Kakadu National Park

Kakadu National Park, Australia

The Australian government and the aboriginal people work together to manage the Kakadu National Park. It is a World Heritage site and the amazing views attract tourists year round. One of the most interesting attractions is the aboriginal rock art that can be found in the area. It is also home to a range of animals, including the saltwater crocodile.

The flora of the Kakadu National Park is among the richest in northern Australia with over 1700 plant species, which is a result of the landform, geological and habitat diversity of the Park. The Kakadu National Park is also one of the world’s most weed free national parks. No wonder the Park draws hundreds of thousands of tourists per year.

Deosai National Park

Deosai, Pakistan

Deosai National Park is best known for its impressive flowers. Every spring, thousands of different types of flowers bloom. They form a living carpet of color that attracts an even larger variety of butterflies. The park is certainly worth seeing in the spring, though it is lovely all year round. Another point of interest would be the park’s incredible plateaus, some of the highest in the world.

In 1993, the Park was established to protect the Himalayan Brown Bear along with its habitat. Though the Government of Pakistan has taken several effective measures during the last decade, the bear is still under great threat. There are also many great and unique animals and birds. The Deosai National Park is a tourist attraction and many tourists who visit Baltistan also go to Deosai.

Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park, South Africa

One of the largest national parks in the world, Kruger covers millions of acres of land. It is host to an amazing number of African species, including elephants, giraffes and many other animals. You can check these animals out from viewing towers scattered throughout the park. Apart from the towers, development is nearly nonexistent and the park fends for itself in most ways.

The Park boasts 21 rest camps, 2 private lodge concessions, along with 15 private designated safari lodges. Camping in the Kruger National Park has become more popular with backpackers and tourists since it is cheaper, open to everyone and doesn’t require any special permission to partake. The Kruger National Park offers 9 different trails, including overnight, but you may not find trails in the wilderness areas.

Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon, the United States

The Colorado River carved out the Grand Canyon over hundreds of years, creating an amazingly complex canyon. Tourists flock to the site every year to admire it or even to hike down and camp in the myriad of channels cut out by the water. The Grand Canyon is one of the Natural Wonders of the World and has also been named a UNESCO World Heritage site. It stretches over more than 1,200,000 acres in Arizona.

One of the best things about the Grand Canyon area is that it has some of the cleanest air in the US. There are about 1,737 famous species of vascular plants, 195 species of lichen, 167 species of fungi and 64 species of moss found in the Park. Grand Canyon has also a dozen endemic plants, which are known only within the boundaries of the Park. However, only 10% of its flora is actually exotic. Apart from casual sightseeing from the South Rim, running, hiking, rafting and helicopter tours are highly popular here. The Grand Canyon 24 hour Ultra Marathon is a 126 km (78-mile) race that takes participants out on the North Rim of Grand Canyon. So, if you are a runner, you shouldn’t miss this event.

Snowdonia National Park

Snowdonia, Wales

As you might suppose from the name, Snowdonia National Park is set on Snowdon Mountain. The mountain is 3560 feet tall and as picturesque as it is peaceful. Lakes and rivers are set amid trees and rocky outcroppings, making it the perfect place to practice photography. Visitors will also find old buildings, including several castles within park borders. The history of the area is full of folk tales and legends and makes it an even more exciting place to visit.

In 1951, the Park was established as the 3rd National Park in Great Britain, after the Peak District and the Lake District. The Park covers 2,140 km2 (827 square miles), and has 60 km (37 miles) of coastline. The natural forests of the Park are of the mixed deciduous type. The Welsh Oak, ash, birch, hazel and mountain-ash are the most common trees. Over 26,000 people live within the Snowdonia National Park, of whom approximately 62% can speak some Welsh. Every year Snowdonia National Park attracts more than 6 million visitors, making it the 3rd most visited National Park in Wales and England. If you are a hiker, Snowdonia National Park is the perfect place to visit.