive": 3, "budget": 4, "families": 3, "first": 3, "wild": 2}, "money": {"fee": 40, "cheapest": 10, "typical": 120, "trip_camping": 660.0, "trip_mid": 1080.0, "trip_flyin": 2400.0}}, "ruaha": {"name": "Ruaha National Park", "short": "Ruaha", "country": "Tanzania", "url": "https://visitruaha.com/", "size": "20,226 km²", "character": "Southern Tanzania's baobab country, where East African savanna meets miombo and big lion prides take on buffalo.", "best": "Predators, walking and value, by scheduled flight or by road from Iringa.", "centroid": [-7.7981, 34.4984], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "5Jun to OctLions (landscape): >10% of world total; Wild dogs (landscape): ±500 of ±6,000 left; Elephants: Largest pop. in Tanzania", "sp-elephant": "Guaranteed", "sp-lion": "Likely", "sp-leopard": "Fair chance", "sp-buffalo": "Likely", "sp-wild dog": "Fair chance", "sp-cheetah": "Rare", "sp-hippo": "Guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "Likely", "birds": "5571 speciesAbout 571 bird species listed on the wildlife page.", "walking": "4One of Tanzania's best walking parks: official short walks at $20 and long walks at $25 with an armed ranger, and multi-day walking with fly-camping from June to November.", "night": "4Night game drives are officially permitted, a rarity in Tanzania, at $50 per person with a park ranger booked through your lodge or park HQ.", "water": "2There are no boat trips on the seasonal Great Ruaha; only Usangu Expedition Camp runs seasonal boat safaris in the remote western wetlands.", "selfdrive": "3Self-drivers can come 625 km from Dar es Salaam in 10 to 12 h, the last 108 km from Iringa on gravel being surfaced, with TANAPA bandas inside and a 4x4 strongly recommended.", "fee": "$35.40International adult per day ({'name': 'Official TANAPA tariff sheet 2023/24 (still in force; fee rises frozen by the Tanzanian government)', 'url': 'https://www.tanzaniaparks.go.tz/uploads/publications/en-1688147569-TARIFFS%20Design%20202324.pdf'}, 2026-07-26).", "cheapest": "$10Lowest listed rate per person per night across 18 places; 4 are budget tier.", "typical": "$450Median of 17 priced places; top end $2,000.", "budget": "3Cheapest listed bed $10, 4 of 18 places in the budget tier, park fee $35.40 a day.", "trip_camping": "$656Budget one: self-drive camping, the trip that costs least", "trip_mid": "$2,696Budget two: a mid-range lodge stay at Ruaha River Lodge", "trip_flyin": "$11,545Budget three: fly-in and top-end", "airport": "Msembe airstrip, ±2.5 h by scheduled flight from Dar; Iringa ±108 km, 2 to 3 h by roadFrom the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "Strongly recommended; essential Nov to MayFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "Jun to OctFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "Park open all year; most camps closed Mar to MayFrom the best-time page.", "malaria": "High year-round below 1,800m (NaTHNaC)From the health page.", "tsetse": "PresentSome of the most reliable tsetse habitat in southern Tanzania; expect bites on drives through denser woodland away from the river.", "heat": "October, 32.5°C mean max, up to 40°CMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page.", "hospital": "Iringa, 2 to 3 h from the gateAir evacuation: Confirm cover with your insurer before you fly.", "families": "2Malaria risk is high year-round, the miombo is serious tsetse country and the nearest hospital is Iringa, 2 to 3 h from the gate; Jabali Ridge takes children from five.", "first": "3Elephant is guaranteed and lion likely, with scheduled flights of about 2.5 h from Dar es Salaam, but tsetse bites are expected on drives through denser woodland.", "wild": "5A 20,226 km² park where, away from the eastern circuits, in the Jongomero sector or Usangu, you can drive for hours without seeing another vehicle."