It may imply using it, but carefully. (Has minor animals and birds). Game Reserve. Also, controlled hunting of wildlife (not poaching) is allowed within a game reserve; if it is prohibited then that place is a nature reserve. It is a consecrated place where sacred species are kept. In Nigeria, the Nigeria National Park Service (NNPS), a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Environment, works closely with the Tourism Development Corporation to enhance, maintain, and protect the flora and fauna in any National Park. The number of tourists allowed into the game reserve is restricted and controlled in a way that aligns with the goals of private management and wildlife conservation. Also, knowing the difference between Game Reserves and National Park is pertinent to managing disappointed expectations. A game reserve (also known as a wildlife preserve or a game park) is a large area of land where wild animals live safely or are hunted in a controlled way for sport. If the focus is on plants/trees (flora) then it becomes a forest reserve. The dry season from June to November is said to be the best time to visit any of the national parks in Northern and Southern Tanzania. Many overseas visitors are unaware of the differences between the public facilities offered within the Kruger National Park by the National Parks Board, and the more expensive private game lodges in the private reserves adjoining the Kruger (Sabi Sand, Timbavati, Manyeleti, etc) which are considered part of the greater Kruger area.. A guide leads guests from Boulders Lodge on a walking safari in Sabi Sand Reserve, South Africa © Singita. Off-road game drives. The private reserves adjacent to Kruger mostly share unfenced boundaries with the Kruger and the whole conservation area is known as the Greater Kruger National Park, or if you include Mozambique, the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park. What is the difference between: conserve, reserve, and preserve? She has authored two books, The Quilt (fiction) and Being Mummy and Me (non-fiction). Not as helpful. You can go on a safari in Nigeria; you don’t have to wait till you travel to Kenya, Dubai or South Africa to experience a safari. By contrast, wildlife sanctuaries are focused on the preservation of wildlife for the sake of preservation. Ann Esievoadje is a freelance writer who is passionate about encouraging a reading culture and personal development. What is the difference between a national park and a forest reserve? Register Now. She manages Pulchra Publishing which offers a content creation/editing, transcription, different forms of writing (including Ghostwriting) service and her blog, Life Love and Anything Goes at annesievoadje.blogspot.com.ng. If hunting is prohibited then a Game Park can be classified as a Nature Reserve. 5 Benefits of Growing the Tourism Industry in Nigeria, Tour Operators Unleash their 2021 Calendar of Tours, 5 Exciting Tour Deals to Grab between January and April 2021, Travel Tips: 3 Tour Activities to Embrace in 2021. It is important to know the difference because it determines the budget you require to get a great safari experience. With more tourists in the park come more vehicles, which may create an exciting atmosphere but can also lead to wildlife moving off as a result of increased noise and movement. It also might mean poor visibility at a wildlife sighting spot or other vehicles blocking your line of sight. Simply, National Parks such as the massive Kruger are government-owned and operated, while private game reserves are privately owned and managed. Well, when it comes to planning your dream safari in Africa, knowing the differences between a game reserve and national park is an important part of making this experience come true. Examples of Game Reserves in Nigeria are: A national park is an area designated, managed and owned by the government. Imagine your car getting stuck in the mud with a racing hoard of wilder-beast approaching and there are no persons around to assist. Sign up to our newsletter and receive regular updates on the latest safaris: Copyright 2021, Journeys Discovering Africa. All rights reserved. Guests from Boulders Lodge on a game drive in Sabi Sand Reserve, South Africa © Singita. Kapama is home to an abundance of wildlife, with over 60 mammal species including Africa’s Big 5 mammals. Gashaka Gumti National Park in both Taraba and Adamawa states. This includes two of the world's most famous wildlife reserves, the Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. The private game reserves adjacent to the Kruger National Park are well-known for their array of decadent lodges and exceptional game viewing. Night tours can also be organised to see nocturnal creatures if the tourist desires such because there are no strict operating hours. the responsibility for managing game parks is under the jurisdiction of Kenya Wildlife Service and Local Councils are responsible for game reserves that fall under their administrative area. If you have the time to spend more than a couple of days in the Kruger, we suggest that you split your time between various reserves. Username * E-Mail * Password * Confirm Password * Captcha * Click on image to update the captcha . The cost of game drives in Private Game Reserves is significantly higher than that of National Parks due to the lighter traffic, high maintenance costs and the fact that Private Game Reserves are usually associated with a conservation project e.g. While National Parks are highly vested in preservation, barely altering the existing state, National Forests are managed for many purposes—timber, recreation, grazing, wildlife, fish and more. There are activities like hiking and game viewing but hunting may also be permitted. That’s why in Nigeria, individuals are not allowed to self-drive with their vehicles in a Game Reserve, let alone, without a Park Ranger or two. Game reserves are ideal for an authentic safari feel as drivers can veer off the main road into the bush in search of animals in their habitat for sightseeing. Source: www.indianmirror.com. It may be a game reserve as well, if it happens to contain signifficant amounts of big game (e.g