Yankari National Park

Nigeria

Best for: Wildlife, Wilderness, Adventure, Off The Beaten Path, Hot Springs, Nature Only

Yankari National Park, Nigeria — West Africa's largest wildlife reserve, where free-roaming elephants, baboons, and hippos share the savanna with the crystal-clear Wikki Warm Spring.

Game drives at dawn and dusk give the best odds of spotting elephant herds and antelope; Wikki Warm Spring stays a constant 31°C year-round and is open for swimming right in the park. The Marshall Caves and old tin-mining sites add a few off-trail stops for the curious.