}, "values": {"game": "5", "sp-elephant": "guaranteed", "sp-lion": "likely", "sp-leopard": "chance", "sp-buffalo": "likely", "sp-wild dog": "chance", "sp-cheetah": "luck", "sp-hippo": "guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "likely", "birds": "5", "walking": "4", "night": "4", "water": "2", "selfdrive": "3", "fee": "$35.40", "cheapest": "$10", "typical": "$450", "budget": "3", "trip_camping": "$656", "trip_mid": "$2,696", "trip_flyin": "$11,545", "airport": "Msembe airstrip, ±2.5 h by scheduled flight from Dar; Iringa ±108 km, 2 to 3 h by road", "fourx4": "Strongly recommended; essential Nov to May", "peak": "Jun to Oct", "closed": "Park open all year; most camps closed Mar to May", "malaria": "High year-round below 1,800m (NaTHNaC)", "tsetse": "Present", "heat": "October, 32.5°C mean max, up to 40°C", "hospital": "Iringa, 2 to 3 h from the gate", "families": "2", "first": "3", "wild": "5"}, "species": {"elephant": 3, "lion": 2, "leopard": 1, "buffalo": 2, "wild dog": 1, "cheetah": 0.5, "hippo": 3, "giraffe": 2}, "scores": {"game": 5, "birds": 5, "walking": 4, "night": 4, "water": 2, "selfdrive": 3, "budget": 3, "families": 2, "first": 3, "wild": 5}, "money": {"fee": 35.4, "cheapest": 10, "typical": 450, "trip_camping": 656.0, "trip_mid": 2696.0, "trip_flyin": 11545.0}}, "sabi-sands": {"name": "Sabi Sand Game Reserve", "short": "Sabi Sand", "country": "South Africa", "url": "https://visitsabisands.com/", "size": null, "character": "A private reserve on Kruger's open western boundary, famous for habituated leopards seen at close range.", "best": "A guided, high-end first safari with near-certain leopard and no self-drive.", "centroid": [-24.7728, 31.4511], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "5Good year-round; dry season May to SepLeopard: Reserve's signature, good year-round; Leopard research: Documented at Londolozi since 1979; Fence with Kruger: Removed for good in 1993", "sp-elephant": "Guaranteed", "sp-lion": "Likely", "sp-leopard": "Guaranteed", "sp-buffalo": "Likely", "sp-wild dog": "Rare", "sp-cheetah": "Rare", "sp-hippo": "Likely", "sp-giraffe": "Likely", "birds": "4500 speciesAbout 500 bird species listed on the wildlife page.", "walking": "3The standard lodge rate covers guided bush walks, with age limits such as 16 at Singita and 12 at Dulini.", "night": "2No Sabi Sand page lists night drives; the guide mentions dawn and dusk game drives with sundowners, and an internal curfew clears the roads from 23:30 to 04:30.", "water": "1The Sand and Sabie rivers hold hippo and crocodile, but no boat or canoe activity is listed.", "selfdrive": "1You may drive only to your booked lodge on a permit it stamps; there is no self-drive loop and every game drive happens in the lodge's own vehicle.", "fee": "Not published", "cheapest": "$447Lowest listed rate per person per night across 39 places; 0 are budget tier.", "typical": "$1,953Median of 31 priced places; top end $3,303.", "budget": "1Cheapest listed bed $447, 0 of 39 places in the budget tier, park fee None a day.", "trip_camping": "Not published", "trip_mid": "$71,570Worked example one: three nights mid-range, two people", "trip_flyin": "Not published", "airport": "Skukuza or Kruger Mpumalanga International, then a road transferFrom the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "Not published; self-drive only to your lodgeFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "Good year-round; dry season May to SepFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "No closures; gates 05:00 to 23:00From the best-time page.", "malaria": "Not published", "tsetse": "Not publishedThe guide has no health page and no Sabi Sand page mentions tsetse.", "heat": "Not published", "hospital": "Not publishedFrom the health page.", "families": "4Two Londolozi camps take children from six and run a Cubs Den, Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge has the EleFun Centre and Singita Ebony takes all ages; lodges are unfenced and the guide publishes no health or malaria page.", "first": "5Leopard and elephant are guaranteed and lion and buffalo likely, a radio network shares sightings with two to three vehicles each, and scheduled flights land at Skukuza and Kruger Mpumalanga International.", "wild": "2No fence with Kruger since 1993, but 39 places to stay share traverses as small as 1,860 ha and sightings are queued by radio at two to three vehicles each."