Kruger or Kgagalagadi). Other national parks (e.g Tsitsikamma) are not Game Reserves. In private game reserves, game viewing vehicles are allowed to drive off-road to allow guests to search for big cats or to track specific animals. The Difference Between National Parks and Private Reserves. You can reach her at annesievoadje@gmail.com, Your email address will not be published. Its flora and fauna are protected by the government and minimal development activity is allowed inside the park. Examples of National Parks in Nigeria include: One thing the locations have in common is that they are conservation centres. The United States is home to both national parks and national forests. What is a game ranger? National parks are great for recreational and educational getaways. Also known as a Wildlife Preserve, this is a large portion of privately/publicly owned and managed land where mother nature has free reign. Since tourists are expected to stick to proper tarred roads and well-maintained trails, there is wiggle room for self-driving. The term "game reserve" implies that hunting will be done on the land. Sumu Wildlife Park/Lame-Burra Game Reserve in Bauchi state, Udi-Nsukka Plateau in Enugu state stretching to other regions of north-central Nigeria. A national park is government-owned and -managed, and in most cases, opens up the safari experience to more people. People use the terms “game reserve” and “national park” interchangeably when referring to any place where nature may roam free. Here is a comparison of the two: Firstly, when I say Kruger I mean the Kruger National Park (not the private reserves). Whilst a game reserve has lots of wild animals and birds. Less people coming into this designated wilderness area means a more private experience for those that are there as well as a better chance of preserving the local ecosystem’s most natural state. Also known as a Wildlife Preserve, this is a large portion of privately/publicly owned and managed land where mother nature has free reign. Visiting a Game Reserve can be quite expensive so if you are on a budget, it’s best to consider visiting a National Park instead. A Game Reserve is where the animals on it are protected. Private game reserves only allow game viewing vehicles from the lodges to be used, and the rules about where you can drive are very different from the rules at National Parks. This will give you a sense of the variety and magnitude of the area. Login. Aug 23 2010 03:17:17. What is the difference between a game ranger and a field guide? Privately-owned and -managed, game reserves uphold an ethos of exclusivity, authenticity and freedom in all aspects of the safari experience. Privately-owned and -managed, game reserves uphold an ethos of exclusivity, authenticity and freedom in all aspects of the safari experience. A nature reserve is focused on preserving all life forms both flora and fauna within a specific area. the Borgu Game Reserve and the Zugurma Game Reserve in Kainji National Park in Niger State. Save the Rhino. In addition, there are numerous private game reserves that have massive biodiversity and world-class safari opportunities. The focus of a Game Reserve is the preservation of wild animals (fauna) in their natural habitat. A safari in a national park is more restrictive in terms of how you can experience the wilderness as walking safaris, night drives and off-road driving are often not permitted. The accommodation facilities at most National Parks range from Budget friendly to Luxury to suit a large crowd of visitors per time. A nature reserve, has got lots of trees, fauna, etc, without wild animals. Adventure Travel Trade Association member. Game reserves offer tour exclusivity with high-end accommodation and service (which depends on how developed the place is). The ranger gives the leopard some space and then follows, keeping a respectful distance without ever losing sight of the leopard. That’s right. National parks may also have private concessions within or just outside there border so you can experience the best of both worlds if that is what you are after on safari. A national park is owned and managed by the government, whereas a private game reserve is … The quality of the guides varies as well. E.g. The Serengeti is perhaps the best known national park in Africa. Contact us to discuss whether a safari in a game reserve, national park or both is best for your specific travel style, interests, budget and time-frame. Translated, Entabeni means 'place of the mountain', which goes some way to describe its location deep in the heart of the malaria-free World Heritage Waterberg biosphere in the Limpopo, south west of Lapalala Wilderness Game Reserve.. Did you know? It’s quite a simple difference but one that can have a big effect on your experience. In National parks, there are designated routes which all tourists must stick to catch of glimpses of wild animals in their habitat. A National Park is protected by government to preserve the fauna and flora (and sometimes) culture of a region. And which is better for an African safari? Answers (a) A national park is fenced off and no other form of land use is permitted in such areas while in a game reserve, land use by the public is usually allowed and is limited to grazing livestock only. Guests from Loisaba Tented Camp encounter wildlife on horseback in the Loisaba Conservancy, Kenya © Elewana Collection. A guest from Chinzombo Camp is shown the Luangwa River by boat in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia © Time and Tide. These are some of the questions we are asked most often at Bushwise Field Guides, and for good reason.. Field guiding in many ways was born out of the game ranging industry, and as the roles have changed over the years, so have the definitions, which has resulted in some confusion. Also, knowing the difference between Game Reserves and National Park is pertinent to managing disappointed expectations. What is the difference between national park and game reserve? Some game reserves have the "big five" whilst others may only have some. They differ greatly from Game Farms (strictly used to rear animals for resale, hunting or sport) or Wildlife Sanctuaries (reserved strictly for caring for rescued animals that can’t return to the wild). Game Reserve: A game reserve is an area of land set aside for maintenance of wildlife for tourism or hunting purposes. Feature image courtesy of Great Plains Conservation at Selinda Explorers’ Camp in Selinda Reserve, Botswana. National parks are open to the public so they can get crowded during festive seasons. Also, veering off the road into tracks in the bush requires supervision because the terrain requires a special vehicle (a 4×4 preferably). As nouns the difference between reserve and preserve is that reserve is (label) restriction while preserve is a sweet spread made of any of a variety of berries. Perhaps the greatest difference between the two is the multiple use mandate for National Forests. In these areas, fauna like antelope, rhino and giraffes are protected. There were 36 National Parks and six National Park Reserves in Canada as of 2008. What is a field guide? The Serengeti: A National Park. In a game reserve, the needs of people living within the area takes preference whereas in a national park animals needs take preference. Sightings are a game of chance because of the strict routes and operational hours of the Parks. National Park also allows self-catering options for those who plan to spend extended time in the live-in accommodations. Conserve is to protectively manage a resource. A key difference between the Sabi Sand Game Reserve and the Kruger National Park is that the open safari vehicles are permitted to drive off-road to get closer to the animals, something prohibited in the Kruger Park itself where vehicles have to stay on the roads. The Botswana section covers an area of about 28, 105 sq.km with plenty of wild animals, including wildebeest, eland, hartebeest, gemsbok and springbok. It may have imported animals that are not native to that environment. Difference between Wildlife Sanctuary, Biosphere Reserves and National Park Wildlife Sanctuary. For many, the major upside of national parks is that visitors can explore in their own vehicle and at their own pace on a self-drive safari. The only difference between the scene painted in the first rendition of the story and this one is that now you’re in a private game reserve. It lies in the Madikwe Game Reserve, a malaria-free area along the Botswana border that once consisted mainly of cattle farms before it was transformed into a wildlife reserve in the early 90s. Captcha * Click on image to update the captcha . As verbs the difference between reserve and preserve is that reserve is to keep back; to retain while preserve is to protect; to keep from harm or injury. What is the difference between the Kruger National Park and the adjacent private game reserves? Kapama Private Game Reserve is a prime Big 5 safari destination in the Greater Kruger Park offering ultra-luxury accommodation near Hoedspruit in Limpopo Province. Although the land mass for a National Park is much larger than that of a Game Reserve, there could be traffic congestion when the crowds arrive. Well, when it comes to planning your dream safari in Africa, knowing the differences between a game reserve and national park is an important part of making this experience come true.. Game Reserve. Guides stop the game drive to enjoy the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania © Nomad Tanzania. Kapama Private Game Reserve. A safari in a Game Reserve allows for close encounters with wild animals which makes for a pretty picture. Get all informations about Africa Safari from our Safari Questions and answers website! As you can see, a game reserve's focus is on protecting wildlife for the purpose of tourism and hunting. Why do Game Reserves get ‘upgraded’ to National parks and what does that even mean? Required fields are marked *. More than 360 bird species have been recorded. A national park is an area of land which is maintained by a government for the purpose of people to visit, enjoy, and marvel at it's beauty as a natural wonder. It is done under the supervision of a tour guide who must be present for the ride because being in untamed nature can pose life-threatening risks. Some National Parks have reserves like forest and or Game Reserves within their borders. Your email address will not be published. Differentiate between a national park and a game reserve. But what is the difference? All are managed by the governments or councils who are responsible for maintaining the road systems, rules and security within the park. Through a cooperation between the Botswana and South African Governments, the Kgalagadi National Park is the first official Transfrontier and it managed jointly by both countries. A Game Park or Game reserve, on the other hand, exists specifically for the preservation of wild animals. This is when wildlife viewing is at a premium as the animals gather round the waterholes and rivers. A game reserve is … Off-road game drives, walking and horseback safaris get you off the beaten track and into closer range of where the wildlife action is happening. To understand the difference between a national park and conservancy, it is best to look at examples like the Serengeti & the Masai Mara. I agree with most of the comments above. national parks & game reserves Visiting National Parks and Game Reserves can be a fantastic safari experience, but they have restrictions and can be more crowded than other options. The meanings can overlap, so let me roughly define them by their differences. Forget. Game reserves allow for unique and potentially better wildlife viewing experiences. AH020387 + 2. If you’re going to spend the time and money to take your family on an African safari, you’re going to want the best experience possible. Game Reserve vs National Park – What’s the Difference? Once you know the policies guiding the conservation centre you are going to, it becomes easier to manage your expectation and make the most of your safari experience. Scary right? Since there are generally no crowds in a game reserve, wildlife sightings are undisturbed and can be enjoyed for as long as desired. 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