}, "values": {"game": "5", "sp-elephant": "guaranteed", "sp-lion": "likely", "sp-leopard": "guaranteed", "sp-buffalo": "likely", "sp-wild dog": "luck", "sp-cheetah": "luck", "sp-hippo": "likely", "sp-giraffe": "likely", "birds": "4", "walking": "3", "night": "2", "water": "1", "selfdrive": "1", "fee": "", "cheapest": "$447", "typical": "$1,953", "budget": "1", "trip_camping": "", "trip_mid": "$71,570", "trip_flyin": "", "airport": "Skukuza or Kruger Mpumalanga International, then a road transfer", "fourx4": "Not published; self-drive only to your lodge", "peak": "Good year-round; dry season May to Sep", "closed": "No closures; gates 05:00 to 23:00", "malaria": "", "tsetse": "Not published", "heat": "", "hospital": "Not published", "families": "4", "first": "5", "wild": "2"}, "species": {"elephant": 3, "lion": 2, "leopard": 3, "buffalo": 2, "wild dog": 0.5, "cheetah": 0.5, "hippo": 2, "giraffe": 2}, "scores": {"game": 5, "birds": 4, "walking": 3, "night": 2, "water": 1, "selfdrive": 1, "budget": 1, "families": 4, "first": 5, "wild": 2}, "money": {"fee": null, "cheapest": 447, "typical": 1953, "trip_camping": null, "trip_mid": 71570.0, "trip_flyin": null}}, "samburu": {"name": "Samburu National Reserve", "short": "Samburu", "country": "Kenya", "url": "https://visitsamburu.com/", "size": null, "character": "Kenya's dry north on the Ewaso Ng'iro: Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, beisa oryx and gerenuk.", "best": "The northern specials the southern parks lack, on tar by road or a short flight from Nairobi.", "centroid": [0.6155, 37.5391], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "3Jun to SepGrevy's zebra: 2,465 in Kenya, 2024-25 count; Share of the world total: 93% in this ecosystem, 2021; Reticulated giraffe: 20,901 worldwide, 2025", "sp-elephant": "Guaranteed", "sp-lion": "Fair chance", "sp-leopard": "Rare", "sp-buffalo": "Not published", "sp-wild dog": "Rare", "sp-cheetah": "Rare", "sp-hippo": "Not published", "sp-giraffe": "Guaranteed", "birds": "Not published", "walking": "3Samburu County prices a walking safari at KES 1,600 a day without publishing the rules, and the community conservancies run walking as a standard part of a stay.", "night": "2Night drives are not available inside the three reserves; they run only in the conservancies next door, Westgate, Kalama and Namunyak.", "water": "1The Ewaso Ng'iro holds Nile crocodiles in numbers and is a limit rather than an activity; no boat activity is listed.", "selfdrive": "4Self-driving is allowed and no guide is required, on continuous A2 tarmac 320 to 350 km and 6 to 7 h from Nairobi, with a high-clearance 4x4 for the sandy tracks.", "fee": "$85International adult per day ({'name': 'Samburu County Finance Act 2023 (No. 4 of 2023) and Isiolo County Finance Bill 2023, read directly', 'url': 'https://samburu.go.ke/'}, 2026-09-18).", "cheapest": "$25Lowest listed rate per person per night across 36 places; 12 are budget tier.", "typical": "$30Median of 5 priced places; top end $800.", "budget": "4Cheapest listed bed $25, 12 of 36 places in the budget tier, park fee $85 a day.", "trip_camping": "$854Budget one: self-drive camping in Samburu National Reserve", "trip_mid": "$1,008Budget two: the river crossing, where the double ticket bites", "trip_flyin": "$3,698Budget three: fly in and sleep in a conservancy", "airport": "Samburu airstrip (UAS), 1 to 1.5 h from Nairobi Wilson; Nairobi 6 to 7 h by roadFrom the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "4x4 with high clearanceFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "Jun to SepFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "Open all year; long rains Mar and AprFrom the best-time page.", "malaria": "High, tablets advised (NaTHNaC)From the health page.", "tsetse": "Not publishedThe guide could not establish whether tsetse are a factor in Samburu, Buffalo Springs or Shaba.", "heat": "September, 32.4°C, 1 mm of rainMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page.", "hospital": "Nairobi, 6 to 7 h by road or ±1 h by airAir evacuation: AMREF Flying Doctors, +254 20 699 2299.", "families": "3Soroi's two camps welcome children, Soroi Samburu Lodge with a children's adventure club, but malaria risk is high, serious care means Nairobi, 6 to 7 h by road, and the Dutch advice prefers flying.", "first": "3Elephant, Grevy's zebra and reticulated giraffe are guaranteed, but lion takes a few game drives and leopard luck; Safarilink and AirKenya fly daily from Nairobi Wilson.", "wild": "2Three small reserves, Buffalo Springs 131 km² and Shaba 239 km², where a drive is river work; Archer's Gate is by far the busiest entrance."}, "values": {"game": "3", "sp-elephant": "guaranteed", "sp-lion": "chance", "sp-leopard": "luck", "sp-buffalo": "not published", "sp-wild dog": "luck", "sp-cheetah": "luck", "sp-hippo": "not published", "sp-giraffe": "guaranteed", "birds": "", "walking": "3", "night": "2", "water": "1", "selfdrive": "4", "fee": "$85", "cheapest": "$25", "typical": "$30", "budget": "4", "trip_camping": "$854", "trip_mid": "$1,008", "trip_flyin": "$3,698", "airport": "Samburu airstrip (UAS), 1 to 1.5 h from Nairobi Wilson; Nairobi 6 to 7 h by road", "fourx4": "4x4 with high clearance", "peak": "Jun to Sep", "closed": "Open all year; long rains Mar and Apr", "malaria": "High, tablets advised (NaTHNaC)", "tsetse": "Not published", "heat": "September, 32.4°C, 1 mm of rain", "hospital": "Nairobi, 6 to 7 h by road or ±1 h by air", "families": "3", "first": "3", "wild": "2"}, "species": {"elephant": 3, "lion": 1, "leopard": 0.5, "buffalo": null, "wild dog": 0.5, "cheetah": 0.5, "hippo": null, "giraffe": 3}, "scores": {"game": 3, "birds": null, "walking": 3, "night": 2, "water": 1, "selfdrive": 4, "budget": 4, "families": 3, "first": 3, "wild": 2}, "money": {"fee": 85, "cheapest": 25, "typical": 30, "trip_camping": 854.0, "trip_mid": 1008.0, "trip_flyin": 3698.0}}, "south-luangwa": {"name": "South Luangwa National Park", "short": "South Luangwa", "country": "Zambia", "url": "https://southluangwapark.com/", "size": "9,050 km²", "character": "The valley that invented the walking safari, with legal night drives and a measured leopard density to match.", "best": "Walking and night drives on a first or repeat safari, reached by scheduled flight all year.", "centroid": [-13.0514, 31.5557], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "5Sept to OctLeopard density: 8.5 per 100 km²; Hippo: 42 per river km; Luangwa giraffe: 651–890 left", "sp-elephant": "Guaranteed", "sp-lion": "Likely", "sp-leopard": "Likely", "sp-buffalo": "Likely", "sp-wild dog": "Fair chance", "sp-cheetah": "Absent", "sp-hippo": "Guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "Guaranteed", "birds": "3400 speciesAbout 400 bird species listed on the wildlife page.", "walking": "5Walking is the reason the park exists in its modern form: three to four hours with a guide and an armed scout, June to October, minimum age usually twelve, and multi-day trails between bush camps.", "night": "5Night drives are legal and run in every season through camps whose vehicles may stay out until 20:00; leopard density is 8.5 per 100 km² and camps report leopard on most nights of a three-night stay.", "water": "2Boat safaris run only from January to April when the river is high, at a $20 park fee; the rest of the year there is not enough water.", "selfdrive": "3Allowed on a $30 self-drive tier with tar all the way from Lusaka in 9 to 10 h, but a 4x4 and a closed vehicle are required, permits end at 18:00 and every campsite sits outside the gate.", "fee": "$30International adult per day ({'name': 'DNPW park fee schedule, published via the Zambia Tourism Agency', 'url': 'https://www.zambiatourism.com/park-entry-fees/'}, 2026-07-26).", "cheapest": "$15Lowest listed rate per person per night across 31 places; 4 are budget tier.", "typical": "$731Median of 25 priced places; top end $6,578.", "budget": "3Cheapest listed bed $15, 4 of 31 places in the budget tier, park fee $30 a day.", "trip_camping": "$580Budget one: self-drive camping outside the gate, the cheapest real version", "trip_mid": "Not published", "trip_flyin": "$5,340Budget three: fly in to Kuyenda, the walking-safari top end", "airport": "Mfuwe (MFU), 35 to 45 min to the gate areaFrom the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "Needed inside the park, absolutely so in the rainsFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "Sept to OctFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "Park never closes; bush camps closed ±16 Jan to 14 MarFrom the best-time page.", "malaria": "High all year; worst in the Nov to Apr rainsFrom the health page.", "tsetse": "PresentGenuine tsetse country in the mopane and miombo belts away from the river; far less of a presence around the Mfuwe camps.", "heat": "October, 37.8°C mean daily maxMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page.", "hospital": "Chipata, about 2 h on tar; serious cases by air to Lusaka or JohannesburgAir evacuation: SES air ambulance to Lusaka or Johannesburg.", "families": "3Flatdogs is the valley's family camp and Mfuwe Lodge, Chinzombo and Kakuli take all ages, but malaria is high all year, camps are unfenced by law and walking usually starts at twelve.", "first": "4Elephant, hippo and Luangwa giraffe are guaranteed and leopard and lion likely, with Proflight 1 h 10 from Lusaka all year and the main camps 35 to 45 min from Mfuwe.", "wild": "3Off-road driving is banned and the main camps cluster around Mfuwe, where September is the busiest month; the deep southern bush camps sit 3.5 to 4 h beyond Mfuwe Lodge."}, "values": {"game": "5", "sp-elephant": "guaranteed", "sp-lion": "likely", "sp-leopard": "likely", "sp-buffalo": "likely", "sp-wild dog": "chance", "sp-cheetah": "absent", "sp-hippo": "guaranteed", "sp-giraffe": "guaranteed", "birds": "3", "walking": "5", "night": "5", "water": "2", "selfdrive": "3", "fee": "$30", "cheapest": "$15", "typical": "$731", "budget": "3", "trip_camping": "$580", "trip_mid": "", "trip_flyin": "$5,340", "airport": "Mfuwe (MFU), 35 to 45 min to the gate area", "fourx4": "Needed inside the park, absolutely so in the rains", "peak": "Sept to Oct", "closed": "Park never closes; bush camps closed ±16 Jan to 14 Mar", "malaria": "High all year; worst in the Nov to Apr rains", "tsetse": "Present", "heat": "October, 37.8°C mean daily max", "hospital": "Chipata, about 2 h on tar; serious cases by air to Lusaka or Johannesburg", "families": "3", "first": "4", "wild": "3"}, "species": {"elephant": 3, "lion": 2, "leopard": 2, "buffalo": 2, "wild dog": 1, "cheetah": 0, "hippo": 3, "giraffe": 3}, "scores": {"game": 5, "birds": 3, "walking": 5, "night": 5, "water": 2, "selfdrive": 3, "budget": 3, "families": 3, "first": 4, "wild": 3}, "money": {"fee": 30, "cheapest": 15, "typical": 731, "trip_camping": 580.0, "trip_mid": null, "trip_flyin": 5340.0}}, "tsavo": {"name": "Tsavo National Parks", "short": "Tsavo", "country": "Kenya", "url": "https://tsavokenya.com/", "size": null, "character": "Kenya's biggest wilderness astride the Mombasa highway: red-dusted elephants, lava country and Mzima Springs.", "best": "An easy self-drive or train-and-lodge safari from Nairobi or the coast.", "centroid": [-3.07, 38.5121], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "4Sept to OctElephants: ±15,000 in Tsavo; Share of Kenya's herd: About 40 per cent; Great tuskers left: ±25 in all Africa", "sp-elephant": "Guaranteed", "sp-lion": "Fair chance", "sp-leopard": "Rare", "sp-buffalo": "Likely", "sp-wild dog": "Rare", "sp-cheetah": "Rare", "sp-hippo": "Likely", "sp-giraffe": "Guaranteed", "birds": "4500 speciesAbout 500 bird species listed on the wildlife page.", "walking": "3Walking safaris are an official KWS activity at $50 per person per day for groups of up to ten, plus the walk along Mudanda Rock and the ranger-escorted trail at Mzima Springs.", "night": "4Night game drives are an official activity at $50 per person, unusual for Kenya, and the guide says they improve the leopard odds.", "water": "1No boat activity is listed; Mzima Springs has an underwater viewing chamber for hippo and crocodile.", "selfdrive": "5Self-driving is normal with no guide required: Nairobi to Mtito Andei is 233 km and about 3 h, and Tsavo East's main circuits take a high-clearance 2WD in the dry season, though Tsavo West needs a 4x4.", "fee": "$80International adult per day ({'name': 'KWS Conservation Fees, effective October 2025', 'url': 'https://kws.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/KWS-Conservation-Fee-October-2025.pdf'}, 2026-07-26).", "cheapest": "$20Lowest listed rate per person per night across 37 places; 12 are budget tier.", "typical": "$100Median of 14 priced places; top end $1,590.", "budget": "4Cheapest listed bed $20, 12 of 37 places in the budget tier, park fee $80 a day.", "trip_camping": "$795Budget one: self-drive camping at Ndololo, the cheapest real version", "trip_mid": "$1,495Budget two: mid-range at Ashnil Aruba Lodge", "trip_flyin": "$9,180Budget three: fly in to Finch Hattons, the top end", "airport": "Kilaguni airstrip, 50 min from Nairobi Wilson; Mombasa 2 to 2.75 h by road to Voi gateFrom the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "Not needed on Tsavo East's main circuits in the dry; effectively essential in Tsavo WestFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "Sept to OctFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "Open all year; April the month to avoidFrom the best-time page.", "malaria": "High year-round (NaTHNaC, Sep 2026)From the health page.", "tsetse": "PresentLong-standing tsetse habitat with flies still trapped in surveys; expect bites in thicker woodland and riverine stretches, especially in Tsavo West.", "heat": "February, 32.2°C mean daily maxMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page.", "hospital": "Moi County Referral Hospital, Voi, 14 min from Voi gateAir evacuation: AMREF Flying Doctors, Nairobi Wilson.", "families": "4Moi County Referral Hospital in Voi is fourteen minutes from Tsavo East's main gate and lodges such as Voyager Ziwani run children's clubs; malaria is high year-round and tsetse bite in thicker bush.", "first": "3Elephant, zebra and giraffe are guaranteed and access is the easiest in Kenya by road, train or a 50 min flight, but lion is only a chance and animals sit far thinner on the ground than in Kenya's small famous parks.", "wild": "4Wilderness the size of a small country, with very few vehicles in Tsavo East's northern area beyond the Galana; the Voi circuits are the busiest sector."}, "values": {"game": "4", "sp-elephant": "guaranteed", "sp-lion": "chance", "sp-leopard": "luck", "sp-buffalo": "likely", "sp-wild dog": "luck", "sp-cheetah": "luck", "sp-hippo": "likely", "sp-giraffe": "guaranteed", "birds": "4", "walking": "3", "night": "4", "water": "1", "selfdrive": "5", "fee": "$80", "cheapest": "$20", "typical": "$100", "budget": "4", "trip_camping": "$795", "trip_mid": "$1,495", "trip_flyin": "$9,180", "airport": "Kilaguni airstrip, 50 min from Nairobi Wilson; Mombasa 2 to 2.75 h by road to Voi gate", "fourx4": "Not needed on Tsavo East's main circuits in the dry; effectively essential in Tsavo West", "peak": "Sept to Oct", "closed": "Open all year; April the month to avoid", "malaria": "High year-round (NaTHNaC, Sep 2026)", "tsetse": "Present", "heat": "February, 32.2°C mean daily max", "hospital": "Moi County Referral Hospital, Voi, 14 min from Voi gate", "families": "4", "first": "3", "wild": "4"}, "species": {"elephant": 3, "lion": 1, "leopard": 0.5, "buffalo": 2, "wild dog": 0.5, "cheetah": 0.5, "hippo": 2, "giraffe": 3}, "scores": {"game": 4, "birds": 4, "walking": 3, "night": 4, "water": 1, "selfdrive": 5, "budget": 4, "families": 4, "first": 3, "wild": 4}, "money": {"fee": 80, "cheapest": 20, "typical": 100, "trip_camping": 795.0, "trip_mid": 1495.0, "trip_flyin": 9180.0}}, "udzungwa": {"name": "Udzungwa Mountains National Park", "short": "Udzungwa Mountains", "country": "Tanzania", "url": "https://udzungwanationalpark.com/", "size": "1,990 km²", "character": "A rainforest mountain park where every attraction is a walk, home to two primates found nowhere else.", "best": "Hikers and primate watchers, often paired with game drives in Mikumi.", "centroid": [-7.7768, 36.6566], "rated": true, "cells": {"game": "1Jun to Sep for hikingStrict endemic primates: 2 species; Primate species: 11; Udzungwa red colobus: 25,000–35,000", "sp-elephant": "Fair chance", "sp-lion": "Absent", "sp-leopard": "Rare", "sp-buffalo": "Rare", "sp-wild dog": "Not published", "sp-cheetah": "Not published", "sp-hippo": "Not published", "sp-giraffe": "Not published", "birds": "3400 speciesAbout 400 bird species listed on the wildlife page.", "walking": "4Every attraction is a guided walk, from the 1 km Prince Bernhard Falls to the 6 km Sanje Waterfall and the five-day, 65 km Lumemo Trail; a TANAPA guide is mandatory and plateau routes need an armed ranger.", "night": "1Night walks are not offered and there are no night activities in the park.", "water": "1The only water activity listed is swimming in the waterfall plunge pools at Sanje and Njokamoni.", "selfdrive": "1There are no roads and no game drives inside the park; your vehicle stays parked at Mang'ula headquarters.", "fee": "$35.40International adult per day ({'name': 'Official TANAPA tariff (GN 666/2018, 490A/2020, 181/2016), cross-checked against the TANAPA Udzungwa park brochure', 'url': 'https://tanzaniaparks.go.tz/uploads/publications/en-1615966435-NEWTARIFF.pdf'}, 2026-07-27).", "cheapest": "$20Lowest listed rate per person per night across 7 places; 4 are budget tier.", "typical": "$50Median of 6 priced places; top end $90.", "budget": "4Cheapest listed bed $20, 4 of 7 places in the budget tier, park fee $35.40 a day.", "trip_camping": "Not published", "trip_mid": "Not published", "trip_flyin": "Not published", "airport": "Dar es Salaam (DAR), 380 km, 4 to 6 h on tarFrom the getting-there and flights pages.", "fourx4": "Not needed; no roads inside the parkFrom the getting-there page.", "peak": "Jun to Sep for hikingFrom the best-time page.", "closed": "Open all year; avoid trekking mid-Mar to MayFrom the best-time page.", "malaria": "High below 1,800 m (NaTHNaC)From the health page.", "tsetse": "Not publishedNo Udzungwa page mentions tsetse.", "heat": "October, ±31°CMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page.", "hospital": "Ifakara, about 47 km, 1 hFrom the health page.", "families": "2Dar es Salaam is 4 to 6 h on tar and Ifakara's hospital about an hour away, but malaria risk is high, the trails are steep and slick, and no lodge publishes a child policy beyond family rooms.", "first": "1A primate and bird park, not a big-game park: Udzungwa red colobus are guaranteed, while elephant, buffalo and leopard take luck and lion is absent.", "wild": "4No interior road network and multi-day treks into deep wilderness on the Lumemo Trail; the Sanje route is the busy one."}, "values": {"game": "1", "sp-elephant": "chance", "sp-lion": "absent", "sp-leopard": "luck", "sp-buffalo": "luck", "sp-wild dog": "not published", "sp-cheetah": "not published", "sp-hippo": "not published", "sp-giraffe": "not published", "birds": "3", "walking": "4", "night": "1", "water": "1", "selfdrive": "1", "fee": "$35.40", "cheapest": "$20", "typical": "$50", "budget": "4", "trip_camping": "", "trip_mid": "", "trip_flyin": "", "airport": "Dar es Salaam (DAR), 380 km, 4 to 6 h on tar", "fourx4": "Not needed; no roads inside the park", "peak": "Jun to Sep for hiking", "closed": "Open all year; avoid trekking mid-Mar to May", "malaria": "High below 1,800 m (NaTHNaC)", "tsetse": "Not published", "heat": "October, ±31°C", "hospital": "Ifakara, about 47 km, 1 h", "families": "2", "first": "1", "wild": "4"}, "species": {"elephant": 1, "lion": 0, "leopard": 0.5, "buffalo": 0.5, "wild dog": null, "cheetah": null, "hippo": null, "giraffe": null}, "scores": {"game": 1, "birds": 3, "walking": 4, "night": 1, "water": 1, "selfdrive": 1, "budget": 4, "families": 2, "first": 1, "wild": 4}, "money": {"fee": 35.4, "cheapest": 20, "typical": 50, "trip_camping": null, "trip_mid": null, "trip_flyin": null}}}}